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The hawk swooped masterfully into the cove, hardly slowing his speed. The dive could not have gone better, and the bird located a dark, rocky ledge. He spread his feet out, as though ready to snatch his prey off of this ledge. But as he neared it, he transformed. The legs grew into those of a human’s. The wings formed arms with normal palms and fingers at the end. The chest transformed, and the head expanded, turning human.

The figure dressed in a rich grey suit, wielding a cane and sporting a metallic mask. A shrill beep penetrated the air. The man flexed his fingers before reaching into a pocket and producing a cell phone. “Mastermind,” he answered, knowing whom it was. His voice was raspy, a thick whisper.

A conversation unfolded. The Mastermind told his apprentice angrily that Cross was still alive, and he ended with, “He's at the Pacific Unity Nightclub. Son, kill James Cross. Be sure of it. Watch him take his last breath.”

“Of course... Your will shall be done master,” the voice on the other end replied.

The Mastermind closed his phone. “Good,” he hissed, sniffing the air. Without warning, he dove from the ledge, reforming back to the figure of the hawk and returning to his nightly scout of the town.

After all, there was plenty more business besides Cross to deal with.

The other end of the conversation...

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Finding a secluded spot to practice the ideas rushing into her mind was difficult but the goth finally settled on a spot her brother had mentioned. Old Salty's Cove was apparently a location where a lot of guys tried to "score" but from what she could tell from his description, normally uninhabited during daylight hours. Lucid Dusk clanked against the side of the bike for the umpteenth time, forcing Alma to roll her shoulders to reposition it, again. Riding would have been faster but would have also left an obvious tire track in the grass. Alma needed to be alone.

After a few more minutes of walking, a voice reached her ears. It wouldn't have bothered her so much if it didn't sound so... maniacal. Someone at the cove wouldn't have been strange but something about the laughter she was currently hearing made her stop. Scarier thing was, it didn't stop. Fairly quietly, Alma leaned the bicycle up against a nearby tree, quickly memorized its location and made sure Lucid Dusk and Chibi, her panda backpack, were secured to her back. Cautiously, she ventured through the last of the trees blocking the Cove from her view.

The view was almost as she imagined it, but maybe a bit more depressing than a girl could hope. What was really interesting her was the blond boy, maybe a year older than her at most, standing at the edge and laughing his head, and maybe some other body parts, off. His shirt was torn in the back, which was odd if he had come to the cove to... unless... Alma shook her head and didn't let herself finish that thought, and promptly stopped observing the other teen.

"This might not be the best place to practice...." Mumbled softly to herself. Crazy people or no crazy people, Vince had also mentioned some nice construction sites around Delmor.

She turned to leave but stop upon realizing her trench coat was caught on a bush. Why did she wear the darn (but well-loved) piece of cloth while walking through the woods? Swearing under her breath, Alma turned to untangle the trail without ripping it. In a feat of epic failure she wished never to repeat again, the teen lost her balance on something stuck in the ground, got tangled in what may have been her trench coat and managed to fall flat on her face into the open where Crazy Boy could see her.

After a few choice, very loud swears were out of the way, Alma checked her glasses to only find that they were undamaged. Only then did she fully remember who was there and why she decided to leave in the first place.

"s**t," she grumbled as she turned to see if Crazy Boy had noticed her, knowing he probably had.

A disapproving frown began to form on Alma's face. This kid, Crazy Boy, appeared to be one of those types now that she was getting a better look at him. He was a nice looking guy, the kind that is either a complete idiot or a sheep in the flock. Although currently, he seemed more worried about what she had seen, or might have seen, him doing. A faint, fresh, red smear on the rocks she had landed on made her groan.

"I'm fine... I think," Alma hissed through clenched teeth. A throbbing sensation on her left hand informed her the cut was there. She turned her hand over to examine the gash and let out a gasp of pain. The daylight hitting her cut palm seared like it was on fire. In a single fluent motion, Alma slid the cut hand further into the sleeve of the coat. After shuddering a little at what that pain could have meant, she managed to stand up to face the kid that almost seemed embarrassed or scared (or both) about talking to a goth. Joyous.

"So, do I want to know why your shirt is torn in the back and that you were laughing like a maniac?" Alma began rather flatly, like a parent not wanting to know why there were muddy paw prints on the ceiling, "'You seem rather nervous for a guy that didn't just get caught doing something he shouldn't have been. Unless your girlfriend's down by the shore." She paused for a moment before adding, "Unless it's my looks that are bothering you." At this, she scowled and crossed her arms. Sure, it kind of was teasing but she'd have something to say if he said yes to the last question.

Though Alma got some statisfaction out of the boy's lost for words, she was taken aback at his question. It wasn't the question itself that bothered her, more so it was way he was trying to defend himself. He was not use to having to defend himself yet... It seemed like he had been having a lot of practice as of late. Alma stretched and yawned without covering her mouth, then relaxed her pose.

"I wasn't spying on you, start one," she responded with a heavy tang of cynicism, "If I had been spying on you, I would know what was making you so nervous at me finding you here." She began to take off the cylindrical tube that held Lucid Dusk as she continued, "If you really must know, all-powerful, Preppy Boy, I came here to try something out. I've only just got here and all I saw you doing was laughing like a maniac." Alma was now holding the 'sheath' in her hands and wasn't about to open it, unless...

"By the way, not so subtle change of subject there. But it's obvious you're bothered because I'm goth, which is really juvenile, ya know. I won't go tell any of your prep friends that you talked to me. Speaking of friends, I don't even know you. Which brings me to my question, seeing as you asked me one; if I show you my secret, will you tell why the hell you were so freaked out? You got me curious."

A heavy sigh escaped Alma's lips just before they curled into a scowl. He had taken offense to what she had said, that bit was obvious. As well as lie to her, the guy was obviously uncomfortable around her, which in and of itself was an insult to her... People trapped in their own rut of thought-process annoyed the hell of the goth, mainly cuz what they said hurt.

"I'm not going to hurt anyone, if that's what your thinking," Alma retorted coldly, unable to keep the sub-zero snarl from her voice, "I came out here to practice, which was why I was going to leave since you were already here..." She could tell her eyes where deepening into their red hue because her vision became blurry. Shaking her head, the goth tried to get a hold on her emotions before she knocked the guy off the cliff, or something.

"I know your lying to me but since it's obvious that I don't have feelings, or something, according to your mind, I'll let it slide," It was like trying to hold onto melting ice, difficult but not impossible. But the wall that she managed to keep up at school started to crack a little. Alma began to consider knocking him out with hilt until an idea stuck her.

"..." She stood stopped mid-thought train and looked the guy in the eye, "I'm sorry ahead a time if I'm right but," Alma took off the top of the 'mailing tube' like container and slid the hilt of Lucid Dusk into sight of the guy, then she walked closer and offered it to him, "Could you try to take this and hold it like you are about to fight someone? I-I'm really sorry if I'm right."

Alma knew this might cause more tension between them already but her passion to learn was creeping up on her. She didn't care if the guy suddenly turned on her; what little control over the Shadows she had could most likely protect her. What mattered know was seeing if the sword would burn anyone but her, when they grabbed the hilt.

Alma watched the guy run and get a staff and two canes. Tilting her head at his question, any annoyance she had for leaving her question unsolved got tucked away into the "later" folder in her mind.

He wants to help me train? ... No, I think he wants to see how I fight... Or something....Sounds like fun.

Alma nodded along with his rules. She was doubting that she would be able to do anything to him anyway, seeing as this was the first time she had even thought of sparring with anyone. It seemed the kid had a good handle on fighting already, especially since he even had a secret hideout to train. Add in the fact that most of her knowledge of swordsmanship came from research done hastily last night, Alma was pretty sure the kid would have her beat.

She turned and took off Chiba, her headphones (with the MP3 player), and her scarf then set them down by the trees which hid her bike along with the tube that had previously held the sword. Her eyes were still red but she decided against removing her glasses as it would make the color change more obvious. Slowly, she returned, faced him and met his eyes again. A faint smile appeared on her lips.

"I agree but two things first," Lucid Dusk rested in her right hand, pointed towards the ground, "One, I'm still new to the art of swordsmanship don't be disappointed if I don't meet your expectations. Two, I'd like to know the name of my sparring partner. I'm Alma.

[[I don't actually know much about sword fighting.... Just a heads up for everyone reading this, AKA, forgiven if I'm wrong... If so, PM with what I should say... or something]]

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Mariana made her way along the sandy beach. This is one part of town she'd never been before, so she had to try looking among the cliffs to find the right place. Personally, she preferred other locations, such as in front of the church or in the back of the police station--somewhere she would make a more lasting impression. But, she supposed, it would be interesting to see just how far this new kid thought he was going to get. She didn't mind playing with him like that--to her, fun was the main motivation. Who knows, besides? He just might get lucky. But, for now, it was a matter of findign the place. There was an outcropping ahead, along with what looked like a cave carved out by the shifting tides. That sounded like the description of the place she'd heard from her gang. But, as she approached, she realized someone was already there. That wasn't surprising in and of itself, but what did strike her interest was that they were fighting. She'd been itching for a fight for a while, and the whole idea of armed combat in the house of love just smacked of chaos. "Hey!" she called out to the pair. "Is this a private affair?" She withdrew a bronze-colored axe from the grocery bag she had been carrying and threw everything else to the side. "Or perhaps we can make this a threesome?"