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Post by Marcus Prasad on May 20, 2012 20:38:55 GMT -8
It was amazing how hard humanity fought against anihilation. In all honesty, there's something to be said about the old chestnut of "You cannot kill what refuses to die."
Take this moment for example. The world was firebombed, trashed almost beyond all recognition. Yet here, in a small corner store in the middle of Crow occupied territory, a man can still buy a Twinkie and a Litre bottle of Dr. Pepper for 3 bucks or less. Go outside to the corner of the street. What do you see? People walking as if the end of the world was still only in our science fiction stories. The Barber working in his shop was sweeping the floors just like any other day, the Laundramat was lined with people washing thier linens and cars still traveresed the black asphalt as usual.
It was enough to move you to tears. As if the entire city was pointing a massive Middle finger straight at Barker and his gang of fuckwits. Wolfing down the twinky, Marcus leaned his shoulder against a streetlight and just watched the world move around him. As if he was a rock in the middle of a flowing river.
It was easy to lie to yourself just to get through the day though. Marcus' predatory eye caught the quiet desperation in every hunched set of shoulders and every furtive glance. Down the street, a Child played with a ball. If was the classic setting, eventualy it got away from him and it rolled to Marcus' feet. The boy ran for the ball, only to stop beyond arms reach of the man, looking up at him with wide frightened eyes.
Being a nice guy, Marcus tossed the ball back to the boy. He recieved no thanks, and expected none. The boy was clearly taught hard by his parents not to talk to strangers. Even those wearing friendly faces. Marcus nodded to the boy and he took it as a dismissal. He was taught well. Even the most friendliest smile hide sharp teeth.
Licking the last drops of Twinky cream off his fingers, the man Began walking down the busy street. There was only so long one can bully a frightened dog before it snaps back at the hand that beats them. A Lesson Barker had better be keen on learning soon.
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Post by Stu Pott on May 21, 2012 6:56:42 GMT -8
Stu himself was out in much the same manner as Marcus, just lolling around during some downtime between missions. He had been given charge of many duties by Unfettered just the other day, as well as his newest toy, Callandor.
It's hilt poked over his left shoulder, a samurai sword hilt with a built in trigger, like a gun. No guns worked these days, obviously, so to see someone carry something that called back to that forgotten form of killing was startling to most. The crowds stayed very parted for Stu.
He was a giant amongst most of these people, though their hunched forms and quick strides probably kept them lower to the ground than they actually appeared. He began cataloging faces, though it was hard to do so without actually meeting anyone. These people were not interested in having a conversation with a blue haired man carrying what looked like a katana-gun on his back.
He continued walking the boulevard, and watched what would probably be the most stereotypical suburban scene he'd ever been involved in. A ball rolled to a stop at the foot of this bruiser, obviously someone involved with the crows, based purely on his size. He tossed the ball back before nodding and smiling at a young boy who ran off terrified.
Stu had stopped and watched the entire scene go down, leaning against a broken light pole. The man licked his fingers while walking directly towards Stu. As he approached Stu stood and flagged him down with a long wave.
"Hey boyo, what's your name? I'm Stu. I'm new around these parts, working for Johnny. 'Unfettered', as you might know him.
I'm trying to meet as many of you bloody people as possible, but no one wants to give a name. Been a bloody Tony Blair. Everyone just puts their hose to the penny and goes right on their merry way.
Right fuckin rude if you ask me, boyo."
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Post by Marcus Prasad on May 21, 2012 11:13:02 GMT -8
The look on Marcus' face must have been hilarious as his brain fought to comprehend exactly what the strange blank eyed man was saying. The way he talked conjoured images of cobblestone streets and red telephone booths and big burly men talking about pints of lager and using the word 'cunt' as a punctuation mark.
"Ummmm.....names Marcus. Yeah. So, Stu huh?"
He began after pulling himself out of his BSOD with a sharp shake of his head. Just saying the mans name made his mouth water for some good ol fashion stew, a predicament that made the man wonder how long it was going to be before he got hungry again.
He could just TASTE the lamb.......
The mans eyes drifted to the bizzare weapon on Stu's back. He must be a member of the Crows militia as well. Marcus liked to have thought that Unfettered wouldn't let a random stranger walk around in the heart of crow territory with a god damn gunsword.
"So you're a stranger too eh? Just got here myself about a month ago or so."
Marcus motioned for Stu to follow him before taking a nice refreshing swig from his Dr Pepper bottle.
Something in Marcus' brain clicked as old rusted gears in the back of his mind began to turn.
'So Unfettered also goes by Johnny huh?'
There was something about that little tidbit of trivia that was bugging Marcus like a sliver in his thumb. Something almost familier.......
"Also I think I can fix your introduction issue's my friend. Just gotta be less forward. It's not every day these people get a blue haired hollow eyed cockney man with a Trigger Katana on his back asking for thier name ya know."
He explained with a chuckle and a smile.
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Post by Stu Pott on May 21, 2012 12:23:44 GMT -8
Stu's face was as animated as any cartoon characters as the man seemingly took everything in stride and motioned for him to come along. Not only was Stu pleasantly surprised at this man's reciprocation of his good will, he even offered what could be considered great conversation.
Everyone else around here was so quick to end their sentences with a period or a punch.
The man, Marcus, chuckled about his get-up, and Stu's own face split in half with his wide goofy grin. He scratched at his hair under the fedora put his sunglasses back on as they turned down an avenue that was looking directly into the line of fire of that blazing sun. It seemed like it grew hotter as the days went on, Barker's destruction of civilization bringing down the wrath of the heavens itself.
His hand instinctively shot up as the man mentioned his sword, a new present from Unfettered. He had given it to him the other day, at that fateful meeting...
But back to the matter at hand.
"A right rude group of people. Perhaps I shouldn't be so aggressive as you said.
What's your job round here? You're obviously a crow, everyone is."
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Post by Marcus Prasad on May 21, 2012 20:54:09 GMT -8
It had been a long time since Marcus found himself taken aback by the actions of another person, but here we had a man who was blunt almost to the point of rude, decrying the rudeness of others. The irony made him laugh out loud.
"Careful not to assume m'boy. For all you know I could be a hidden Barker ninja spy!"
Taking another swig of pop, Marcus wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve and let loose a loud wet belch, causing a few passerby's to jump in surprise.
"But your right. Well, at least half right. My relationship with the crows is uuuuuhhhhhh, Complicated. Yeah, complicated."
Though Marcus was hoping soon to make things significantly UNcomplicated soon. He had already sent a message up the line. All he had to do was have a meet up with 'Unfettered' and settle things up as well as hash out a few plans.
"As for my Job. Well, that's something I'm hoping I can talk to your boss man about sometime soon."
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Post by Stu Pott on May 21, 2012 21:39:59 GMT -8
Stu's eyebrows perked up at the mention of his 'boss', and even more so that he had a complicated relationship. Stu's new position within the order would be somewhat of a public relations magnate; he had organized a huge colony back in England and had traveled across America to get back here to find Del, so he was pretty wise.
He nodded along for a bit as they walked, Stu pretty uninterested with where they were going. He wasn't really looking to go anywhere to begin with, more intent on figuring this guy out. Marcus, Marcus, Marcus.
"So you're joining the Crows? What's your story, my friend?"
He checked the cockney as best he could. He still sounded English obviously, but he was at way more understandable. It was his "Leader" voice.
"If you're looking for an in... Well, I'm looking for friends who are looking for ins."
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Post by Marcus Prasad on May 22, 2012 0:22:28 GMT -8
"Joined. I'm past that stage, and like I said, It's complicated."
Ok, as nice as the guy seemed, he was really starting to get on Marcus' nerves. He didn't like people getting up in his business like this.
"Look bud, I've known you for all of a few minutes and I'm not about to jump on a shrinks couch and start boo hooing my lifes story, huh."
The man continued to walk in silence for alittle while. Ok, mabey he was being alittle anti social, but to be honest, the hollow eyed guys' mannerisms had put Marcus immediatly on the defensive.
"Lets just say words were exchanged and a tentative agreement was made. An agreement that was interupted before it could be hammered out."
Marcus remembered that day. Sitting in a bloodsoaked room with Leta, Mr. Asiv, some dude named John.....something something, A wierd little guy named Green and Unfettered himself. Marcus had made his intentions clear that day, though the more he thought about it afterwards, the more he wondered if he was being more than alittle immature at the time. Before he could get into the guts of the situation, he had found out about the location of Leon Sudeki's son Spike and bolted from the building.
He had been trying to get back in contact with Unfettered ever since.
"I mean, I don't mean to be rude m'self right? It's just all these questions can make a guy feel nervous y'know."
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Post by Stu Pott on May 22, 2012 6:13:55 GMT -8
Stu turned his head gently as the man snapped at him, immediately causing Stu to miss a step. He caught himself and continued walking on, but apparently this man did not want any help with anything.
Infuriatingly, he then recanted a little, opening even a small bit.
"Well let me tell you, then, boyo, a bit about myself. You can talk if you feel like, but you're making enemies out of friends. I'm a Crow too. I work with Unfettered on the Crow's image... unfortunately, I'm still trying to figure out what that image is.
I've got a son. Oliver. I've got a... I don't even know. Girlfriend? Lover? Soulmate? Who knows. Delilah. She's beautiful."
He stared off into space at the thought of the two people in his life who brought him true happiness, even if he had only known Oliver for a short time. They centered him.
His attention snapped back to the man standing next to him. The man absolutely leaked danger, anger, and menace. He didn't seem like a happy guy. How could someone so volatile be allowed to work within the crows.
"So... Maybe your story is a bit big. But I'm trying to help you out, free of charge. Instead of spurning each person who comes your way with a shitty attitude, why not try to be friends?"
Perhaps the direct route wasn't the smartest one, but the man was sort of... unnerving. He got under Stu's skin, for no real discernible reason.
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Post by Marcus Prasad on May 22, 2012 23:28:38 GMT -8
{OOC} Oh I do NOT like where this is going to be going >_< {OOC}
Oh this was going to get so much worse before it got better.
Marcus immedatly stopped dead in his tracks and rounded on the irritating little man.
"What the FUCK did you just say?"
Marcus spoke in a dangerously icey tone that made everyone around him step back about 10 feet.
If he wasen't angry before, he definatly was now. His eyes, so mellow before, were sharpened to a fine edge as they bored into the other mans hollowed eyes. He had about enough of this guy.
"You're comming up to me trying to be my pal, I tell you to step it back and now I gotta shitty attitude? Are you FUCKING Kidding me? Yeah I don't fucking think so!"
The entire street echoed with the sound of Marcus' voice which only got louder and more heated as he went along.
It was like this guy was intentionally being obtuse! Marcus had given him plenty of warning to take it down a notch or two. If he was going to blitheringly ignore the signs and go ahead and poke this particular junkyard dog. Well, Hopefully this bark would finaly get through to the guy. He REALLY wasn't in the mood to bite.
"You wanna be friends? Fine! Step one? Take a fucking step back when I tell you to! Jesus, no wonder noone talks to you, you have NO CLUE how to read people do you? Like you got Aspergers or something FUCK!"
Marcus snarled as he stood there, arms crossed. He hated getting this angry. He hated the fact that this guy got him this angry this easily. He reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose between thumb and forefinger and let out a sigh that sounded suspiciously like a drawn out growl. He began to take deep breaths to calm himself down.
"I don't Spurn everyone that comes my way man. Just you. Which is a damn shame cause you were doing so good in the beginning."
He stated simply in a quiet, weary voice. He didn't stop to listen to the other man's rebuttle. Lord knows it wouldn't be anything That wouldn't further cement himself as little more than an irritant, especialy since the man seemed to have a nasty case of hearing only what he wanted to hear. He just HAD to be a crow too. Which would mean there was a good chance he would have to work with him again.
'Meh. Just gotta make sure I got some ductape handy is all.'
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Post by Stu Pott on May 23, 2012 5:57:33 GMT -8
Stu kept walking forward even as the man stopped and gawked; mouth open, brow furrowed, blood leaking into his face steadily as he quickly seemed to realize how easily Stu could get under his skin. He stammered at first but quickly began a long tirade about how bad Stu is at socializing.
Stu stopped about fifteen feet from Marcus, who continued to yell, until finally running out of steam, it seemed. Pinching his nose in frustration, he finally calmed himself down enough to stammer out some more angry lines about how Stu was the problem here, and not him.
"Perhaps... Perhaps."
He continued watching as the man walked past, his eyes never quite leaving the man's face. The dark orbs watched intently, hidden behind sunglasses that were like doorway into the house that held his true intentions.
Marcus was another 10 feet away, this time farther down the street than Stu, when he spoke again.
"Well, maybe next time you'll be man enough to make a friend, instead of thinking everyone gets to be a lone wolf. And then that time, maybe I'll get to be the one who makes all the judgement calls.
But it's you, so probably not. Your ego is more than enough for the Crows, it seems like."
He smiled, knowing once again that this would put the man to seething again. It was as much of his intent.
John wanted him to know everyone as well as possible, right? What better way than taking a punch.
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Post by Marcus Prasad on May 23, 2012 21:46:20 GMT -8
The man went from seething, to confused. Which only made him frustrated and that did NOTHING to help the situation.
"Do you honestly hear the shit that comes out of your mouth man?"
He called over his shoulder as he walked. He needed to get the hell away from this funny little man before he blew his top and did something stupid. Marcus never liked fighting angry. Some of the worst things he always regretted doing was done out of anger. Besides, He could tell he would squash this guy if he wasen't careful. And that would make Lilah sad.
And then Lilah would kill him deader than dead.
'Last thing I need is to be the guy who put her husband in the hospital.'
Marcus thought as he nearly finished his bottle of soda in one go. Despite his fierce appearance and love of fighting, Marcus wasen't inherently a violent man. Unlike his oldest brother, it took ALOT to get him murderous. Oh he could get angry pretty easily, as demonstrated. But enough to want to rip a guy limb from limb?
As Marcus himself once said: "Sorry, I aint from Brooklyn"
If Stu wanted to goad Marcus (Though I cant imagine why) further, he would have to hit alot more closer to home. The shitty attitude remark was a good start. Unfortunatly due to Marcus' Unpredictable Nature, Stu was going to have to get significantly more clever.
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Post by Stu Pott on May 24, 2012 8:23:49 GMT -8
Stu followed at a pace of about eight feet, far enough that the boy couldn't surprise him, but close enough that they could talk easily. Stu was having way too much fun to let this little morsel go away so easily.
The boy so far had thrown nothing but rhetorical questions at him, accusing him of having the shitty attitude.
"But I'm the one trying to be friendly. You probably shouldn't spurn the friendship of a superior."
Stu wasn't trying to get him to fight, but probing him as a person. Perhaps he didn't see that. Perhaps he only saw that the other man was trying to goad him into a fight because of something to prove. If so, that worked for Stu; he wanted to make sure that this boy was of sound mental and physical faculties. These sorts of assignments weren't just given out all willy nilly.
"So where are you from, Marcus? Red hair like that I'd say you're european, but you're a bit dark of complexion aintcha boyo? So some sort of mix, I'd guess. Tell me your story man, it's why I'm here. Trust me, I wouldn't keep talking to you unless I had to." He kicked a rock as he walked, skittering it across the pavement and past Marcus. If he didn't kick it, Stu would kick it in much the same way again, continually.
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Post by Marcus Prasad on May 27, 2012 23:14:23 GMT -8
"Oh Shit."
The entire street echoed with the SLAP of Marcus' facepalm. No matter how much he didn't like it, the cockney man was right. Once Marcus was officialy a crow, this man would be his superior by dint of seniority in the militia. Disipline was always something his dad would drill into his head (With mixed results to be fair) so Marcus knew if he was going to be a crow, he would have to deal with this clown whether he liked it or not.
Funny. He had declared his intention to be indipendant at first exactly to avoid a situation like this. Having to work under a person he despised.
So with a deep breath, the man ran his hand through his thick reddish brown hair and stopped to let Stu catch up. He then slowly loosened his deathgrip on his bottle of Dr. Pepper.
"Alright, lets start from the top then."
He began unenthusiasticaly.
"Was born in New York City and Yes, I'm a mongrel. Half Irish American Half Fijian Hindu. So that right there explains my particular shade of hair color. You wanna know my story then we're gonna have to find ourselves a place to sit cause trust me my friend, The abridged version would still take me half a day to tell it."
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Post by Stu Pott on May 28, 2012 7:28:19 GMT -8
Stu's face cracked nearly in half at the expletive, knowing right then and there that he had trapped the man. Sure, this guy could probably give him a run for his money should they have tangled, he probably even would've come out on top. But, Stu now had a permanent leverage over him.
He caught up and fell into step with the boy as he acquiesced to Stu's odd request to be his friend. They kept walking, and Stu finally found himself in a part of town that he knew. They were close to the Crow's main hideout, so he had canvassed this area quite liberally in those first few hours.
He touched Marcus' shoulder and pointed towards a bar, and he walked towards it. He didn't say anything to him after he explained that his life was a deep and dark cave that deserved time to be explored. Stu would walk into the building regardless if Marcus followed, but he assumed that the boy probably would, consider Stu was technically in charge of him as soon as he signed on to the Crows.
Once in, Stu sat at the bar and motioned once, two beers on their way over. More than likely it was brewed in the basement, and more than likely it would be fucking awful piss water. however, there wasn't any alternatives. Barker had seen to that.
"So a mutt. Hmm. Well, boyo, we're all mutts in our own ways. I wasn't serious about your life story. I could care less. I just want to know who you are, and what you're about. See if we can find a special place for you somewhere, instead of letting you go to waste as a regular soldier.
I'm sure Johnny has talked to you about all of this. How much do you know? What are your goals?
Who is Marcus Prasad?"
If Stu had had irises, they would've contracted as he made his first mistake. Their meeting had been intended to be accidental, but obviously it wasn't; nothing was accidental in this world. Stu had been stalking the area, looking directly for this man. He knew enough about him already, one of a hundred dossiers in his cabinet back in the HQ.
Hopefully the boy wouldn't pick up on it. Stu covered by sipping his beer and grimacing slightly. "God damned shame that they call this a beer."
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Post by Marcus Prasad on May 28, 2012 20:57:47 GMT -8
"So this is an interview then?"
Marcus asked irritably. He had followed Stu to the bar, nearly decking the poor guy when he touched the big mans shoulder. As much as he really wanted to, Marcus knew he would have to behave. And the insufferable part was that he knew Stu knew it too.
Fortunatly it would seem the scales would tip back to even. Unbenownst to Stu, Marcus had been studying him as he always did with people he met. Gauging reactions, analyzing facial expressions. The Majority of it was done subconciously and was the biggest reason Marcus had almost unatural insight into other people.
The slip was so obvious that Marcus would have thought it intentional had the hollow eyed man not given himself away. Stu seemed to wear his heart on his sleave, letting his emotions show on his face with all the subtley of a Strip clubs Neon signs.
Which suited Marcus just fine, unlike the poor excuse for watered down piss that the bar they were in had the audacity to sell as beer. Marcus took up his pint and looked it over for a moment before downing it in one go. The trick was to open up your throat and close the Epiglottis, the flap of flesh that acted as a doorway, protecting the airways to your lungs. Practise would ensure you didn't end up chocking as ones gag reflex would kick in.
"Now. As for what I know? Well, what I don't know can fill a warehouse. All I know is that Sean Barker is the reason my home was firebombed back to the stone age. My Goal? Simple. I wanna bring his entire sand castle of an empire of his down around him before tearing him apart with my bare hands myself."
When the bartender gave Marcus a pointed look, the man shook his head and pushed his glass away.
"Classic revenge story eh? Probably nothing you haven't heard before. Now, Who is Marcus Prasad?"
Suddenly a mischevious grin began to curl up his lips.
"For that, It's gonna cost ya another beer."
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