[IC] Masks, A Tale of Heroes (CLOSED)

[LPFan]

Last night,
Somewhere in Modern City Downtown,
01:13 AM

A black guy was running away from God knows what as he was looking behind him and breathing fast. Then all of a sudden he makes a right and heads into an alley where he stops as he puts his hands on his knees and starts catching his breath. "Oh God! I think I lost him. For a second thee i thought..." The guy didn't get to finish his sentence as Vince grabs him from behind and slams him against a wall, pulling out a stainless SIG P220 and pressing it against his left cheek. "Hello Dale! You have no idea how much i've been looking for you. It's not nice to run away from me, you know." Said Vince. "What the fuck do you want man? Leave me alone! You want money? I can give you money. Yeah!" Said Dale trying to weasel his way out of the situation. Angry, Vince kicks him in the testicules as Dale falls on the ground in pain. "You think I need your drug money huh? I don't need anything from you. All I want is for you to do die? You and all other drug dealers in this city?" Said Vince as he loaded his P220 and shot Dale straight in the head, killing him instantly. Then he put a picture of a Phoenix under his hand and left the scene imidieatly, putting his gun in his right leg holster and running away to his bike, a black Yamaha FZ-09 that he bought only recenty. Vince was using this bike only for his nights out, when he was "hunting" drug dealers.

Next morning,
Sarah's apartment,
09:30 AM

Vince woke up next to Sarah, who was still sleeping, as he gently wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the cheek. Sarah although with her eyes closed smiled. "Where were you last night? Dinner got cold and I got tired of waiting!" She said with a sleepy tone. Vince didn't respond imidieatly as he was thinking what to say. "Does it really matter? As long as i'm still here with you?" He responded kissing her again on the cheek. "I guess not!" She replied. "Stay in bed. I'm going to the gym. See you later." Said Vince as he got out of the bed, put some clothes on then quickly made some coffee in the kitchen, and grabbed a bite to eat from some of the food that Sarah made last night for them. After finishing his coffee, Vince took his car keys and left the apartment, heading to the gym. Once outside, he got in his car, a light blue 1967 Pontiac GTO, started the car and left, heading to the gym.

[Avanhelsing]

Jack kept running. He was not in the mood to get involved with anything. He was not the type to go hunting to help for any reason. His powers were not designed to help people. It was only designed to hurt and he used it for that reason. Even the Whisper thought so but he did not try to help anyone. So he kept going on his run.

"So what is your plan, boy? You still need to figure out how to fight for real. The claws will only do so much." The Whisper said in his head trying to bother Jack. He had no idea what to do right now but he did have a plan. He ran towards a different part of the city trying to still figure out what the heck he was going to do. After a bit he noticed a gym as he ran. He had to admit he was curious. It seemed to be some sort of MMA gym. He had never done anything like that but he was desperate so he stood in front of the place looking around at the place waiting for anyone with any information.

[Larfleeze]

Somewhere in a downtown apartment building a cockroach is squashed by an alabaster hand belonging to Poltergeist, the spectral guardian of Thomas Chandler. A random thought of disgust that wasn't his entered his mind. Since their minds and bodies were reflections of each other, things like this would happen regularly. While Thomas has never heard Poltergeist speak, his mind would often be filled with feelings and experiences that actually belonged to his ghostly protector. He wasn't sure how he always knew what Poltergeist meant, he just somehow...knew.

Thomas turned his electric wheel chair around, heading for their apartment door to go down for his mail, as he 'deactivated' Poltergeist. He had asked his roommate to grab some groceries earlier for lunch and had expected him to be back by now. Thomas grabbed the key for their shared safety deposit box as he went out into the apartment hallway. He rolled around the corner and headed into the elevator, pressing the yellowed ground floor button with his thumb. The elevator closed with a ding as the speakers began to play.

Less than five minutes later and Thomas had finally reached the ground floor. As the elevator doors slowly opened, Thomas rolled out of the small area, offering a respectful nod to the manager of the apartment, and the few people loitering around the head desk. The mail room was only a door away from the main elevator, and after pushing open the door with a pale hand, Thomas entered the room and headed straight for their safety deposit box...Number 52. He reached into his pocket, and grabbing the key, Thomas unlocked the box and grabbed the small pile of mail. A small, rubber-banded package and a small letter, labeled to Jason, was the only two things that really caught his eye. The others were just bills, expenses, and tax reductions or something.

With mail in hand, Thomas turned round back into the elevator, pressing the 5th button, and headed up back to their home. Before he could place his key into the door, his ears pricked to the sound of hushed whispering around the corner. Rather than go around himself, Thomas instead brought out Poltergeist, turning itself invisible before sending it around to see the commotion. Through his Guardian's eyes, Thomas saw two large men huddled over one of his neighbours doors. Poltergeist went in closer; even if Thomas was just being paranoid, he wouldn't be doing any harm by looking. "Come on, man. Hurry the fuck up, we don't know when they'll get back." muttered one of the unknown men. The other man appeared to be fiddling with the lock. Having decided that the two men were clearly attempting to break in, Thomas commanded Poltergeist to hover right behind them, dropping its invisibility. Poltergeist extended a single bone-white finger and tapped the first man on his shoulder. He froze like a deer caught in headlights, and slowly turned around to face him, his features changed to show intense fear as he saw what was behind him. He panicked and ran, not even bothering to warn his fellow criminal. "Hey, where do you think you're goin'?" he shouted, before turning around to see a menacing Poltergeist. He whimpered as Thomas smiled around the corner and unleashed a barrage of punches, knocking the man out cold. Leaving him lying there, Thomas retracted Poltergeist before calmly wheeling back into his apartment.

[ScarlettWaters16]

@SwarthyBard126

Shadow noticed the young man disappear into the back. She narrowed her eyes as he began to maneuver his way through the bookshelves, as if he were avoiding her. Placing Moon in her pocket once more, she abandoned her post at the front desk and began to follow the man into the bookshelves. In the background, she could here the hum of a radio, talking about a hostage situation not very far from the library. That was quite worrying, but she was more worried about the young man who seemed to be creeping around her library.

Moving swiftly between bookshelves, she began casting small orbs of light above each of the bookshelves, illuminating them more. This would allow her to see the man's shadow without tipping him or anyone else off to her powers. She watched underneath the bookshelves and around corners, watching for his shoulder. She noticed it after the eighth orb she threw up and she hurried after him. He disappeared into the next bookshelf, but she quickly made her way to the opposite end of it, positioning herself at the end of it so he couldn't get out unless he went the other way.

Placing two arms on either side of the bookshelves, she made a human blockade with herself. "What the hell are you doing creeping around my library?" she snaps quietly, hoping to not disturb the people reading nearby. "You could at least state what you're looking for before creepily walking off as soon as I come up from the basement!" Her rising excited/terrified tone caused the light above them to shatter, sending the bookshelf into ill-lit darkness. She gasped as she suddenly began to glow and she quickly used that extra energy in herself and shot it up into the shattered light bulb, creating more light. She then played it off like nothing happened. "Are you the hostage holder and are just hanging out here so you can kill more people?!"

[SwarthyBard126]

@ScarlettWaters16

Gordon could feel the heat radiating from the meta in front of him, and he was glad that hes was blind at that moment. He could smell the moment of fear, then confusion of the patrons in the library, and he could hear the whispering of the same people behind the meta. Smiling as charmingly as he could, Gordon whispered, "If i was a hostage taker, why would I hide out near a meta? I just came here to get paid for my services." before he pulled out his wallet and showed his license to the librarian. it was a simple police ID card, but it had a picture of him without his glasses, mouth somber and literally smiling eyes. "I'm one of you, and I'm working for the city, now let me through. The police are gonna want me at the scene soon." Gordon finished as he placed his wallet away.

Gordon was honestly hoping that the confrontation wouldn't become violent, and that the meta had enough common sense not to go nova in such a public area. He was also cursing himself silently as he leaned on his cane and adjusted hi.s glasses. While he wasn't unconfident in his ability to survive, he didn't want any innocents getting hurt. "Yeah right," the damned voice in his head began speaking, "We both know that you don't want anyone killed is because it's a waste of information that will get you in trouble with the police. Face it you selfish bastard, if you had the choice, you'd have killed them all." the Voice purred in the back of Gordon's mind. Gordon grimaced slightly and replied in his thoughts, "Your wrong, and leave me the fuck alone you sick bastard, you know nothing about me.

[RumikoOhara]

Eli saw Angel's text and then answered back "I'd love to join you for Coffee Later baring any unforeseen event intruding"

Yes she had to think of bringing Angel in on her secret even if for no other reason than that she knew her secret and it only seemed fair. First though she needed to clear it with Carter because even if she tried to keep their connection secret it still might be traced back to him.

She went outside and climbed into her old beat up 3/4 ton truck and cranked it's diesel engine and headed over to the campus to do a bit of research in the library; she might be a gifted meta but she still needed to complete her degree

[Double]

It was amazing how small everything looked from above. He flew above city, staring down on it in wonder. It reminded him of watching a colony of ants scurrying about their business. And the feeling? Completely and utterly indescribable. It was a lot like hang-gliding, only so much more. The sensation of the wind, the comfy feeling of warm thermals keeping him aloft thanks to his wings. It was incredible, all of it. Sure, people could fly using machines like airplanes or experience a similar feeling through hang-gliding, para-sailing, and the like. But to actually genuinely fly, on one's own, with no devices or outside help? That was on a completely different level. It ended abruptly, as Carter suddenly felt something missing... his wings! And suddenly he was free-falling to what he was sure would be his death.

With a sudden jerk, Carter jolted awake, still reclined on his chair in his office. He'd dosed off, and was dreaming. It wasn't the first time he had that dream either, he had it several times since the incident, and he often wondered if there was some subconscious fear connected to it. Regardless, he noticed his cell phone sitting on the desk, it's backlight blinking as an indication that he either missed a call or had an unread text. He picked it up and, sure enough, there was a text from Eli.

"Hi Carter, I've been thinking about your offer to mentor me in investigation and decided it wouldn't be a bad idea..If you're still up for it let me know an we can set up a meet..Elliot"

"Hmm, well, I wasn't expecting that..." he said to himself, at the time she didn't seem all that interested in his line of work. He shrugged, supposing that she simply changed her mind, as women were often notorious for doing. He opened the text menu and wrote a quick response.

Yep, of course I am. Still in the office, but it doesn't like I'm getting any clients today so drop on by if you feel like it."

He pressed send and set the phone back down. He stood up, deciding to stretch his legs a bit. He walked toward the front window, using his fingers to push apart the blinds slightly and then peered outside. Across the street was a gym, looked like it was for boxers or fighters or something, Carter wasn't too sure. Although, come to think of it, since quitting the force he didn't really plan any way for him to keep in shape, and that at least would be kind of necessary for the type of work he intended to do, "Note to self: look into getting a membership there later." he said to himself in a low voice before turning toward his desk.

The quiet in the office was becoming unbearable, so he reached for the radio on his desk and switched it on. As he was looking for a good station, he found something interesting, "...there are nine hostages total. We'll report more as the situation on Luther Street develops." he left it on that station and kept listening. Hostage situation, but the actual details were unclear. He thought about going, but remembered that he should probably wait for Eli. And besides, it didn't sound like there were any metas involved so surely the police could handle this... right?

[LPFan]

@Avanhelsing

As Vince was driving towards the gym he recieves a phone call on an unknown number, but nontheless, he knew who the caller was. It was detective Andrews. A narcotics detective who became Vince's accomplice. He was the one helping Vince in his war against the city's drug dealers by providing him with information and details regarding various drug dealers in the city. Vince takes out the cellphone from his pocket and answers. "Hello!? Detective. What can I do for you?" Asked Vince with his eyes on the road. "I just wanted to congratulate you on a job well done. You really showed Dale Smith last night. I guess that's one less death dealer to worry about." Said the detective. "Thank you very much detective. But let's be honest here. You're the one who deserves the credit. Without you and all your info my job would have been 5 times harder." Responded Vince.

At the other end of the line detective Andrews smiled and paused for a few seconds. "Don't sweat it Phoenix. I had enough of seeing these bastards get away with it. If the law is not willing to punish them and keeps surrendering to their money and influence then other more extreme measuures need to be taken. That's why I agreed to help you. Now I gotta go. You'll hear from me again." Said the detective as he hanged up. Vince put his cellphone back in his pocket and continued driving, making a left and reaching the gym as the tires of his Pontiac GTO were screeching and the engine was revving upset. Vince stops the car and gets out as he sees someone standing outside his gym. "Hello! What can I help you with?" Said Vince as he took the keys to the gym from a pocket as he opened up the place and got inside.