[center][h2][COLOR=slateblue][b]V I C  S A G E[/b][/COLOR][/H2]
[img]https://i.postimg.cc/xd3ZHMYH/vic2.png[/img][/center]
[COLOR=slateblue][indent][sub][b]Location and Time:[/b] [I]Hub City, Illinois[/I] - [I]6:02 PM[/I][/sub][sup][right][b]Issue #3:[/b] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiUYFZXy_zc][i]Rust[/i][/url][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][B]Interaction(s):[/B] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][b]Previously:[/b] [I][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5079756]Night Driving Avenger[/url][/I][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]
Stepping out of WWNN and onto the frigid streets of Hub City, I reach into my pockets to pluck a smoke in between my lips. Sparking my lighter and igniting the cigarette, I take a long drag and exhale the smoke with a heaving sigh. Ever since the transfer my work has felt more and more pointless. I once envisioned a career as a respected journalist who blew the lid off mob activities and corporate corruption in Chicago and the surrounding area, but now I'm stuck in the ass end of Illinois. No one here cares about corruption. This place is a nightmare, something out of my darkest thoughts: a world where everyone is either in on evil or willingly ignorant of it. The thought makes me sick to my stomach.

I flick the cigarette onto the sidewalk and hop into my car. I need a drive to think things over. Roscoe hasn't gotten back to me in the last few days so I've got nothing to do. Maybe I could see about patrolling the city, finding crimes in progress and foiling them. The way Hub City is, though, that wouldn't be too hard to do; can't take two steps without some local undesirable trying to rob you or kill you or rape you. If you're lucky, he'll try to do all three.

It only takes a couple of minutes of driving around slowly before I spy a young man holding a middle aged guy at gunpoint at the mouth of an alleyway. I park my car a block away and get out, not bothering to put on my mask. This is too small for me to need it. As I near the alley I hear the two of them speaking. [b]"It's your money or your life, old man! I don't wanna kill you but I will!"[/b] the robber yells.

The other man snorts. [color=darkkhaki][b]"Please. You don't have the balls to shoot me."[/b][/color] I almost laugh hearing that. This guy's either stupid as hell or confident as hell. Let's hope it's the latter.

[b]"What did you just say to me you stupid fuck?"[/b] the kid shouts. I round the corner now, and see him pressing the barrel of the gun against the middle aged man's face.

[color=slateblue][b]"Didn't you hear him?"[/b][/color] I say. The middle aged man's eyes glide towards me while the robber turns his whole body to face me. [color=slateblue][b]"He said you haven't got the balls."[/b][/color]

[b]"Who the fuck are you?"[/b] He levels the gun at me and I stare down the barrel. [b]"I'll kill you too, man! Don't fuck with me!"[/b]

I catch a look in the old man's eyes that tell me he's about to do something stupid. I decide to back his play. [color=slateblue][b]"Come on, you pansy. I haven't got all night. Make it fast."[/b][/color] I step forward slowly...

The old man makes his move, grabbing the robber's gun arm and yanking it upwards. He fires the gun, the shot piercing the quiet evening and flying high up into the clouds. I run forward and leap into a dropkick that lands square on the robber's chest. He and I fall to the ground in sync as the older man lets go of the robber's gun arm. His pistol goes flying down the alley and under a dumpster.

I grunt as I pick myself up, dusting myself off. I rub my hip with a wince, taking that awful landing into account. Maybe I should forgo dropkicks in the future. [color=slateblue][b]"Shit, that hurts..."[/b][/color]

[color=darkkhaki][b]"Not as much as it hurt him,"[/b][/color] the old man chuckles, glancing at his would-be mugger as he rolls around on the ground in pain. He turns to me and extends a hand. [color=darkkhaki][b]"Aristotle Rodor. Friends call me Tot. Thanks for the help there, mister, uh..."[/b][/color]

I take his hand and shake it firmly. [color=slateblue][b]"Sage. Victor Sage. Not a problem."[/b][/color]

He gives a hum in agreement. Looking down at the robber who's still writhing about and groaning in pain, Rodor gives him a quick kick to the ribs and then begins to walk away. [color=darkkhaki][b]"Nice meeting you Vic, but I really ought to get going. Got a long walk ahead of me."[/b][/color]

[color=slateblue][b]"Where are you heading, Rodor? I could probably give you a lift."[/b][/color]

He stops and considers it. As if figuring "what the hell" he shrugs and nods. [color=darkkhaki][b]"Sure, if you're willing. I live outside of town, near the rail yard."[/b][/color]

[color=slateblue][b]"Can't imagine living down there being very good for your sleep. All the noise and whatnot,"[/b][/color] I remark, gesturing for Rodor to follow me to my car.

[color=darkkhaki][b]"You get used to it."[/b][/color]

I get into the driver's seat of my VW as Rodor hops into the passenger's seat. I pull another smoke out from my pack and light it up, taking a long drag. Rodor winces and rolls down his window. [color=slateblue][b]"Not a fan of smoking?"[/b][/color] I ask, rolling mine down as well.

[color=darkkhaki][b]"Of course not. It kills, you know."[/b][/color]

[color=slateblue][b]"As I've been told many times in my life."[/b][/color]

With a purr the engine comes to life and I begin driving Rodor home.