May 27 17:04:44 107 PA - Dark Plans for Dark People
From Chronicles
May 27 17:04:44 107 PA - Dark Plans for Dark People
Kingsdale - Main Street S
Thankfully the street is designed for people moving fast, wether in vehicles or otherwise because that's precisely what Ash is doing. Or he was doing. Running at full tilt he stops every now and again, both to take a few deep breaths and to get a better lay of the land, obviously he's looking for something... or someone.
It's raining again, but at least it isn't cold. Bridget is armed with an umbrella as she steps out of the Happy Days tower, and that's about the fanciest thing she has. It's casual time, and she's in jeans and a tee, and either just finished a long day, or a long nap after a long night.
Apparently it's jeans and a tee, or maybe just the rather statuesque appearance of the woman that draws Ash's attention and with a slight smile he zips over towards her, but stops to the side so that he doesn't kick mud and water up over her shoes or pants. Raking hands through his floppy hair (as it's hard to keep hair spiky in rain) Ash looks up towards Bridget, "Hey... I need your help." It's obvious that someone's healed him though, there is no sign of any of the recent beatings he took by the floor.
Bridget is a little surprised... well, maybe more than a little, by Ash's sudden zipping up to her. Not that it's a bad surprise, since she grins. "Hey there. Looks like you got fixed up faster than I thought you would." She looks him over some to check that, and is a bit late to realize all he said. "My help? What'd you do now?" A brow perks up since she's curious, but she can't help getting a jab in.
"Not me per se." Ash says in answer, squeezing his hair atop his head to try and wring it out down his back, but it's a futile gesture as it's -raining-. "You ever heard of a guy named Ahriman?" He asks curiously.
Bridget tries to make him a little more dry, and maybe look a little less like an idiot. She moves closer and shares some of the umbrella. "Mr. Dark and creepy? Yeah, I heard of him. Seen him a few times, too."
"Have you met him?" Ash asks curiously, "Mr. Dark and Creepy? Sounds like you don't much like the guy." He chuckles amusedly. "What do you know about him?" He looks up towards the umbrella and seems thankful for it even if he is already soaked to the bone.
"Yeah. I know he's an ass." Bridget smirks. She might get closer, but Ash -is- soaked. "He's some kind of expert on... all the weird stuff, or so -he- says. Just saw him yesterday, and thought about asking him about the whole giant slug monster thing, but... well, he was being an ass. He acts like he owns the place, and everyone in it."
Ash nods, leans closer wet or not to say softly so it doesn't carry past the sound of traffic and the rain, "He's threatening someone that means a lot to me with death if they don't become his slave, wanting her to spend every night with him and shit. I'm working on a few angles there, but, I know better than to go after a magicker straight head on by myself. I don't have enough friends to let some evil fuck shadow man try and pull this shit with one of them." He looks up towards her face, "So, I need your help... will you help me bring him down?"
Bridget blinks and her eyes widen as she listens. "He's an ass, but... holy shit." Now her eyes narrow and her smirk tightens into clenched teeth. "So he -does- think he owns people. I was wanting to break his nose, before. Now I don't think I'd stop there."
Ash smiles, seeming relieved at her response, "So then you'll help me?" Another hand rakes through his hair, "I have some information, we're contacting the Police but both of us know that's not a sure thing in this city. So I'm making a contingency plan, even... I'm even selling my dad's bike in order to get some guns I know work on magickers all the time..." He looks away and then shrugs, "Just a hovercycle... I think my dad would approve for this reason anyways." Or so he tells himself time and time again.
"You don't have to do that..." Bridget's still frowning, but it's not the same scowl and she puts a hand on his shoulder. "You beat on Tirzah good, even if she was holding back and not using all her fire and lightning and whatever. Punching him in the face still sounds way more fun." Now she finally grins again.
"And if he's wearing armor? Or has a magic force field? Or is just one of those super tough D-Bee's bullets bounce off of like a grackle tooth? Or as strong as a grackle tooth too?" Ash asks as he looks over towards her and he shakes his head, "Isabeau said he's evil, she could sense it. Like he's supernatural evil type, like on of those bad things that tried to take over villages and cities during the dark time. Since she healed me in about two seconds flat, I'm inclined to believe her. When dealing with that sort of shit... you've got to go in as hard and fast as possible. Specially since he's a magicker. Gotta hit hard, and hit fast. The more firepower pouring into this guy the better." He smacks a fist into the palm of his other hand. "Are you any good with explosives? I wanna try and get a couple fusion blocks. Isabeau says he's tied to darkness, like the sunlight is bad juju, so a daytime pair of fusion blocks under his bed..." He sounds hopeful, "But if that's not enough, going to have to go in shooting, take him out before he magic's me to death."
Bridget just listens through all that. "Wow.. you're working on a serious plan, aren't you? Yeah, he seems to like the dark. Hell, he might be part of it the way he looks. It sounds like you know way more about him than I do." She shakes her head. "I don't know anything about blowing things up, except shooting them alot..." Her head and words stops and she looks thoughtful. After a minute, her smile starts coming back and keeps growing.
Ash smiles wryly, "I been thinking about this non-stop ever since Isabeau told me about what was going on. She was sent to look for some magical artifact, some information on it. Apparently, his powers have been weakened ever since he touched something. So, I convinced her to not go back to him as she now has a card to play, he doesn't know what she was told. If he's weak, he won't try something now, which gives us time to plan and get things in motion." He then tilts his head to the side as her smile comes back and keeps growing like that, "What?" He asks curiously, smiling back to her, "What are you thinking to smile like the cheshire cat?"
"Well..." Bridget nods as she takes in the rest of that. "If he's wanting her for a slave, he can't think we're all useless or whatever. First time I met him, I thought he was looking me over like a juicy cheeseburger, wanting to eat me." Her smile curls up with mischief. "Maybe he was thinking about other things. Means I've got something to use and we can get him when he isn't looking." She leans into Ash and runs her fingers through his hair.
Ash shakes his head, "I don't know. Isabeau says he's never tried to sleep with her or anything, and he -claims- he doesn't want her for anything physical. But he's male, I think it's all a ploy. Eventually he is going to try and get something out of her physically." He moves to wrap an arm around her waist though as her fingers run through his wet blond hair, "But, I also don't know who this guy calls as friend either. Was he being friendly with anyone when you met him?"
Bridget keeps her smile as she thinks, and she must have a few ideas. Her finger starts playing with his ear. "Tirzah. He called her his little sister. I don't know if it's a magic people thing or what, but I don't think he's trying to get in her pants or anything like that. She wasn't even all that nice to him."
Ash wrinkles his forehead in a fair approximation to the wrinkling of his nose, if he had one as he ends up reaching up to cover his ear and he steps away a touch, but not so far as to be out in the full blown rain again, "That's... a shame. I was really hoping I'd be able to get Tirzah's help with this. Maybe if I can get hold of Vargus, he'll help... I just think it'd be a good idea to have magical help when facing a magical person. Look at what's going on with Tolkeen, they're holding the skulls back pretty good."
Bridget shakes her head after he steps back. "Yeah, I don't think she'd be a good one to ask. Probably better she don't know anything about all this. Can't go asking everybody, anyhow, or you end up saying the wrong thing to the wrong person. I'll help you, and it can't take a whole pile of people to do it. Even if he can shoot lightning or whatever, he's just one guy."
"Maybe... I am hoping Isabeau is better at magic than she gives herself credit for. But, she says she was afraid... I think maybe because she could sense how evil he is, and she was alone. He also broke into her trailer while she was sleeping and left a letter on her pillow which started all of this." Ash looks over at her, "Emperor Prosek is just one guy." He smiles wryly, "Not that I think this Ahriman shadow guy is as bad as Emperor Prosek, but..." He shrugs, "Do you have a projectile weapon that can hurt modern armor?" He asks her, giving her hip a squeeze from where he has his arm around her waist, as he reaches up to rub his ear. Apparently, the ear thing was bugging him with just touches. Ash adds, "I hope Nemain will help, at least."
Bridget nods, now. "Yeah, one guy with a bunch of guns behind him. I've got a few guns, and none of them are lasers." She shrugs a little. "I like something with kick and some noise. Hell, if I have to, I could punch my way through armor to get to him. Want to make sure it's something we can get done, and not get burned for after, too."
Ash nods, "That's good." He smiles wryly, "That's why we're going to the police about this first. If they choose not to do anything, and leave it in our hands at least they'll have record and evidence as to why it is self defense to burn him down."
Bridget quirks a brow. "Wait... you sure that's such a hot idea? If they don't do anything, they'll still know you had it in for him. If they decide they want to do something after he goes down, they'd be coming straight for you. Them, or anyone else who liked him that we don't know about."
"We're not going to tell them we're going after him. We're going to tell them what he's doing to Isabeau." Ash says, "That's why I'm not telling her exactly what I'm planning in case it goes down that way." He shrugs a bit, "And if the cops come for me, I'll just leave. Bolt to the dregs or get out of Kingsdale. I'll pay the price to protect one of the three friends I have on this whole fucking planet..."
"So.. you'd run off and leave them? Gee, thanks." Bridget smirks lightly, but it's not all tease. "I'm just saying the cops, or whoever, would have you in the mess to go talk to. It'd be nice if they'll do something, but I don't know..."
"If the cops come gunning for a street rat like me, I'll be dead." Ash says simply. "Especially if they care enough about this shadow guy that they do nothing in the first place. If they come looking for someone for the chopping block, better me than you." He says very seriously, looking at her full on. There is no teasing in his voice. "If I have to run, or if I'm dead. Either way I'm gone but at least a monster is not threatening my friends."
Bridget nods, and isn't teasing, now, even with the poke to his chest. "Exactly. That means we find a good way that doesn't end up with you dead or running. It's better they come for no one. I'm not going to let you be stupid, even if you are good at it."
Ash shrugs, "Not sure how they'll come for no one, unless we try to jump him on the street somewhere..." He sighs, "We could use Isabeau for bait I guess, but I don't like that, not at all. That puts the ball in his court and a well prepared mage is not what I want to fight. I'd rather fight a mage not knowing he is going to be getting jumped."
"What's wrong with getting him while he's not looking, and now, if he's weak like you said?" Bridget prods him again. "It's not like we have to sit around planning forever. Find a good time, or make one, and then go for it. You can't think of everything, anyways."
Ash says, "Yeah, but I still have to get stuff sold so I can buy a couple of those NTI pulse pistols and a couple chain swords." He shrugs a bit, "There is a difference between planning while you have nothing else you can do, and planning to much." He smiles wryly, thankful for his armor since he's being poked in the chest a lot. "It'd be foolish to go after him before I was ready, not when he could just cast a spell that made my gun useless."
It's Bridget's turn to shrug. "Well, while you're going all that, why don't I see what I can learn about him? Maybe I can get him all setup for you. Worse comes to worse, I've already got a pulse pistol, anyway."
"You sure that's a good idea?" Ash asks, "I mean, he's evil... what if he casts a spell on your mind like... you know..." He looks up towards her face, "It's bad enough one of my friends is already at risk from this guy..." He reaches up with his free hand to cup her face tenderly. "Don't do anything foolish like try to fight him alone, ok?"
Bridget smirks and lightly pokes his unarmored not-nose. "What if he turns into a giant chicken and flies away? -Way- too many 'what if's, no matter what you do. Besides, I know what I'm doing. Wouldn't be the first time I got a guy thinking with one head so I could put a cute little hole in the other." She winks.
"How many times were they supernatural evil magic shadow guys?" Ash asks seriously. "I'm going to check with Nemmy to see if there's any weapons she can make that does special damage to shadow people." Ash also reaches up and rubs his not-nose with a little grin.
Bridget lets out a little laugh, even if Ash is being serious. "Ok, I'm a little new on evil magic shadow guys... Don't worry, I'll be careful." She then nods and sobers. "Nemmy could probably help with that, but I don't know if you should drag her in too deep. I don't really want her getting magicked at, either."
Ash nods, "I know, she's not a fighter like we are. I wouldn't try to bring her into this, not fully... I just... hope... she'll give me some help if she has anything that'll work. Like... an anti-magic force field belt or something maybe... Or something that will keep him from being able to run away."
"She knows her magic stuff and toys, so I don't know who'd be better and making something like that." Bridget quirks a brow at the last part. "If he's running, do you -really- think he'd get away from you or me? Unless he's flying or something, I don't think that's going to happen."
Ash shrugs, "Magic can stick people in place or put bindings on then, wrap them in nets or paralyze people too. It's not just about fire... or what if he tried to jump into the shadows to teleport or something. That's what I'm worried about." He smiles wryly, "I really don't want him getting away to try and come get back at us on his terms."
Bridget nods and finally sighs. "Yeah, there's all kinds of weird shit he might try to pull. We'll figure something out, and it'll be alot easier if we know more about what he can do. That's what I'm hoping to find out, but I'm not going to turn down a juicy chance if it comes up, either. Sometimes getting lucky is better than being good."
Ash reaches up with both hands to pull her head down towards him those few inches of height difference so he can give her a soft kiss, "You just be careful my warrior goddess." He seems resigned to not arguing about this further though, so maybe she's won this round.
Bridget doesn't care that she gets wet from his clothes, and stretches that kiss out a little more. "When am I -not- careful?" She gives him a wide smile, and hopes he knows it's a rhetorical question. "Just thought of a way to maybe hit two targets with one shot, too... but I better get going to work on that. I'll chase you down later." She ducks back in for a quick peck and turns to head out down the street.
