03 ❧ video; iphone

[poisonousflame]

[It was intentional. Stupid, but intentional. He'd wanted to get just close enough for an echo: to get some control over what was happening to him, rather than just waiting for it to happen.

[Then he'd gotten too close. His expensive clothes may as well have been a bright, flashing sign. The guy moved in, and then....

[The redhead trembles, staring at the thing that had appeared. It took the man down like it was nothing. Just a few quick slashes of its bladed arms, and the guy was down. Dead.

[And now, the creature stares at him, like he's supposed to do something. Like it's waiting for him.

[If it got away from the body, he could show it to the network. Much as he scoffs at most of those idiots, maybe—

[As though reading his thoughts, the creature moves obediently away from the body.]

... Fuck.



[The screen is dark, camera currently covered by a hand. When Axel speaks, his voice is calm and measured.]

Alright, Numbers Club. Let's see if any of you know.

[The hand moves, and the camera struggles to focus on ... something. It's not human, that's for sure. The combination of bad lighting and a slightly shaking camera makes it a little tough to see, but eventually, the creature comes into view. It bobs gently, appearing to be floating slightly above the ground. The four blades on each arm look like they're colored slightly different than the rest of it.

[Look closer: it's blood.

[Axel speaks again. Despite the slight shakiness of his hand, his voice is still stubbornly calm.]

What the fuck is this thing?

Comments

butts butts butts butts

[sassymaru]

As you say...

Though, if you aren't harmed, I'm not sure how else to be of assistance.

how do i not AT LEAST have an icon of his hips

[poisonousflame]

[A pause. What he needs is to get away from the body. What he doesn't know if he needs is assistance in hiding said body. (Should he leave it out in the open? Or should he risk leaving evidence while hiding it?)

[But it's not like he can ask that.]

Well. Do you know any quiet bars?

[As he recalls, this guy knew the karaoke ones, which he's not really in the mood for.]

clearly the hips do lie

[sassymaru]

[He has to think about that one for a moment. He knows mostly loud, obnoxious bars. Because that's always how he coped.]

Give me a moment, if you please. I'll see what I can look up.

i was lied TO

[poisonousflame]

Thanks.

[Another moment of hesitation. Then, he starts walking away from the scene, calm as can be. Follow, he thinks at the Assassin — and follow it does.

[He's not going too far. Somewhere away from the body, for sure. Somewhere isolated, ideally.

[His hand slips over the camera as he walks. Which is probably for the best: it spares the viewer of the somewhat nauseating view of the ground moving beneath his feet.]

by the hips

[sassymaru]

[It takes him a little while. Some quick networking. But he's good with his phone.]

[At length, he replies, somewhat distracted.]

Mm, word about headquarters is... there's a private little dive on [Insert street here.]

devious bastards

[poisonousflame]

[He's about to thank this guy, but that word catches his attention first.]

"Headquarters"?

i think you mean 'delicious'

[sassymaru]

Yes. Where I work.

Have I never mentioned that?

deliciously devious

[poisonousflame]

Not to me.

[He did mention running around saving lives after the earthquake, but Axel didn't ask.]

damn right

[sassymaru]

Ah, well. It's not terribly important, then, I suppose.

[JUST THE POLICE STATION, AFTER ALL.]

[poisonousflame]

Really? Not every place has a "headquarters."

[Hear that tone? He's not even pretending to buy that "not terribly important" line.]

[sassymaru]

Mm.

The police force does.

[So casual about it, too. Like he said "dance troupe" or something.]

[poisonousflame]

[That is a super casual way of saying that, sir. Axel's actually a bit impressed. He's also going nowhere near that bar now: at least, not while he's fleeing the scene of a murder.]

Yeah, I guess it would.

I'll check out that bar.

[Later. Way later. Maybe never.]

[sassymaru]

I sincerely hope it helps.

[Boy does he ever sound sincere about it -- because he is. Honestly.]

[None of these things are ever good.]