Audio + Video

[rianofski]

Circus nonsense aside -- though really, I find the whole idea verging between disturbing and distasteful, and certainly hope it goes away soon -- I have a question for those of you who have been... unaffected by said affliction.

[There's a pause, and then the sound of him lighting a cigarette.]

The question may have been asked before; indeed, I would be surprised if it hadn't, given the natural tendency of humans to worry about mortality above all else. What I am curious about is this: I haven't been here long enough to experience it for myself, but do people physically age in this damnable city?

[Another pause, then a long exhalation.]

I imagine that, since time passes, it is almost inevitable that we grow older. However, other laws of biology and physics seem altered, if not entirely suspended, so the question piqued my interest. Are you getting older, unfortunate denizens of the City? Have you noticed grey hairs?

***

[He never should have given in to his curiosity, but he had, and now he was here, stuck, things being shouted about his greed, his selfishness, and whoever can see the video can see that his left hand is curiously lit up, alternating between several things, one of which looks like fire, one of which looks like electricity, one of which looks like... bees?]

No. NO!

[He's clearly struggling to control himself, to not use these abilities, to shove his hand into his pocket, but he's incapable of doing so. The Plasmids just keep alternating randomly, and he keeps yelling. A fitting curse, perhaps, for one who never spliced his genetics back home, but disturbing nonetheless. Even more disturbing once he unintentionally begins flinging fire and ice around, drawing gasps from the crowd.]

Let. Me. GO! 

Comments

[tarot_witch]

A pity, a pity indeed, that our humble show is not to your taste.

[rianofski]

I don't care for the circus.

[tarot_witch]

A pity, as I said, a pity, indeed.

[rianofski]

Why? Do you think you have something unique to offer?

[tarot_witch]

Oh yes, very much indeed~

[rianofski]

Such as?

[tarot_witch]

In, in. You will see.

[rianofski]

I'm not going anywhere unless I know what's going to happen first.

[tarot_witch]

How tiresome. How expected. How bourgeoisie.

No sense of adventure at all.

[justamessenger]

I dunno. I've never really thought about that.

[rianofski]

No? How long have you been here?

[justamessenger]

I'm not sure, I'm not so good at keeping track of time. A year maybe? Barring the trip back home in the middle.

[rianofski]

Then I suppose you haven't noticed aging yet, if it happens here at all.

[justamessenger]

I don't get older anyway though, so I'm a bad example.

[rianofski]

How fortunate for you. And how do you manage that?

[justamessenger]

It sort of comes with the job description.

[rianofski]

I'm rarely jealous, but at the moment, I'll admit to it.

action:

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

[So, Mindy isn't the biggest fan of Mister Ryan. Namely because she thinks he's an asshole. But then, she thinks that about most people, especially grown ups she doesn't take the time out to get to know.

Still...she can't really leave the man there, can she? She's armed when she shows up, busted broom handle in one hand and a set of steak knives carefully tucked into her belt. She also has a makeshift lock pick in her pocket that she's tested on the empty apartments in her building.

Hi, Ryan. You have nothing against being rescued by a 12 year old, right? Of course not.

Mindy will just wait in the shadows for the crowds to disperse to make her move, stepping out and approaching carefully.]

Circuses suck balls, dude. Even the normal ones back home are fucking lame.

Re: action:

[rianofski]

Circuses...

[He's speaking through gritted teeth, trying desperately to control what he obviously can't control -- but then, he's a control freak, always has been, and the idea of having these Plasmids is bad enough by itself without being able to determine what he does with them.]

Circuses are ridiculous, and I assure you, I'll never be attending one again.

[This statement is punctuated with a burst of electricity from his hand.]

action:

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

[And Mindy narrowly misses getting hit by it, shooting Mister Ryan a surprised look as she heads over. She reaches into her pocket, pulling out the lock-picking kit and starting to work on the lock.]

Why'd you even come? I was avoiding it. Isn't there some stupid saying grown-ups like to toss around about cats and curiosity?

[She didn't want to risk Mocha getting take, to be honest. Who knew what they'd turn her dog into?]

I'll get you out, though. Just...watch where you aim your hand, okay?

Re: action:

[rianofski]

Curiosity killed the cat, et cetera, et cetera. In this case, the cat was apparently too cocky for his own good.

[At least he can admit that. Sort of.]

I had been avoiding it. Until recently. And then, well...

[He gestures around him with his left hand, which in retrospect, was probably a pretty bad idea, especially because whatever was controlling this ridiculous curse seemed to have decided that it was a good time for bees to come out of his hand.]

action:

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

I hate cats. Snotty little bastards. [Aaand she's just...side-eyeing the bees as she picks the lock.]

That looked like it hurt.

[The lock pops free and Mindy's trying to work it out but...fucking christ the bees. As calm as she's trying to be, she winces and swears. There's now a slowly growing welt forming just under her left ear.]

Jesus fucking Christ. This...ow, shit.

[And one just under her chin. Now she's trying to brush them away carefully, stepping back with the lock in her hand.]

You're getting me to the hospital after this. [Said after she's stung twice more, somewhere in her if the way she scrubs at her hair is any indication. It should also not go unnoticed that this many beestings would send a normal child into a crying fit. All Mindy does is look more pissed off than usual.]

Might wanna move. I think they might be coming around with another audience.

Re: action:

[rianofski]

[He shakes his head, unsure if he should apologize or simply keep moving. Moving sounds like a good idea. At least once they move, the bees are unlikely to follow them.]

Yes, we can go to the hospital. Although given my current condition, I might burn the place down.

[As soon as he says burn, fire starts licking at his hand, though on the bright side, he hasn't flung any of it at anyone yet. And that's incentive enough to start quickly heading towards where he thinks the exit is.]

action: (ignore the costume in the icons)

[pigtailsbutterflyknives]

[Mindy stays behind him, swatting off a few more bees and earning a final sting on the palm of her hand. That's not going to stop her at all, though. Not for a second.


A single clown rounds the corner and Mindy's already attacking, throwing one of her knives at it's foot. She's not aiming to kill. Just delay. It connects, even manages to find his actual foot to go through. Before it can yell, Mindy's swinging the broken broom handle at it's head. It connects and the clown is unconscious, hitting the ground and she's hoping landing on a few bees.

She starts running, motioning for Mister Ryan to follow. One hand is hovering near her knives, just in case.]

Re: action:

[rianofski]

[Andrew hates clowns -- but really, who doesn't? As soon as another one rounds the corner, he's throwing his hand up without even thinking about what he's doing, sending electricity arcing toward it, making it stumble back, stunned.

This may be the one and only time he's glad to have these powers. Mostly, he just wants them to go the fuck away. He shoves his hand into his pocket, following behind Mindy closely, though he's not the fastest runner in the world.]