Video / Action

[rianofski]

[It's dark, and Andrew is walking, lost in thought, looking thoughtful, recording video although he uncharacteristically hasn't said anything to the camera yet. Though there have been whisperings of something strange and eerie happening in the City, his mind seems to be on something else. That is, until, he hears something behind him.]

Who's there?

[The irritation in his voice is obvious, until a woman steps out of the shadows, and his eyes widen almost imperceptibly.]

What are you doing here?

[The woman approaches him, stepping into the light slightly, her clothes covered in blood, looking somewhere between confused and angry, and finally speaks.]

You... killed... me...

[Andrew is already backing up, reaching into his jacket for something, a weapon perhaps. The snarl on his face is one that most people in the City haven't been treated to, and he spits his words with no small amount of venom.]

Don't come any closer.

[The woman continues to approach, frightening smile on her face, still speaking, almost teasingly.]

Happy... birthday... Mr. Ryan...

[[OOC: Andrew is being attacked! Come help him fight off the ghouls, or help him run away, or... communicate with him via video and mock him or something.]]

Comments

action;

[wouldnotkindly]

[Jack knows that woman. He's seen her body.

He knows—

More importantly, though, he knows that street. So there's not a second's hesitation before he's out the door and heading for the spot as soon as possible, gun in his belt and plasmids at the ready — just in case.]

Re: action;

[rianofski]

[Andrew is almost always armed, but this sudden appearance, this ghost... it's made him curious, curious enough to hold off on simply shooting it -- her -- like he initially wanted to. No, he wants answers, which might be a dangerous proposition in this case.]

Why are you here?

[Which explains why, when Jack arrives, the ghoul still isn't dead yet.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[Jack isn't so sure that he wants to shoot it (her?) either. He doesn't even fully know why he's here, except that he needs to see this, whatever it is, for himself.

Which is why his gun isn't drawn when he comes upon the scene, at least not yet. It's also why he hesitates to approach, but that hesitation lasts only a moment before he clenches his fist, electricity crackling up his arm, and moves in.]

[rianofski]

[The second he hears someone else there, his eyes dart to the side, not willing to look away from the ghoul entirely, not willing to give it the chance to move in and do some real damage. As soon as he sees Jack there, though, electricity running up and down his arm like that, his words are directed at him.]

And what are you doing here?

[It's more confusion than anger, but that tense tone is still in his voice. He doesn't know if this is some kind of trick, some hallucination, or something far more sinister.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[A wave of indignation ripples through Jack when he hears that tone, but it's not enough to make him back down. He just looks at Ryan — he may not be able to speak, but maybe some of that indignation shows through the look in his eyes — and keeps his electrified hand outstretched. Just in case.]

[rianofski]

[Oh, he can read that indignation loud and clear, but that's never stopped him. He can't tell whether Jack's there to help him or to hurt him, but those thoughts are quickly erased from his mind as the ghost -- or ghoul, or hallucination, or whatever it is -- begins to hum Happy Birthday, in a low, mournful, almost funereal way.]

This is ridiculous! I won't...

[He's cut off from the rest of his own indignant statement as she lunges at him, faster than he thought possible. He stumbles back clumsily, fumbling for his gun.]

[deadmanbusiness]

[Okay... it's the Happy Birthday thing that kinda gets Theo's attention. He's been quietly skirting the ghouls after realizing that he can't do much beyond distracting them briefly. He can't command them or anything - very frustrated necromancer is frustrated. So, he stops and watches the ghoul approach the man, after all it's not every day a ghoul tries to kill you after wishing you happy birthday*...]

Would you like some help?

[This is asked from behind the ghoul.]



[*Not completely true. One year for his birthday he had a group of them sing him happy birthday, but that's him personally.]

[wouldnotkindly]

[Jack's reaction is automatic: a flex of his hand and a bolt of lightning shot straight at the thing that looks like his mother.

The thought of why am I doing this crosses his mind, albeit briefly. Why, indeed, should he lift a finger to help Andrew Ryan? What is there to stop him from simply turning and walking away?

He doesn't know that, not precisely. But he does know that he couldn't bring himself to do nothing if this were anyone else in the world — well, nearly anyone — and maybe that's all the reason he needs right now. If it attacks again, though, perhaps he won't need any reason at all.]

audio;

[steleheart]

Please tell me someone's rescued you?

[ Clary's not sure what good she can do. She and Jace have been skirting the City all day. She's not a trained shadowhunter yet, she won't be any help.

But she wants to try. ]

[rianofski]

[He sighs, not looking behind him, not taking his eyes off the ghoul as he speaks.]

I don't need help, I need an explanation.

[rianofski]

[The ghoul appears affected by the lightning, albeit perhaps not as affected as Jack might have liked. She certainly stumbles back, making an awful groaning noise, but after a few seconds, she attacks again, this time more determinedly.

But this time, Andrew's ready for her. At least, enough to raise his gun and fire a shot, a shot intended for her head that goes wide and hits her in the shoulder. And still, though this slows her down, she approaches.]

Re: audio;

[rianofski]

[A long sigh.]

That particular issue is dealt with, yes.

[whitetwoguns]

Tell me it's not what it looks like.

[Because he could have a similar situation on his hands. Oops. There's also worry for you, Mr. Ryan. Promise.]

audio;

[steleheart]

You should get inside, find somewhere safe. There are more of these things out in the City.

[deadmanbusiness]

[Theo looks it over, approaching Ryan quietly.]

Mm... looks like a ghoul to me. Considering the sudden rash of them I'd suggest another one of the city's happy fun times.

Action; later on? :D

[defies_reason]

It's already more than clear that this is not a night to be out and about; but having been caught at a bar when the chaos started, Isaak has little choice but to take to the street, even if God knows what's between him and home.  

The streets aren't filled with dead things-- not yet, at any rate-- but there a few here and there, stumbling or creeping, clawing walls and windows.  Most take no notice of him, or give up the chase when he refuses to react. None are familiar. (None, save the twice-dead Colombian outside the bar. He hopes twice is enough to keep the bastard down.)

But not everyone out here is a ghost. He must admit he's a bit relieved to see a familiar face that isn't holding a grudge.

"Andrew," he calls from across the street. "Holding up all right?"

[rianofski]

[He responds later, after he's dispatched his ghoul problem.]

That depends on what you think it looks like. If you think it looks like I'm being attacked by a ghost of someone who shouldn't be here, you're absolutely right.

Re: audio;

[rianofski]

Have you seen them? Do you know where they're from?

[rianofski]

Wonderful. So this is nothing more than a curse, designed to scare us, I'm sure. Ridiculous.

Re: Action; later on? :D

[rianofski]

Andrew startles a little at the words spoken, but relaxes immediately when he realizes that it's simply Isaak, not some haunt from his world, not another person or... thing sent to torment him.

"As well as can be, given the circumstances," he says, trying to look at ease, trying to behave as though this is the sort of thing he deals with every day. In truth, it's rattled him, but not for the reasons it might rattle other people -- seeing her dead was no surprise, after all.

"And you?"

Action;

[defies_reason]

"Nothing I can't handle."

It's a little strained, but not quite a bluff. As strange as this place is, as much as people have warned him, this is quite new. He just put a fourth bullet in a man he killed weeks ago. That, he can manage, but it's beyond wrong.

He glances up and down the street, not nervous, but not stupid enough to be caught unawares.

"Is this sort of thing usual?"

[deadmanbusiness]

Ghoul bites can be dangerous though. Nasty infections.

Re: Action;

[rianofski]

"Not usual, no. The City has certainly done some dangerous things in the time I've been here, but this goes above and beyond."

From the way he's still got his gun out, though he's holding it down, almost lazily, now that the problem is dealt with.

"Tell me, have you seen people who are already dead?"

He wonders if that's what this is. The ghosts of the dead from one's home, here to haunt them, perhaps even to cause them guilt, not that he feels any.

[rianofski]

Luckily, I remain unbitten.

[deadmanbusiness]

For now. [He's being cheerfully fatalistic.]