Joe sat with his back against the warehouse wall. He had come to the meeting place early for no particular reason. Waiting wasn't as big of an issue to him as it seemed to most humans.
"Hi," the newcomer spoke, in a thin, somewhat high-pitched voice of a boy who might be yet to go through puberty, "I'm Loud Love. Are we going to kill them?" He nodded at the barred door, obviously referring the person who brought them here.
Maverick pretended not to be startled by the naked teenager who suddenly appeared in front of her very eyes. She decided to keep her eyes on everyone's faces for now.
"Is there a reason why you're naked?"
"Yes, there is," The naked person replied, staring at the newcomer quite unemotionally. "Does it trouble you?"
"Not me, your future girlfriend maybe." Tereska retorted, seemingly happy at her response. She crossed her arms, it was cold and she was getting antsy. She pulled a packet of cigarettes from her bag, lit a cigarette that she held in her mouth and tossed the packet back in.
"It is actually quite chilly, yes." The boy smiled. "I'd be glad to wear something, but fashion just can't keep up with me. You on the other hand look very pretty."
Tereska sort of cocked her head back after the compliment. At a meeting of villains one thing she didn't expect to get hit on by was a naked 14 year old. She was about to open her mouth, when thankfully another female hero saved her the awkwardness.
"Anyway..." said Maverick pointedly, drawing out the 'way', "I think we should get back to the task at hand. You can call me Maverick."
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Loud Love."
"Oh wait, I already said that. Sorry."
Maverick thought to herself. Loud Love. A teleporting kid- looked like in his early or mid teens. Who's naked. A thought clicked in her brain. He was the poor kid a while ago who killed all those people by accident. A twinge of sympathy plucked at Samantha, but she wasn't sure if she could trust anyone here yet. She decided not to say anything.
"Loud Love?" She asked, rhetorically. "Did you choose that name, or is it some sort of 80s prog rock band?"
"Oh my, you know them too?"
LL was obviously pleasantly surprised. "You must've been around for a very long time! It seemed to me you're much younger."
Samantha raised an eyebrow.
"Anyway, enough..." She tried to think of the word. Roving through her metaphorical databanks, unable to find the right word.
"Roasting?" LL suggested.
"Idiocy?" Maverick proposed.
"Let's go with banter." She finalised.
"Let's." The boy nodded. "Does anyone has a watch? It seems to me it's already past 8. What are we waiting for? Or maybe it's 'Who'?"
Maverick pulled back a sleeve and scoffed, glancing down at a wrist watch. "Yeah, whoever this asshole is, he seemed pretty set on getting us here at eight. It's been like ten minutes." The crude word sounded genuinely aggressive.
"Well we are 'villains' after all, what's more villainous than showing up 10 minutes late to the evil boy scout meeting?" Harpy asked, sarcasm evident through her accent.
Maverick could think of a lot of things. Threatening someone's family, for example. She grinded her teeth under her mask.
Love chuckled. He too, could think of some worse things, but found the reply amusing anyways.
"Can it be presumed that we all were called here by a single person? Does the name 'Presence' tell you of anything?"
Maverick shook her head to LL's questions. She had no idea if everyone was called here by one person, and had no clue who this alleged 'Presence' was. What a pretentious name, too.
"I get the feeling we were, although the message I got sent was rather sparse." Tereska explained, pulling out her phone and swiping to the text.
"Harpy - know your identity- Częstochowa - Teres" She quickly cut her explanation off, realizing she was reading her own identity off to a group of strangers who identified as villains.
"I've got a letter. Actual, on paper and with seal and everything."
LL said, absent-mindedly scraping a bit of old gore from his chest.
"It was signed like that - 'Presence'."
"I'm jealous" Replied Tereska. "I didn't think people still sent letters anymore, I suppose that says something either about myself, or our age group" She half joked.
Maverick was inwardly laughing at the fact that this "Harpy" almost read off her identity to her to remark about the 'actual paper' letter that Loud Love recieved.
"I think it's because i don't have a phone. The guy who brought it didn't look like a mailman, though."
"What sort of backwoods yokel dosen't have a portable phone in the year of our lord 2000 and 16?" Came a deep, electroic batritone from Phone Freak as she wandered up. Then she looked down and got a good look at Loud Love. A really good look. The helmet snapped back up and gave the distinct impression that it would stay at eye level for the forseable future.
Oh, she though, surveying the faces around her. That sort.
"Oh this is just perfect." Phone freak groaned. Looking from Loud love and Talbot and back, a disparaging grumble could be heard rumbling through the helmets voice distorter. She looked over at the people here who's reputation didn't precede them. She tried to optimistic, but it was always the ones you didn't expect that were the real freaks. "I certainly hope you two don't eat babies or anything." She said, that unpleasant sinking feeling setting in. "I'm Phone Freak." She said after a moment. Her professional pride demanded at least a token effort. "I'm looking forward to a, Omnissiah willing, short and profitable endeavor with all of you."
Andrew looked at the newcomers who had arrived with a serious stare. Phone Freak's comment made him raise his eyebrow.
"What makes you think that we are going to work together? This all could be a setup and we all could simply just get taken down right here and now," he replied to the girl's comment.
"He speaks," Maverick said sarcastically, referring to the boy she saw first when she entered. "And no, at least I don't eat babies. Not sure about the rest of them." Said Maverick to the newcomer who called itself Phone Freak. Maverick wasn't quite sure on Phone Freak's gender, but Maverick supposed it didn't really matter.
As the group of people seemed to settle into conversation Nergal sighed and muttered to himself,
“Guess that means this whole thing is legit, or at least not a bloody trap”.
He had half hoped the group might end up turning on each other and it all ended in a bloody brawl so he could just walk away but given he had already stalled for quite a while, he left the cover of darkness and began to make his way over to the rest of them, lest he try the patience of his new ‘employer’. As he reached the group he simply gave them a curt nod and asked
“I’m just going to guess we’re all here for the same reason, and instead ask if anyone got instructions of what to do after meeting here?”
"I was under the impression that we just supposed to wait here." Maverick rsponded to yet another visitor. This 'Presence' has amassed quite a group here, it seemed. The new arrival seemed to be quiet for a while.
"We could get seen." Phone Freak said, and check pulled on the door as if no one had already tried that.
Metallia would simply drift down slowly from the sky eventually. Her white hair strangely visible in the evening, her expression devoid of impression, her posture straight and head held high, her dress fitting gracefully on her body. And then, of course, she was sitting on a robotic chair that was seemingly flying with no apparent means to do so, and then there were those two large robot arms on the back of it that had not detached yet. She’d land a little further away than talking distance from the others, turned towards them, just gazing at them without much of a word. Before she engaged in any kind of communication, she wanted to know what kind of people she was dealing with.
The young and naked person known as Loud Love to the rest of the gathering regarded the girl from the sky with a curious glare:
"Hi. You've got a very pretty dress. What's your name?
‘...’ Metallia briefly inspected the naked individual. Her expression twitched, looking mildly appalled for a moment, but kept her gaze on his face. ‘You may call me Metallia.’ She eventually settled for, her gaze leaving him and looking for the other present individuals.
Maverick couldn't help but follow Loud Love's gaze to the person floating in the sky. She shoved her hands in her pockets and looked back at the people standing with her on the ground.
Phone Freak turned from her inefectual yanking on the door to see what newcomer had arrived. As she laid eyes on the newcomer and interesting combination of emotions vied for dominance. Her visibilty caused worry, the way the dress clung to her figure elicited white hot jealousy, and the flying chair caused a sharp little emotion that can best be described as Robots!!! She couln't help but stare.
"Metallica?" Loud Love asked, "Like the band?"
"Metallia" Interjected Tereska.
‘...’ Metallia looked back at the naked boy with mild confusion in her expression. ‘... Band? ... My name is Metallia. No "k"-sound...’
"I'm Maverick,". She said, calling to the person who called herself Metallia above.
"Harpy." She repeated, introducing herself once more.
"Did she fly that all the way here?" Called Phone Freak from the background.
"Big deal." Loud Love scoffed. "I'm more bothered by that 'k'-sound."
"I mean, she missed a GREAT opportunity there."
‘Maverick. Harpy. ...’ She nodded at those who introduced themselves first. Then she frowned a little at the naked one. ‘... I fail to see what opportunity was missed.’ She blankly stated, a shadow of annoyance on her brow.
"Oh, don't mind it then. I'm Loud Love, by the way. Pleased to meet you, Metallia."
"Because someone would have noticed that." Phone Freak called again. She jiggled the door again, because maybe this time it would open.
"Freak, we should probably wait. I think breaking down the door might upset whoever this megalomaniac 'Presence' is. Hopefully it'll open soon," She said to Phone Freak, who has tried to the door what, twice now?
Metallia's expression lost the annoyed undertones as he dropped the matter.‘Very well. Pleased to meet you, as well.’ She raise her head a little as she said that to those present. ... Her eyes drifted to the one calling from by the door. Just staring at that one for a bit.
"I'm not the patient sort. There are other things I could be doing right now." Phone Freak replied, but nevertheless turned away from the door. Then she noticed Metallia staring at her. Phone Freak froze, staring back. "If we're having a contest I think I have a slight advantage." she said to her.
Things like what?" Loud Love asked. "Robbing a bank?"
"Jewelery is easier to get rid of." Phone Freak replied, not taking her eyes off Metallia. Even if this staring contest was only in her head she intended to win it. "But mostly I have important research to get back too."
‘... I don't believe we're having a competition.’ Metallia said. ‘... But just in case, what kind of competition would we be having?’ Metallia's slightly competitive mind forced her to inquire about that. Especially since Freak here claimed to have an advantage.
"We look at one another, and the first one to blink loses." Phone Freak replied.
Maverick slowly facepalmed.
‘...’ Metallia's gaze grew weary. She then closed her eyes, ran a hand through her hair with utmost grace, and spoke. ‘Hmpf. How childish.’ There was mild annoyance in her voice. ... It was also because she realized she had no special skill in keeping her eyes open, so she waved off the encounter instead of facing it.
"You started it." Phone Freak said in a huff. Was this robot princess making fun of her!? Who did she think she was, with her good looks and cool robot chair?
Thule was running somewhat late to the meeting, but as far as he was concerned that was perfectly alright with him. Considering how he had been forced to change his staying arrangements in order to be able to get to this meeting at a reasonable time with only a few days notice he felt that he was going pretty good all things considered.
He had what was quite clearly a cheap cup of coffee in his hand, nothing special just something he had brought from McDonald's on the way over; Truth be told he wasn't actually sure if it was doing anything for him as he sipped it, but just the motion seemed to help put him somewhat at ease. Arriving at the place that this meeting was meant to take place at, the pale man couldn't help but notice that there was already something of a crowd gathered there, no doubt for much the same reason as he was.
Letting out a sigh, he sipped his coffee as he approached the group... before noticing that there was a teenager younger then him not wearing any clothes. With a completely deadpan expression, he looked the guy over before tilting his head as he looked down at his groin area before admitting without a sense of shame "You're very confident, I'll say that... but you shouldn't be."
"I can understand that you are lashing out at me due to your own obvious mediocrity in the trouser department, but I won't concentrate attention on that fact." Such was LL's joyous and polite retort.
"Well, forgive me for doing such novel things as wearing clothing... and bathing from the looks of it." Thule admitted before sipping from his cup of bland coffee once again before looking around to see whom else was there. "Evening, ladies and gentlemen."
"Hello," Maverick said to yet another somebody, who looked a little pale. "I'm Maverick,"
Ed dragged his feet as he had finally gotten to this 'super important club meeting.' He was already in a pissed mood from having to leave his hideout which he just unpacked everything. There was already a bunch of odd ones there some might actually be good to talk to, and others might just need a doctor most likely that naked boy. There was this one guy who was just a little to fancy for Ed's taste. He spotted the guy was holding a coffee, so Ed took out his handgun and shot the bottom of the cup. Draining it of what was left inside. "Yeah evening."
"Are you serious right now!?" Maverick yelled, referring to the man who just fired his pistol.
Maverick secretly hoped that the pale person had lazer eyes and could just instantly kill the cocky son of a bitch who shot out his coffee cup.
‘...’ With the gun being fired, Metallia would reposition herself, backing off several meters, her chair floating up into the air backing off before landing again. Just in case. She's then going to remain there for now, staring silently from a distance.
Phone Freak also jumped, looking over at the huy and the spilled coffee all over the ground. "Nice shot." She said. She was supried this hadn't happened earlier. Archibald had said that most villain meets began with someone trying to establish a pecking order. Unfortunately, if a fight broke out they were defintely getting caught.
Thule blinked a little as he witnessed what had to be the dumbest thing he had ever seen a human do; Shoot out the bottom of his coffee cup because he said hello. Looking at the cup for a moment, Thule dropped it onto the ground before turning his attention towards the human with the gun, glaring at him.
Taking a step towards the man, he made damn sure to be watching his trigger finger and where the barrel was pointed so that he could not be there when he fired again while he closed the distance. This challenge would not go unanswered!
Ed stood by mildly satisfied with what he had done. He had seen everyone just either back away or stare at him, and he especially noticed the guy who's coffee he shot turn and slowly walk towards him. "Okay so Mr. Fancy Pants here wants to fight over spilled cofee?" Ed chuckled a little to himself. "Well I hope under all that fancy clothing you got a bullet proof vest. he then proceeded to fire another shot aiming square in the middle of the fancy guy's chest.
Nobody had noticed Joe yet, although he'd been there the entire time. This wasn't because they weren't observant, just that he had remained hidden. In plain sight. He wasn't invisible, but he was as close to it one can get without bending the properties of light.
Well, I suppose it's time I introduced myself. Joe thought, watching the shenanigans with little interest.
"Alright boys, that's enough childrens play." Joe said casually, standing up and walking towards them, no longer cloaked in whatever magic allowed him to stay unnoticed.
"We wouldn't any blood on our hands, would we? At least not yet."
Maverick eyed the strange man for a second, observing him. What is that, a skin tight suit? Eitherway, her eyes were immediately attracted back to the fight by yet another gunshot.
As the man's finger twitched on the trigger, Thule noticed it and moved a hell of a lot faster then he had suggested before, jumping to the right to dodge the bullet before it fired before rushing the gunman with an intense glare.
Reaching into his jacket, Thule removed a short, sharp piece of metal that looked like a sword as he charged, fueled by pride and bloodthrist as he ignored those who tried to stop this now. The first target for a slash? That damn hand holding the gun.
Alright, enough of this shit. Suddenly, Maverick lunged forward. Extending her arm outward, she grabbed the sword wielding man by the elbow and attempted to reverse his kinetic energy. She grunted with the effort as she yanked him backwards and attempted to place herself between the two pride-filled men.
"For fucks sake!" Was all she shouted.
Thule felt someone try and grab him, restain him with a lot more force then he was used to for a normal human being. Turning his attention towards the source of this interferance, he snarled a little before he redireacted the blade towards the woman's exposed chest for interfering in a matter of pride.
Joe saw this was going in a very poor direction, and quickly darted out his arm, grasping the blade with his bare hand. Except, it wasn't bare anymore, it was covered in a leather glove of sorts. Obviously not enough to completely negate all damage from blunt force stopping a blade, but at least it would help a little bit. Besides, he wasn't some man with thin, stringy flesh. It was the thick hide of a demon. Not that they knew that yet.
"I think that's enough fun for now." Joe said calmly.
Maverick glanced down at the blade that was hovering just a few inches in front of her chest. She followed it up to the gloved hand of the stranger she saw earlier, and then to the face of the man who literally just tried to kill her. She glared at him, raised her hands and backed off, saying nothing.
"He came, he sipped coffee, he attacked an uninvolved woman who was just trying to help." Loud Love cackled. "A true knight. Historically accurate, even."
Thule growled deeply as yet another person interfered, but as his blade met glove he managed to reign himself in before he managed to do any lasting harm to anyone. Glaring at the man who mocked him for being a 'true knight', Thule merely said in response "She interfered in a matter of honor. I do not take kindly to people interfering with a duel in progress... even against one as pathtic as our gunslinging friend over there..."
Without another word, he returned the blade to its place in his jacket, stepping back and ignoring several of those gathered for now...
"Honor, always a good reason it seems." Joe said. No tone of mocking could be heard, but one can never tell. He turned his back and walked back to his comfy rock-and-hard-earth spot, his leather glove changing into a bandage. He plopped down, getting nice and comfortable.
Maverick eyed the faceless stranger. She'd be sure to thank him later.
Phone Freak sighed in relief, closed her phone, and slipped it back into her pocket before walking over, putting her near the mystery man and, more pointedly, between the gunslinger and the...whatever that swordsman was. "Nice work big guy." She said.
"Okay, okay. Let's just... not escalate things further." LL interfered. "We all have our weaknesses. His is honor, Metallia's are puns, mine's eating people."
"And lets not forget that each and every one one of us is bent over the barrel right now." Phone Freak called out to everyone. She turned her attention to the gunslinger in particular. "So if you want to try and pick fights to discover who the biggest dog in the kennel is, don't bother. None of us are the big dog." Then she looked back over her shoulder at Talbot. "Well," she ammended, "Except him."
