Path of the Vampire forum

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Dominique: Dominique stepped off the street and stood on the sidewalk of that little shop that seemed to serve every need a convenience store should. It had been a long while since she was last in there. It was all coming back to her as HOPE reached for the door and pushed it open. the jingling of the chimes brought the memories back faster than she was prepared for. She could feel the bags in her hands. the sound of the latex squeaking lightly as she shifted the light weight of the items inside she curled the tops of the bags to conceal from passing eyes. She was too nervous to think beyond that. Zodiac gave her the news she never wanted to believe and had worked so hard since to forget. She cleared her throat softly as if there was something beyond the dry lump within that had developed. She was as human then as one could get but felt so disconnected as it progressed. What she was supposed to feel, supposed to think would not be possible. Not in the world that was becoming visible around her as she grew more aware. She paused in her steps as she found herself just inside the shop. It was time to swallow back the rest. One memory leads to another and there were a few she couldn't absorb the pain of even now. Large wide eyes scanned the interior that was visible and with a reflexive deep intake of air her shoulders went back and her feet forward so the door decor could jingle once more and close. Everything changes. The STAIND song started a soothing play through her head as she found her way into a set of shelves displaying the energy foods and drinks she used to survive on. Plain energy bars stared back at her from the middle shelf. She used to hate them for being unsatisfying. Now she reached for a box because when she did indulge she would at least be getting what she was supposed to expect. Nothing to taste.



Doc: Doc had just left from having picked up a stack of lab test requests from the hospital, when his lab assistance Cheryl.. or was it Carol.. called him to say they were out of Ph strips, could he get some. Timing, it seemed to be his enemy today. He had no desire to turn around and go back into the hospital complex, fighting the parking Nazi just for some PH strips. He decided he would just pick them up at the Pharmacy. He would most likely wipe out their supply, but he wasn’t in the mood to deal with the hospital traffic and politics. That had been the whole point in him getting in and out as quickly as he could before someone realized he was on the hospital campus. He slid the Panamera into a parking slot, and proceeded to exit the vehicle and head into the pharmacy. He moved directly to the pharmacy counter, and waited somewhat impatiently behind an elderly woman debating which over the counter hemorrhoid cream was best. Gertrude the Pharmacist was doing her best at extolling the virtues of each offering, as well as the detriments. He let out a slow sigh and counted. Even as long as this was taking, it was faster than if he had to go back to the hospital to collect the supplies. As the elderly customer continued dithering about the differences, He barely resisted the urge to just buy both ******* tubes for the old biddy in order to shut her the **** up, and let him do his business. However, once you are seen as being an easy touch when it came to medications, the elders would leak out of the woodwork expecting all sorts of free advice and diagnosis. He would just wait it out. He half turned to glance about the store, when he saw her. He stiffened ever so slightly, She was two aisles over looking at the snack offering. He grimaced. She could ******* eat too? Was he the only ******* vampire in this god forsaken city that couldn’t!? He counted as he recalled Zodiac’s advice and words and counted. Let her approach him. If she didn’t, she didn’t. In her own time.

Dominique: The 8 pack of nothing special sat in her left hand while the right shifted her brown leather bag that weighed at her left hip as she stepped lightly towards the drinks she was hoping offered more to enjoy than the box of flavorless energy supplements. A crossing of the right leather ankle high heeled boot cleared the left and she was moving as the song continued in her head. A brief but annoying itch suddenly started at the front of her neck beneath the scarf she really should have never bothered putting on. She sent a colorful finger between her skin and the material and glanced up to see the aging nosy woman materialize who reminded her even more she had not been in the store since last year. She sighed and knew Gertrude would be full of questions as always.

Slowly around the end of the aisle she moved and that is when she could see the full space of the pharmacy. Her neck itched even more as she set eyes on what likely grabbed Gertrude's attention to begin with. Him. Doc in suit, tie looking smart and professional as if he was all business. Her eyes worked around the store and then slowly back to him. Her hips felt tightly pressed now in the jeans that fit like a glove around her. The small precious beads of each rosary in the left and the right pocket worked like dull thorns into her flesh as she made the slow walk towards the pharmacy. She could turn and walk away but she would be leaving a statement behind. Each footstep she made said enough was enough. Everything changes. She would be proof running from what you are responsible for gets you nowhere.

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Doc: He watched her as she intently studied the various food and drink offerings. It was ******* irksome that even she was able to consume human food. It wasn’t like he hadn’t tried. Oh he had. And not just once. but several times during those first few weeks. He kept telling himself that as soon as his ‘new’ metabolism settled out, food.. coffee more so, was back on the menu. But time and again, his body would violently expel the foreign food as though it was poison. And that few times he fought the nausea and held back from regurgitating the contents back up; he endured hours of excruciating intestinal cramps and agony as undigested food was eliminated from his bowels slowly over the course of hours. The grimace of that hateful memory crossed his face. It was clear he was destined to forever more, forgo human food and drink. He could only hope, that after a few years the memories of the savory flavors he was now denied would fade. First step was to stop dwelling on the fact, but it was pretty damn hard when it seemed everyone around him seemed to revel in the simple act that he could not.

Doc: He forced his thoughts to another subject, as he watched her. She had noticed him and was headed his way. Subconsciously his face took on a more closed in look. His eyes narrowed and jaw tightened. His hand itched to move for his weapon that was tucked securely in his shoulder holster. His brow furrowed somewhat, as he forced himself to stand his ground and not make any sort of threatening move. It sounded so much easier to do, when he told Zodiac he could be patient, than it felt at this moment. It was like part of him wanted to shred her, while the other part wanted to reason with her. Why she elicited such strong emotions in him, he still didn’t know. But it was clear it was not going to be as easy as he had played it off to Zodiac. He started counting. She moved ever closer as his count made double digits. Finally he felt he was able to utter the single word greeting without it sounding like a threat. “Minx.”

Dominique: Her eyes softened the more his narrowed. His jaw seemed like it was setting like stone and her lips danced slowly at the corners so that the opposite moved to her expression. His voice uttered one powerful word. Minx. It would mean nothing to anyone else. To her it meant the beginning of an end. More memories crashed through and grabbed at the center of the gut she thought she had all but lost contact with. The scent of night air filled her and she could almost feel the heat fighting to get out of her body from the exhausting run she had been on when he came upon her the first time. Her smile was strong. It stayed as she felt the immediate chill of her eyes discovering she was was not free and clear as she had thought. The police chasing her gave up.

Somehow she sensed another chase was beginning. He came out of nowhere then and it seems he did yet again. A few more steps and she was standing there casually while the sharp points of jagged memories whirled through her head. The sound of his threats, his words could be felt at the edge of her ear. No one could hear them but she would always know, never forget. She could have run then but she didn't. She couldn't now. She would own her place and not relinquish what made her who she was. That would not be subject to change. Her eyes found Gertrude's for the first time as the woman planted herself at the counter like she was in line impatiently waiting for a much awaited show to begin. "Evening." She spoke as she turned and give him a slow look over from the feet up. He had weapons on him. the cool master blade that sat between the middle of her back and her ivory jersey top reminded her she was not unarmed either.

Doc: The elderly customer ahead of him, had finally made her choice of purchase and had moved on. Doc took her greeting as being more for Gertrude than for himself. It was par for the course for him. The only female that didn’t ignore him was Lia, and that was only a matter of time before she wised up. He decided it didn’t matter, if Minx wanted to ignore him. Fine. He merely had to keep his temper in check, until he got his supplies, that should be easy enough. He turned his attention to Gertrude, ignoring Minx completely now, “Good evening Gertrude, hope you are well.”

Gertrude gushed warmly at him “Oh much better for seeing you, Dr. Nilson, unlike some who have come by” she tossed a knowing pointed look at Minx as though to silently say, ‘I’m watching you, you young hoodlum.’ “What do you need this evening?”

“My assistant said we are in dire need of CRPA Sensitized Latex Reagent; a CRPA Latex Test Kit; some PH Test strips; a Tri-Slide Three-Section Slide Kit for stool sampling and a vial of Paratyphoid A Febrile Antigen.” He smiled politely, his attention locked fully on Gertrude, while studiously ignoring Minx.

Gertrude was not one to ignore the attention that was sent her way, as she patted her hair lightly, and dimpled at him, “Will you want those sent over to your lab then?”

He shook his head, “No I need to wait for them. I need them now.” Another polite smile.

“Of course, Let me just check on those for you Doctor.” She gave Minx a sniff, alluding to the fact that she and the Doctor have a long standing relationship, and Minx was just lowly street scum.

“Thank you Gertrude.” He kept his focus on the counter in front of him, resisting the urge to look back at Minx. Gertrude returned, what felt like an eternity later, and sets the supplies on the counter.

“I am sorry Doctor, but we do not carry the Antigen you requested. I can start to stock it if you would like?”

“Yes, Thank you..if you would, I would be appreciative.”

Gertrude made a few notes in her log book, as she spoke “Next order goes in Wednesday, and we typically get the order on Friday am post. Shall I set that up for delivery, then?” She began ringing up his totals.

Doc nodded, “Yes thank you.” He wanted to pay and be gone.

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Dominique: Dominique stood there finding nothing was any different in Gertrude's disposition. The woman was nearly melting behind the counter over his need of her help. Old Gertrude likely did more in her mind to the man as he stood there than he was aware of. Her expression didn't change.This exchange alone entertained her to witness. Gertrude the old woman who likely lived in a shoe thinking in her own way she really could hold the man’s attention more than what she was able to order for him. The items listed off were of some interest and she found it a curious point that the man with a lab was unexpectedly out of supplies. She stepped away from where she was standing and let them have their moment. She took an interest down the aisle closest to her and made her way to what she was out of. Drain cleaner. There was a lot of pipe where she called home and somewhere there was a significant clog that needed handling. She scanned the choices and gripped the industrial strength heavy duty promise covered bottle.

Doc: Doc paid for his purchases, nodded his thanks once more to Gertrude and gathered his items to leave. Had it been anyone other than Gertrude, he would have been curt to the point of rudeness. But Gertrude had helped him out as he was getting his lab ready for doing the hospital’s over flow testing. He was always running low on some or other, and she always came through for him. It would take another few months before he could run a detailed analysis of the average number of tests the hospital typically ordered. He had only been ‘officially’ in business since February, so not knowing the ebb and flow of supplies was something to be expected. However, his assistant had a nasty habit of opening the last box of test strips before saying anything to him. He wanted to know when there was less than three boxes. She waited until the last box was empty. Females. He would have hired a male assistant, had any applied.

Dominique: Dominique had enough of what she needed filling her arms. Two bottles of clog soon to be gone, flavorless protein bricks and skipping the drinks she reached for a large box of matches. Making her way back up to where Gertrude was doing her best to please she paused to stand behind where the business between Doc and the sour dispositioned senior citizen was hopefully concluding. She had cleared her head in the trip to retrieve the items and now was confident she would be getting on with the rest of her evening without issue. Her leather covered arms wrapped about her planned purchases and she rocked subtly on the heels beneath her feet.

Doc: Doc exited the pharmacy without a backward glance. he had the stuff the Assistant said they were out of, and he would be back to the lab soon. So far, so good. He had been able to turn his back on her without reaching for his gun. Zodiac better appreciate that too, by god. It took more effort than he expected it to. He started the Panamera as his phone received a text. He read it, it was from Zippy. He texted back a question, because he wasn’t sure where the address was that she sent him. Looked like he was going to have to take a detour before heading to the lab.

Dominique: The items went into the bag as the woman across the counter from her gave her the full range of disapproving looks. It was nothing that bothered her. She fully expected it. The cost of what she would be able to claim in the same paper bags was barely audible. Her fingers produced the money from her purse and pressed it down on the surface of the counter. She slid her hand beneath the bag and lifted it up to cradle it in her arm. Gertrude eyed her as her hand slid the change into her open palm extending across the space between them. "You haven't been around." The woman’s creased lips finally opened and moved. Dominique stored the change where it had its place and wiggled her fingers beneath the bag until the sound became annoying.

Dominique: "Didn't know I was missed." She was pretty sure she was not missed. Likely the old clerk would miss her bingo blotter more.

Dominique: "You weren't." Gertrude's lips stayed straight as her response did. "Ever think of moving on? Finding a place you belong?" Her weathered hands and smoke tinted nails from a closet smoking habit tapped on the counter so they clicked in an annoying rhythm.

Dominique: "I found mine." She shrugged and stepped away. "You should give up the habit. It will kill you faster than living in this town likely will."

Dominique: Dominique walked out feeling the brief conversation stimulated her initiative to take some of the old bittys advice but not entirely as she intended it to apply to the inked woman. She was now more than ever finding her place. Next time they crossed paths she would be tempted to enlighten her if the timing was right.

Doc: He received the text just as Minx exited the pharmacy. He glanced down at the text, noting the Coastside address, he texted back that he was on his way. He started the engine and backed out of the parking lot, gave Minx a brief look, before pulling out and heading to address Zippy sent him.

Dominique: Dominique looked at the car that left the parking lot and felt the tightening of her lips bunching to the side. She nibbled slowly at the inside of her lips. Once the vehicle was out of view she turned on her heels and took to walking the other direction heading north to the transit. The air was warmer and the promise of the thaw of that surrounded her reminded her spring was returning. That meant everything would spring to life again. She stepped into the transit and the doors shut quickly while she took her seat close by. She held the bag loosely in her arms and leaned her head back and closed her eyes. The sounds of machine and the force or increased speed lulled her into a place where her thoughts greeted her all over again.

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Doc: Doc arrived at the Lounge and found that Zippy was there waiting, having cornered the vampire in question. The female vampire was already suffering from some previous bullet wounds, so it pissed him the **** off when she was able to dodge his shots. Thankfully, Micah, Dutch and Hantu also arrived relatively quickly and finished the ***** off. However, it did nothing for his mood, which was turning increasingly sour as the night wore on. He holstered his weapon and stalked back to his car, slammed it into gear and tore out of the parking lot.

Dominique: The pull of the transit slowing down that was carrying her caught her attention and she shot upright to attention. The knot working its way into a mild annoyance in her gut was catching up with her as she stood and waited for the doors to open. A hiss of the mechanical barrier between her and the spring night air moving granted her the access to stepping out in the station. The warmth of bodies making their way past her left increased clues to where each had been. Some were leaving work, others the gym a few were fresh and heading to the dreaded night shift. All were assumptions based on her heightened senses. At first she ignored them and did her best to pretend they were not there but now she was embracing her increased awareness to what she moved through as the sounds of pavement and her heels meeting echoed with her steps.

Doc: By the time he arrived at the lab, the assistant had already locked up for the night. He was actually relieved. The last thing he wanted at that precise moment was to pretend to care about her and her evening plans. She was constantly dropping hints as to where she would be and how she had lots of female friends. His lip curled contemptuously, it was though she thought he was desperate pathetic loser that needed her charity. No thank you. He would rather gouge his eyes with a dull rusted spoon before enduring an evening with her and her ‘friends’. He carried the supplies into the lab, dumped them on her work station before heading to his usual station, and pulling up his email.

Dominique: The the stone beneath her feet gave way to the tile mural she crossed over. More stone found her path she took. She stepped into the elevator and let the floors disappear as she finally reached the floor she wanted. A quick placing of the bag on the kitchen island was all it took for her hands to be free to open the box of plain power bars. She felt frustrated before she could peel the wrapper off the sticky brick of what was usually energizing. She certainly didn't need it. She had too much as it was. The end met her mouth and she took a bite. Slowly chewing she looked down to the visible impression of her bite in the bar. It was what it claimed to be on the outside of the package. Plain. Nothing spectacular. She enjoyed foods now for their texture, the memories of what they once tasted like but she was not recalling anything about the power bars that was enjoyable outside the energy boost and she was no longer in need of that. She wrapped up the partially consumed power bar and the box it came in and filed it in the waste bin. She shook her head as if the product she just disposed of would register her disappointment.

Doc: Scanning the emails in his inbox didn’t help his mood. His spam filter was not doing it’s job as a plethora of ‘male enhancement’ emails and ‘hot young singles in your area’ emails filled his box. If he knew where he could find just one of those spammers he would cheerfully hunt them down and a bullet into each of their eyes. And before leaving the scene of the crime (if it was a crime.. which he doubted) he would leave a note that said “This spammer has been filtered permanently.” It was clear he need to speak to Zodiac. Ignoring the computer, he pulled his phone texted her. But as he waited there was no answering text response. There was nothing for it. He needed to kill someone.

Dominique: Dominique pulled out the bottle or drain cleaner and read the instructions. The sink in front of her was likely to lead to the clogged pipes in question. The water was always taking what seemed an hour to fully empty while doing the dishes. The tall bottle in her hand was gripped tighter as she twisted the seal off then flipped the spout up that made for more convenient pouring of the chemical into the drain. She let half of it go down before stopping the flow. It was starting to collect in the sink and that was enough reason that she felt the rest of it was going to be needed. Once the bottle was empty she capped it and tossed it in the garbage. Now that the drain would slowly resolve she decided her evening was going to pass way too slow if she stayed inside looking at a sink. She made her way back down the stairs this time and stepped outside. She closed her eyes and a image of Zodiac's drawing came to mind. Shadow. Did she feel ready to connect to it now?

Doc: Doc pulled his handgun, expelled the magazine, reloaded it and slid it back in the gun. He tucked it securely back into his holster as he left the lab. He headed to the Newborough station where he hopped a transit to Wickbridge. He didn’t like to hunt too close to his lab and Wickbridge was full of miscreants and ne’er-do-wells that no one would miss. Stuffing his hands into his pants pockets, began to stroll the backstreets and alleys of the Wickbridge.

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"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Dominique: Sometimes you find that you go far from where you ever planned to be. It was like time stood still but you were permitted to continue beyond. When you finally are aware you are standing in the last place you expected to be. It doesn't make any sense if you think about it but you feel it. It was cold and disorienting. She had traveled by foot or by transit? It was not her first experience like this but this one concerned her. What happened between the time she was outside her home and the moment she looked at the very walls of where she had woke on New Years Eve. She was frozen in that spot staring at the same spot where she had been when everything had changed.

Doc: He was aware he had an audience. There were three of them, all young two males, and one female who was dressed as a male. He continued to walk with his head bowed slightly, to give the impression that he wasn’t aware of his surroundings. However, he was very aware of his surroundings. He knew that two blocks ahead was a nice dead end alley that the three should use to corner him, if they were smart. He also knew one was carrying a handgun. He could tell from the smell of the gun oil. That told him, at least one of them knew enough about firearms to know that it should be taken care of, and they probably also knew more than a little bit about bullets and the best ones to stop someone. He smirked to himself. This could be get interesting.

Dominique: The walls would talk if you gave them enough time and she was sure they would. Her boots stepped into the very spot where she once lain and felt there was nothing there that was left to claim. It was empty, cold and perhaps somewhat poetic that she was there right with it. Her gut was no longer tight. The inner knots slowly unraveled and now she felt the stretch of her arm as she knelt and dusted them at the spot at her feet. That is when she hears the sounds from behind her. Slow but less than sure shuffles of shoes that were likely a little too large for the feet that were inside. They didn't care to tie the laces. She didn't rise to stand yet. Instead she rubbed the fingers together that has touched the cement beneath her. She had all the time in the world to rise and turn.

Doc: He slowed his pace a bit, he wanted to get a better gauge of their actions and reactions, and to do that, he needed to test them. He stopped walking suddenly, and looked heavenward. It was hopefully the look a man who had come to a decision, but in truth he waiting to see if they were going to take the bait. His sudden stop did elicit a reaction, but it was more harried and scrambled dash than a methodical well rehearsed scene he had hoped. He was disappointed. He had hoped for a fight. An honest to god, bare knuckled, fight to the death, three against one. But what he figured he was about to get was more of a keystone cops version of a brawl and then much running away and whining. He sighed. What did he have to do to get a decent ******* fight anymore?

Dominique: "Look what we have here. Think it's worth keeping?" The voice crushed the moment she was kneeling there in her own thoughts. It was impossible it seemed to go anywhere in the city without some one stepping into your space and messing it all up. Nothing irritated her more and now it was becoming more apparent with the wrong words spoken at the wrong time. No one could be kept or had. Serious boundary issues were becoming an epidemic. No one knew how to mind their own business. Now her body lifted up and she could feel the distant warmth of at least two humans coming closer. One at least had their shoes tied tight. She figured that one would be the one to deal with first if she had to.

Doc: He was tired of waiting for them to make their move so he did it for them. He abruptly turned, and sprinted toward them. To say they were confused by his action, was an understatement. As he closed the distance between them he, took the first of the three down with a sharp right jab. He felt the kid’s nose break under his fist. He rolled his shoulders as he turned his attention to the other two. One of which, the one with the gun, took off running leaving his buddy standing there, mouth agape, and knife dangling loosely in his hand. Doc looked pointedly at the knife and then the kid’s face. The knife fell to the ground, as the kid stared wide eyed at him.

Doc sighed, “Go home.” When kid made no move to leave, Doc half-lunged toward him, saying “I said GO!” The youth needed no more impetus, the kid tripped over himself for several yards, before he finally managed to run away.

Dominique: There they stood. Each one stepping to create distance between them so she had to take her eyes off one to look at the other. Neither looked like they had a clue what they were getting into. It wasn't too long ago she didn't seem any more aware. She could see the over confidence in them. Their glocks in hand were the only thing other than the look in their eyes that coordinated. They would have no issue shooting at her. If she didn't give them whatever they had on agenda they seemed to be prepared to take it. "Night school get out early?" She felt the corner of her lips only lift at the right. She took a step forward sliding her hands into her back pockets as if she had been expecting to chat and what they held in their hands was insignificant. "Perhaps you failed the dress code?"

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Doc: The night had started out badly, and it was ending up that way too. He wouldn’t even be given the pleasure of beating the crap out of someone. He stared at the kind that still lay prostrate on the ground. Doc stepped over him, as he made his way back to the Wickbridge Transit station. He raked his hands through his hair, pent up energy slowly dissipating, but still leaving him feeling woefully unfulfilled. He pulled his cell phone and texted Lia. He waited for a reply, but by the time he had gotten to the station, he still had not received one in reply. Minx jinxed him. It had to be that.

Dominique: "*****, you stupid or what?" The one on the right that had easily two feet of height on her took the time to chuckle at his own question. His partner in petty crime holding the gun cockeyed like it made him more intimidating finally caught on and shook his head. A faint light of headlights approaching then turning caught the mouth and a diamond tooth sparkled in the otherwise dark building.

Dominique: "Yeah, that is it. It couldn't be you after all. Because if you think I am going to sweat out over you holding a gun in my direction I suggest you tie up your shoes first. This ***** can run." She slid her hands back out of her pockets and the partner with the bling in his bite started to turn the gun in his hands. It appeared that he was less sure about what he was getting into. "Can you?"

Doc: So Lia wasn’t answering his text, Zodiac wasn’t answering his text. “****.” He texted Minx. *text* Did you get the rosary?

Dominique: The two looked at each other like she had lost her mind asking such a thing. That was when her pocket vibrated and her hand went to it as if she was free to do so. Her eyes drifted between the two as if she could afford the leisure of making them wait. "You two work that out between you while I see what is more important on my cell. The last person she expected to be messaging her seemed to be doing just that. Her fingers quickly worked out a reply and she hit send. -Yes. I would thank you but it was mine to begin with. What about that car?- Her hand tucked the cell back in her jacket and she nodded at the two who were looking at her with their guns still in their hands. "Where were we?"

Doc: He smirked as he wait for the transit, he texted back “I’ve grown quite fond of that car…” he paused as an evil thought crossed his mind, then he resumed texting, “My girl loves it. We wouldn’t want to disappoint her would we..”

Doc: Doc pushed off the column he was leaning on and started walking in the direction of Bullwood. He tended to lose cell coverage on the transits, and he wanted to know what she was going to say. Looking up from his phone after walking a few minutes, he realized where he was .. he was at the building where he turned Minx.

Dominique: Just as the one with the issue of tying his shoes was opening his mouth she felt the vibration return. "Hold that thought." She gave them a single finger up to say another second would be needed while the other hand retrieved her cell. Her lip curled in irritation and she was on a reply and sent it out faster than the first. -Prepare her for the disappointment. Break it to her gently. I would be very careful every time you open the door, start the engine or put it in gear. You can't keep what isn't yours no matter how much you try.- Now she was feeling a little like giving the two in front of her a little something to enforce what they were up to was not the brightest idea two brains working together could come up with. "Boys. Sure you want to do this?" She tucked her cell back in her

Doc: He wandered inside, and heard the question, the voice that asked it. He knew that voice. But the irony of question, was not lost on him. He couldn’t help but grin, he often asked that very question, right before he killed someone. Well well well.. it seems little Minx, wasn’t opposed to breaking a few human bones, when push came to shove. He decided to melt into the shadows and move closer to get a ‘ringside’ seat, as it were, but first he had to reply to her text. *text* “Oh.. but you see how Carmen’s eyes light up, when she caresses it…” Yes. He was a complete ********. The night was looking up.

Dominique: "You talk too much." The finger was on the trigger and she was a blur as the gun fired.

Dominique: She rushed to the other feeling that rush of dodging the bullet and grabbed his jacket at the collar. She slammed him back against her with enough force he was nearly kneeling with his weapon still in his hand pointing to the empty space she left. He tried to aim his gun behind him and she quickly covered her hand over his and aimed the weapon back at his partner.

Dominique: "Now before you do something really stupid think about how much you really want to do it." She held the man closer into her much smaller frame and she spoke to his ear. "No funny ideas, slick. I have no issue removing that pretty diamond and adding it to my tiara." Her dark eyes pinned on the one aiming their direction.

Doc: Doc was tempted to clap, but he refrained. She seemed to have embraced the enhanced speed, strength and dexterity that the gift gave her. He stayed where he was, hidden in the shadows. He was disappointed however, that she had read her text yet. He wondered how she deal with distractions, so he texted her again. *text* Although.. I don’t like the color red.. I am thinking.. blue.

Dominique: "Hit the *****!" He fired the gun close to their left and she tightened her jaw at the man not taking her serious. "The **** is half your size, c'mon man!"

Dominique: "Wrong move." She pulled the trigger with his partners help and shot him in the foot. "I hate being called ****."

Dominique: While he hopped and squealed like a ***** she felt the vibration of her cell and held the gun on the guy in her grasp. "Don't move and you and I will be alright" Her hand pulled out her cell. Now she was pissed off. She liked men less and less the more they said stupid ****. Her sister was not a option. **** him, the car and what he did with it. She shot at the ground next to the kid rolling around. "Get the hell out of here."

Doc: Doc nodded, to himself as he was still hidden in shadows. 'She really does not like that word.' He pressed his lips into a thin line. He know that from first hand experience. He canted his head to the side as he graded her effort. She should never waste a bullet on the foot. Take out a knee. Hollow points will shred it and most likely it would never be a proper knee again. The grim line turned into a lopsided grin as she read the text. Yes, that reaction was worth it, even if she let the little prick go.

Dominique: Untied shoes proved to be just as much of hindrance to the injured foot as was the loose jeans that nearly fell off his *** as he made his way to exit the building. He was deterred by a bullet in the foot. Dominique shoved the tall lanky guy in her hold away from her body sending him to the floor. "Hanging with punks like that will get you killed. Clean up and do something with your life." She kicked him in the *** as he took off in pursuit of the one who was ahead of him. She slid the Glock in her hand into her empty jacket pocket and stepped over and picked up the one abandoned on the ground. She checked it then started placing it into her pocket with the other.

Doc: The lanky one had not completely made it out, when Doc showed himself, by stepping out of shadows. “Not bad… I would have taken out the knee.. not the foot. Far more disabling in the long term.” He was tempted to say more. But he had provoked her enough. He knew he would hear it from Zodiac, when he told her. However, if he spun it, just right.. Zodiac may blame Minx. And so it began, the game was on.

Dominique: Her hand just had deposited the second Glock into her pocket when she heard his voice. Her eyes caught him appearing so flawlessly from the shadows and she cocked her head. Diamond boy stopped in his tracks and looked back at her then to Doc then back to her. "Your Pops is in on the this too? You hang out and take back the streets?" His face screwed up into a confused expression that said 'what the ****' even if he didn't.

Dominique: Dominique was tempted to pull out one of the glocks she just acquired but decided it was better if she didn't. "Pops? Get your *** out of here before you hop like your partner." Her eyes blazed over to Doc. "You have a lot of nerve. You really going to give me advice on how to take someone down?"

Doc: Doc looked at her apathetically. "Did I say, 'next time .. take out the knee?' No. I said.. *I* would have taken out the knee. You should listen a bit better. Yes. That was advice." He turned to look at guy still there, "And you should too, before I shoot you in the ******* head..." He stared at the guy.

Dominique: "I meant giving me advice here...in this building." She scowled at Doc then raised her hands up and swiped the air with one to shoo the man out of there. "Leave. You don't want to be stuck with him. It is bad enough I am." Her feet made the few steps to close some of the space between them. "I should listen a little better? Where is my car? I will not ask you twice. I don't care if you have broke in every inch of the interior with your cupcake of the week. I.want.my.car." She said the last four words slow and clear as if he was the one with issues listening.

Doc: Doc smirked. "So.. take it." His smirk turned into an amused smile, "How hard can it be.. You were good at it once.. weren't you?" he made a mock frown, "You don't want me to make it.." he gasped in a fake horrified way, "..easy for you.. do you?" Another quick pause, could.. if you're not up to it..

Doc: Doc smirked. "So.. take it. I’m not stopping you.. " His smirk turned into an amused smile, "How hard can it be.. You were good at it once.. weren't you? At least.. that’s what ‘you’ said…”

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

===========
A few nights later
===========

Doc: Doc had issued the challenge, and the look on Minx face was priceless. The sheer unadulterated, barely held rage was palpable. He had melted back into the shadows as she laid into him.

(flashback) Dominique: "You think you could steal that car without serving someone their teeth for dinner to do it? It was too easy for you to get your hands on it." She was pretty sure he took it when he took possession of her grandmother’s rosary and everything else that was missing when she finally got back into her West Tower apartment. Only thing he left was something to cook in on the stove and that had a hole in it. If she had not been through hell she would have seen it as his calling card. "We know what you are good at. Your *** sitting in the drivers seat of a car you likely would have never set hands or eyes on is proof I am that good at it." Her head slightly inclined as she left her thumbs hooked on each of her jacket pockets.

Doc: He would have loved to stay and torment her some more. But Minx was like a high strung filly, you had to break her gently. A rough hand could do more harm than good. And truth be told, he was having more fun than he imagined. But Zodiac had been clear, and he knew needed to be careful and not push her too much too soon. But nothing said he couldn’t leave the door open for her to step through. And that was why he had been driving the Mustang everyday since that event. He had driven it to the Pharmacy, he had driven it to the lab, the hospital and now he drove it to the bar. He had taken to hanging out there. You could pick up some really interesting information when people weren’t aware you were listening.

Dominique: Dominique was certifiably pissed. Forget the man yanked the life out of her and God only know what the hell else he did. For the record she gave a **** less anymore. Was like getting a tooth pulled or an appendix. What happened then, what insanity took place all the way down to the porcelain in the head at the gas station was history. She could spend whatever eternity she had getting bent out of shape over it or she could move the **** on and forward. That was exactly what she was going to do. She could feel her resolve sink into every new step she took. Each grinding crunch of cement beneath her as she rounded the corner to a bar she passed countless times. She kept moving. She was born to steal cars like some people were to shoot hoops, write novels or build companies. It was in her blood and no matter how much she lost since she arrived it was in the fiber and wiring of who she was. Her head checked the direction of the limited traffic and she was just about to step off the curb when the corner of her eye caught the beauty of something that made her warm from the inside out just setting eyes on. She walked towards the vehicle like she was about to be reunited with an old friend.

Doc: Doc had made sure to park in a prominent spot. What was the point in laying out bait, if the bait was hidden? He had to wait and be patient, because she had either resisted, or had not wanted to have a go, but finally she took the bait. He had been ensconced inside the bar, with a perfect view of the car. It was parked right by the entrance, and he had a seat by the painted picture window, so that he could see everyone as they came and went in the bar, as well as those that merely stopped to admire the steel horse. He watched cross the street like a moth drawn to the flame. He took the time to study her face. She didn’t look like a female bent on revenge, she looked like a female who was about to meet her lover. His eyes narrowed. The car was more important to her than the rosary had been. Why? To most females cars were merely a convenience, a ‘thing’ to get them places. But it appears that Minx was that rare female who appreciated the mechanical majesty of the combustion engine. Well ****, now he somewhat admired her. Damn her.

Dominique: Dominique was careful as she came up on the rear of the candy apple red beauty. Her lips parted and she licked her dry cool lips. Few things had such an odd effect as the one this car did on her. She could feel the keys in her jacket. They weren't there of course but she remembered everything about the car to that degree. Especially that sweet spot she fit just right in the drivers seat. The dance of the machine and her always in the lead. The roar of the engine as she commanded more from it and pushing it just a little more than anyone really should. There was nothing worth listening to except that engine. A symphony took place under the hood and she missed it more than she thought as her hand glided a breaths distance from the surface of the hood as she rounded the length of the car.

Dominique: This was why she took her. Yes, the car was "Her". She set eyes on it and it was all over. With all the cars she had the chance to drive it was this very one so within reach once again that was meant for her. It was something a driver knew when they slid into the right one. It fit like a glove and there was a connection that defied all expression. Like the return of a bad habit she was not aware of until her hand went to her back pocket where she would usually carry her small improvised pouch of tools. Her hand instead was met with a firm palm size helping over her own ***. Her eyes flipped to the night sky. "****." She could feel the irritation ride up her spine until she had to roll her shoulders back slightly for relief. "Son of a *****." Her feet stepped back and she took a long look at her baby sitting there. Her eyes reached the trunk, the wheels then drifted ever so slowly to the bar door where he likely was sitting.

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Doc: He was indeed sitting there, watching her every move. He wasn’t sure she could see detail, but he winked at her, and gave her a quick two fingered salute. He stood up, threw a twenty on the table, and meandered outside, while adjusting his tie. “Hello Minx…” He offered in an almost jovial tone of voice. Doc moved to the front quarter panel of the Mustang and slid a caressing finger along its upper most ridge line. Leaning back against the car, he shoved his hands in pockets. The jingle of the keys could be faintly heard, as he did so. “How have you been?” It was an unheartfelt platitude type question, he couldn’t resist asking. He could imagine her look before it happened. The thought of it, made him smirk crookedly.

Dominique: Dominique watched the man as he leaned back and rested his *** on the car like he owned it. Her top lip twitched at the corner then she worked quickly to curl the reaction into a half amused smile to deflate his assumption that the vehicle was his. "I have been..." She paused her sentence to **** her head and eye where his body met her car. The wide dark eyes she was known for shot back up to his. "Looking for my car. Mind getting your *** off of it?" If she had the power to send him back into the place he just exited and the small pouch she carried the tools in her hand all would be good. She could see he was enjoying this and the fact she was not was likely evident no matter how much she forced her subtle smile to lift more.

Doc: “Your car?” Doc pulled the keys out of his pocket, twirled them a bit, and then pocketed them again. “MY car.” He smiled a closed mouth smile, then said softly, “Funny how the Police confiscate items from ‘criminals’ as evidence. And they sell the stuff and use the funds themselves. Apparently this car was stolen across the border, and our lovely corrupt police force, decided if they sold it, they could keep the profits. Lucky me, I have a title from the Harper Rock PD.” He said it with such confidence, that no one would even suspect him of lying through his teeth. He did have a title, thanks to the Quill. Truth of the matter was, he stole it the day he had Minx committed to the psych ward, but she wouldn’t know that. And with things being what they were in Harper Rock, his explanation was completely feasible. “Maybe.. I will let you borrow .. once in a while.”

Dominique: Dominique extended her hand and flipped the palm up to reveal an ink free center despite the color that was continuous around her wrist and upward beneath her sleeve. She stood there dancing her fingertips one at a time in slow succession as if there was a song lingering somewhere for them to move to. It was a universal gesture. He couldn't miss it or the expression of an open hand if he tried. Place those damn keys in the center and perhaps I won't be quite so tempted to drag you behind it tied to the bumper. She was pretty sure he was no mind reader like Zodiac or he would have done worse to her than he already had. Her face turned just a little and gave a look that she was more than ready to feel her keys return to her hand. "Not sure where you come from originally but there is nothing funny about a 1968 Ford Mustang GT Fastback 428 Cobra Jet. Confiscating it was hardly what they did. I bet you have a title. Not sure what Cracker Jack Box you pulled it out of but you can dream on. Lucky you will be after you handing over the keys and walking on home." There she said it. What did he think she was going to do? Buy his line of ******** he just gave everyone else?

Doc: He smiled in a thoroughly amused manner at her extended palm. Did she really think he would be buffaloed by her? “I suggest, since you feel you have a legitimate case for ownership, you should by all means you should pursue that line of inquiry. If your claim is true, I am sure you can produce all the documentation that will prove it. At that point the Harper Rock Police will owe me some money. However, darlin, until then.. it's mine. But I will give you a B+ for effort.” He jingled the car keys in his pocket absently, as though he wasn’t even aware he was doing it as though it was a random bored movement, but he was quite aware. He surmised the sound of the keys, her keys, so close and yet so far away, would drive her crazy. He cheekily added, “It has a hell of a lot of torque.. Carmen wrecked it when I let her drive it..”

Dominique: If the woman could curl up her fingers and send them across the jaw of the smug mug in front of her without causing a scene, or worse yet giving him the reaction he was looking for, she likely would. Dominique would not give him the satisfaction of getting under her skin more than he already had. She had a rare opportunity that humans never got a chance to make use of. Facing the individual who killed them. Her eyes stayed on his while her hand curled slowly at the fingers and ultimately retracted to hook the thumb once more at the opening of her pocket. "Yes, because I am going to walk into any courtroom as I am now and be taken seriously that I have rights to the car I stole to begin with?" Her brows nearly knitted together in irritation at his nerve to stand there as he was. She paused their attempt to meet and instead remained calm as would serve her in the meeting at hand. He did not appreciate his house being sent towards the moon. The consequence sucked but there was a return of that satisfaction in getting him back. Karma was about to make another visit to Charles Nilson. He wanted to toy with her then he would feel the affects all over again of losing control of his property as well. "Know what?" She looked around him at the car ignoring the comments that gave her reason to believe Kenlie may have been the Carmen he was referring to. The last thing she would ever do is hand him what most important to her. Those few she loved and felt responsible for. She would deal with that soon enough. He would not succeed twice. "You are right. It's yours. You got possession of it...so its yours." She smiled as she delivered the last words of her statement.

"--The following transcript was a live chat roleplay--"

Doc: He wasn’t fooled for one second. He could see the gears in her head going from ‘full steam ahead’ angry to ‘all back full’ sneaky, as a plot obviously entered her mind. To him, items were things. They were gained and they were lost. There wasn’t much of anything he possessed that couldn’t be replaced. The loss of his house taught him that. In fact the Spawn had mentioned she was worried at how calm he had been afterwards. He had to explain to her it was a thing. A construct. It would have degraded over time regardless, had it not been blown to smithereens. He was in it for the long haul. He intended to be around for centuries. Things would inevitably come and go over that span of time. So embracing change now, was a key to survival. Something that he hoped he had inculcated to the Spawn as he explained back then.

Doc: His thoughts moved back to the present and to this particular Spawn. What she was telling him, was what he grew up hearing, “Possession is 9/10ths of the law. If you don’t have possession, you are **** out of luck.” He knew by that pert little smile on her face what she intended, and it didn’t bother him one bit. If anything, it was though she just agreed to his demands, ‘Yes.. Yes I will play your game..and I will beat you’. He wasn’t worried about losing this time, afterall .. it was her car. Doc’s lips twitched with amusement. If she succeeded in wresting it from him, he will use it to his advantage with Zodiac, who had stressed that he needed to be patient with her. What is a better example of being patient than having your car stolen?

Doc: With crooked smirk and a wink, he pulled the keys from his pocket, spinning them idly, “I do not for one minute believe you.” A full grin appeared, “Time will tell if you’re lying or not.. hmm?” How could that be countered? If she took the car, she would be admitting by action, that she was a liar. Not that he cared, he lied all the ******* time. But he was guessing her sense of honor would be nag her, and that’s what he was hoping for. “Besides I promised Carmen she could drive it again, when the ice was gone.. I would hate to be seen as a liar to her..”

Dominique: "Nice." The single word came out cold and void of interest. What he had to do with Kenlie would be a discussion for later when she was long out of his presence. Now that she had verbally surrendered the car she gave it a last look that made her nearly boil deep within with anger. "As if what you think or believe ranks incredibly high on my give-a-damn list." She gave a wink that she wished held the power to dissolve him into the small particles beneath her heel as she stepped back. "Win some you lose some." Her body stepped back a few more steps then finally spun around and continued in the direction she was headed to begin with.

Doc: Doc laughed, it wasn’t overly loud or harsh. It was a genuine laugh. He called to her as she spun about and stalked off, “Have a good evening Darlin’!” He used the term of endearment as yet another little barb to rankle her. He really was having more fun with this than he should, and he knew it would come back to bite him in the ***. But until then, he was determined to enjoy it.

Dominique: Dominique was feeling her the top row of her teeth clench down to join the bottom row. Her shoulders were increasingly tense and she was tempted to take the guns from her pocket to do just as he suggested by taking aim at him. However, he would like that. Her strategy was to not indulge him anymore than she had. She tilted her head lightly to the right shoulder then cranked her chin to the left and upward until she heard that popping sound that used to mean she released the periodic stiffness in her neck. This time it felt tighter as her head resumed its position as she rounded the corner out of his sight. The man was like a pain in the *** she couldn't get rid of no matter how hard she tried. That would soon be resolved. Chances were he would be looking forward to it. "********." Rolled off her tongue and past her lips with a growl as she crossed the street to the transit.