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 Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 7:05 pm
This is a private roleplay for
Rivener (Aphismet)
and
Ripley (Rown)
Location: Streets of Durem
Time: early evening
Weather: Clear skies, clouding over... expecting a thunderstorm later that night
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Posted: Sun May 30, 2010 7:17 pm
Rivener had been welcomed back into Felix's employ eagerly. The mob boss had sent Riv more than one text message while the Sigel was home recovering, each message containing well-wishes from the other men and promising gifts that they'd bought and not delivered; it was part of their deal after all, that they would never come into contact with Rivener's home life. All the gifts had been waiting at Felix's penthouse, boxes of chocolate and coupons to restaurants, a few video games... Thoughtful bunch of guys. Riv's first night back, there'd been no work done. A big party had been thrown for him in celebration of his full recovery, and to be honest it had gone a long way in making the Scorpion feel at home again among the rough looking humans.
The next day, however, things had gone back to normal. Riv's wings hadn't regained all their strength yet, and he couldn't fly for as long as he used to without pause, but for the purposes of his work it was fine. He went out night after night with Felix, sharing his shift with Ron and Jakob, two large, strong, brick house type of bouncers. Things went smoothly, with Rivener only needing to smack people around once or twice. It was good to get back into this, feeling powerful again. He always had a small sliver of uncertainty left, but he forced himself to ignore it. He was strong. The strongest out of all of them. And he carried himself as such, head high and shoulders squared.
It was on one such night, after a rather rough discussion with a local bar owner, that Rivener thought he spotted something particular as he exited the building. Off in the distance, at the edge of the block, was what looked like a half-body with a glowing under-light... A Raevan!
"Hey boss, hold on a sec. I think I see someone over there I might know... They must be lost or somethin. Let me go get them, okay?"
"Sure, but don't stray far. Bring them back closer so you can be available should s**t happen. We'll be in the SUV." Felix nodded his head and continued on towards the car, ducking in after Jakob opened the door.
Rivener floated closer to the familiar figure, quickly making out the braided hair and silver circlet of- "Ripley?" he asked, tilting his head and instantly scanning the nearby area for that unpleasant harpy, Rong Wei. "What are you doing out here?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 6:46 pm
"Rivener?"
The first thing that could and should have been noted about Ripley was that the dark Frei was awfully pale. His usually dark skin was pressing to a lighter shade of mocha and perhaps even a bit ashy about the elbows though it could have just been the flickering of the nearby streetlamps and the one that Ripley had stopped his floating under. Streetlamps always flickered without much effort though all of the bulbs seemed to pulse in time, crackling loudly as if cheered on by some unknown force. It was only his skin that was pale however, the rest of his body hardly disheveled in the slightest, though his eyes had a slightly wild look to them.
His mind was a mixture of nerves and almost everything else, his random floating during the day having lead him into way unfamiliar territory. Rong Wei had let the Raeven out to do whatever it was he wanted, a sort of 'get the hell out of my house for now' mantra behind her actions, and while originally he'd lurked only in places the human had taken him before he'd somehow managed to get into a location he'd never seen. It was possible for him to return to where he needed to be if he'd just retrace his floating steps, but with the oncoming threat of rain and darkness his chances were slim. Ripley couldn't see in the dark - as far as he knew. That might be a talent he'd develop later on in the future, but for now his sight was vastly limited to the sun and lamps around him.
It took the Raeven a moment or two to register that other than his name, a question had been asked. He quickly gathered whatever calming nature he could and pressed the worried expression from his face into the one he'd told himself he needed to wear around Rivener and Rivener alone (for now).
"I somehow managed to get myself lost, if you can believe that. Rong Wei let me outside while she spent the day with her parents and it seems my curiosity got the better of me."
The Frei's eyes took in the Sigel and the blurry sights behind him - strangely dressed humans. Ripley was pleased to see that Rivener's wings were no longer bandaged and that he was looking in better spirits, but that also made him slightly nervous. Better feelings could also equal a mood change, so he would need to tread lightly.
"It's good to see you again, even if we've met on a stroke of luck."
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Posted: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:24 pm
Rivener frowned at Ripley's appearance. What was the matter with him? He looked... exhausted, drawn! And, to Rivener's surprise, he was lost! Huffing with mild outrage, (How could Rong Wei do this?! Was she HOPING he'd get lost?) Rivener slipped an arm aroung the Frei and carefully escorted him closer to the black SUV, a few steps away.
"It's good to see you too, Ripley. I'm glad I found you. I can't take you home right now, I'm working and can't leave just yet, but if you stay with us for a little while I'll be done. We just have to drive back to the hotel and hang out for about ten, fifteen minutes... Do you mind coming with me? I'd feel better if you weren't just wandering." Not to mention looking starved. Rivener rustled his wings, growling at Rong Wei's irresponsibility.
Riv was sure he could convince Felix to let him bring the Egyptian along. All he reallly waited for was Ripley's own permission.
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Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 9:16 am
An invitation to join him? This was a bit more than Ripley expected, but none the less he was quite pleased with the outcome. Perhaps his wandering away on his own accord had actually been to his advantage, so he could ignore the fact that he was a bit overwhelmed by all the unknown sounds, sights, and smells. When Rivener had placed his arm around Ripley the Frei had to suck his breath in and calm himself so as not to shock his companion, knowing good and well that his nerves were high enough that if he didn't try he'd likely burn a hole in whomever touched him.
"If you're offering, then I'll take you up on it. I should probably admit to you that I'm not too good in places I've never been, it's a little too...breathtaking I guess? Unknown sights and sounds unsettle me no matter where I am, but I seem to be fine if I'm with someone I know."
Inwardly the Frei wondered if the older Raeven would think he was sucking up, trying to sound silly in explaining things. In reality Ripley was telling the truth, a little bit of 'give-get' as it were, but there was no way for Rivener to really tell that unless the Sigel connected the dots with his harried appearance.
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Posted: Mon Jun 21, 2010 6:11 pm
Rivener hmph-ed in agreement with Ripley's words. If being with someone familiar helped the Egyptian feel more secure, then so be it. Riv had paid attention to the Stars since his last encounter with this one, but he'd not learned what Ripley might need to feed on. Perhaps electricity? "You'll be fine with me, then. C'mon."
Sucking up or not (and Rivener got the impression Ripley was not; it wasn't flattering enough a statement to warrant being lied about), Riv wouldn't be letting the Frei out of his sights. He escorted him closer to the SUV and then knocked on a window, catching Felix's attention. "Hey bossman, this young one of my kind is lost. If it's alright with you, I'd want to escort him home after my shift."
"...-and he'd need to come with us, that what you're saying?" Felix finished the request with an amused smirk.
"Yes, boss." Rivener didn't hesitate to admit to it, nor did he look apologetic in any way. He knew where his loyalties lay, and if needed he'd ditch work to bring Ripley back safely.
Felix, thankfully, only sighed and shrugged. "Well, there's only half an hour left to your shift anyway. How about you just take off now with the kid, and come in half an hour early tomorrow instead."
Rivener's grin was answer enough, but he nodded curtly to make sure his agreement was clear. The window quietly rolled up and the SUV pulled away, leaving both Raevans alone on the sidewalk. All in all it was better this way, Riv thought: no need to submit Ripley to another unfamiliar location.
"Alright, let's try to find a cab or something. Or maybe you don't live far? Where's your house?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 10:42 pm
"I thought I could retrace my movements in order to return home, but it's gotten darker sooner than I thought so I'm not quite certain the correct way. I do know the address though so it's not as though I can't get home at all."
His address and the phone number to both the shop and the house were two of the things that Rong Wei had made sure Ripley knew before they went out the first time together. Rong Wei had assured him it was for his protection, should he wander off and get lost, but Ripley had always taken to assume that she hoped to leave him one day and pray that he could never find his way back. Perhaps what he was doing now was something along the lines of her wishes, but he wasn't all that lost now that he had Rivener with him.
"And I don't know what this 'cab' kind of thing is, but would it be too much of me to ask if we could not take any kind of car? The night air feels pretty good and I've been wanting to stretch my wings a bit. Staying inside for too long is what started all of this, and I'd like to be able to talk with you as we go."
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Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:57 pm
Rivener raised an eyebrow at the request of "no cab". So Ripley wasn't in any great hurry to return home, then? Hmph, the poor Frei was probably aching for any reason to be away from Rong Wei. Not that the Sigel could blame him. "Alright, we'll walk. I suppose you must not be used to being out at night, hm? Tell me your address and I'll look it up on my cell phone, so we can head in the right direction."
The Scorpion retrieved his cell from a pocket, flipping it open and quickly dialing into the web, finding a map-browser. As he clicked, red eyes focused on his task, Rivener continued on in a distracted way: "A cab, by the way, is a car you pay to take you places." The Scorpion was half convinced Ripley already knew this and was playing dumb for some reason, but far be it from the Scorpion to fathom Ripley's motives. "There, ready, so what's the street you're looking for?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 11:15 am
So a 'cab' was another word for 'taxi' - and Ripley knew what a taxi was based on the fact he and Rong Wei had used one before. Ripley filed that bit of information away into the back of his head with a quick blink, determined not to make the same connection mistake again, at least not in front of Rivener. He wanted this other Raeven - this Sigel - to assume he was a lot smarter than he was putting on airs to be, which actually would be a little difficult if he didn't watch what he was saying. It was easy enough for Ripely to carry himself like he was wise beyond his years, and he did have a good store of information to back up some of his claims, but it was in his best interests to keep track. For now.
"My address . . . . well. We live in Durem, the street is called Pine Marten. It's actually not far from the Lab headquarters, according to what Rong Wei has said before and my memories of us returning together the first day I was brought home. If somehow we are able to get back to the Lab I'm certain I can navigate us to where we need to go - my memory has not failed me once if I am able to see something enough."
Ripely wasn't much of a street sign type, or a left or right type - he moved based on memory and landmarks, two things that suited him well in the past and should hopefully help him out once again. If he'd honestly wanted to he could have made his way back the way he'd floated from, but only if it'd been light enough out. Ripley was certain though that by now some of the daytime landmarks (parked cars and what not) were likely moved by their owners, so it would have been pointless. He was very glad that Rivener happened to come by at the moment he did, but he doubted he'd ever actually say the complete depths of his gratitude.
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Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 12:52 pm
Rivener glanced over at the information. Pine Marten? Close to the Lab? Ah, Riv didn't know the street itself, but he knew very well how to get to the Lab from here. No need for the maps, then. He straightened his shoulders and clacked the cell closed again, putting it away with a grin. "Well, that's no problem at all. I know how to get us there, and then you can find your way back. I hope you don't mind I'd go with you all the way to your home, though. Just to make sure you got there safe."
Riv set them on their way, flicking his hand in a "follow" gesture and crossing the street. A lightbulb flickered above as they passed, and that was about the extent of the activity in this part of town. The thought made Rivener frown. "...Why were you wandering this way anyhow? It's not a really good neighborhood to be in, you know. You may think you're invincible, but believe me, we are NOT. There's tons of punks around here with knives and bats, some with guns... They might try to mug you for your jewelry." He glanced pointedly at all the silvery shimmer Ripley was decked out with. "That would not go well for anyone, I'd wager."
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Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2010 2:04 pm
"I'd like to see anyone try and touch me, to be honest with you. It'd give me a reason to see if what I've been testing on the neighbor's dog could be used properly on humans."
There was a pause in the conversation, followed by a chuckle. Another of the streetlights they passed under seemed to flicker, though unlike the one before it this one went completely out with a hiss and a pop, indicating the bulb had been blown entirely. With each flicker of lights Ripley's color seemed to be improving, or was it just perhaps he was in better company? Either way the dark Frei was not nearly as ashy as he'd been before, and his overall mood was certainly higher if he was able to say such things.
"I'm joking, of course. I suppose I don't know what I was thinking when I came this way, merely that I'd never been here before. As I said before I am not fond of the unknown and would rather avoid it all together if I could, but unfortunately the entire world is full of places I've never been. I thought it wouldn't hurt to try and get over it."
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 9:04 am
For some reason, Rivener didn't think Ripley was joking at all. Still, the behavior reminded Riv too clearly of himself when he was a Frei: thinking that his strength and poison was enough to overcome any foe. How wrong that had been. "Ripley, a gunshot happens in a split second. Sometimes you don't even know where the damned shot came from. It really IS dangerous, so try not to wander down dangerous streets at night, okay? If you MUST wander to fight the unknown, stick to larger streets at night."
It wasn't Riv's place to be giving orders like that, but he couldn't help it. It was the Big-Brotherly side of him showing up. He didn't want Ripley to get hurt by making a Frei's mistake, a decision not informed enough in the ways of the world. But this Frei was intelligent, he might even be too prideful to take Riv's advice at face value? "It's up to you in the end, of course, but... well. You know my opinion on it."
The Scorpion turned them down another street, this one even darker and seedier than the first, a shortcut towards the Lab. Despite what he'd just said, he was leading Ripley down some pretty dangerous places himself. He was counting on his reputation as Felix's underling to keep most of the rabble at bay; a pretty naive assumption.
"...Wow, aren't you two the weirdest freaks I've ever seen," came a gritty voice from ahead. Four men emerged from behind a trash bin, silhouetted from the light of the alley's end. In that light a switchblade glinted as one of them pulled it from his coat. The leader spoke again. "Freaks with lots of bling, to boot. Give us all your stones and we won't have to hurt you."
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Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 6:15 pm
You have got to be kidding me.
It took a quick bite of Ripley's lower lip to prevent himself from speaking such words aloud, his annoyed tone very likely to have leaked itself into such words and made an already sticky situation that much more troubling. Part of him was laughing itself to tears over the situation that presented itself, while another was curing inwardly at his poor luck for wandering this way and coming into a group that Rivener had just warned him about. Perhaps this Sigel could tell the future, since he was spot on accurate about something like this happening? It was very unlikely but none the less an amusing thought, and Ripley surveyed the group of humans with an eye that was hardly more than leery.
The Frei had also almost wanted to call out 'Rong Wei' as soon as he'd heard the word freaks - a nautal reaction - but since these were actual men and not just am embittered Chinese boozer he'd been smart to keep his mouth shut over that as well. Now the only option that was left to him was to decide how'd he approach this. His jewelry was quite clearly the want of their talk, and they appeared to not want to leave until they got their hands on it. Considering the fact that Rivener had just been talking about being shot the Egpytian Frei wasn't all too keen on trying to spout a line and be a hero, but he wasn't too sure how Rivener would take him stepping behind and using the older Sigel as a meat shield. Honestly that seemed the better option and was likely going to be the one Ripley chose, seeing as he didn't have sort of emotional attachment at all or a debt to pay.
A body between him and harm was a body well spent.
"Gentlemen, I'm afraid I cannot hand these over to you - they're a part of my body you see. Now I know you're thinking something along the lines of 'good, now we'll just kill you and take them anyway', but I can assure you it would be a mistake. These are worthless replicas that would hardly fetch any price on the market."
Perhaps talking with them was the right choice? Ripley doubted it, and from the stance he was floating in he could easily duck behind Rivener should the need be or break into a floating-run. Above the pair a scuzzy neon sign flickered, a hissing sound echoing as a bug died against the light.
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Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 8:47 pm
The funny coincidence was not lost on Rivener, though he couldn't really find it in himself to laugh. He uttered a dry snicker at most, one corner of his lip curled up in morbid amusement. Of course, he thought, rolling his eyes skyward. A bunch of hoodlums who don't know who Felix is. What were the chances. And while Rivener felt confident he might be able to disperse them quickly if he flashed his gun, there were a few problems with that solution. For one, he didn't know for sure that these guys didn't have guns of their own, and two, Rivener didn't want Ripley to see him carrying such a weapon. What kind of example would that be for a Sigel to set?
Ripley moved slightly, trying to talk some sense into these idiots, but Rivener took it one step further by clearly placing himself in the Frei's path, one wing spreading slightly to offer cover. It wouldn't stop a bullet, but the punks wouldn't be able to aim at Ripley as easily. Assuming they had guns at all.
If they DIDN'T have any guns though, they'd have to get close to try and take the Raevan's jewelry. And when that happened, Riv knew he'd have the upper hand. Sigel strength was beyond that of the average human's. "He's right, you know," Riv added his voice to Ripley's, hoping these men might lose interest and just go. "These baubles are shiny, but that's about all they're worth. You'll get laughed at if you waste your time mugging us for these."
"WE will decide what's a waste of our time and what's not!" the apparent group leader declared, pointing a hand at Rivener. "Now give us the damned bling or it's gonna get harsh up in here!"
As though taking cue, a few other members of the group whipped out switchblades like the first guy's. One man even pulled a bat out from behind the dumpster! But, Rivener noticed with a smirk, there was a distinct lack of guns...
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Posted: Sat Aug 07, 2010 9:00 pm
From behind Rivener's wing, sure that the Sigel could not see his face since he was looking at the men, Ripley smiled. It was not a smile of 'oh, my hero!' or 'oh! you're my good friend!', but rather another smile of victory. He'd gotten this Raeven before him to admit once that he'd kill Rong Wei if needed (Ripely wasn't sure he was still offering), and now he'd gotten him to step in front of him to protect him. There was not much else he had to accomplish now in their relationship perhaps, at least not on this level. Ripley was very pleased with this development, but still not very amused with the whole status of what was going on.
More blades had been pulled out and the humans weren't looking like they were going to be backing down any time soon. Despite the fact he was likely safe...ish behind Rivener, Ripley was getting irritated and wanted this situation to remedy itself quickly. He doubted that Rong Wei would have even noticed he was gone with how glued to the television she'd been, but certainly he'd like to get inside before the doors were locked and he had to teach himself quickly how to pick locks.
"I'm surprised at your level of intelligence. Bad mouthing two very clearly non-human creatures with unknown abilities, all the while brandishing knives? Do you believe this will end well?"
The neon light flickered again, though this time it wasn't from a bug hitting into it. The sign was glowing brighter, buzzing louder. It caught a bit of Ripley's attention this time around, and his gaze looked towards it.
Hmmmm.
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