Quest 322

[primrosella]

[Accidental Voice Post | Open Action]

[In the grand scheme of things, Rosella's actually been doing...well, comparatively speaking, relatively well for herself this month. Years and years of repeated admonishments from a variety of different friends during a variety of different circumstances have finally seemed to take hold; regardless of how much she's wanted at times to run here, adventure there, throw herself into this or that, and so on, she's instead opted to heed the advice they'd always given her and actually make a concerted attempt to not end up in a heap of trouble this time around.

It's been more difficult than she'd expected, and she hasn't precisely liked it, but she's done it--keeping her head relatively down, making every effort to stay out of trouble rather than flinging herself headfirst into it, avoiding the ongoing strife where she could and doing her best not to draw attention to herself where she couldn't.

And thus far it's worked. It's worked pretty well. She's kept the Blue Light going and done everything she could to fade unassumingly into the background, and that's worked.

Which is great, except that the hostile NPCs don't particularly seem to care whether she's been doing well or not. What they know is, she owns a local business that's changed hands several times over the years, she dresses strangely for a contemporary setting, and she carts around a miniature black dragon--all fairly telltale signs that nope, she's not one of them.

And, well. What do you get when you combine seething, hostile patrons with an establishment serving alcohol and a pretty incentive to target?]

Goodness, what are you--oh, don't, you stop that right now or I'll--!

[...Evidently, smashing glasses, angry customers, and thanks to the fighting and loud quarreling, quite possibly some avenging City Watch members (and by extension, Anonymous forces? WHO KNOWS) on their way.

WELP.]


[OOC: Please feel free to come wade into the fray and/or orchestrate any skirmishes of your own in and around the Blue Light!]

Comments

[synanthrope]

[She doesn't comes down to the Blue Light very often - it's not really her scene - but she heard the commotion and steps inside. One of the men - burly, big, spots her and gives a pleased grunt. They're hostile and they don't care, and she's dressed to the nines, as usual.

He reaches for her wrist and she lets him take it, then turns, smoothly, like she's dancing, almost and flips him, each of his fingers breaking in a movement that is hard to follow as she pries him off her.

His scream is an announcement, and someone else attacks, but Saya sidesteps it and drives a stiletto into his instep as she makes her way to Rosella.]

[primrosella]

[Rosella was behind the bar when the commotion started, which is something of a mixed blessing because on one hand, it's been forming a natural barrier between her and the increasingly hostile crowd, but it's also presented the distinct disadvantage of leaving her relatively pinned unless she takes slightly more drastic measures toward getting free--something she's been hesitant to do, thanks to her concerns about attracting the notice of the City Watch.

But she's frankly less concerned for herself than she is for the dragon with her; though she may still have her apprehensions about him, the little black dragon seems firm in his convictions about keeping the masses away from her, and as admirable as his spirit may be, Rosella's well aware that he's just plain too small to take on a crowd of angry patrons alone.

Saya, on the other hand, evidently suffers from no such problems.]

Miss Saya!

[And up pops a blonde head.]

[synanthrope]

[She finally manages her way over, looking unruffled]

Shouldn't you be home?

[primrosella]

[Teach her the secrets of your skills, Miss Saya.]

I really do think I'd much rather be, at the moment! Goodness, what a mess--

[Meanwhile, the little black dragon gives Saya a hooded, appraising look.]

[yourbestguysgun]

[ The Blue Light's still one of his favourite bars despite it being months since he last worked there. Rosella's a sweetheart and it's closer to what he knows back home than some of the flashier clubs. So when he gets off shift he thinks a drink or two might help him get to sleep and stop the gnawing worry in the back of his mind.

What he doesn't expect is to walk in to the middle of a fray. It takes one glance to survey the scene and then he's pushing through the crowd and grabbing the guy closest to the counter, swinging his arm up and behind his back. ] Maybe you should go cool it off down in the cells, buddy.

[ Of course the police force is made of these others which means said instigator swings out. Bucky keeps his grip and really this is excessive force but he's a soldier first and a cop later and he kicks him back and away from Ella with ease. To the lady in question he shoots a query over his shoulder. ] You okay darling?

[primrosella]

[She has, of all things, a small and scrabbling dragon in her arms--black and sleek, a bit too lean and edged to properly be called catlike--and she doesn't look at all happy about it; after a minute, it wriggles free and lands on the counter, regarding Bucky with cold reptilian eyes before evidently deciding that yes, he passes inspection. For now.]

Fine! I'm just fine--for the moment! Honestly, what's gotten into everyone?

[She remarks a little rhetorically, as she surveys the interior of the bar and rapidly begins to reach the conclusion that if things are left to get much worse, they might just have to abandon ship before they can manage to force all the ruckus out.]

[yourbestguysgun]

[ It's the City vs. the people they kidnap. Bucky figured that out pretty quickly from the amount of calls the station had been getting all day. The place is like a powder keg ready to blow and he knows it's spelling out disaster for them all. It's just a good thing he decided to stop by, really. Because the rest of the patrons are spoiling for a fight.

The dragon's a little perplexing but he doesn't feel like he's in any real threat from it. No, the real threat is the people in here with them. ] They don't look much like they're planning to leave, darlin'. And I know this is your place but I'm thinking we might have to bail out an' bail out soon.

[ One of them mutters something to his companion and Bucky sighs. ] Walk away, punk.

[primrosella]

It's just awful. One minute everything was fine, if a bit tense, and then all of a sudden--

[She sighs, casting a nervous and wary glance around the room.]

[hexuality]

[Even with promises to take care of other businesses, the Blue Light's always been Ginny's home in a lot of ways and she isn't having any of this. She shoves her communicator into her pocket and Apparates straight over from where she's been keeping safe, wand out and magic at the ready and it doesn't matter if she lets them see that she's different: she's proud of it, damn it. So she lets those spells fly, back in her element as she throws people back and out with magic, Stuns them—]

This isn't yours to make a mess of so bugger off.

[primrosella]

[Fully approving of this magic business, Edmund the cat-sized black dragon wings his way over to Ginny, flapping rapidly in more of a prolonged leap than a proper flight; he's reacting to the masses in much the same way an angry cat would, too, but his size puts him at a distinct disadvantage, and he'd much prefer to be over here by the active combatant rather than the one who keeps trying to restrain him from doing so, thank you.]

Behind you, Ginny!

[Calls Rosella helpfully, from where she's behind the bar dodging hostile patrons of her own.]

[hexuality]

[Ginny glances briefly at the dragon and cracks a smile because Charlie would get a kick out of this, his baby sister tossing herself into a bar fight of sorts with a dragon—and then the moment is filed away for later as she whips around at Rosella's warning and twists to avoid the flying chair, which she suspends in mid-air with a sharp flick of her wand. Ginny tosses her hair over her shoulder and seeks out the thrower in question and, with a muttered spell, ties him up and deposits him in a corner.

Then she rushes over to her old boss, eyes alight, impossibly smiling.]

Some day for it, huh? What happened?

[primrosella]

[It's not really the time for watching closely, not with all the chaos about, but assuming one were, they might notice that Rosella still sometimes flinches when it comes to the presence of the little black dragon--deep-seated traumas die hard (pun intended), and she'll never be entirely comfortable around a dragon, no matter its size. But she's grown to establish a sort of odd rapport with the one she'd named after the Light's former owner, and so she's doing a fair job of tolerating him even when he follows Ginny back into her proximity.]

Goodness, I haven't the slightest idea! One minute everything was fine, if a bit tense, and then the next thing I knew people were angry and shouting and causing all this mess!

[Voice;]

[misterblackbird]

Rosella? Are you all right?

[Someone is really quite angry that he's not closer to the Blue Light than he is at present.]

[Voice;]

[primrosella]

[It's quite a commotion on the other end of the line, but thankfully, Rosella doesn't sound particularly injured or frightened; just agitated.]

I don't know what's gotten into everyone! One minute everything was going along as usual and the next people were just--throwing things and, oh, it's just awful of you, stop that!

[Voice;]

[misterblackbird]

Is there anyone there with you? You shouldn't have to break up a fight yourself.

[Voice;]

[primrosella]

That's--oops, drat--put that down!

[Pause, pause.]

That's a bit what I'm afraid of, actually--someone coming by and thinking it's a fight, and everyone getting into trouble for it.

[othersdie]

Do you need help?

[Maybe it's a stupid question, but this is the City. There's always a chance that this isn't what it sounds like.]

[primrosella]

[The worst part is, she's not even sure if she should answer yes or no.]

It's a bit of a mess over here, but it's not--that is, it isn't trouble--

[If only because trouble would draw attention, of course.]

[othersdie]

[That sounds a lot like a yes.]

It could get worse. Fighting and vandalism are getting out of hand.

[Voice]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[ What what what?! ]

Rosella? What's happening?

[Voice]

[primrosella]

Merlin! It's just--some people are making a terrible mess, that's all, and starting a bit of trouble and oh, I just wish they'd do it somewhere else, this is the last thing I wanted!

[Voice]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Want help?

voice;

[mumbled_truth]

Rosella?? Are you okay?

voice;

[primrosella]

Todd! Oh, do be careful today, it's just awful how people are acting!

voice;

[mumbled_truth]

I will-- I'm... I've sort of just been trying to stay out of everything, really.