Pilatus

SOL CITY - Modern Slice of Life - Chapter 2 - Completed & archived. 2/2

@LostBrotherGrimm

This is approved. You can move over to the character tab.

SOL CITY - Modern Slice of Life - Chapter 2 - Completed & archived. 2/2

Joel Nicolosi

Joel wrapped his fingers restlessly on the table watching as events turned quickly from bad to worse. Should have just went back to the fucking house. He thought. This is exactly why I don’t go anywhere. The main exit wasn’t going to happen as the floor tore into what looked like a full blown riot of shouts, yelps and broken glass in the mob of humanity. His eyes scanned around, faces blurring in the quick survey of his vision. He hadn’t recognized Victoria in the crowd, but Sio picked her out without problem stirring up drama as usual. With the drinks paid for, he grabbed Sio by the hand again without a word moving quickly, much more serious in knowledge guided by experience of where the atmosphere in the club was headed and led her hastily towards a side exit he’d seen the two plain-clothes officers use to leave.

It was about that time the first police forces arrived and barged through the front entrance vigorously with whistles blowing and batons at the ready. He held on to Sio’s hand tightly not to lose her in the madness as he firmly moved people aside with the exit in sight. Others had the same idea and he saw the door swing open to sweet freedom as a few made it there before them. For some reason, The Empire Strikes Back came to mind and he felt like Han Solo escaping the rebel base on Hoth. Sio could be Princess Leia if she liked… or Chewie, either way. He was too focused on the prize to have time to even smirk at his own bizarre sense of humor, but as a muscle-bound security force that looked more like they belonged in the UFC than a security detail burst through like an avalanche he knew they were going to have to find another way out.

Turning and looking back the scene was pure chaos as the new contenders arrived. Screams, bellows of pain and sweat filled the Club. He thought he saw a tooth on the floor then watched as a man was tossed like a ragdoll several feet in the air crashing through a table that broke his fall. It was almost something to behold. The security seemed more interested in beating the shit out of everyone than restoring order. Then he saw it: A free swinging door with light on the other side. The Kitchen. He pulled Sio, hard and burst through the swinging door as it appeared one of the cook staff was in the process of locking it. Not stopping, he kept his eyes looking straight ahead and finding the code-required, red, EXIT sign amid the protests and curses of the staff, but Joel kept going as they were more interested in keeping anyone else from escaping. He leaned into the exit-door mid stride and they nearly fell out the other side into the back lot where the car was parked and waiting like the Millennium Falcon.

Joel let Sio’s hand go so she could dash to the passenger side. He looked back at the parking lot as more police vehicles rolled up along with more bruising security forces. When they jumped in the car, he immediately pushed the key into the ignition and started the fuel-pump sequence watching the lights come up as he worked to refasten Sio’s harness like they were in the middle of a Grand Prix. Everything in the engine compartment was still mostly warm from their short stay at Club Aether and he thumbed the ignition bringing the car back to life with a visceral howl and sharp pops of exhaust flame. Spotting an opening in front of an ambulance that no one was going to block, he secured his own belts quickly and dumped the clutch.

They were already sideways as the car swung on to the main drag of The Run with white smoke bellowing from the rear tires and the elemental scream of the Japanese-tuned V8. Almost in slow motion, Joel looked an SCPD patrolman dead in the eyes mid-drift as the officer turned in to the club too late to change course and give chase. In two gear changes and an exhaust scream that echoed off storefronts and buildings, they were out of sight. Shifting his eyes briefly over at Sio as he took the ramp back to the interstate, he exhaled letting some of his adrenalin dissipate. “I don’t think we’re goin’ back there for a while.” He said casually as if they had just left a bad restaurant.

@Almalthia

SOL CITY - Modern Slice of Life - Chapter 2 - Completed & archived. 2/2

Paige Kennedy

“You gonna eat that?” CT asked. He was cuffed to the wheel of Xi’s unmarked Ford Taurus and sitting on the ground.

Xi reached into the paper bag and tossed a buy-one, get-one burger special from the diner into their former fugitive’s lap where he had already finished a sandwich. All three watched casually as excited revelers were dragged from Club Aether, some leaving more enthusiastically than others by SCPD. Xi patted his stomach in near submission to the thousand-plus calorie travesty he attempted to tame and rolled the foil wrapper back further marveling at CT’s ability to put the food away. Paige drank a cup of decent coffee and leaned against her car with some amusement. The steam from the cup rose up and the increasing coolness of the night helped the taste.

“Jesus, where do you put it?” Xi said.

“Man’s gotta eat.” CT said proudly and started on the burger. They all watched as more units continued to fill up the parking lot until there were more patrol cars than civilian. “Mind if I ask a question?” He said glancing up at them between bites. “How much time you think I’m lookin’ at?”

“We don’t sentence you,” Paige said without looking down. “We just bring you in, judge takes care of the rest.” She’d answered the question a million times.

“Well what if I just gave all that money back? Like tonight. You think that would help?”

“You mean returning to people what’s rightfully theirs anyway?” Xi said. “Usually doesn’t work like that.”

“Yeah, I know…” CT relented. He pondered his next bite, but spoke up again instead: “Hey what if I taught you a few things on the computer, huh? Maybe put in a good word for me?” He grinned smartly back at Paige’s unimpressed glance downward. “I could teach you how to be caller seven, how ‘bout that?”

“That all you got?” Paige replied.

“No, I’m serious,” CT continued. “How do you think I got all that stuff you pulled from Bobby’s apartment?”

“How do you know I took anything?” Paige said with some interest.

“C’mon, I’m a pro.” CT replied with some apprehension. “You ever hear radio stations give out prizes to whoever is caller number seven?” He asked pointedly; ready to boast of his technical prowess. “Well, I’m always caller number seven.” He grinned and took another big bite. “Then I go online and I cheat these ripoff auction sites.” He said with a mouthful. “I can show you that too, just give me a computer.”

“You think we’re really gonna give you a computer?” Xi said. He relented on the burger and shot the balled-up wrapper into the paper bag.

The flashing blue lights of a SCPD van pulled into the parking lot and with a short burst of the horn, began to receive the Club’s take of delinquent visitors. Shouts and screams went up as some were transferred over and all turned their attention back to the spectacle across the street. The whole parking lot was a wash of people leaving and being corralled all at once. Officers moved forcefully waving people down and directing others to calm the situation. Paige’s glance narrowed slightly seeing the woman, Marinalia being deposited into the van, which seemed slightly strange as she very acceptingly stepped aboard, followed by the extremely tall person a few others including members of the club security detail and then the black haired, defiant, Victoria.

“That’s the bitch that keyed my car.” Paige said nudging Xi.

“The tall one?” Xi said slightly confused.

“No, the black-haired chick in that ridiculous outfit.” With a sly smirk, Paige aimed the camera on her phone and held the shutter button taking several good pictures of Victoria being put away. She sent one to Sio and said nothing.

“What’d you steal her boyfriend or something?” CT said looking up with a ketchup smeared grin that faded when Paige glared back at him. “I mean, it’s a nice car and all…” He chewed quickly. “Yeah, I’d be pissed.”

An ambulance pulled up to the curb flashing its red lights unable to move any closer due to the crowding of the parking lot. As Paige watched the paramedics jump out and go to work with the stretcher she remembered an article in the local paper about cyber-crimes on the rise in Sol City and though it definitely was not her forte, something about it kept toying with her intuition and she was annoyed at how she’d had to leave much of the work to the CC officer earlier that day in order to track down CT a second time. He seemed more than willing to talk if she could just keep him feeling like he was the smartest person in the city. She wiggled her lips a bit a glanced back down at him. “Tell me what you know about this stuff and I’ll see what I can do for you,” She said looking him in the eyes with her well-known piercing gaze. “No promises, though.”

SOL CITY - Modern Slice of Life - Chapter 2 - Completed & archived. 2/2

@Tenma Tendo

Approved, see you in the character tab.

SOL CITY - Modern Slice of Life - Chapter 2 - Completed & archived. 2/2

Just as a note since we got REALLY busy today: Please make sure you let all the characters that haven't had a chance to react to the current scene get a chance to post before you start new replies. Not trying to stifle anyone here, believe me this has been a fun one so far, but we do want to try to be thoughtful of those who might be busy and haven't had time to get a post in.

SOL CITY - Modern Slice of Life - Chapter 2 - Completed & archived. 2/2

Joel Nicolosi

Thankfully it appeared that karaoke singers had run their course for a time and Joel happily chalked that up to good luck as they managed to get a fairly decent table. The ambient music the Club usually belted over the impressive sound system would be good enough for a while and as he toasted glasses with Sio he thought for a little while at least that it would be good to just spend some time with her. With the car picked up, the last vestiges of the Grand Prix weekend were put to rest. Sure, there would be other things that came of it as they continued to slog through the mountains of e-mails, voicemails and letters that poured in daily, but most of it was just junk to Joel. There were a couple interesting ones from well-known racing teams that he needed to consider and he liked that Sio represented a completely unbiased opinion.

The main floor continued busy as ever as he leaned back in his seat and scanned around. Everyone was just a wash of people and faces from their table on the perimeter. No one really stood out, nor was he looking. His eyes were making their way back over to Sio when he spotted Ethan looking towards them with one of his customary, predatory glances. Very nonchalantly, Joel shot him the finger in return, making sure the lead singer got a good view as nodded with a challenging smirk as he did it. In high school they were a couple years apart, not friends and not really enemies either, they moved in distinctly different circles, but both were Sol City natives and their combined fame and egos created a bit of an unspoken rivalry. He couldn’t wait for the inevitable question from Sio.

“Looks like somebody’s already having too good of a time,” He said motioning with his glass for Sio as what appeared to be two plain-clothes officers were dragging someone up from the floor. However, his attention shifted as a few catty shouts went up from the other end of the bar where he couldn’t really see anything other than the people’s backs aside from one extremely tall person. Whatever the confrontation was about, it seemed to mostly consist of women which he found mildly entertaining. He glanced over at Sio and shook his head as a couple guys very futilely attempted to calm the situation. He knew better than to get in the way of a bunch of drunk women out for blood and sure enough the tall one took a bottle to the cranium as things were really getting riled up and people started throwing hands.

Joel sighed a little and finished his beer regretting that he hadn’t trusted his gut instinct when they walked in the door. If he wanted to see a fight he could have just taken her to the 501 Club. Somehow he expected Ethan to be at the root of it as causing drama was one of his favorite MO’s. “Better drink up,” He said to Sio unenthusiastically watching a full-on brawl taking shape. “The cops will be here any time and we’ll be here all night.”

Ambient Fighting Music


@Almalthia

SOL CITY - Modern Slice of Life - Chapter 2 - Completed & archived. 2/2

Paige Kennedy

Paige glanced down at her phone watching the signal for the public Wi-Fi blink away enjoying her drink and waiting. As she’d mused many times before, her job often reminded her of going fishing with her granddad when she was a little girl back in Florida. The bait was set. They just had to watch the cork bobbing for a signal to pull the hook though this particular lake only had one catch she was interested in putting on the line. Sitting quietly as music continued to blast across the club, the looks and observations of others did not go unnoticed: The tall blonde in plain clothes, the nervous looking young guy and also a familiar face. She remembered Marinalia Olympus’ face from Bob’s case file, but the look of another one with dark hair that suddenly slinked away behind her made her olive eyes scan by again briefly like a sentinel. She was mostly interested in the tables and the lounge area where her prize was suddenly finding his connection broken and didn’t follow the retreating woman any further.

A few moments passed and a text from Xi, popped up on her phone:

Coming up behind you

She picked up a small knife on the bar counter and angled it daintily in her hand as if she were a bored, single-girl playing for attention, but actually looking for CT’s approach in the polished metal. He had his slender laptop folded under one arm and looked like he hadn’t changed clothes since that morning still sporting his track-pants and stretched white t-shirt. Same as they had done, he could easily tell where the signal was controlled and as he neared she flicked her hair playfully and spun around on the stool drawing her jacket back and putting one hand on her gun. “Hello, CT” She said cheerfully.

“Shit.” The man spat stopping in his tracks. He seemed to consider his actions briefly and looked around. Paige watched his eyes instantly dart to the exit. When he turned to bolt again, Xi was right behind him and he bounced off the ex-Marine like a brick wall dropping his laptop and hitting the floor in a heap.

Paige took another sip of her drink and left it calmly on the bar before stepping down from the stool and placing her weight on the knee she saw him favoring after he’d jumped from the window earlier. “Told you I’d get you.” She pressed her foot harder not caring that others noticed her.

“Alright! Alright! Shit!” CT protested against the pain. He reached for his laptop, but she deftly stooped down and swiped it out of his grasp.

“No-no, now,” She said with parental sarcasm. “This could be considered a dangerous weapon.” She handed it over to Xi.

“You didn’t get me a drink?” Xi said observing her empty chair and abandoned glass as Paige cuffed CT and hauled him up to his feet. He still had the smell of an apartment dumpster on his clothes; the ripe aroma of diapers, stale food and rotting fruit. Her lips curled a bit in revulsion.

“I’ll get ya one for the ditch.” She said with a triumphant smirk.

Xi’s glance seemed to wander away as she spoke. The small perimeter of onlookers they’d attracted also looked to have their attention drawn elsewhere. “Nah, I think I’ll pass now,” He said gazing curiously towards the other end of the bar. “Looks like the locals are getting restless.”

Paige glanced back finding Marinalia and the small black haired girl being confronted by another group of women. That poor girl seemed to attract trouble wherever she went. However, instinctively, she knew the shorter one was none other than her sister, Victoria. Sio’s story of the bar back at the Gala first flashed in her mind at the sight and she knew her intuition to be correct. The little skunk had apparently covered up her white stripe, but the stench was still there and making a scene as usual. A part of her wanted to join the others in stomping her ass into the curb after what she did to the her car and how she’d embarrassed Sio, but she waited all day to nab CT and they had to get him out before things got completely out of hand.

And escalate it did! As she pushed CT out of the back door, the man glanced back almost gleefully at the sight of a catfight, but slightly relieved to some extent. The sound of a bottle shattering combined with numerous whoops and shouts escalated over the music as the heavy metal door shut firmly behind them.

“Better go ahead and make the call,” Paige said to Xi with some amusement as the growing raucous could be heard even outside. She looked back as they crossed the street to where their cars were waiting at a small drive-in diner. Xi was already on the phone with 911 reporting the fugitive in custody and calling in the local police department for a Code 10-10 (Fight in Progress). Soon every SCPD unit within a ten mile radius would be descending on Club Aether.

@Silver Fox@Almalthia@Alex_The_Great@PrinceAlexus

SOL CITY - Modern Slice of Life - Chapter 2 - Completed & archived. 2/2

@LostBrotherGrimm

Always room for one more and I love it when people take the time to read the old thread. There is always room for one more.

To answer your question, we did just get two female characters which should balance us out when I update the count so you're free to choose on gender.

Thanks for checking out our game. We really are working to make something special and different here.

SOL CITY - Modern Slice of Life - Chapter 2 - Completed & archived. 2/2

@Rodiak & @FloriCello

Both good. You can move them over as soon as @PrinceAlexus approves.

SOL CITY - Modern Slice of Life - Chapter 2 - Completed & archived. 2/2

Joel Nicolosi

Joel could tell Sio was a bit star-struck, suddenly less her constant joking-self and at a temporary loss for words, but he shrugged it off with a smirk. He could remember when his dad first taught him to drive and how he’d similarly been blown away with what could be done with a car in the right hands: How to take a corner, when to brake, when to accelerate, oversteer and understeer, feeling the weight of the car moving in the seat and not being overwhelmed by the shift in momentum as you worked the wheel and pedals. It was like playing an instrument, but difficult really to describe to the uninitiated and a talent honed over years of practice. The experience was life-changing for him. Looking forward and storing the thoughts away as they walked the long corridor, he stuck his hands in his jacket pockets, leading the way and breathing the delightful smell of burnt rubber that still clung to his clothes. In his hopes of not being recognized, his jacket was a less conspicuous fleece with a small Bridgestone logo on the left chest, jeans and sneakers.

As they stood at the entrance to the main hall, Joel could tell he’d made a wrong decision when a sign advertised karaoke night. Oh for fuck’s sake… He thought to himself. He wanted to hear good music, not drunken flotsam. He sighed a little; almost embarrassed that he’d drug Sio along and contemplated turning around and going elsewhere, but his practical side anchored him down. You’re already here, might as well get what you came for. A view of the bar further reinforced his presuppositions as the array of people, that were clearly not fans of the musical genre he preferred, congregated. Overdressed, clueless and not his sort of company, the scene looked more like the Mos Eisley Cantina bar than any sort of reputable music venue. He glanced back at Sio, not wanting to ruin her good time as a familiar voice took the stage. He leaned in to talk in her ear over the noise of their first song, “I actually went to high school with that guy,” He said nodding towards the stage. At least they were a professional band and their practiced sound was crisp. “C’mon, let’s get a table.”

In the dim lighting and roaring speakers he hoped that no one would recognize him. With Ethan and his lot strutting around like a bunch of punk-goth turkeys he felt an extra buffer of distraction as he led Sio around the perimeter of the main floor to get a booth or table where they could chill out for a few.

@Almalthia