Paige Kennedy

Paige smiled back at Sio letting her tired olive eyes cut just a little against the peppy redhead in a sisterly glance. “You’ve been waiting all morning to say that haven’t you?” She replied, yawning and looking mildly amused. “No, it was just Milo.” She said flatly. “Sorry if that kills the story for you.” She sipped her coffee. It wasn’t the greatest, but she was starting not to hold Sol City to too much of a standard on many things and it had been sitting on the burner long enough to work against her hangover headache to some extent. She added a bit of sugar to take the edge off.

“So, you were drunk trespassing on city property. Is that where we left off?” She continued. “Then you ran into some random guy you liked on the roof?” She was beginning to fill in some of sketchier details of Sio’s night at the party. “If the door locked behind you and you had to open it to get up there, doesn’t that mean he was already locked up there?” She smirked accusingly to try and let the implications of that sink in to see if Sio could pick up on the greater danger of her situation. With that aside however, part of the redhead’s imagined story was resonating: You don’t want to share the details because you barely believe it is real. The words fell right into what felt like an empty space in her heart and brought forth a feeling of truth that she’d put away from the night before.

@Almalthia

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Siobhan laughed softly. “One, I didn't know he was up there. Two, he is interesting. Three, yes I realize that it could have been worse and he could have taken advantage of the situation, but he didn't. Does that mean trust him with my life? No, but it's a decent reason to get to know him. Plus he's a mechanic and Karen needs an overhaul.” She smirked at Paige. “So Milo is tall, dark and handsome. In a rugged lumberjack way. So no; it doesn't kill the story, it makes it more interesting.” Siobhan looked down at her phone. “And I have an appointment that I can't reschedule again with the gallery director.” Looking up at Paige. “So look once I figure out what is going on I'll let you know. So we still on for the gym later? I'm thinking some self defense training would be a good idea.”

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marinalia was restless, she was working the office at the International hub, so busy and so many idiots not looking where they where going. She had been given lighter duties for a few days as due to everything. no one minded, if your mind was distracted or you where in turmoil you where not safe to fly and a plane crash was alot worse than finding someone to cover for another. The only bad part was she loved flying... paper work less so.

but why asign her? it seemed to be on bigger airlines she found full rated flight crews supporting ground roles as they knew what was going on up there, and the pilots appreciated someone with a alittle more understanding guiding them in and sorting out things while they dealt with there jobs.

Terminal 3 is by concorse East mam, just take a right and follow the blue pathway. right to the end, youl be at your Terminal. everything is marked on the floors, and we have a handy app for free too. uses our wifi was a internal GPS.

it was... nth lost person, sure it was a a little confusing but all the main paths at SOl where colour coded, just follow your colour, was it that hard? they even had signs and maps with various codes for what each route was. just sick to the colour road till it stopped, you where there. Neat, simple and easy right? ok, she was definitely not customer service. even a map app, it was like easiest airport she had ever been in.

Sipping a Sol bucks, the past week had been... crazy. just plain crazy, parts of her guilty, hurt, parts lost and others still not over jazz night. She was a mess at times but held it together somehow. it would clam down eventually right? her mind longered, she had been offered a Deadalus extension.. few weeks to decide but did she want to stay in this city or move on?

so many questions... too little answers.

rembering Joel, he was Headed to Japan, would he be lost too?
he was flying out today was he not? or was it later in the week?

Oh... take Orange path. any of them, they lead to the Asia Pacific bays. Have a safe flight.

Mali

no X, she was usure if it was too much, her nickname was enough to show she was friendly right? waving one the Cargo load managers headed off for his break, she had the office alone for abit, unless she was called away. it was safer than Old sol though as security here being a International Hub was crazy high. TSA, armed guys, tactical teams and lock down gates, barriers and hydrolic bollards that could stop a full size semi truck at speed. even the planters that seemed decrotive where multi ton anti ram baricades sank many metres into ground. she had spent too long at airports to not notice the subtle but extreme security they had.

Hopefully Vika was ok.. she would be in Texas now. whatever happened was her choice, they had infact Hugged when she dropped her off at airport. well, it seemed that the whole risk of treatment had forced them to face things sooner than later. it was good and bad... still issues but some things ran deeper than arguments over men.

Staring into her sweetish tea a second.. ok Joel and co seemed to have diffrent opinion. Mango and Passion Fruit Frapachino this time, would you have a answer oh tiny lady of caffine lake... thought not.

@Pilatus

Paige Kennedy

“Four, if he hadn’t been up there you would have been locked out with no phone and probably would have frozen to death you dumbass” Paige felt as if she’d handed Sio enough conversational slack to hang herself and felt obliged to finally kick the proverbial chair out from under her feet. The rest of it seemed beside the point. She perked up enough out of her hungover malaise to give a matter of fact glance back at her redheaded friend, but the slight tension faded when she mentioned Milo’s “lumberjack” like appearance and Paige chuckled thinking about him sawing on a tree with one of those big chain saws. No, it would be an axe. She thought. He’d have to make it first, then chop the tree down. The mental picture gave her a wry grin and she looked away sheepishly towards the window where she could see the sunlight sparkling across the midday water. She felt her phone vibrating with a text and glanced down shaking her head. Speak of the lumberjacking devil. With a light sigh, she glanced back at Sio getting ready to leave. “That’s fine, I’m off for a day or so,” She said. “Think I might go get my car fixed.”

When Sio was out of sight she texted Milo back:

I went to work and they sent me home… She texted back and inserted an emoji icon of a tired face, something she rarely ever did… I feel like I got hit by a truck

@Almalthia@RoccanIronclad

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Siobhan drives the Stingray into Apex Designs Tuesday late afternoon. She hops out of the car and she’s in blue chucks, high waisted jean leggings, and a white undershirt. Her hair is lose to the middle of her back. “Mr. Nicolosi this is Karen.” It’s a black Stingray with gray interior. The tires look new and she’s shined up nicely but it’s obvious that the car is old but in good condition. “Karen is my biological mother’s name; and this was her car. The only thing left to me after she died. I know the Murphy’s adopted me but this is somehow special. You understand right?” Siobhan walks around the car lovingly running a hand over the dips and curves of the car. She smiles fondly at the car. “So Karen is a 1973 Stingray, as you can tell, but it’s what’s inside that makes her special. Her previous owner had her original V8 LS-4 upgraded to a LS-5. Plus Karen is one of the 45 models that have RPO Z07. She needs an update in color. Heaven forbid if someone scratch her. And I’d love to see if we can get her motor running better. She has a bit of a stutter sometimes and I want that fixed. We can update her with all the bells and whistles as well. Ideally I want Karen to look and feel better than when I brought her in. So still think you can handle this after Tokyo?” Siobhan pushes her hair out of her face and looks up at Joel with a smirk as she comes around the car. She dangles the keys at him and smiles wickedly. “Miss me?”

Joel Nicolosi

The metal was heavy and the work was light at Apex Designs. Since he returned home to the shop on Sunday night there was nothing but a steady stream of visitors outside the shop from Monday when he opened his bay door all the way up to Tuesday afternoon. These were people he didn’t mind, real people; the ones that stuck with him since he opened the shop, not the calamitous hordes still roaring for his attention. Congratulations went all around and hearty slaps on the back. Joel hadn’t really done anything other than hang out and pack for his trip. The 300 sat with its nose partially out the front door, low to the ground. It was the only car in the shop. People wanted to see. To see the black paint rubbed off from the Japanese GT-R. The sizable trophy sat wedged in the driver’s seat and the American flag he carried at the end of the race was resting over the rear glass. Joel sat in a folding chair with a few other locals chatting it up with beers in hand. The morning shift had just let out from the factory down the street, some of the workers that sat around with him were walking home from work.

The weather was brisk, but not unbearable for late afternoon. The sun was beginning its final descent over Southside. Joel had on his customary cargo shorts and a black Caterpillar Equipment hoodie. His Jeep was parked up on the curb. A chorus of laughter could be heard as Joel recounted some of the ridiculous interviews he’d been forced to endure on Sunday. He was enjoying himself immensely and hadn’t even thought much of the drama that came from the Gala. Marlin had texted him a few times, but he hadn’t heard a word out of Sio or her junk Corvette. The problem with the former was that he still hadn’t even heard so much as an apology for that night. It was like she was just hoping it would blow over and they could go on like nothing happened. No one seemed the least bit interested in why he got up and left the party. If she couldn’t see that then that door was promptly going to close. No… He thought. Not just close- slam, hard and in her face

It was about that time he heard a tired sounding V8 come around the block. All turned their head to see the wavy Corvette pull up though most of the men, Joel included, were more interested in what was getting out of the car. He liked the way she looked. Sneakers and jeans suited her better than a dress. She looked like she came right up from Southside. As she talked he got up from his seat, Blue Moon in hand and walked around the car, coming back to his senses as he looked at it. Sentimental value, of course, who would pay money to do anything with this? Visually, it was in decent shape and though the tires looked new, if they were going to get into anything serious or remotely creative, all those things she was so proud of were going to have to go. “Hello Siobhan.” Joel said. He made a point to speak the words very specifically since she hadn’t even bothered to say hello before going into her spiel. A freight train horn sounded in the distance as he let her finish. “Yeah, all that is crap,” He said one hand in his pocket as he rounded the rear quarter and looked at her holding the keys. “Old tech, useless, kind of like calling me ‘Mr. Nicolosi’ and expecting me to do any work for you.”

Apex Designs Soundtrack

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Siobhan Jude Murphy

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Siobhan raised an eyebrow archly and gracefully tossing the keys up and down catching them as she moved to the beat of the music around the shop. The gritty raw metal suited Joel. Something about romance and death. Interesting. Possibly the mood he's in. She came back around shamelessly winking and harmlessly flirting with the older men who flirted with her making friends as she circled back to Joel moving in close so she didn't have to yell. “Hello Joel. If you want you can call me Van. Nice setup,” She points out the 300, “bet that baby was nice to race. Really nice crowd. Total sweethearts. Interesting choice in music. Song title Romance is Dead? Who's it by?”

She tossed Joel the keys hoping he'd catch them on the fly. She sauntered over to the Vet and leaned over and popped the hood for him. And walking over leaned down to get the catch on the back of the hood and opened Karen up. She gave off an innocent air of just trying to be one of the guys not realizing the attention she was receiving.

Turning back to Joel she smiled saying, well practically yelling over the growling lyrics, “And talk to me about your ideas for Karen. She needs an overhaul in my opinion but I'd rather like to hear from the professional.”

Paige Kennedy

Wednesday Night

The walk from the elevator was again extended so much so that Paige was becoming accustomed to the stroll down the hallway. The maintenance bulletin that her apartment complex put out promised Wednesday as the last day of maintenance, but she honestly didn’t mind the slightly longer walk it caused her. The day had been fairly productive. She and her Chief met with the US Attorney to outline everything they were bringing to bear against Jackie and thanks to Milo’s cool acting chops, it was going to be a slam dunk once they got in front of the judge. The fact that he’d additionally threatened her, as a Federal Officer, was going to just be icing on the cake. Neither she nor Milo would even be needed to testify which was a plus. Like all law-enforcement, she hated the massive waste of time that appearing in court entailed.

She entered with a slight sigh of fatigue, looking forward to just getting some rest and starting on her next case in the morning. She dropped some mail on the counter and took her gun off her hip, placing it on the top of the bar when she felt her phone vibrating in her back pocket. Annoyed, she took it out and looked at the number that was awaiting an answer and not recognizing it. Her thumb just grazed over the glass screen when an odd yellow line fell over her field of vision and she barely had half a second to drop her phone and get her hand up.

It felt like an extension cord, tough and rubbery against her fingertips. The slack tightened snugly around her neck in an instant as she heard her phone fall to the floor. From nowhere, she could feel the weight of a person behind her, breathing steady, unmoving and firm. His shirt was course, like a workman’s. She thought she could feel pockets with buttons. He held the cord firmly in both hands with the loop around her neck and with her back pressed against his chest he swiftly moved his foot around her leg to prevent her from squirming any further.

Paige squeaked for air through the small gap her fingers put between the cord and her throat. The shock itself had nearly taken the wind out of her lungs and she felt like a dog whose collar had been yanked hard. She got one leg up to the edge of the counter, feeling the rubber sole of her sneaker bend affirmatively under the bridge of her foot she used every ounce of muscle strength, adrenalin and survival instinct she could muster and launched herself backwards into his upper body with one massive leg press.

They rocked back crashing into the refrigerator and her attacker had to remove his other foot to steady himself against the push. Paige jumped again like a wild animal planting both feet firmly against the counter and launching them back into the refrigerator which shuddered against the impact with an even louder crash than before. The doors flung open in recoil and groceries spilled out onto the floor. She gripped the cord with her other hand feeling his grip tighten down even harder. She choked for air and kicked hard against the counter again. He felt like he lost his footing briefly in some of the spill and she was only briefly able to catch a complete breath before he adjusted his stance to prevent her from kicking again.

A load bearing wall pillar composed part of the bar area and with both of her hands grasping against the strain of the cord, she had no defense as he slammed her into the wall repeatedly. Flinging her by her neck, the first blow nearly knocked her silly and she yelped in pain. A decorative set of plates crashed to the counter and shattered. The second one was even harder, then a third. She could feel her strength fading and for a moment she could see herself: as a little girl back in Florida, sitting in church with her mother while her father preached, as a high-schooler at the prom, graduating from UF, joining the Marshals, hanging out with Ana and Milo. A dark haze began to fall over her eyes and she felt her hand fall away. She no longer had the strength to hold it up, but as it came down on the wrecked countertop, she felt something familiar amongst the jumble of broken dishes and mail envelopes… Envelopes… She remembered. That was it… Milo’s knife.

She had a small coffee cup on the counter where she kept it along with other little knick-knacks, pens, pencils and loose change. It was sharper than shit. She’d already slayed a few letters with it. With the last vestiges of strength and control left in her beaten frame and suffocated mind she wrapped her hand around the handle, pulling it from its small sheath and swung it behind her as hard as she could.

Somewhere she had developed the notion that if she ever stabbed someone it would be gruesome, twisting and gory. The notion of it felt barbaric, like every knife was about as sharp as a regular kitchen knife and it would really take effort to do some damage. She had no real concept of how sharp a blade could be honed or what it would be like when it impacted human tissue. There was almost no resistance when she felt the tip of small blade pierce through his pant leg and stop as soon as it was in all the way to the handguard. Immediately, she knew she was right about two things: There would be gore and her feet were no longer on the ground.

Her attacker roared in shock and the sound of his cry was quickly followed by what sounded like water hitting the linoleum flooring. She could breathe again, full sweet breaths, but something was off, a sensation of weightlessness. She was flying through the air. He had thrown her like a rag doll and she grazed past the pillar he was just using to bash her against. The scene was inverted though, she was almost upside down, barely having time to process anything before she felt her hip crash into something hard and partially constructed of glass. The whole piece crumped beneath her and she landed back on the floor on her head and shoulders. For the first time, she could see him and the mess that was her completely destroyed kitchen. He yanked the small knife out of his leg, but the floor and cabinets around him were already covered in blood that literally sprayed like a hose from the wound she made. Her body crumpled over and she lay on her side for a moment almost mystified by the sight of it. The scene looked like something out of a cheap horror movie the way it gushed out. He quickly ripped the sleeve from his shirt to tie around it, staggering as he did. It was a uniform! She thought as she watched. The elevator company?!

For the moment he was distracted she began to regain her bearings and the realization of the total pain she felt all over her body. Whatever he threw her into was now splintered wood and glass… The table… the false drawer! She was sitting on it.

The man looked at her moving pitifully, his face sullen and unrelenting; he was still struggling with his makeshift bandage to stop the bleeding. His face snapped back towards the counter where he knew she had left her pistol. He flung the holster away and turned back at her, but was already staring down the barrel of her service Glock.

It wasn’t as elegant or as balanced as her SiG and it felt like a brick in her hand, but the sights lined up in her tear-squinting gaze and Paige cranked off three shots that all struck home and dropped him to the floor in a heap.

It was over.

Part of her was expecting to instantly hear a commotion. People clamoring to see what happened. But, for the moment, there was nothing but cold silence. She flopped back on her side and winced hard in the pain she now had time to fully realize. Many things felt cut or broken or just out of place and her head hurt badly from being slammed into the wall. She could see her phone on the carpet a few feet away from where she dropped it and managed to drag herself over. She hit the emergency call function on speaker and waited.

“911, what is your emergency?” A male voice came up crisply. It was the same guy that answered when she called to divert the bikers back at the Winter Party. It hurt immensely, but she had to smile a little bit.

She took in a deep breath, feeling not only how beaten she was, but that she was completely exhausted. “This is Deputy US Marshal Paige Kennedy,” She coughed and gave her badge number, “I’ve got an officer down… which is me,” She coughed some more seeing small spatters of blood speckle the white carpet with her words, “…And one suspect with three GSW’s,” She looked over at the unmoving body of her attacker and gave it the finger, “He’s not gonna need an ambulance.” She gave her address and ended the call.

Straining up to a slouched sitting position against the back of her sofa she spit out a combination of teardrops, blood and sweat. Her shirt was matted to her side. She knew she was bleeding, but wasn’t sure how bad. Her hair was all over the place, still partly contained in its band while the rest hung wildly and stuck to her face where she could feel more blood from her temple. She didn’t know why and she did know all at the same time as she tapped slowly again on her phone leaving small red finger prints on the glass as she did:

Milo:
Come over.

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Joel caught the keys and tucked them in the front pocket of his sweatshirt. “Yeah, they mostly only have each other to look at all day.” He said, referring the motley congregation outside his shop. As she moved in closer, he remembered how she kissed him the last time they saw each other on the roof. Where were these chicks before I won that race? He thought to himself. She didn't quite seem like another one just wanting to hitch her wagon up, and if she was, she was at least willing to put her money on it. He put the bottle of Blue Moon in her open hand and stooped down looking and running his hand under the fender then getting in a push up position to look under the frame. “That's a Parkway Drive song,” He said studying what he could see of the underside. His main concern was rust, Chevrolets tended to start from the bottom up, but it appeared the car was garage-kept which would be a huge plus. “Not my favorite song by them, but it's not bad, a little dark, I like the riff and the beat.”

He got up to see her open the hood and glanced over inside. His lips curled slightly. Everything was there, but covered in gray, dusty, age. The radiator hoses looked brittle, rust was staining the firewall under the master cylinder and the spaghetti of vacuum lines looked cracked and dried out. No wonder it ran rough. Every internal seal was likely in the same condition. “No, I don't miss you now.” He said shaking his head with a smile that denoted some level of pity for her. He picked up a broken vacuum hose to emphasize his point. There was no telling where it once led. “This thing doesn't get driven a whole lot I'm guessing?” He let the hose drop undramatically and continued looking, taking out his phone and shining its light to see if he could get a look at the carburetor tucked under the air cleaner. “Like I said,” He started feeling for cracks around one of the motor mounts. “It just depends what you want to do.” He popped open the reservoir on the master cylinder and peeped inside seeing it was low on fluid. “I can rebuild the carburetor and plug the lines and it will run better for sure, but you got a lot going on here.”

He closed the hood down gently. The light outside was fading too fast to see enough of anything else for the night. “If it was mine, I'd think about just putting a crate engine in it,” He said opening the driver’s door and giving the seat a firm shake to see if it was loose from someone stomping the pedal, but found it surprisingly firm. “Fuel injection was the best thing ever put into a car, we could just put a kit on it if you wanted, but you'll be back for other stuff if you plan to start driving this regularly.” He leaned in to check the mileage and nodded approvingly before turning back to her. “I’d keep the color black for sure.” He crossed his arms and looked up and down the unusual coke-bottle design. It wasn't his cup of tea exactly, but it was something different. He was starting to get his own ideas for it, but wasn't sure how much she'd want to spend.

Looking inquisitively at the cold bottle of Blue Moon Siobhan wiped off the top, as he had the scotch the other night, and sipped. Not bad Taking a longer draw on the beer she leaned closer looking at the engine with him she grimaced. No wonder Karen was running horribly. She's pretty old and really needs an update. Sipping on the beer she smiled as he admitted that he had missed her. Was that pity? Oh hell no. I don't want pity. She watched him get a feel for Karen and could almost see the gears turning with his thoughts. When he got into the driver's seat she took another long draw. She leaned a hip and watched him give the wheel a good shake. “Easy there Speed Racer. Karen's got a temper.”

She nodded at his assessment and leaned down her right arm on the top of the car so she could make eye contact without ducking her head awkwardly. Her white t-shirt pulled taunt over her generously curved figure. She handed over the Blue Moon that had maybe two swallows left. Little ones. “So I plan on driving Karen. Often. Why own her and not drive her? And yes while it seems like she was a show piece she's gonna need to be a working girl.” She reached over and looked lovingly at the inside of the car caressed the steering wheel and looked back at Joel. “While seeing you all the time has its appeal I want you to have some time to miss me. And I don't want to get boring so let me get to the point. What would you do if this was your Corvette and you were as... passionate about her as I am?” It came out a little breathy at the end.

She playfully tapped him on the nose hoping to distract herself. Which drew her attention to his mouth. Which reminded her of her kiss and run. Woah and there goes the tension ratcheting up. He hasn't gotten me back for stealing a kiss yet. That's probably going one of two ways. Either he'll ignore it or do something about it when I least expect it. She blushed as she realized she was staring a bit and wet her lips. Realizing the image she gave off she laughed softly and backed up a little. “Sorry about crowding you there Joel just a bit enthusiastic about this.”

Joel got a generous view as Sio leaned down and expressed her “enthusiasm” with the project. He took the bottle back and finished off what was left. Then she sort of tapped his nose which mildly irritated him. He hated when people touched his face, but he let it go. She seemed to suddenly be acting very childishly and he was in business mode. “Here's the thing,” He said with a small shrug, “If it was mine and I could do whatever I wanted, I would just about gut the whole thing down to the frame. Especially if you're married to it for life.” He looked it over again, not even paying a lot of attention to her as he envisioned the work it would take and the proposition that would cost far and away more than what the car was worth. “Give it a modern coilover suspension, widen the fenders and lower it so it will handle better and be proportional instead of long and narrow.” He scratched at the stubble on his chin, not having shaved since the race, thinking intensely.“Change the motor out, GM crate engines are pretty good and come with all I’ll need. That will clean up the engine bay and make it easier to drive daily, no more pumping the pedal to start it.” He pointed along the side with the base of the bottle, “Put old school pipes down the side like some of the C2’s had, probably do satin black like on a Harley, that would make it subtle yet different... If you're following me.” He had plenty more ideas, but those were the biggest. If she was up for any of that, she'd be up for anything and if he was going to do this, it would need to be done right.

Siobhan nodded and got very serious. She could see a lot of time and effort on Joel's part would go into this. “Then do it. It's not that I don't care it's more of the fact that I trust you. It'd be like you asking me to do a designer piece for you with an outline to work with and letting me have my head, so to speak. But is this going to be fair to monopolize you? I'm sure that you'll have a lot more people now that you've done some schmoozing. Plus this is a ton of work. So I'm willing to start at say 100 grand? And work from there. I can get you a quarter of that when we start and get it to you in lump sums at every quarter at the latest dates. So what do you think? I don't want this rushed. I can deal with not having it right away and I want it done right. Which is why I asked you.”

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Milo was trying to get himself ready for bed at this point, the day had been a pretty normal one, a few customers dropped by the shop to give some requests, all of which he was perfectly happy to take. Milo spent the afternoon into the evening just working on personal projects, trying to get his practice swords back into order as he had been going to the gym to practice with the local longswording group that he had found. How many days had he had where nothing passed and he just seemed to do nothing for the entirety? The weekends events left him craving some excitement, and every time he thought about it, he thought about how Paige always seemed to have something exciting going on, if he didn't enjoy smithing as much, police work would have been cool too.

Milo laid in bed that night, tank top and gym shorts, the heat in his home not handling the cold outside as well as he would like it to. he had headphones in as he used his phone to listen to music while he tried to fall asleep, however the sharp tone of his notification ringer cut the song he had going, he pulled his phone up to his face only to get blinded by the backlight, once he focused on it, it was a text from Paige, pretty late to be texting him but he was actually happy to see it, they had texted a bit through the week, so it wasn't horribly strange, until he read it, Come over. Milo wasn't dumb, that was a text that meant there was an issue, Milo got out of bed and hopped into his truck, whatever was going on he had a feeling it was bad.

Milo arrived shortly after the police and the paramedics, the squads were all in front the apartments that Paige was living at. He got into the building and made his way to the floor she stayed on and went to her door only to be met by a police officer, "'Fraid this is an active crime scene, off limits to the public." Milo looked over his shoulder and could see paramedics,

"Look I'm here for Paige, she called me to come here, is she alright?" Milo asked the officer while he pulled out his phone to try and show the officer the message, however it didn't seem to be really necessary the officers at this point knew that he and Paige were close, so he just waved his hand and just let Milo in. The scene was a mess, blood everywhere, things were broken and glass was all over the floor, a body was being examined on the floor, with a familiar knife laying bloody on the floor. He walked further until he heard some murmuring, he looked over to see Paige crumpled up on the floor with Paramedics looking her over. he went to her side quickly and knelt down next her, he put a hand on her knee and the other to move some of the bloody hair from her face. "Paige... What happened? Who did this? Jesus..." the paramedic was going over her wounds as Milo tried to coax words from her, "Tell me what you need, anything you want." Milo felt a strange fear in his chest, she looked bad, blood from her head still dripping, she looked like she had been coughing it up as well, that wasn't good, likely a punctured lung. he looked at her with deep concern, after everything that happened, he didn't want it to end with a death.

@Pilatus

Paige Kennedy

It was surreal, watching them, as they rushed in to her apartment. The police and the paramedics got there first. She hadnt moved from her slumped position against the back of her couch when they excitedly came through the door. While the suits secured her apartment and the body lying in her kitchen, the parademics started to tend to her. The female EMT immediately set about working on her head. Paige felt something like a boxer in the ring corner and she had just gone all twelve rounds. The young woman continued steadfastly in her work asking questions, gently probing, pushing and pressing to find broken bones or cracked ribs occasionally looking back behind her or talking to the police. Paige knew she was out of it. She could hear herself talking, but it was like there was a delay between the thought, the word and hearing it come out. The EMT told her she had a definite concussion from being slammed into the wall and her side was cut from the glass table shattering, though thankfully nothing had cut too deep. She was very lucky.

It took her a little longer than usual to process it when Milo came through her door. He looked so worried and concerned. She'd been beaten up before, wrestled with fugitives, been kicked, punched, spit on and at only 130 lbs, generally tossed around, but nothing like this. The look he gave was one she'd never seen from him of caring and compassion. When she saw him her eyes locked on to his and her expression brightened into a weak, but unfiltered smile the polar opposite of when they'd only first seen each other at the Winter Party. "Hey," She said weakly as he knelt beside her feeling the tenderness in his touch as he brushed her hair aside. "I fired the elevator guy." She said with a small cough and a joking grin that feebly attempted to cover her pain and disorientation.

A mechanical clang sounded as two officers lifted the stretcher carrying the bagged body of her attacker, its feet locked in place and they began rolling it away. Paige tilted her head a little and looked past Milo her expression fading as she watched them wheel out the hitman. "I think our mutual friend from the other day sent him." She said still watching as the paramedic continued to clean up her face. "I also think I'm going to the hospital." She continued as another EMT arrived pushing a second stretcher. "Just go in there and get me some clothes," She nodded towards her bedroom. "You know what I usually wear." In her injured state, she didn't really care what he found in there and thought maybe he'd like that she'd placed the picture of him, Ana and herself in a small frame on her dresser. 

@RoccanIronclad

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Joel's expression remained neutral as she spoke. He had already run the figures in his head and was thinking about the same amount once all was said and done. The best thing about American cars was the parts were plentiful and just about everything had already been done in one way or another. It was up to him to take that and make it his own. “Don't worry about monopolizing,” He said. “I screen my work now, so congrats on being my first voluntary customer.” His expression lightened some. “I'm only going to have one other project in here while this is here.” He smiled at the thought and turned toward her again. “It won't take me long once the parts start rolling in. You can leave it here while I'm gone and I'll give you a ride or you can wait ‘til I get back. Up to you.”

Siobhan laughed and shook her head. “First voluntary customer. Makes it sound a little kinky somehow. I'm gonna cash in on that ride if you trust me that much. I promise I won't street race it. Scouts honor.” She backed up so she wasn't crowding him and he could get out and have enough room to not have to crowd her. Call it a test. Let's see.

“Get your mind out the gutter, chick.” Joel shot back. He got up from the seat and gave her a dark grin when she mentioned the street racing. “I’d be disappointed if you don't.” He said slyly. The old metal door closed with an authoritative thunk! as he flicked his wrist to close it. They certainly weren't made like that any more.

Since he was now going to have to give her a ride, he set about rearranging the cars. First hauling the big trophy out of the 300 and rolling up the flag. He then climbed in the side, primed the switches and pushed the start button. The high-tech Japanese V8 howled to life with a crack of exhaust flame and ear splitting sound that echoed down the street easily drowning out the stereo. Joel gave the pedal a quick couple taps looking at Sio as he did with an affirmative nod. He moved the sequential gearbox into reverse and the ground rumbled as the low car eased back into the shop like a shark returning to deep waters.

Enjoying his bit of showmanship immensely, but not showing it, he strolled back out spinning Sio's keys on one finger. The stereo was off and the assembled crowd were setting about their different ways giving waves over the shoulder and final congrats as they left. Joel eased back into the Corvette and started it up. The tired old V8 sounded quite tame by comparison and he adjusted the seat only slightly being reminded of her height. He found the sweet spot for the clutch after a couple revs, swung the car out into the street and backed it in swiftly as he’d done countless times before with everything from a worktruck to a Porsche.

The bay door descended and he stepped over the security beam motioning to the Jeep, it's big tires cocked up unevenly between the curb and the street. He thought he might have to give her a hand up into the higher side passenger door. “Ok, your chariot awaits Miss Murphy.” He said with a comical wave of his hand.

Siobhan grinned at his statement of racing the car a thrill running through her at his cavalier attitude on street racing and the dark grin. He could get locked up for that. She whooped when he teased her with the rev and rumble of the car that she could feel in her chest. She closed her eyes and sighed happily. Never heard a better sound in my life. She moved out of the garage and watched him shuffle the cars around. He motioned to the Jeep that was a bit on the tall side. She laughed as Joel swept his arm to the Jeep calling it a chariot. She opened it up and realized that it was a bit higher than normal. She could get in by herself, thanks to years of horseback riding, but she wondered if she should let Joel make that call. “I'm tall but that's a bit much. Unless you planned this with ulterior motives, Joel.” She grinned blue-green eyes sparkling with mischief.

“My motives are always ulterior.” Joel replied with a smirk seeing her slightly hesitant to throw her leg up and climb. He thought she could probably make it, but he also enjoying the flirting and cupped his hands together to give her a step up to the rock guard that ran down the side and put the grab handle in reach.

Siobhan tsked him. “Well it sure doesn't show. All I see is a gentleman with no ulterior motives. I think you're all talk and no action.” She teased as she put her foot in the cradle of his hands and pushed off to grab the handle and shift her legs to the rock guard. “Alright Speed Racer, let's go.”

“Better behave or I'll make you sit in the backseat.” Joel said as he climbed in.

“Oh I'm so scared!!! Threatening me with being my chauffeur!!! My poor delicate sensibilities!!! Quick Watson the needle!!!” Her eyes sparkling and hamming it up fanning herself and casting him woe as me looks barely able to contain her laughter in between getting in the Jeep and buckling up. Finally she gave him her address laughing so hard that she was crying. It became clear that she wasn't wearing makeup since it wasn't smearing as she was wiping away her tears.

Joel grinned as he cranked up the inline six cylinder and shook his head with a roll of his eyes. Again, the one voice of reason inside his head proclaimed solemnly: Dude, this chick is fucking nuts. And he was right, but he kind of liked it.

Joel Nicolosi

Wednesday Morning

Joel parked the Jeep in the long-term garage, popped the hood and took the battery kill-switch key with him as the headed for the international terminal. He didn’t get out to Sol’s main commercial airport often, but he always tended to enjoy it once he got past the idiotic security. A couple people recognized him in the baggage line and he casually waved and returned cordial greetings. The TSA checkpoint wasn’t too bad and he was putting his sneakers back on in fairly short order. Glancing down at his phone to the boarding pass, he was about an hour ahead of schedule and had time to kill before he had to be at the gate. He slinked past a sign for the Sol City Grand Prix that still hadn’t been taken down and set about his way.

Sol International was still fairly new and strolling the terminal was a bit of a curiosity he enjoyed and blending into the crowd for a while was a welcome change from the past few days. His phone and email remained full to the point that he thought he might have to hire someone to sort through it all. The thought crossed his mind that Sio might be a good candidate for such a task since she insisted on being there while he worked. She might as well be useful, he mused, but he quickly stored the thought as he continued to walk down the wide, main corridor with a book-bag slung over his shoulders. It was going to be a long flight and he planned to take care of some business along the way. The race winnings and his wager from Nissan had already been deposited in his account and he had made a list to spend part of the flight taking care of every debt he ever owed to anyone. His mother insisted it would be a classy move to at least donate some of it to a charity and he was going to take care of that as well.

Then there was the matter of Marlin and her family baggage. It occurred to him that she was much more interesting without her snooty rich family. They all seemed to be of one mind at the party and it was slightly creepy. Her tough-guy cousins had shot him some dirty looks and he contemplated what they’d look like when his thirty-five millimeter wrench went upside their head. Assholes. He had been nice enough in the days that followed and he returned her texts in a nice way, but again she seemed to be much stronger when she didn’t have anyone to run to, like when he found her at the cargo office that night. Then there was Sio who was a whole different level of fireball. He grinned at the thought of women competing over him.

As was his usual custom, he first scoped out the gate where he would be boarding then headed over to the very posh Cathay Pacific lounge to kill off the remaining time. It felt in poor taste to ghost through the airport without saying anything to Marlin after she wished him a nice flight. She knew when he was flying and could see when his flight landed so he went ahead and texted her back telling her where he was and if she had time could stop and chat.

@PrinceAlexus

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Marinalia she spotted Joel as she was passing through the airport. She was busy a second and sorting out a security issue with one of the guards, checking a cargo would be cleared. She had grown used to the guards, even the heavily armed guys with rifles who managed to saunter by looking remote in sunglasses and armour. They where people, just with a extremely serious job, and had been quite thankfulnof there prescense calming situations by sheer menace and matter of fact danger.

He was heading through security, he be there a while, the flights where busy and gates where running slower than average at this time of day. She still had to slot in a flight and transmit there slot over. It was easy ernough but just took some time to get some sense out of tower as to what was clear or not, and which cargo bays where free. Her Job was to make things work out, she would be back in air soon but she still had a few days off flight duty till next week thanks to all her life. She did not feel safe to fly quite yet. Especially with Bob majorly hovering at back of her mind. She would need alot of time to get past that event in her life.

Feeling a buzz and seeing her phone as he texted her. He was at a fancy lounge on the Asian section of airport. She knew the airline, he was not exactly flying coach to Japan. Her thoughts about Joel where mixed, she had to face him and he had left door open, but she was almost... Scared to deal with her feelings, but her therapist did say, she should face her issues and not let them fester. Probbly should follow professional advice.

sure. Cannot stay too long as I'm at work.

Mali x

Walking over, she took a short cut waving her hand at a seeming wall and vanishing down a staff back route to the TSA point. Popping out and showing her I'd vmbefore being waved through the checkpoint. Staff with clearence could pass quite freely about the airports zones. The Cathy Pacific lounge staff waived her though with a slight dig at her airline. Always the same. Always.

yeah yeah... Groundies. My office has a nicer view.

Laughing, the airport staff from various airlines had a freindly rivalry, it was good nature's but rarely a little brash and louder. In her neat office uniform with fitted skirt, Jacket and wings, it was comfortable but she preferred a flight jacket. It was a a little older styled than some of the airlines but passengers seemed to enjoy the little extra touchs. Smart staff and neat well tailored uniforms.

Seeing Joel, she had finished her fruity tea drink and sat next to him, and nibbled on a complementary cookie she had acquired along the way. Patting down her skirt a a little nervous but also glad to hmbe able to talk, it was nicely tailored but she was not quite intending to be out and out like that blue dressed woman in micro dress practically flashing anyone if she ever tried to do anything but walk carefully.

Hey, good choice of airlines... There fleets are all good spec. Very modern and I hear the food is OK. Well for airline food. Good luck over there whatever your doing.

Umm.. I'm sorry about Sunday night... Things got out of hand, alot . Cannot say I had a easy week, and I well... Thought trying to explain all this over text was a a little bit of a cop out.

You probbly think I'm a right... Hydra perhaps?

Sighing, how much did she tell a Joel? Did she utterly trust him or reserve some of it not to overload his side of things. Things where a tad tricky and did not to scare him off but not lie either. It was strange...

Bob, I never got over that attack.. Therapist seemed to think honesty helps. I lied to myself somewhat. Kinda why I've been so... Eratic. I should have just ignored that woman, but I cannot change the past, much as I can predict the future.

Now I've rambled. How the week been now your Sols fastest and greatest son? I'm guessing things still all sinking in and a a little surreal going from old to this.

Feeling more relaxed, surprisingly warm in this small lounge, she shed her jacket, with a smaller silver necklace of a planet with 3 linked moons glittering round her neck.

This is a a tiny bit embarrassing, and a big ask given past week.. but can you get me one of those Japan only picachu... I've wanted one since I was a kid and there only sold in stores in Japan. I've never worked in Asia, mostly North America and Europe.

Il offer you that flight I promised a while ago in return... See things from my office. Propper plane, its a replica mosquito fighter from 1945... Not a washing Machjne with wings.

Talking abit. And feelings a alike less self conchous than. The start, though still a a little realising how he might perceive her. Good or bad. Sure she probbly verbally threw out about 1000 words in short time, well her nerves told her she did. If they where right was up for internal debate.

Her eyes grey as always, but not hurt however still turmoil regarding everything, her sisters treatment and events, obvious she still had alot of things to make sense of first before she could say she was back to any degree of normal..

Maybe there was hope to try and patch up the bridges, she had been entitely honest and had relised with hindsight how badly the Gala had gone. It still cringed a a little how she hand handled that particular social occasion. Though that unpleasant realisation had taken a few days to fully process.

Victoria, what would she do when her sister returned too, if all went well she could be a new person, if wrong, need alot more support to handle the changes to her life. Either way, things where not going to be boring for a while. Her own or her half sisters.

@Pilatus

Joel Nicolosi

Joel eased down into a large leather sofa that afforded a handsome view of the flight line. Almost immediately a drink was in his hand; a rum and coke offered up by an attractive Asian server who already knew his name, drink and food preferences and delivered it with a smile. I could get used to this. He thought as a subtle score of classical Chinese music played in the background, though as the server cordially addressed him as Mr. Nicolosi, he was reminded of Sio. Aside from that, everything was peaceful, calm and extremely organized, which he loved. He felt more like he was in a James Bond movie than an airport and may have even felt a little underdressed in his standard cargo shorts and black Bridgestone hoodie. No one presented anything other than a warm smile and a crisp red uniform.

Seeing Marlin approach in her Daedalus ensemble, he sat up a little from sinking down in the plush chair. She looked smartly professional, much like when he'd seen her back at the old airport. If nothing else, she was pretty and devastatingly so, if he were being honest with himself, but as he had learned, she carried more baggage than the 777 he was about to board. He was a bit torn in what to think of her. They'd shared some pretty big moments in just a short amount of time and shutting the door completely on her felt wrong in some way. Then there was Sio who had managed to stay on his mind and he couldn't help but think of the lip she would give him for not cutting out Marlin completely after the stunt her sister unapologetically pulled at the party. Japan was going to be good for him, he thought. A get away from these women and their shit for a good couple weeks was what he needed. 

"I told you, we go top shelf around here." He said referring to the airline with a slight wave of his drink laden hand. He'd never flown Cathay Pacific until he and Tommy had gone over before to negotiate for the engines. It was better than 'OK' by quite a bit. He listened to her ramblings go further and the smirk he was wearing faded. She was sorry? But for what? Things got out of hand?. He wasn't in the mood to bust anyone's chops, but he just couldn't let that go. If she wanted to really get to know him, then she was going to have to do better. "What are you sorry for, Marlin?" He asked frankly, looking back at her. He wasn't going to touch any of that stuff about her attacker or why she wasn't flying again. The fact that the infamous Bob was behind bars he would have thought would make her feel much better. She certainly wasn't feeling too bad about it as her and her family were talking copious trash when they raced out at the cargo airport and Bob was still on the loose.

An elegantly painted 777 touched down in the distance as she continued and Joel knew it was his flight. He didn't mind picking up her request, odd as it was, the damn things were everywhere over there. He listened as she spoke about the airplane ride and perked up a little waving his hand towards the green and turquoise jumbo jet approaching the gate. "How 'bout one of those big ones?" He said making light of the absurdity of it as he spoke. "Like a 747, one that's got four engines." He seriously doubted they would let him on the flight deck, but being able to scope one out for a while might be entertaining and he was trying to give her a chance to part ways on a positive note.

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Marinalia smiled at a passing server she had talked to previously this week, the staff here where pretty nice and ultimately profeshinal. Though she did prefer that deadalus have you a few more uniform choices than some. The lovely outfits of some of a middle Eastern airlines where alot less flexible on what you could wear.

Though she did have to admit, the uniform suited her very nicely and yeas of swimming had meant it hugged her figure almost perfectly without looking trashy. Of course he was casualy dressed. Can take the winner from the Joel but the Joel out the winner.

, some things change. Some things stay the same.

Poking at his hoody, and casual outfit, not in a hostile way but more just a fact. It was good he had not become a different person due to winning. Sorry about what... Well she had opened the door, she would have to follow through if she even wanted to keep a freind. However difficult.

Pausing a second, she thought, her grey eyes locked in deep contemplation a short time as she structured or tried to her feelings about the disaster of a evening. There was alot of feelings and emotions floating about.

OK... So I bitch and a tad rude, and we'll then I ran off because I was afraid to admit weakness to Sio, Siahborn I think is how you pronounce her name... One with that blue dress, pretty red hair though.

Thinking of a dozen other words to describe that dress, she kept it polite despite the fact it was downright several inches too short for even a mini dress in her mind. She was not gonna drag that thought into this. It was exact Oposite of things she needed to do. Her hair was pretty though and it would of been ideal... We for a diffrent venue in Marinalia opinion bit not a gala event.

I was a pretty horrible person sums it up about right. I know I did alot wrong. I'm not sure I could of messed that evening up worse if I tried bar falling over drunk and flashing everyone. Glad I had tape to keep that dress in place!

I'm sorry I tarnished your victory party... It should have been... Well I should of been a better host and person.

But... Much I should be harsh Victoria, she was horible... She my sister and one of few I can trust totally here, who I can talk to and rely on... bar maybe you for some reason I cannot yet make sense of.

She in hospital right now, somthong meant to help I was told. It kinda makes it hard to be as harsh right now though for me. I Don, t want to lose her for another 13 or years.

Giving him a look that said he wanted honesty, and that she was opening the book, Victoria was very much a split point, she needed her but also relised she had been pretty nasty too. It was difficult to admit or put into logical reason. The two where close and th ings had taken a knock but the bond between them would take alot more than that to break. Maybe dent it abut but no where near break it in two. Joel might disagree heavily with her position but she was stuck between a rock and a hard place on that point, losing her sister would hurt alot more, and they had grown extremely close despite the strange times they had forst met and the events that had spiraled round.

Relsing how much she was unloading, but he did ask so, well he did get.

I Don, t have to explain but I will. I need to just stop hiding things.

Bob... His rough hands, that night, the foul drink whose smell still I vividly remember. Feeling sick and dizzy. Every single detail from the guy kissing my freind below stage, and the very words.

The capture brought all up what I tried to Bury... I tried to hide it away. It made the wound fresh again, a wound I did not let heal.

Not noticing he hand was shaking alot and she dropped the cookie remains on the floor, almost suprising for her... She almost thought to grab his hand. What was wrong with her... She was pretty confused why that instrinct had jumped at her.

his flight had started approach at the gate, it would only be a few minutes, maybe, 10 max to boarding as they unlocked the doors and did final cabin checks before hand. Laughing slightly at his comment about the flight deck.... Mayne not a plane fly one... But there one in airports hidden away corners. Several in fact in the training hangers here.

well that's a 777, they retired theirs years ago. Oh and FYI.. That's a airbus a380 coming into land, the gold and white one. direct flight from dubai. Not many airlines fly many of them bar middle esst. Too expensive. Enjoy thr view.

Theres a ground trainer we have here, old 747 cargo model, I probbly could even get you a "flight" on it. Its not used very much. I was trying to get hang of it... But too disconnected. Too big. Its like your flying but you cannot quite feel it.

First time I tried I managed to mess up my power up, spin the plane and fly it into a terminal because I forgot to power my port engines to full! I kinda crashed more than got in the air...


Pausing, she was unsure what to do or say. How where they parting and would they even speak again. It was all.. Unknown to say the least. Still laughing slightly from admiring there was somthing she could not fly very well. Though it would be like Joel driving a semi truck.

I should let you catch your flight. Stay safe, enjoy the sushi, avoid godzilla and Mothra. Hear those to get rowdy in Tokyo. The offer of thr mosquito flight still stands though.

Trying to end on a posetive note, and joking, she did want to try and at very least remain freinds, well if he let her after that evening. She had to admit to herself and heart she had done alot of damage. And it would take time to fully repair that night's fallout.

She was glad and somewhat more relaxed to have got that off her chest, at least he could take hr or leave her and know ernough to make his choice.

@Pilatus

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Milo smiled at Paige's joke, "Cracking jokes huh? You must be feeling better than you look." He said knowing full well, she wasn't. when she asked him to go to her room and fetch her some clothing, he nodded and stood, he faced the paramedic, "I'm going with her, hold on a moment." the woman nodded and he went off into the apartment to gather what he could. Her room was in the back and as he entered the grabbed a bag from the closet, some large purse or something, and went through the drawers to pull out a couple of basic outfits, tee shirts, slacks, jeans, she dressed as boyish as he did. As Milo moved through and gathered the clothes he came across a familiar sight, the photo of the three of them, the same that he had had, and for a moment he stopped. How close he was to being that happy again, how close he had just come to losing it, he held the photo and only felt anger, Jackie tried to take it away from him, again, he would have to pay for that.

Milo came back out as they were getting ready to move Paige from the room, he put on a strong front to match he joking facade, "I grabbed some jeans, and your cowboy hat Annie Oakley." he remarked as they passed by the body of the assailant. She had done quite a number on him, but she took as well as she gave, and after everything, he knew that he was at fault for quite a bit of it, the last thing he could do was run away now. Milo thought about what he was gonna do as they got into the back of the ambulance, as it began to move he grabbed onto the side of the stretcher to not fall over himself, "Jackie ain't getting away with this one, no chance." He grumbled under his breath.

@Pilatus

Paige Kennedy

Paige’s mind floated as the ambulance bounced along. Her condition wasn’t life threatening so they weren’t running the sirens. However, she was tired and getting very sleepy. When she was a kid she could remember hitting her head playing dodgeball and her mother being afraid to let her take a nap afterwards for fear she wouldn’t wake up. The EMT assured her that was just an old wives’ tale and if she wanted, she could doze until they made it to Sol Memorial. Still, she tried her best to stay awake looking at Milo then at the female paramedic and all the other gear in the back of ambulance. She’d never ridden one as a patient. The radio chattered up front with other happenings in the city and the crew chatted back and forth casually. She looked back at Milo. He’d become quiet and she could tell he was brooding with anger as he steadied himself on the side of her stretcher. She put her hand on his and just looked at him tiredly without saying a word before she dozed off.

The ambulance pulled up and everyone piled out in front of the trauma wing of the hospital. The chill of the evening again rushed over her as the doors opened and one of EMT’s quickly tossed a light blanket over her as they moved with practiced precision. She would be headed for a CT scan, MRI, X-Ray and the whole nine yards. Being an injured law enforcement officer put her at the front of the line for anything non-life-threatening and one of the hospital staff told the EMTs a doctor was already waiting for her. Glancing around at everything that passed by, Paige saw her phone in Milo’s pocket and tugged at his shirt as they went through the double-doors. “Call Siobhan and tell her what room I’m in,” She said as they continued through several corridors. “She’s probably wondering where I am.” The sterilized hospital smell became recognizable as they handed her off to a stern-looking nurse who assigned a room number and took over. They would have to transition her over to a regular bed and get everything started.

“You look like you had a wild night, hunny.” The nurse said getting her vitals. The woman had an accent nearly as strong as hers and Paige knew they would be getting along just fine. “How do you feel?” She asked tapping away at a mobile station.

“About how I look.” Paige said flatly with a slight grin.

The nurse chuckled a bit, “This your boyfriend?” She said glancing back at her then at Milo. It was hardly professional, but also recognizing the dialect the two of them spoke, knew it would be received in the lighthearted manner it was intended. “Husband…? Cousin even?”

Paige smiled broadly and even blushed a little rolling her eyes and shaking her head slowly. “Something like that.” She replied.

@RoccanIronclad@Almalthia

Austin . Texas . Late week and weekend . Hotel and flight back to Sol City

---

Victoria managed to wake up slowly and looked out thr bright sunny window in her private hospital room, pushing herself up she was Suprised and it felt easier, it was working.

She had been in the private hospital since late Tuesday and had been a if of blur of appointments, treatments and tests. She had managed to look up and grab her phone before noticing a pale grey hair. For most people her age that would be scary but she was amazed and ran it through her fingers. They told her it would take a while for thr natural hair colour to return, and she would still have to attend rehab. Hair you could use a short cut though.

Finding her balence still a a little off but it was slowly returning, she could manage better unaided and everything would take time to come together, looking in the mirror, it was not thr same Victoria that had left Sol, her hair was slowly turning a pale grey, her skin had taken on a more pale alabastor or porcelain , but far more healthy than her snow like skin before.

She would always be slight, and pale, they could not fix everything but now the woman who looked back in mirror was more like her old self. Reaching for her makeup and then laughing, some was ok but even the darkest foundation was now too pale, that was... A intresting but welcome problem. Clothes too, finding somthing but she was a different person for all intents... A shopping trip be needed before she return. Victoria wanted to reflect the new person. However scary, who was she now, what would she do, how was she going to reconcile the two people she was slowly becoming.

Several appointments later, she was leaving the hospital and thanks to the hospital being rather more equiped than she ever thought, in came a white haired, ice princess, out came a still pale but now long raven haired and a subtle purple detail made it stand out, and highlighted the intense near solid black.




She still needed somthing more fitting to her new self, transferring a sum out her luxumberg numbered account, even after buying a car it was not light thanks to lucrative security work and a deposit for a upgrade on Cerberous. She had helped make it, though coding had been OK, the pay was dramatically higher and though somewhat grey... Would keep her in a nicer lifestyle than before.

Only after a few bits, she found that her preference leant slightly to the more gothic style and now had a few dresses and tops in a slightly corset style, with more black, purples, reds and a much darker range in blues even cobolts much more intense and saturated than the pale tones she used to wear. It would take time to rebuild her look and what she was... Splurging a a little, she picked up a silver short necklace with a blood red jewal. Victorian engkish it claimed maybe ebwardian but it was nice and the contrasting blood red to her ice blue ring reflected nicely how she had changed.

On her way back to hotel, now loaded with bags, shoes and a new necklace glittering round her neck, replacements for most her make up have to wait, she reacted to certain brand but was able to get atleast a new foundation and concealer down in a Austin boutique. Flopping onto a large double bed she looked round and at pile of bags and boxes that reflected her change. Her suitcase reflected the old. How did you deal with such a huge change, maybe she was working too quick but changing into a new black and red slightly 50,s corset topped dress, twirling and not reconising the woman, this would take a while but it felt... Right. It would be her... It was her. It took... Time to adapt. In a fit of vanity, if anything she had ended up looking quite dramatic, but it worked... Her figure, her hair, everything suited.

Heading to eat, she stayed in but it was a nice hotel, and it was a practice run before she had to face anyone she knew, time to.... Learn this new Victoria. In a long mirror in lobby she sent Marilania a picture, she was certainly striking. Marinalia had only seen old pictures, her reaction would definitely be Suprised. Sending it to Maria, she knew it get to who she wanted, they would be Suprised but pleasantly, Vesarian had been fairly open on it and left her knowing he supported which ever road she decided to take. Though he probbly was glad to see the old Victoria return, well maybe a new version of the old.

Wondering what do about Milo, what would she do... She had a feeling there romance may be weaker... And this suddon change may be a end to that. Freinship maybe, they did share quite a few things even with the awkward space between them. She had to be honest, she needed a freind. Would he even give her the time of day...

At least, thinking such a radical change night mean a few people she not want to notice her, to be unsure if same person. Though seeing womans in blue micro dress that was way too short, well her face might be a funny one. What would people think? Would they reconise her or would she be anonymous? The truth only time would tell. What would the big firefighter think... They where nice to her, Ashton.. Yeah Ashton. T it would be rude to ask but being mute always made her extremely curious.

Transforming visually was easy but the hard part... Who did she want to be, what parts of her life did she want to leave with her snowy aperence and which parts did thr now raven reborn carry forward. That would take alot more thinking, she had a flight to catch early Monday back to Sol City, Deadalus meant Marilania got her discount on the whole bonus scheme they had. The complementary class of champagne was a nice touch too.

Plenty of time to think on who she wanted to be... But she did know, she would go back to her old work. Small websites never tested her skills. Victoria could do those in her sleep, slow, logical and time to get it all working yes. But it never had truly tested her ability.

Part of her was scared, another excited and other bits everything inbtween, she was utterly confused at times. It seemed becoming new... Had some more deeper layers than skin deep. All the time in the world but a a little fear grew... What of she was better off being her old self... What of thr new self would not work out, she had been the snow princess for some... 8-9 years... No 9, she had been her newnform for a day. The rational part of her mind was a tad overwhelmed by her suddon emotions. But it still retained some control of her faculties.

Remembering, she had to check before she left, her Aperence was somewhat different to her passport ands so, and would need updating. Right now she had a signed and autherised medical letter, with photos and all manner of official signitures confirming she was who she was. She should have gone for biometric passport when she updated. It would of saved alot of trouble.

Heading up to bed and twirling her fingers through the smooth black as it graduated into vivid purple hues, staring into mirror, it took a second to remember it was her, thr transformation had been fast, too fast probbly. Everything looking back was her... 9 years ago... Brought forward... Her past was her future, her past was also her past... In a strange logic. She never had noticed as so, but she managed most the walk about the hotel unaided, the city too had been easier, only now did she relise, the only cloud she saw on that front was what did she do with her hand now? She always held it like... That.

At least she would have work and other things to distract her, still a tiny bit unable to belive the changes a week had brought.

Texting in bed, she sent a single message, Milo had wished her. Well, between all the tests, apaountments and trying to work out who she was... She had forgotten alot of things.

I'm myself... Well old one, that's new... It's been alot to take in. Not sure quite who I am right now, what i want to become. Its pretty scary... But also... Liberating.. I've got a second chance.

Just got out of hospital today, past few days been a blur of tests and appointments.

Can I still call you a freind whatever happens?

Vika, Lady De Corvus.

Ps, you might not reconise me

Hitting send after nth edit, it reflected her mind too perfectly, on surface she was fine, below, she had the long task of working out who Victoria Romus was and wanted to become. The little hint at end, Corvus, Raven. Her sister had taught her a a little Latin and the majestic black birds, though somewhat misunderstood seemed a perfect match for her.

...

Heading back to to Sol City was.. Going to be a intresting experience as she passed through ID checks with medical paperwork and detailed information on her treatment and reasons for tmher sheer differences. With a medical clearance and a quick seach she passed through the TSA point and sat back relaxing in a large lounge. It was strange, the old Victoria striking pale general style got the odd stare or look of concern she was ill or somthing. Only needing the walking stick for the rough ground and odd step, it was nice to... Walk, to be more normal.. This time round the only looks the Raven haired woman got was the odd lingering look back as she stood out with distinct purple highlight details, and abit of goth... But a more feminine take on the style. Maybe she should check out some of the boutique sites in covanrt Gardens alternative stores... She probbly could have fun with somthing, a little more diffrent. Not too extreme but not highstreet either.

Life was... Definitely diffrent. Her new life was beginning, slowly and surely, she would have to make a new Victoria. She needed a new wardrobe too, somthing maybe abit more daring, or so... She felt more. Yes, confident, felt better about her self inward a d out.

Boarding, she still needed help to get her carry on into the top overheads, she would not gain any hight and being 4'9 meant she would struggle even if she was stronger. Thanking a man for helping her, she leant back and took her busuiness class seat. The cure process would take time, her progress had been good so far though. Still playing and running her fingers through the slightly shiny, but also a tiny bit more curly now black hair. It's graduations into vivid puples and blues and back into intense raven black. It was pure deep black. Her old colour, was now new.

The flight attendets compliment she had pretty hair, was.. Intresting but it made her feel good, reinforcing her decision to take the treatment.

Updating her Facebook, well she had to... She replaced the picture of ghostly Victoria to reflect herself, thr photo of her she sent to Marinalia in a nice 50's dress with corset detail on top, definitely a winner.. Once she tweaked the lighting so her hair stood out abit more. It was one more step to becoming someone else.

Below the clouds looked down like a carpet of white and greys , as she watched from her window seat, speeding towards to Sol City at hundreds of miles per hour. All the person next to her, saw was a tired alabastor skinned woman, with a rather bold choice in hair, a blood red jewal close round her neck. Not that he relised how symbolic it was, or how she was glad to be noticed on her own terms.

Everything had been pretty intense, ans her body was still changing, slowly, but surely. It was kinda tiring, and thr champagne did not help. Closing her eyes and pulling a blanket up, she fell asleep sleeping peacefully as they flew to Sol. She just hoped this was not all a dream.

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(Mentioned in passing, messages or so)

@RoccanIronclad(Text sent weekend. Unless Milo had mastered time travel lol)

@Almalthia@Silver Fox(general references)

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Milo kept pace as the stretcher was moved quickly down the hospital hallway, they kept talking to Paige and trying to tell him things but he wasn't doing well at paying attention to any of it, his thoughts were just to how he was actually going to help Paige, what could he even do? He was no police officer, he had no authority, no resources, anything that he did would be under the same scrutiny as anything that Jackie could do. What woke him from this contemplation was the sound of Paige asking him to call her friend, that girl from before, Siobhan. Milo nodded and walked out of the room as the nurse started to ask her questions. Milo took the phone and found Siobhan's number, dialed and waited, no answer, just her voicemail. "Siobhan, it's Milo, Paige was attacked and is in the hospital, she asked me to call and let you know where she was, second floor, room twelve." and he hung up having delivered the message. Milo went back in and set Paige's phone back down, "I let her know but she didn't answer, just left a message." Milo waited until the nurse left, "I'm sorry Paige, I guess it was naive of me to think it was gonna be over." He shook his head, "I will figure something out, something to keep this from happening again."

@Pilatus@Almalthia

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Siobhan went to the gym to meet Paige, who never showed up. Siobhan bit her lip worried about Paige. This isn't like her. Maybe she got caught up in paperwork. Driving home she mentally shuffled her projects and to do list in order of most important. Finish up the illustrations. Clean up. Make dinner then into bed. Tossing her keys on the end table of the two bedroom apartment in a less pricey and very down to earth neighborhood. She sighed and stretched arching her back. She turned on the stereo system and made a beeline for her work station.

The apartment was immaculate. Her workstation not so much. She had notes all over it and her paints scattered about it too. She sighed and soon lost herself in her work. The apartment quickly became dark and Siobhan asked google to turn on the light. The lights came on and Siobhan continued to work on the illustrations for the medical book. About an hour later she was scanning it in and emailing the professor. Looking up she noticed it was well after sundown. Stretching she went to the kitchen and made dinner.

She was restless and wanted to get out and relax. Relaxing meant riding around the city and daddy had a nice Mac Laren that she'd been dying to see get her hands on. Deciding on taking out the car she called her daddy.“Hey Daddy how are you and Mum tonight?”“We're good. At home right now. Did you need something, baby girl?”

Siobhan grinned. “That transparent huh?”“Only because I know you had your car turned in to get it worked on and you've had your eye on my Mac Laren for awhile now.” She could hear his lazy grin.

She laughed and unlocked her door locking it again from the outside. “Alright ya caught me. I'll be there asap and you and mum can think up what you want for me to borrow the car.”“Alright. See you in a bit. Love you, baby girl.”“Love you too daddy. Of course mum too. Bye.” Laughing softly she hung up.

Taking a taxi she was across town and out of the cab in about half an hour. After about a few minutes her phone vibrated and she let it go to voicemail. Not pulling out the phone she excused herself and listened to the voicemail.

"Siobhan, it's Milo, Paige was attacked and is in the hospital, she asked me to call and let you know where she was, second floor, room twelve."

The voicemail cut off and she stared off into space, which was how her mother found her a couple of minutes later.

“Van? Sweetie? What's wrong? You're paler than normal.”“Paige is in the hospital. She was attacked.” Her voice was flat and slow as if she wasn't here. Her mother pinched her arm. “Ow!! Mum that hurt!!!” Siobhan rubbed her arm and glared at her mother.“Paige isn't Genny, but you should go.” Her mother turned to her father who was standing in the doorway and making eye contact with him he nodded.“Take the Mac Laren for now. Go to Kennedy. I've done so research on her. She's pretty cool. Be safe. And let her know if she needs anything we'd be happy to help.”

Nodding she hugged them both and ran for the garage. Jumping in, firing it up and pulling out of the driveway she thought about gunning it but stayed at the speed limit. Getting to the hospital she parked locked the car and broke into a run. Skidding around corners she took a moment to appreciate what the mile swim daily that she'd been doing. She dodged nurses and doctors miraculously not tripping or knocking anyone over. She barely slowed down as she started to see cops. She skidded to a stop outside the open door of room 12.“Paige?” It came out as a breathless whisper as she took in the battered countenance of her best friend, practically big sister. Siobhan was frozen in the doorway. Siobhan’s expression was one of disbelief and agony. How did this happen? Not again!!!! If Paige didn't get the guy we're going Chicken Huntin’!!!!!

Joel Nicolosi

Joel glanced away towards the plane as Marlin spoke. He wasn't sure where she was going with her explanation. Admitting weakness? He had no idea what she was talking about. All he wanted and all he asked for was a simple reason why she felt like she needed to apologize to him. Or, what could have been much easier, she could have just asked him why he left the bar, but no one seemed the least bit interested in that answer which made him really wonder if she just didn't want to hear it. As far as what Sio had said, he didn't see where she had any need to be ashamed. For a woman that looked like Marlin, he was pretty much expecting her to be talking to other guys. Why be embarrassed about It? Did she think she was the first girl he ever talked to? That was a bizarre and comical thought in itself. Sio hadn't said anything out of the way, but the two sisters damn sure played right into her hands with the way they reacted and it seemed like she was continuing to needle them even days later. Geez.

He didn't need to hear about Victoria and certainly not about Bob before he flew out. The resolution she seemed to think she wanted, she didn't appear to really want to face. It felt like she wanted to just dump all her baggage out, expect him to accept it and move on like nothing happened. Fortunately, Joel had a poker face for the ages and he continued to just listen. In all honesty, the party had felt more like a victory party for them rather than for him and Tommy, but he'd kept his mouth shut and tried to enjoy it. Her family were not the kind of people he partied with and the more she tried to passively defend the indefensible, the more he felt drawn towards... Sio, like some symbol of rebellion. He didn't know if it was completely out of spite or because he found their redheaded kryptonite to be challenging. Marlin was interested, but how much did she just want him as some trophy? It was frustrating and weird. He wasn't in the mood to be frustrated or weird.

When the boarding call came up he retrieved a small set of headphones from his bag as she continued to talk. He stretched a little and tossed the bag back over his shoulder. A server immediately changed out his empty glass and handed him another for the plane. In his mind, he was almost already there. Cherry blossoms, neon lights, speed runs on the Wangan and no one to bother him. He didn't know what she was expecting from him at this point and he wasn't going to indulge any lovey-dovey bullshit either. There was plenty he wanted to say as he stuck his free hand in his pocket, but as usual, he bottled it up until it was asked. "I just need some space for a while." He said, simultaneously thinking he could speak no firmer truth. He'd only been able to get a few words in against her exposition. "You should get back in the saddle," He continued, echoing his words when they were at the cargo airport. He scanned his phone one last time at the top of the jetway. "This office stuff doesn't suit you." He said glancing back.

In a few strides he was stepping onboard with his headphones blaring, glancing up briefly at the dataplate as he entered and being greeted like a King in spacious first class. He put his bag and drink down, stretched out and waited for pushback.

@PrinceAlexus

Joel's Playlist