Blazion — Roleplayer Guild

“I could be studying right now.”

Another flash lit up near the back ceiling as Reaper checked her phone once more, the light nearly blinding her steel-blue gaze – no point keeping them black right now. It was quickly blinked away only to be replaced with an aggravated sigh. Still no message from Ditch, or anyone else either. The screen went black and Reaper replaced the device in her pocket once more before her arm went behind her head as she lounged on her shadows, glaring moodily at the ceiling and ignoring her supposed teammates beneath her. Initially the vigilante had been on the hanging platform once more, but as more time passed soon Reaper had the shadows behind the great red curtains moving, solidifying above the platform for what she now laid on. It wouldn’t be inappropriate to call it a hammock.

Despite her aggravation Reaper was worried. It was nearing midnight with no sign of Ditch, and while there was a chance that the girl had played them for something, it was much more logical to assume something had happened. It wouldn’t be the first time, with Lava King the latest victim of these disappearances. How did one even go about capturing a giant monster made of rock and lava? She doubted Ditch would have a chance if caught alone … or at least that they’d know about it from the explosions that would rock the city.

In a city like Millennium City spreading out to find one person would be almost impossible. Nonetheless as time ticked on Reaper parted her lips to suggest the crazy idea, only to still as something in her surroundings shifted. From the mass of darkness that made the city in her mind’s eye a blob separated as it got closer. Beacons. Approaching quickly. She almost thought initially that it was one, but as they got closer it became more distinct. One average. The other smaller, lighter, less dense; akin to a child, or someone who lived a very boring life.

All at once the shadows at Reaper’s feet disconnected from the red curtain and slowly lowered, allowing the vigilante to casually slide down and land easily on her feet. She completely ignored the others gathered to walk to the edge of the stage and jump off, only to stalk towards the door. The banging started halfway on her approach but Reaper’s stride didn’t break. It was relieved to hear Ditch, though the panic in her voice was cause for concern. A quick flick of her fingers had the door unlocked, and Reaper flung the doors open with her eyes narrowed. Yet the name of the other vigilante died at the tip of her tongue as she took in the pathetic sight before her.

Though Reaper froze up her shadows didn’t, acting almost on her own as at her feet two long tendrils akin to tentacles rose up behind her, reaching over the vigilante’s shoulder, one touching the boy’s limp hair and the other moving to Ditch’s arm. It di explain, a little, why Ditch was so late. She was a vigilante just like them after all, and, well, Reaper didn’t hunt in her teenage years to not know what to do after falling in a river – or getting drenched, in this case.

“It took you an hour to get him here?” The redhead finally hissed, even as her the two shadows now moved with purpose. The one near Ditch’s arm latched on to curl around the blonde and pull her as Reaper moved further into the auditorium once more, the other shadow slamming the doors shut before disappearing back into the darkness. In one smooth motion as she walked Reaper yanked her hoodie over her head – the first aid kit and her bottle of mace spilled to the ground - only to place the oversized garment on the stage’s edge away from Tank’s destruction.

“Set him down. RT, you can heal can’t you?” Reaper’s gaze, still remaining steel-blue glanced to Raven Tale even as she retrieved her phone once more. “He has some injuries. And the rest of you – give him your jackets. He’s freezing, we need to build a nest. I'll see if I can get hold my doctor for a late night patient."

None of the men forming 'Team Scarlet' offered up information about the fight after Reaper had left, which likely meant that nothing important came. It was rather curious considering the difference in numbers, but she could only assume they had managed to escape.

Her suspicions were confirmed when Turn Back stepped up, clearing his throat. "Well, this has all been incredibly enlightening, but I can't help but notice we never actually finished the Scarlett report. Just to sum up quickly, after Reaper got her out, we found ourselves surrounded by the four goons mentioned. They all seemed pretty angry, but the girl; the one who didn't have metal skin called for a retreat or something. Another woman showed up, I think sh emust have teleport powers. They all got out in a second, though I'm not sure why they didn't try to pick any of us off. Even grabbing one of us could have proved useful. Anyway, after... Taking account of everything, we headed back here."

Well, it wasn't exactly what Reaper was expecting, but at least it filled in a few holes. Teleporter was new, and Turn Back was right - not grabbing one of them was odd. The vigilante eyed him for a moment before addressing Ditch quietly.

"I'll get a report done for what I saw of the four I fought, but the others will likely have more information since I only engaged them briefly," With her part said Reaper slid off the stage, rolling her shoulders to release some of the tension in them. Technically Jasper would be writing the report while she dictated, but Ditch didn't know that. The vigilante eyed the others and after a moment also offered up a parting comment, "... And for the record, a lack of darkness is my weakness. Flood lights, being in the air - don't expect me to fly anywhere." Though, Ditch's own words were rather intriguing. Reaper had her powers from the moment she was born, if her father's stories were to be believed. Considering that she didn't have a memory without them she was inclined to believe.

With her piece said Reaper gave one last bow of her head towards Ditch before approaching Levi. She spoke with him briefly, only to give him Dr. Stagelson's address before glancing over to Wraith and Ecto. It seemed Omega and Tank both had Wraith's situation under control, as well as Ecto's own forgiveness, so she merely dropped into the shadows to step out beside Ecto and acknowledge him quietly.

"Ecto. Unless you're being stubborn like Lightning Bug, my doctor will look you over if you need it. 1016 Striferon Street. Dr. Stagelson. He's discrete if you have to ... explain anything. And don't worry, it's my tab." A pause then, hesitance. "... If you decide to go there just tell him Zoey sent you." Nothing wrong with a first name, right? There's probably plenty of people named that. Giving a small nod, both at her reasoning and to Ecto, Reaper once more dropped into her shadow without another word and reappeared at the entrance. It was time to follow Omega and Raven Tale's example and get going - though if her sense was correct those two didn't get far, considering their beacons met up on the side of another warehouse. How interesting.

Meanwhile Turn Back had stepped outside to take in the cooling night air. The rain had come in and he enjoyed the smell it brought. Too much of the city smelled stale, old. The rain smelled fresh and new. He slipped his hands into his pockets and closed his eyes, simply enjoying a rare moment of peace, and an even more rare moment of... Almost happiness. That is, until his fingers found the scavenged bills in his pocket, and he pulled them out. 

Counting the money, Turn Back sucked in a breath of air in surprise. He'd expected something like a few dollars, but... These were hundred dollar bills. Seven of them, to be exact. That had simply been discarded. Did Reaper grab the wrong stack? Maybe this was her rent money or something. He had to find her.

As luck would have it, as he turned to go back inside he saw her just coming out. "Reaper!" he called, jogging over to his teammate. "Back at Scarlett's house, when we got attacked by the goons, you uh... I think you threw the wrong money." He said, holding out his hands and offering her the slightly crumpled bills.

Reaper stopped short to look over at her alias being called, only to raise a brow under her mask seeing Turn Back approaching her. Initially she prepared to give Dr. Stagelson's address again, assuming that's what he approached her for, only to stop short as he held his hands out. A few change bills were in his palms, and automatically Reaper's hand moved - but to her back pocket to feel the empty space. Only one thought flooded her mind.

"I forgot to pick up my clip," She muttered under her breath, before focusing back on Turn Back, though his words puzzled her. "... No, that was the right money. Using real money tends to work better for distractions."

"Well... No no, what I meant was I--And I don't mean to pry, but did you accidentaly throw you rent money or something? This... I mean, that's a lot of money." Turn Back said, his hand starting to tremble as it sank in that he was giving away enough money to take care of all his problems for the month.

"My... rent money? No, I have people that process rent if someone doesn't have direct deposit set up. I don't collect the rent myself." A little shrug, though Reaper began eyeing Turn Back's trembling hands, her head tilting just slightly to the side. "... Are you alright?"

Turn Back paused slightly, his hand tightening around the bills. What had she meant? She collected-- No, she had people to collect rent for her? Who was this girl? "So... What you're telling me is... This is chump change to you?" He asked, showing her the bills again.

"Well... yeah. It was just the change I had on hand." A frown tugged at Reaper's lips underneath her mask, and she couldn't help but eye the money in his hands more intensely. "... I don't suppose you picked up my clip did you?"

Turn Back blinked, sighing slowly and trying to keep his thoughts in order. "No. No I did not. Reaper..." He stepped a little closer, lowering his voice so anyone passing by wouldn;t be able to hear. "Who the hell are you? This right here," He said, pointing to the money. "is enough that I would be able to eat this month and most of next. And you're telling me that everything in that clip, of which this is just a few bills, is your change? What is going on?"

Reaper began to tense as every syllable left Turn Back's mouth, and after a moment turned her gaze away. Out of habit one of her hands rose to slip beneath her hood, rubbing against the back of her neck roughly. Once again her thoughts flitted back to the fight, throwing all that money - she wasn't expecting to be questioned by one of her own teammates. It was just some change. Yet, distractions did have their benefits...

"I'm just... a little more well off than others, not much but enough. Listen, ah, since it's not that much why don't you keep that? I'd rather you eat and have enough energy for our next encounter." Even her words sounded a bit confused though near the end, as though puzzled how Turn Back couldn't have enough to eat. In all honestly Reaper certainly was, despite trying to put up a confident front.

Turn Back crumpled up the bills again and shoved them back into his pocket, reaching up and pulling his bandana off afterwards. "Reaper, I don't think you understand. You must have thrown thousands of dollars back there. And you're worried about the clip. Seven hundred dollars isn't 'not that much'. Not to most people. You're not 'a little more well off', you can't be. You have to be super rich. If you don't want to tell me who you are then fine. But we have to get on the same page here; throwing stuff like that around is going to make someone like me very angry one day."

"Look," Reaper's fingers were pressing into her neck harder now and she closed her eyes briefly to breathe in deeply, trying to calm her agitation before focusing on Turn Back once more. "We needed a distraction to get Scarlett out. I don't usually throw my change around like that, but we were being affected by something when they came in." Her black eyes narrowed, trying to memorize Turn Back's facial features without his bandana on. There was something familiar about him, but other than a nagging feeling at the back of her mind she couldn't place him - he wasn't someone that risked everything by showing others the face beneath the mask. She knew if she stuck around long enough it would likely get out who she was ... but with any luck Umbra would be done long before that.

Sighing in exasperation, Turn Back turned away for a moment taking a step away and trying to calm himself. "Look, I'm sorry. I just... Money's a big factor for me. It is or everyone down here. I'm half a step above poverty, and... You probably don't understand it, but that's really really hard. Having to chose between having power or food, running water or your phone bill..."

"... No, I don't really." Zoey finally let her hand drop, watching TB's back with her frown only increasing, along with the discomfort in her tone. "I was born into wealth, so none of that is really something I'd had to deal with. But, I mean, the money will help right? How much can a loaf of bread be - ten dollars?"

Turn Back's breath hitched as he processed what Reaper had just said. "Ten... Dollars... Ten dollars worth of bread would be enough bread for three months. The bread I can afford, the damn WonderBread they sell for fifty cents a loaf, the shit that gives you cancer, that's what I can afford. Barely. On a good week." His voice had changed now, it was more distant and cold. No inflection or pitch to it, this was the sound of aomeone trying to hold onto control.

"... Why would they make bread with fifty different scents?"

Turn Back swung around again, digging int his pocket and pulling out a few pennies. He stepped forward and shoved them at Reaper, his nostrils flaring in anger. "Cents! The tiniest portion of money! This is as small as it gets! Fifty of these buys me a loaf of bread, and the shittiest loaf out there! The bread tastes like nothing, but it's something to eat! It'll kill me one day, but it means I have food for the week!"

Reaper quickly backed up, fingers catching one of the pennies and examing it up but soon focused on Turn Back with puzzlement, not to mention a growing temper. Her teeth grit underneath her mask and her muscles rippled as she shifted in a weak attempt to lessen the tension building in her body.

"Why are you getting angry at me?! I'm sorry for your circumstances but I haven't even done anything to you!"

"Because you don't get it, and you never will! You say things like 'oh that's not much money' not realizing that I don't have to chose what parts of my life I can do without this month, you don't even know what a penny is! You sit up there in your pristine castle on your high horse, coming down to help out the poor poor people who can do nothing for themselves, and you don't even understand how real people live!"

"What the fuck is your problem? I came out here to help like anyone else - I've done vigilante work for years! And just because I have money suddenly makes me less qualified than you?" The shadows at Reaper's feet began to react, climbing up her legs and twisting around her torso as it fed off her anger. Her hands tightened at her side, jaw tense as she tried to control herself. She would not be a repeat of what happened with the other team. "You don't even know who I am aside from having money, Turn Back. Take your ... 'scents' and fuck off." The hooded vigilante flicked the penny towards Turn Back, and promptly looked away. Picking out a shadow of one of the further warehouses Reaper dropped into her own, disappearing.

Turn Back watched Reaper go and yelling into the night sky, venting his frustrations in the best way he knew how. He paced the street for a moment before reaching a decision. If she didn't care about it, there was a house full of thousands of dollars that would just go to waste otherwise. He threw the hood of his ruined hoodie up and began running back towards Scarlett's house, intending to come back to the theater afterwards.

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