6:00 A.M.
Roth trudged home, a little beaten up from a late night of underground street brawling. He was fairly bruised, and bleeding a little around the mouth. His hands, though already wrapped, were the bloodiest of all though, most of it not actually his blood of course. Regardless, the fox simply could not wait to get home and rest. Almost seeming defeated, every inch of his body aching, he headed up the stairs, prepared to see Fausk collapsed on his couch, out like a light as always. Of course, that was before he lifted his head.
Instantly, he felt invigorated with the sensation that Fausk may be in danger, the door splintered and broken off of its hinges. Quickly, he rushed into his apartment and glanced around, trying to find out what happened to Fausk, only seeing her outerwear on the floor, and the sheets all in a pile. Roth's eyes quickly focused on a nearby clock to see what time it was before he bolted out the door frame and ran down the street.
It almost felt like he was running for hours, the wind biting at his face he was dashing along so fast. The pain was completely ignored as he quickly headed into an alley way and busted through a back door. The interior of the structure he had ran into was pretty dimly lit, seeming to prefer only natural lighting, and even then only through the windows covered in blinds. As the sun was only barely peeking up, it was very grim and morbidly dark, almost as if it was a crypt.
From behind Roth, a hand started to reach towards him to grab him. The fox was too used to being attacked, and with a slight twitch of his ear he had bent down, spacing his weight across his knees to slide under the hands and around the attacker just enough to deliver a sharp blow straight to the kidney. The attacker doubled over in pain and fell to his knees, while Roth quickly glanced around, seeing several more starting to move forward.
"Enough." A voice calmly uttered from somewhere beneath the dark depths, and a desk lamp on a table clicked on. Immediately, the group around Roth ceased and all moved back to their respective locations. Breathing heavily, the tired, beaten, and fatigued fox slowly headed towards the desk, stopping the required seven feet from it, as the voice continued. "You look like you're about to collapse, Roth. Must be important."
Roth stood calmly, chest still heaving to try to catch his breath from the long journey, not even sure himself how he was still standing. "My apartment--"
Though not much was seen from the figure, a hand did come into the light telling him to stop his sentence. "Yes, there were reports of a large scale police force breaking into your place. Oddly, I thought they were after you though."
The charcoal fox just blinked, as if he didn't understand. "A large police squad, in the slums?"
The figure just seemed to nod in the shadows, leaning a bit closer to the light, but still staying out of it, "Yes, SWAT and everything. Rumor has it they're planning on increasing patrols around here, which is bad for everyone."
Roth seemed to fumble for words, just standing there speechless, trying to figure out what he could have possibly done that would have warranted being a high priorety target by the police.
Almost as if sensing his confusion, the shadow continued, "After I figured they weren't after you, and Tesla was also spotted leaving that bar you work in after the initial arrest," The figure paused, leaning back slowly, "the final option was of course, that girlfriend of yours."
Light was slowly beginning to pour further into the room as Roth seemed to move within the blink of an eye, breaking the seven foot barrier and slamming his hands against the desk, "She's not my girlfriend!" He practically yelled. It wasn't that he didn't care for Fausk, he just did not appreciate everyone thinking it was a romantic interest.
The figure just chuckled and held up a hand for the guards which quickly started to move in as Roth moved forward. "So she was there. Provided the cops don't get her, she's not going to be welcome in the slums anymore. That increased police activity down here still won't be enough to stop a few hits." The figure stood up and moved into the light of the sun a little, showing off his pinstripe suit and fedora as he looked out into the street.
Roth's eyes followed him as he just lowered his ears and growled, "If you, or any of your men so much as touches her, I'll kill you myself, Vincent."
The raccoon turned to look towards him, just smirking a bit, "Provided the slums don't kill you and your girl first."
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Shock to the System, Part 1
Morning of Fausk's Arrest. 5:30 A.M.
The doors to the police station seemed to burst open, the German shepherd carting the faux fox in. Fausk's arms, handcuffed behind her back, as she struggled and fought against his grip, lurching forward and around in every direction, growling to herself mostly. Perhaps the most surprising fact was just how busy the police station was at this early in the morning. Everyone was on the move, on the phone, moving this way and that. Cork poster boards were everywhere with photos and pictures and maps and everything being tacked and marked.
The noise level was unbearable to the hungover faux fox, and yet even as she glanced about she tried her best to focus on some of the pictures. Amidst all the yelling and frantic movement of the police officers she did manage to catch a glimpse at a few of the various images strewn about. Dead bodies, car wrecks, mysterious looking blobs of some sort of avian creature against the backdrop of a full moon, she couldn't tell, it was too hard to focus on any one thing because of her horrible headache. The German shepherd continued to drag her about, quickly banging his way through another door, this one leading downstairs, into a dark, dank basement.
Fausk was mostly relieved to not have to hear the unbearable noise from above as the door was slammed shut behind her. Within, were several more uniformed officers standing about, a single light shining above from the dangily light fixture. One of the men set down a wooden chair in the middle of the light and the German shepherd quickly tossed her into it, forcing her to be seated. She squinted, trying to keep the bright light out of her eyes as the men all seemed to turn away from her, save for the German shepherd who brought her in.
"Miss DaSilva, or would you prefer Fausk." He spoke, seeming calm, and in control of the situation.
"I'd prefer to get out of here, I didn't do anything wrong." She grumbled still trying to keep her eyes mostly closed.
"I'm afraid that's just not possible given the situation." He pulls up a metal chair and sat on it backwards, resting his arms over the back of the chair as he leaned forward, "We've been after you for a few months now. Surprised to find out you were hiding in the slums, I suppose it makes sense with the lack of police enforcement down there." Fausk just seemed to stare at him while he spoke, not comprehending anything that he's been saying or what she could have possibly done wrong. The German shepherd looked up as one of the other officers handed him a file and he grabbed it flipping through it as he continued to spoke. "Had to go up to your parents place, seemed they had no idea where you were for 3 years."
Fausk just lowered her ears and looked away, no mention of her parents was ever a good one. Regardless of the situation she just looked back up at him, trying to fight against her handcuffs again, "Did they tell you they didn't want me?" She frowns a bit and just grits her teeth, "Besides, I have no idea what the charges are against me, don't I have some sort of right to know that?"
The German shepherd just sat quietly, staring at her across the folder, continuing to flip through it. "Odd that I don't see any prior record here. Then again, it did take us a while to be able to lift even a single print. You've been quite meticulous in covering your tracks."
Fausk just continued to look at him. Baffled at the fact that he was being so persistent in his questioning her, even though she was completely innocent. She grumbled, beginning to snarl between her lips, "I want my phone call."
The doors to the police station seemed to burst open, the German shepherd carting the faux fox in. Fausk's arms, handcuffed behind her back, as she struggled and fought against his grip, lurching forward and around in every direction, growling to herself mostly. Perhaps the most surprising fact was just how busy the police station was at this early in the morning. Everyone was on the move, on the phone, moving this way and that. Cork poster boards were everywhere with photos and pictures and maps and everything being tacked and marked.
The noise level was unbearable to the hungover faux fox, and yet even as she glanced about she tried her best to focus on some of the pictures. Amidst all the yelling and frantic movement of the police officers she did manage to catch a glimpse at a few of the various images strewn about. Dead bodies, car wrecks, mysterious looking blobs of some sort of avian creature against the backdrop of a full moon, she couldn't tell, it was too hard to focus on any one thing because of her horrible headache. The German shepherd continued to drag her about, quickly banging his way through another door, this one leading downstairs, into a dark, dank basement.
Fausk was mostly relieved to not have to hear the unbearable noise from above as the door was slammed shut behind her. Within, were several more uniformed officers standing about, a single light shining above from the dangily light fixture. One of the men set down a wooden chair in the middle of the light and the German shepherd quickly tossed her into it, forcing her to be seated. She squinted, trying to keep the bright light out of her eyes as the men all seemed to turn away from her, save for the German shepherd who brought her in.
"Miss DaSilva, or would you prefer Fausk." He spoke, seeming calm, and in control of the situation.
"I'd prefer to get out of here, I didn't do anything wrong." She grumbled still trying to keep her eyes mostly closed.
"I'm afraid that's just not possible given the situation." He pulls up a metal chair and sat on it backwards, resting his arms over the back of the chair as he leaned forward, "We've been after you for a few months now. Surprised to find out you were hiding in the slums, I suppose it makes sense with the lack of police enforcement down there." Fausk just seemed to stare at him while he spoke, not comprehending anything that he's been saying or what she could have possibly done wrong. The German shepherd looked up as one of the other officers handed him a file and he grabbed it flipping through it as he continued to spoke. "Had to go up to your parents place, seemed they had no idea where you were for 3 years."
Fausk just lowered her ears and looked away, no mention of her parents was ever a good one. Regardless of the situation she just looked back up at him, trying to fight against her handcuffs again, "Did they tell you they didn't want me?" She frowns a bit and just grits her teeth, "Besides, I have no idea what the charges are against me, don't I have some sort of right to know that?"
The German shepherd just sat quietly, staring at her across the folder, continuing to flip through it. "Odd that I don't see any prior record here. Then again, it did take us a while to be able to lift even a single print. You've been quite meticulous in covering your tracks."
Fausk just continued to look at him. Baffled at the fact that he was being so persistent in his questioning her, even though she was completely innocent. She grumbled, beginning to snarl between her lips, "I want my phone call."
Monday, January 19, 2009
Having a Friend to Confide in
The snow leopard awoke the next day, feeling somewhat rested, but also rather worried about what her dream may have meant. The snow leopard got dressed, wearing one of her fancy dresses that was made from silk, and then wore a semi-short kimono style dress over the top of it, giving a nice layered and oriental sort of look to her outfit.
Misery headed outside of her building and walked to the curb, slowly waving her hand around, as she waited for a taxi. One eventually pulled up and she climbed inside and asked for the driver to take her to a restaurant in the China town district. She slumped back in the back seat again, this time folding her hands in her lap and keeping her posture much better than the previous ride.
It wasn't long before she was paying the cab driver and stepping out in front of the restaurant with a large, jolly looking panda's face on the marquee. She simply smiled, heading inside to the greeting ding of the door's bell tied on to the inside handle. A very svelte looking fox slowly made her way over, bowing to Misery.
"Miss Valentine, it is so lovely to see you again." The waitress spoke, very polite and courteous.
Misery just smiled, bowing as well, "Thank you, very much. Is Yi available for a conversation?"
The fox turned back, seeming to ponder, but not before the gleeful laughter came from the doors to the kitchen. The doors burst open, revealing the very large panda chef, seeming to enjoy eating as much as he liked cooking. "My good friend, Misery!" The panda, though large, was able to move about fairly quickly, and made his way to Misery and immediately wrapped his arms about her and lifted her off the ground in a large hug, causing faint grunts and gasps from the snow leopard. "It has been so long since you last came to see me!" He slowly puts her down and starts leading her towards the back room, "Come, come, so much to talk about!"
The snow leopard, a bit dazed, slowly stumbled into the back room with him. It was an office of sorts, with a large couch, that soon had the panda seated upon it. The table before them had an empty platter on it, and Misery slowly seated herself on one of the cushy chairs across from Yi. The waitress quickly shuffled in and picked up the tray, heading out of the room. Misery cleared her throat to speak, but soon was interrupted by the panda.
"You've been doing well, I trust? Keeping healthy? You still look too thin."
The snow leopard blushed, finding that more of a compliment than anything, but she knew how Yi worked. She nodded slowly, "I've been doing fine. How's business been for you?"
The panda laughed and scratched his chin gently, "Ah, there were a few slow months for a while, but it's beginning to pick up. It's enough to keep me in business, that's for sure!"
Misery nodded a bit, knowing that this small locally owned restaurant was nothing more than a barely afloat business. In fact, it seemed like a small mom and pop restaurant, with little more than a dozen tables, one chef, and one waitress. Even still, the panda was able to remain happy with his situation.
The waitress simply shuffled back in, setting the tray down, now with teapot and hot tea for the two. She bowed and shuffled back out. Both Misery and Yi reached for their respective cups and took their first sips. Misery took a breath, about to speak again, before the panda interrupted, "Things going o.k. at the firm?"
The snow leopard looked down, sipping at her tea slowly before nodding. Her cover job was as a lawyer for a law firm. It worked quite well, as she's more in charge of drawing up contracts, which almost every business in the world needs. It allowed her to be in more high class functions, easily keeping eyes on targets, while not being suspicious. Misery blinked and slowly looked up, turning her focus back to the panda, feeling quite a bit distracted and unable to focus on the task at hand.
Yi, easily picking up on her frustrations finally cut to the chase for her, "Something must be bothering you, or you wouldn't have come down to visit your old friend Yi."
Misery just nodded a bit, looking back at her tea, "Yes... I had this horrible nightmare."
Misery headed outside of her building and walked to the curb, slowly waving her hand around, as she waited for a taxi. One eventually pulled up and she climbed inside and asked for the driver to take her to a restaurant in the China town district. She slumped back in the back seat again, this time folding her hands in her lap and keeping her posture much better than the previous ride.
It wasn't long before she was paying the cab driver and stepping out in front of the restaurant with a large, jolly looking panda's face on the marquee. She simply smiled, heading inside to the greeting ding of the door's bell tied on to the inside handle. A very svelte looking fox slowly made her way over, bowing to Misery.
"Miss Valentine, it is so lovely to see you again." The waitress spoke, very polite and courteous.
Misery just smiled, bowing as well, "Thank you, very much. Is Yi available for a conversation?"
The fox turned back, seeming to ponder, but not before the gleeful laughter came from the doors to the kitchen. The doors burst open, revealing the very large panda chef, seeming to enjoy eating as much as he liked cooking. "My good friend, Misery!" The panda, though large, was able to move about fairly quickly, and made his way to Misery and immediately wrapped his arms about her and lifted her off the ground in a large hug, causing faint grunts and gasps from the snow leopard. "It has been so long since you last came to see me!" He slowly puts her down and starts leading her towards the back room, "Come, come, so much to talk about!"
The snow leopard, a bit dazed, slowly stumbled into the back room with him. It was an office of sorts, with a large couch, that soon had the panda seated upon it. The table before them had an empty platter on it, and Misery slowly seated herself on one of the cushy chairs across from Yi. The waitress quickly shuffled in and picked up the tray, heading out of the room. Misery cleared her throat to speak, but soon was interrupted by the panda.
"You've been doing well, I trust? Keeping healthy? You still look too thin."
The snow leopard blushed, finding that more of a compliment than anything, but she knew how Yi worked. She nodded slowly, "I've been doing fine. How's business been for you?"
The panda laughed and scratched his chin gently, "Ah, there were a few slow months for a while, but it's beginning to pick up. It's enough to keep me in business, that's for sure!"
Misery nodded a bit, knowing that this small locally owned restaurant was nothing more than a barely afloat business. In fact, it seemed like a small mom and pop restaurant, with little more than a dozen tables, one chef, and one waitress. Even still, the panda was able to remain happy with his situation.
The waitress simply shuffled back in, setting the tray down, now with teapot and hot tea for the two. She bowed and shuffled back out. Both Misery and Yi reached for their respective cups and took their first sips. Misery took a breath, about to speak again, before the panda interrupted, "Things going o.k. at the firm?"
The snow leopard looked down, sipping at her tea slowly before nodding. Her cover job was as a lawyer for a law firm. It worked quite well, as she's more in charge of drawing up contracts, which almost every business in the world needs. It allowed her to be in more high class functions, easily keeping eyes on targets, while not being suspicious. Misery blinked and slowly looked up, turning her focus back to the panda, feeling quite a bit distracted and unable to focus on the task at hand.
Yi, easily picking up on her frustrations finally cut to the chase for her, "Something must be bothering you, or you wouldn't have come down to visit your old friend Yi."
Misery just nodded a bit, looking back at her tea, "Yes... I had this horrible nightmare."
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