sunfloras | OPEN POST II

Yeah, yeah. I get it. So let's get this over with. I'll just sneak out the back door or something... rather not be anywhere in a place owned by a Southtown mobster.

Sooo... Ai, then. Call me Rock. I don't know if my name will mean much of anything when the bouncer checks us in. If anything, it may get some unwanted attention. Just as a heads up. Anyway... [ Sorry Ai. No handholding or even an arm around you is coming from him. Social distancing from the opposite gender and all. ]

Let's get going.

Rock?

[She tilts her head and blinks unknowingly.]

That's a nice name!

[Ah, she doesn't know.

Anyway, she leads him to the nightclub while walking next to him to look a bit like a couple. She straightens out her skirt as they get in line and looks up at Rock.]

I have a backup plan if the bouncer eyes us funny, so don't worry about that either. When we get in, I just need to do my thing and it'll be all good.

Be ready to do it then. Nothing ever goes easy in these parts. Just give me a sign to know when you're doing your thing... or when you're done.

[ That obvious discomfort and uneasiness is definitely lingering in the air from his end as he shakily moves alongside with his "girlfriend."

It looks all fine and dandy until they reach to the check in with the bouncer. Who doesn't seem to recognize Rock, but Rock knows just who they are. And leans in a bit to whisper to Ai's ear for his little trivia knowledge about the guy. ]

Jack Turner. A real pain right here. He may try to coerce you into joining his crew... rumors say he's running a dance group instead of a gang himself, but this guy is one of the people the Kyokugen group isn't fond of. Just a heads up.

[Ai blinks, but nods at Rock's explanation.]

Well, if we're going to get in, we might as well make it the easy part...

[There's no time to waste. When Ai walks up to Jack turner with a cheerful smile on her face. She's gotten a bit better at acting natural in order to supplement her subterfuge skills.]

Good evening! It's just a party of two. We're on a date!

[And for a split second, her eyes flash and it's a subtle glow of violet; she's letting her power of suggestion do a bit of legwork for the next part.]

You're going to let us in for free!

[ The thing about Jack is that while he is a sizable opponent and somewhat of a D-list tier of bad guys, the fact that he was dumbfounded for a good second there and slowly shifted out of the way for the two to enter with a mumbled "Right this way."

And all of that? Was Very Weird. Like Super Very Weird. He has seen A Lot of things before in his life, but that was definitely different! So, like a normal person would react after he 'escorts' his not!date in, he says one thing that kept repeating in his head as soon as they were in and out of earshot. ]

What in the world was that?!

Hm?

[Ai doesn't answer Rock at first since she's scanning what she can make out of the crowded club for her target. Nothing yet.]

What was what? Is there a problem?

That thing you just did! That was that Psycho power or whatever, wasn't it? Are you with that psychic soldier idol group or something?

[ Now feeling like he's part of something bigger than he had even thought of, Rock raises a balled fist with a small swirl of his energy almost peeking out between his fingers. ]

Don't you think you could fill me in by now on what your goal is?

Ah!

[Ai is surprised that he noticed and is about to tell him to keep it down, but it seems no one has given them any attention due to the loud and energetic music that pounds against the walls and the dance floor.]

I-I'm a freelancer! No affiliation or anything and um... Oh!

[She's distracted again when she spots her target, a man wearing a hat and sitting at a table enjoying drinks with two ladies on each side, indulging him as he laughs loudly. Ai points at him and looks at Rock.]

Got him! I probably shouldn't go over by myself unless...

[she's looking at the dance floor and then back at Rock and back at the the dance floor GET THE HINT ROCK]

[ His eyes follows her gaze to see what the big deal behind this is all about... only to not really get a good look of the guy but they are obviously Very Popular. All in honesty, he's not feeling keen about things now ending smoothly... that is until two things happen.

Her words with her obvious hints, and the change of the music.

If she's eyeing at the guy and the dance floor, then there is one thing left to say: ]

... you serious? You gotta be joking. [ WELP. Never let it be said that he didn't try so... yeah. He's making his way to the dance floor too after undoing some zippers on his coat. ] Geez... let's get this over with.

[It occurs to Ai that out of all the strangers she could have asked to hide behind, Rock had stood out to her outside because... Well. She wasn't going to deny it, she thought he looked nice. Nice looking even.

That's why she hesitates shyly when he loosens his zipper and moves to the dance floor before moving over herself and hovering near Rock so that it isn't easy to see her from the target's perspective.]

Sorry. But thanks.

[It's too loud to hear her apology.

She'll raise her volume though just to let Rock know her intentions.]

Um, just! If you don't feel comfortable, just keep me hidden while we're moving across the floor! You're pretty tall so that'll be a big help!

We're already here. We may as well commit to it until we are done. I'm not going to just do things halfway... I might not like it, but I will do it.

[ Its not like Rock is unfamiliar with the club scene and the way people can get their groove on. Practically living in the PaoPao Cafe trained him for this! That also includes the few dance moves that puts him dangerously close for his taste with him up against her. ]

Thanks, I guess. Just let me know how you wanna play along with the dance floor routine... I'll try to last as long as I can if need be!

[Ai can also sort of dance! At least enough that with the obscured view and the people surrounding them, she looks semi-competent if awkward because she's doing two things at once (scoping out the man she's aiming for and dancing with Rock).

Oops, she might have accidentally brushed against him once or twice; it's unintentional and unavoidable really when the floor is this packed, but they're almost there...!]

[ Well, for what its worth, Rock was more doing his best to keep his cool by focusing on the music... meaning also the dance. So that brush up is to be expected, even if the redness of his face and the obvious uneasiness says otherwise.

But with now the crowd of people now gathering more and more that the dance floor had become an ocean of bodies at this point, it wasn't surprising to see that Ai and Rock soon found themselves nearly almost squishing against each other. Not that he's having a panic attack, but Rock's stern and focused look had become SUPER alert now that a cute, young woman is now this close.

... it was truly a test of character at this point. ]

How much longer? Its getting packed!

Oof! Sorry-! [She is very much pushing up against Rock now when someone happens to bump into her.]

We're close. Let me just...!

[Oh, damn, the man with the hat stands up with his arms around the ladies, clearly getting ready to leave. Ai Thao's eyes suddenly begin to glow.

This is close enough and also cutting it too close, but she has to act now.]

Oh, no you don't!!

[And hello, she's flying! She hovers several feet into the air which of course gets the attention of everyone.

But before anyone can react, she delivers a dropkick down on her target. The two ladies scream and immediately flee.

Uh oh, seems like this has also gotten the attention of the bodyguards. Ai's busy glaring down at the man that's under her foot.]

Nothing personal, but you're not a very nice guy! Thought you could hide yourself here, huh?

[ Rock was not ready for today. He was not ready for anything beyond this point. One minute he was enduring the closeness of with this strange girl, and the next has the said girl flying in the air and dive kicks into the guy she was keeping an eye on.

And before you know it, screams and bodies rushing into each other start erupting with a cacophony of sounds and commotion as bodyguards and gang members start making their way into the dancefloor and rescue their boss.

With very quick reflexes after noticing one of the guards reaching into their coat pocket to reach for a gun only for Rock to dart towards them in blinding speed to press his palm directly onto the person's arm-- which creates the energy blast shot out from his hand and leaving a wing-like aura temporarily glowing behind Rock after the attack. Good news, that gun had been ruined to a complete mess. The bad news is that Rock now had forced himself into Ai's problem now.

So what does he do?

Unzip the the zipper from his coat sleeves and makes his own declaration. ]

Leave the small fry to me. I'll make sure to buy you enough time to do what you need to do. Just don't die on me until after we're done here!

[It is, in a word, chaotic! The party-goers are all fleeing and yelling and Ai Thao is distracted by Rock releasing an energy blast from his hand. Her eyes widen, but when he says he'd take care of the guards she nods.

There's a yelp as the man underfoot slips away and pushes her, but she immediately gathers her bearings.]

Don't get hurt Rock! I'll take care of this real quick!

[Boss man attempts to throw a few punches at Ai but she dodges. Then he flees and tries to throw bottles, chairs, anything he can get his hands on. They would have hit some people who were trying to run from the club if they didn't suddenly stop and float in midair around her.

Ai glares at her target, rushing towards him delivering a knockout blow from her fist.

Here's hoping you're doing good Rock.]

[ While the numbers are plenty, Rock was more used to more tougher opponents that could take a beating... and give one as well. These people are definitely nothing like the Howard Connection or the unruly thugs of Southtown.

Zipping around as fast as he can as a blur, Rock immediately does what he can to take down his opponents in a non-lethal way. One guy was taken down with an elbow deep to the gut, another down with a roundhouse kick to the head, and one more sent flying by a Rising Tackle, a vertical rising spinning kick he launched himself up with enough force, only to be flung at a group of thugs to knock them all down.

It was starting to work up a sweat. He was panting a little and wiping off what sweat forming on his forehead before flicking his hand away before moving on. ]

Don't worry about me! This is just another night in Southtown for me!

[With her hit knocked out, she takes out the plastic cuffs and slaps them on before anything else can happen to let him make his getaway. Ai glances back at Rock as she uses her telekinesis to lift up her cargo. She begins to float above the ground away from the fray and she calls out to Rock.]

I-I'm gonna go now! You'll be okay right? Right. Sorry, but I have to go!!

[It's delivery time!! There's a broken window so that's where she escapes and suddenly it's like she isn't there at all.

Guess we're never seeing her again!]

Wait a seco--

[ But no, before he could even finish saying anything or his brain to process anything, this girl was suddenly gone. Leaving him alone with a bunch of unconscious bodies, a wrecked club, and police sirens heard from the distance.

... yeah, it's time to cruise on out of here.

And we cut to the apartment complex next to the cleaner and safer parts of Southtown! Like... three or four hours later because of dodging the cops and dealing with unwanted attention along the way home. With a round of the corner after climbing the flight of stairs and practically dragging his feet to the door of his apartment, the rookie just slams his body against it and lets out a pure exhasted and frustrated sigh. ]

Uuuugh... friggin' stupid of you, Rock. Why did you even agree? Stupid, stupid, stupid... absolutely freaking stupid of you!

[ Give him a moment. He's just trying to find the keys in his pockets without collapsing then and there. ]

[The sound of a rather loud yawn can be heard as another person makes it up the flight of stairs, dragging their feet. Reaching into her pocket, Ai Thao takes out her keys and it clinks gently between her fingers.]

Mmmmnn. Long night...

[She dropped off the man to her client and just. Wisely enough, she's not going to ask what happens to him. Job's done, her payment was transferred (she checked her bank account) and she'd be good to go for the rest of the year.

She stops in front of her door and is about to unlock it before she notices the person next to her.]

Mm? Have we met before or...

[Ding!]

Oh!

I'll pay the rent later.

[ It was a mixture of both sleepy slurry speech and pure tension coming together in a groan as he keeps digging deeper and deeper into his pockets.

And luckily for Rock, he didn't lose it all back there! But the keys do slip out of his fingers and land on the ground in a loud clattering sound echoing in the hall.

... and a loud thunk of his head slamming against the door following up. ]

I just want to sleep already...

Er... Rock? Rock, it's me?

[She waves at him trying to get his attention.]

Hello?

Mmm?

[ There was a sloooooow turn of his head facing towards Ai as he pushes himself off the door to give her a squinting look.

Just one big staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare, turning back to kneel down and pick up his ke-- OH WAIT A MOMENT HERE. Bolting back up and wide awake with him pointing at her in shock! ]

Hey, you're that girl at the dance club! What are you doing here?! How did you know where I was living?!

Ah... Yes. Sorry for leaving you behind.

[His keys start to levitate off the ground to hover in front of his face. She's trying to be a little helpful with her ESP!]

I didn't know you lived here! Actually... It looks like we're next door neighbors?

Edited 2020-11-08 08:37 (UTC)

OPEN POST II

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/casually drops this days late.........

crawls back in here

Oh hi there buddy

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