poly_chromatic

I hope you mean that, because I could sure as hell use some assistance right now.

[Apart from Raymond's tense tone and heavy breathing, the audio feed manages to catch the sound of a gunshot before it clicks off.]

[NO RAYMOND HE'S LYING AND THE JOKE'S ON YOU OF COURSE HE MEANS IT.]

Where are you located?

[WELL THAT'S A SHITTY JOKE NEWENDYKE. There's another gunshot and a hiss of a curse before Raymond replies, but he manages to give Orange the specific location without incident. Hopefully without incident.]

[SHUT UP LEON. GOD.

Freddy's making his way around a corner on wheels. Normally he'd have his partner with him but for various reasons (like resources wearing thin) they've had to go their separate ways. Just for a little while.]

Raymond!

[Vroom vroom. Freddy turns sharply to halt the bike and dismount, rifle ready. He takes aim at the fucker (the ghoul, not the timekeeper). It looks like some kind of hobo with a thick beard. Hope it didn't kiss you, Leon. BANG! BANG! That's two shots into its back, noise that'll probably just draw more ghouls to them but what can you do?]

[The first thought that crosses Raymond's mind when he sees Orange pull up is that he needs to get himself one of those. (The rifle, not the bike.) He keeps his gun drawn on the thing as he backs away, moving closer to Orange, even though not a one of his shots so far seem to have had much effect.]

Just in time, officer. [He'll save the snark for later.]

Where's your baby?

[His car, not some new boyfriend or girlfriend he doesn't know about. Orange is asking with genuine curiosity too and not snark because even Freddy knows how terrible it would be to have that beauty overrun by ghouls.]

You've gotta be fuckin' kidding me.

[Hobo's getting back up. Freddy aims again, this time for the monster's knee. He can't do much damage crawling right? Watch out, Raymond, there's another one coming after you from the side. He's already missing an ear and kind of looks like he has a lazy eye but that's cause this fucking guy slashed his face.]

Home. Don't need it out here when the City's like this.

[Meaning he knows damn well the risk of having that beauty overrun by ghouls, and who the hell knows what it'd cost him to have it fixed up. He can navigate the streets just as well on his feet as he can on wheels, maybe even better.

He wheels on the newly approaching ghoul and takes only enough time to get a bead on it and confirm it is in fact a ghoul before he fires off another shot. Good god, but these things just keep getting more and more fucked up.]

You put your car before your own ass?

[He's asking and yet he's not surprised at all. Kind of admirable really. God knows how devastated Freddy would feel if these bastards tore his bike apart.]

You're gonna need wheels now. [That's Freddy's way of dictating the plan to Raymond; get on the bike and get outta...outta...get outta...dodge. He lowers his rifle just enough to see the actual ghoul and not the dot in his sight.

Raymond's bullets make the ghoul's body jolt a bit but it doesn't stop Marvin's advance. "I'M FUCKIN' DEFORMED." Where has Orange heard those words before? Fuck he hasn't forgotten.]

And you're gonna get us the hell out of here?

[Just to be sure, because he doesn't like the way that ghoul is advancing on them. Of course, Freddy's lack of response (which is to say shooting the damn thing) doesn't escape his notice, so he glances back at him.]

Orange.

[Sorry Leon are you saying something? Take the shot, Newendyke, take the fucking shot.

"THAT SICK FUCK," Marvin Ghoul groans.]

Shit.

[Freddy hisses and takes aim again. Look at that blue uniform, look at that City of Los Angeles Police Department shield all covered in blood. He shoots a round off and gets the ghoul...right in the shoulder. That incites it to turn on the speed and come running towards them like a fucking scrolling gif in a creepy Japaanimation style comic.]

Shit—

[That's not exactly what Raymond was expecting to happen. He keeps backing up as he fires two of the three rounds he has left, trying to get it to at least slow the hell down.]

[DON'T BE USELESS NEWENDYKE. SHIT NOW IT'S TOO FAST. DOUBLE SHIT WHAT IF HE SHOOTS LEON. Too late to aim now. So Freddy turns his rifle around and takes a swing at the ghoul's face. CRACK. Now Marvin's got a bunch more holes in his chest and his face is turned at an unnatural angle.

"Hey Freddy, how do I look?" Crrrrrrrkkrkrkkkck. There, the ghoul's twisted his own head back to normal. Nasty.]

...Get on the bike.

[That said to Raymond as he doesn't take his eyes off Marvin for even a second.]

[Raymond doesn't need to be told twice, especially not after that display. He gets the hell on the bike, though he isn't holstering his gun just yet, just in case.]

Come on!

[With all this excitement, though, he's almost completely forgotten about the status of the first ghoul. That one isn't still getting up, is it?]

Fuck off, you're not real.

[Freddy tells himself even though he doesn't fully believe it. That is definitely Marvin Nash, the boot who's been on the force for what half a year? He died like a fucking dog because of you, Newendyke. Orange is backing up towards Raymond and his bike but his eyes are on Nash.

To Raymond's credit Hobo!Ghoul is actually way lower to the ground than Raymond is now. Unless he's had to deal with assholes much shorter than himself maybe he's forgotten to check the floor. Hobo!Ghoul's going for the guy's smooth creamy white ankle. Jesus Leon get a tan.]

[Oh, shit. Raymond doesn't notice in time to jerk away his leg, not until the thing's teeth are already closed on him.]

Fuck! [After the first split second of shock passes, he spends his last bullet on shooting the ghoul and trying to get it the hell away from him. He can't let this get any worse than it already is.]

I said fuck off.

[He fires another warning shot that flies dangerously close to Marvin's head. What a way to pussy out, Newendyke, can't shoot the guy you got killed. What would it even matter? He's already dead--

Oh no, not you again, bastard. Freddy catches the struggle going on and turns away from Marvin. Raymond needs him now. Knowing these headshots don't even do shit to these fuckers, he opts for a more medieval tactic. Freddy starts beating the everloving fuck out of the hobo's skull with the butt of his rifle. It probably gets very messy from here.]

Get off him!

[Raymond is more concerned about getting his ankle loose than the messiness, which he manages very shortly. But by the looks of it, not to mention the pain shooting up his leg, it's too late.]

Fuck. [It's not contagious, is it? Either way, he's out of ammo and now effectively hobbled against the other ghoul that's still right fucking there.] Fuck, Orange, we gotta go.

[Sorry Leon he's just a little emotional right now. There's bits of teeth and shit peeking out from the mess that is that ghoulish hobo. He gestures for Raymond to get on the back of the bike. Hurt or not they're still getting him out of here. Now Freddy turns his attention back to Marvin.....who's gone and fucking disappeared?! Fuuuuck that.]

Put it on.

[He hands Raymond his helmet. It's not just for the timekeeper's safety. It's also a precaution in case it is contagious and he starts turning into one of them. Then the ghoulish Raymond Leon will have to bite through the helmet to get at Orange or attempt taking the helmet off without falling off the bike. Thinking ahead, this Freddy. He's starting the bike but he's ready for Marvin to pop back up again too.]

[He does as he's told, hands shaking but not fumbling as he puts the helmet on. It's just shock, it's got to be, shock and adrenaline even though the injury isn't exactly a lethal one. Or maybe it was, and he just can't tell right now. Maybe it will be, if he ends up turning into one of those things. Shit, but he's already dead, isn't he — could he die again?

He doesn't want to think about it. Now isn't exactly the best time for thinking about it, anyway. Come on Freddy he's ready let's go go go.]

[Caramel green eyes are sharp and looking for any sign of Marvin Nash. No dice. He can't tell if the fucker is playing with him like a beast plays with its food or if he's cowering somewhere crying over his fucking ear. Fuck what a mess, calm down, Newendyke.]

I'll take you to the hospital.

[He says to Raymond as he peels the bike on out of there. Right over the rest of Hobo Ghoul too, and he just regenerated that part damnit.]

Better hope there's no line this time.

[It's the only protest he can muster at this point. A bite on the foot might be less severe than a phantom bullet in his gut, sure, but considering the circumstances at play, he's doubtful that he can put up with the wait this time around.]