thisisnotmybeautifulhouse | Call Me Out Meme

[Retail was not what Sabriel had in mind for a career. Still, it payed the bills, and supplies for sleight-of-hand magic was the sort of business that got overrun during the holidays.

So it was with some relief that she locked the door on the way out, before conjuring a small light that bobbed in front of her, casting strange shadows over the street as she buckled on her bell-bandolier and sword belt.

Time to attend to her other job.]

[Likewise, Strickler is hoping to get some practice with his newly designated career in saving people. De Chima is a bit more lively at night than the other cities he's traveled to. There are people getting off work, traveling home or going out for a night downtown. He's forced to keep mainly to the sewers, or stick to the shadows each time that he needs to travel topside. He can't get much done without being spotted this way. Just as he's about to call the entire attempt off, his ears catch a desperate cry down one of the darkened alleyways. He ducks inside and listens carefully.

"Get away from me Johnny, I mean it!"

"I just wanna talk! You can't treat me like this!"

There's a fwoosh, a flash of light from the direction of their voices, and a startled scream.

"I just wanna fuckin' talk, alright?!"

Whatever is happening here, it's not good. Walter plucks a knife from the collar of his cape and begins stalking toward the sound of it.]

Edited 2018-12-02 04:11 (UTC)

[Strickler's not the only one who's heard the argument. Sabriel extinguishes the spell-light with a gesture, and starts running, a dim light blooming at her fingertips as she starts tracing out the marks of a spell to restrain and immobilize, the marks flowing easily from the Charter into her, then down into her fingertips. She just hopes she won't need a healing spell instead.

But she stops when she sees another figure approaching the alleyway, stops, suddenly unsure if she's about to be lured into an ambush, or someone else is coming to help. In either case, she inches forward, trying to see what's going on in the alleyway and what the other figure will do. At worst, she'll just hurl the spell at it instead.]

[He hears her approaching, and crouches in an instinctive move get smaller, hide. But he's already close enough to see the source of the scuffle.

There are two men standing near the dimly-lit backoor of one of the alley buildings. One man is smaller, scared, and holding a baseball bat in front of him like it's a shield. The other is a big, leather-jacket wearing punk. He's got his hair styled up like a fire while a real one crackles in his hand.

You think you and the guys can just cut me out like that, like I'm nothin?! After everything we've been through?

"Y-you're not acting like yourself! You haven't been for a while-"

"You're the ones acting different! You shouldn'ta shut me out like that... You should've had the balls to talk to me! Well now I'm here, and you still don't wanna talk! So how's about we settle this like men instead?"

He punctuates his words with a plume of fire, trailing up the wall beside his former friend. The other man cries out in fear, but the sudden burst of light allows him to see the newcomers over Johnny's shoulder. His eyes widen at the, brief, jagged glimpse of Strickler in the shadows. Sabriel should be able to see him now too; horns, fangs, and all.

Strickler's glowing eyes don't go away when the fire dims. The victim screams, dropping the bat and cowering with his arms over his head. Johnny turns around, glaring into the dark

Strickler's been given away enough already. He steps further into the light, standing at his full, looming height over everyone present. He doesn't know Sabriel's place in this situation; whether she's a bystander, someone looking to help, or another aggressor. He relies on the power of fear for most of the work he does, and he's still hoping to do so here.]

Or, we could settle this my way.

["The hell-?! What the fuck are you supposed to be!"]

[A local metahuman? Well, this definitely falls within Aegis's purview- and by extension, hers. Sabriel stands up straight, sword drawn in one hand, and what looks like a swirling mess of symbols in the other- a spell just waiting to be set off. But she needs a clear shot. Distantly, Sabriel recognizes that the other person involved doesn't look remotely like a normal human, but he's not one of the Dead, nor is he attacking her or using some unpleasant sort of magic, so she assumes he's not hostile.

Then Johnny tosses a fireball at the other interloper. Apparently his response to fear is to fight rather than flee- Sabriel really hopes the other interloper is fireproof as she launches the spell at Johnny, shouting the activating mark as the spell becomes a glowing golden net that wraps around Johnny, pinning both his legs- but only one of his arms.]

If you want to talk, stop tossing fire around. Or do you thing two to one are good odds? [Sabriel's tone is even, delivered with the confidence of someone who knows what they're doing- or thinks they are, at least.]

[Strickler is quick enough on his feet to avoid the brunt of the blast, but some of it catches onto his cloak. He can feel the heat ghosting across his stoney skin, trying to find purchase. It doesn't burn like human flesh, but he hisses in pain and quickly bats the rest of it out of his cloak. Johnny sees that it works.

Strickler takes a quick appraising glance at the other hero. The magic and the sword, it all strike familiar chords for him. Her confidence appears sound.

Unfortunately, Johnny isn't done yet. Fire crackles in his free hand, and a ring of fire appears on the ground around his feet. He smirks as the height and heat of the flames start to build and spiral around him.

"I'll take my chances."

It shoots out in all directions - including behind him, toward the huddled man he's forgotten. Strickler reacts, leaping to avoid the fire and hopefully reach the victim.]

[Sabriel ducks behind the closest obstacle she can find- in this case, a dumpster. Burning garbage somehow smells worse than it does when it's not on fire, but she has other things on her mind.

After the fireburst passes, some part of her notes that she can't feel anyone dead or dying, which is a relief, but she doesn't have time to reflect on that- instead, she's dashing towards Johnny, her free hand diving towards the back of his neck, where she places two marks- silence and immobility- on the back of his neck as he goes still. She looks absolutely furious as she gets to her feet, dusting herself off and sheathing her sword.]

That's enough out of you- are either of you hurt? [The last part is directed towards Strickler and the other victim, and is delivered in a much softer tone.]

I know some healing spells.

[The two groan from their defensive position on the ground. Strickler had pulled the other man out of the reach of the fire, but they had tumbled roughly across the asphalt. One of the troll's wings has slipped out of his cloak and is curled around them, and there's still a bit of smoke trailing off where the fire brushed it. It may be injured, but he's not indicating so. He tucks it back and nods in Sabriel's direction.]

I'll live.

[He gets up and moves away from the other man to give him some breathing room.]

And you?

[The man nods, looking a little shell-shocked but unharmed. He looks immediately to Johnny's immobile body, and asks quietly; "Is he...?"]

Edited 2018-12-03 19:50 (UTC)

I'm unharmed- and so is he. Just magically immobilized and under arrest[Sabriel gives the man at her feet an exasperated look as she brandishes her Aegis Force badge. Then she tries to pick him up- it's awkward, like she's handling a large statue, but she half carries, half drags him towards Strickler and the other man.]

Can you call the police? That would probably be easier than carrying him all the way to the station.

[Strickler looks a bit like a deer in the headlights.]

I... Don't have a-

[He glances aside at the man, who takes a moment to realize and pull out his phone.

"Oh! Yeah, I can call... Uh, thanks for everything, by the way. My name's Marcus."

He dips his head at the two heroes and attempts a smile. He's still too emotional and rattled from the whole ordeal, so it looks more like a grimace. His call to the police is picked up, and he's busy with answering their questions.

Now that the danger is somewhat handled, Strickler seems a bit uncertain. He's looking around like he's trying to figure out where to hide or sneak off to.]

[Well, that's one problem dealt with. Sabriel thanks Marcus and sets Johnny on the ground, giving him her best reassuring smile before turning to Strickler.]

Thank you for helping stop him- and protecting Marcus. I'm not sure what would have happened if I took him on alone.

My name's Sabriel, by the way. What's yours? [She doesn't see the point in using an alias, especially since she's never worn a mask.]

Stricklander.

[He intends to keep his mask for as long as he can, but he offers a hand to shake. It's a bit formal, but a show of potential trust nonetheless.]

Thank you, as well. This could have gone badly.

Call Me Out Meme

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