Cheetah
Villains 
This sort of thing doesn't happen to Barbara Minerva. I don't let it.
Posts: 129 
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Post by Cheetah on Dec 25, 2016 14:50:57 GMT -5
Death couldn’t stop her? That was as good an explanation as ever, but still, this was all incredibly unbelievable. Laura still smelled the same and, as far as Barbara could tell, there was nothing wrong with her, but she certainly was no doctor. But… was what she said true? She had died five times? Laura didn’t seem the type to joke about such things. Actually, she didn’t seem the type to joke period. The girl had either no sense of humor or it was so dry, she could rival the Sahara. Perhaps it was due to the mood of things or Artie’s own reaction to all of this, but Barbara briefly joined in and gave the young girl a hug. If anything, it was more out of a feeling of happiness knowing that Artie wouldn’t break or be broken now that she was back.
This other matter at hand…. Barbara felt their attention turn back to her and it was as if a spotlight had been turned on, her… problem… having come glaringly back into focus. At his hand running down her side, she hissed rather abruptly, more due to her own gunshot wound being touched than anything else, but the sound she made was definitively more feline than than human. She looked away, hoping he did not think less of her. “I know as much as you do, probably less so. I remember shooting Frank and tracking him to here. I set my rifle down and pulled my knife, hoping to make quick work of it. My memory blurs after that. I came to over your other man’s body. I thought it was Frank that shot me, not him. I…” She paused, her thoughts dwelling on that brief period between memories. It wasn’t true that she wasn’t aware of what happened, everything was just briefer, more in the moment. She felt the urge to claw and hunt, to feed and to simply be there, not unlike what she imagined an animal to be like. Barbara didn’t want to think about any of that, for the longer she lingered on it both the worse and better it seemed to make her feel; the worse due to guilt and the better because she did not seem to care about her actions.
Thankfully, at that moment, Artie had grabbed hold of her tail, an action she was not at all pleased with experiencing. “Artie, have a care holding that. It is a part of me and I can not stop thinking of toddlers that grab a cat’s tail thinking it is just a toy,” she told him through her teeth. She was not mad, but the sensation was odd and uncomfortable. It would have been rude to whip it out of his hand, but why he didn’t see it as grabbing a leg or arm, she wasn’t sure. “I feel… I feel both scared and wonderful. I’m slowly coming to terms with what has happened, but having seen what I can do, I’m afraid I might like it.” Her tail twitched in Artie’s hand as she thought, trying to piece everything together, though she felt as if she were missing something obvious. Then it hit her, shock clear upon her face. “The god…. Urzkartaga….” she whispered. Turning, she looked at Artie. “What was I doing? What was I doing before Frank died. You were watching, you had to have seen something.” Apparently, in her current condition or due to her state of mind during the hunt, Barbara was unaware that Laura had been there and with her the whole time.
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X-23
Heroes 
There are two types of people. you are weak, or you are me.
Posts: 120
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Post by X-23 on Dec 25, 2016 15:25:10 GMT -5
Laura was both surprised by, and appreciative of, the hug from Barbara. She gave the Cat person a small smile in thanks. "yes. there is time for this later." she agreed with Artie, really Laura hadn't come to terms with everything herself and wanted a chance before she had to explain her own thoughts.
Luckily there was plenty to focus on, she let Artie limp around on his own because if he wanted support he'd ask for it. It was with bemusement as she watched him touching Barbara and the woman's growing annoyance with the whole thing. it was bizarre to hear what Barabara's priority was when talking about a tail of all things. "i have experienced growing new body parts." Laura offered, trying to offer comfort. "i admit my claws are not comparable, but it was something that could be gotten used to eventually. I hope it is the same for you."
So Barbara had not been a superhuman until this moment? or it was just a large power boost? either way it was still confusing..... especially with refrences to gods Laura had never heard of and having been dead for part of the events. but she could at least offer a run down.
"you slit Frankies throat and methodically painted your face with his blood." Laura rattled off, her tone achademic like she was reciting statistics on the American civil war. "the markings match up to the black lines in your fur if that has significance. you screamed and transformed into your current form and began lapping up Frankies blood like a cat drinking from a bowl. you did not seem to understand English when I attempted to speak to you."
Laura hesitated, feeling anger bubble up at remembering what happened next. "Francis and Artie arrived. he had a gun to Arties head. you were growling and lept on Francis, tearing him apart. he shot me in his death throws and I do not know what happened after that." there could have been tact in explaining things, especially when Barbara was so clearly freaking out, but Laura did not know which bits were and weren't important so she did not want to leave any of it out.
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Post by Artie Cade on Dec 25, 2016 20:55:21 GMT -5
Artie nodded to both Barbara and Laura as the latter explained, dutifully releasing Barbara's tail and raising his arms in a shrug to signify he didn't mean to be disagreeable.
He thought the events over and checked a small memorandum book he had in his jacket pocket, still soaked in drying spatters of Laura's blood. Inside he wrote the cue times for various events of interest. It was important to him to keep a record of the footage he had taken through the cameras, for various purposes. Amusement, for one, in his more morbid moods. Practicality another, as footage of just what his islands could do and allow others to do could be an extra source of side income.
"You turned at..." he said as he skimmed it, having difficulty without his spectacles, "Exactly fifty four minutes and thirty-seven seconds in. It wasn't a long transformation as I cut recording shortly after."
He looked up at the two of them and cleared his throat.
"That was when I uh," he said, almost sheepishly, "Told Francis to get his ass in the truck."
He closed the memorandum book and placed it back in his coat, moving over to Francis's body, which was now indeed horribly mangled with the face entirely bashed in and the lower jaw sitting over its neck like an ornament. He kicked it lightly and reached down to retrieve his tin mask. It was impossibly bent out of shape and stained with gore. Even the spectacles on it were broken.
"Well that's not much use anymore," he said pleasantly enough as he tossed it aside into the brush, "I'll have my guys make another. Maybe some extras if this is going to be something recurring."
He said the last bit as an afterthought. He wasn't as concerned about his own life at the moment as he was the lives of the two women he was with.
Which was new for him. He cared for Laura, of course, but this much for someone more in the vein of new....not as much.
"I'll contact some associates," he continued as he limped toward the vehicle and signaled for them to join, "They might be able to run some tests since...well we don't have a terribly excellent explanation."
He hopped into the truck and turned on the engine, revving it slightly to make sure it was all in order and not sabotaged. He was a paranoid man if nothing else.
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Cheetah
Villains
This sort of thing doesn't happen to Barbara Minerva. I don't let it.
Posts: 129
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Post by Cheetah on Dec 25, 2016 22:16:50 GMT -5
When Artie released her tail, Barbara teasingly flicked it against his cheek, a small smirk on her lips. It was still a new addition, but she was quickly starting to get the hang of it all. There were no hard feelings over him having grabbed it, it was simply unexpected. As was the logbook he kept. “You took notes?” For some reason, despite the fact that it made perfect academic sense to do so, Barbara was taken aback by that. She was changing while he made notes of the time.
As Laura recounted the events that happened, Barbara sat there listening, pieces of the puzzle now starting to make sense. Blood markings that became spots and and tear tracks. Ritual sacrifice and ritual markings. The stories she had heard before going on that expedition. The promises of power she was given after taking possession of the statue… which had found its way into her luggage, and she had been so happy to see it. She vaguely remembered kissing the golden idol and promising it. “Na mke Urzkartaga ya atakuwa kama Duma,” she whispered in Swahili, which had been the closest translation she had been able to manage for that long dead civilization’s story. “And Urzkartaga’s wife shall be like the cheetah… I had always thought it had been figurative, but the translation was literal.” Many time in past writings, scholars had used transformations as metaphors; berserkers translated as ‘bear-shirt’, but it was only a frenzy of the mind. Naturally, Barbara had assumed the same, that ‘being like the cheetah’ was a title of sorts, but in this case she was actually physically like the cat. Her eyes having changed first should have been a telltale sign, but she had been so blind and foolish to something so obvious. Even worse though, was the fact that Urzkartaga had known this all the time.
When Barbara had first lay claim to the golden idol in that ruined temple, fever dreams rapidly struck her, keeping her unconscious and bedridden for days. She had assumed that it was due to the thorny plants encircling the idol. Their thorns had pricked her skin as she ripped them away, but in those dreams she first met the jungle god. He called her wife and proclaimed Barbara his, promising her power, abilities, and speed beyond that of normal humans. Her eyes had been changed when she awoke, but again, Barbara chalked that up to a side effect of whatever disease had affected her. Until she started being visited in her dreams by the god and the statue spoke to her. He mentioned needing blood in exchange for giving her power, and she had just done that in spades.
“I’m going to kill him,” she snarled. “I’ll melt down that damn statue and sell it as an ingot.” Looking about her and ignoring Artie’s signal to get in his little vehicle, Barbara tried to orient herself as best she could in order locate which direction the villa was in. Not getting much in the ways of location, she swiftly climbed a tree to get her bearings, claws effortlessly digging into the bark. At the top, she spotted the distant roof of a building to her left. Dropping back down to the jungle floor, as soon as her feet touched the ground, she was off and running towards her goal, her body switching back and forth easily between moving as a biped and on all fours.
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Post by Artie Cade on Dec 26, 2016 10:05:59 GMT -5
"OH WHAT THE HELL!" Artie called after Barbara as she bolted off. He grunted in frustration. Hopefully this wouldn't be a regular thing to get used to.
He limped back toward Laura, still not minding to fetch his cane, and he helped her to her feet as best he could.
"Agh....this what it feels like to help me around?" he asked half jokingly, still so glad she was alive he kissed her cheek again and the two of them moved toward the vehicle at what Artie tried to make a quick pace.
"I don't know WHAT she's going on about but....damned if this isn't all a bit much for all of us." he muttered as he opened the passenger door and helped Laura into the seat before he just thought 'to hell with it' and climbed over the hood and the small windshield and into the driver's seat, reversing the vehicle swiftly and zooming back through the jungle the way he had come. There wasn't much of a path, but it was there. It wasn't really intended for anything but collecting the bodies, but to hell with that now. Leave them to the wolves...or...possums? Whatever was on this island, he admittedly never much looked into it. Flora and fauna were not areas of much interest to him outside of being a dish.
He drive expertly through the area, dodging trees and bushes that grew into the path closer than would have perhaps been desirable. He turned to Laura and put his hand gingerly to her forehead to examine the closing wound again.
"Don't...do that again, okay?" he said, seriously, "I may not be father of the year but you can't go taking those for me. Besides, I've got such a nice collection going, how am I supposed to keep it up if you take em all?"
He cackled and sped the vehicle up as they rounded the small hangar and moved up the slope toward the villa. It was winding but straight enough at points that you could take it quickly without much to do. Slowing and throwing on the brakes, Artie leapt out, grunting from landing on his knee so hard, but limping over to help Laura out again.
"And I will carry you, don't make me do it." he said with a smirk.
He doubted he could very well but she'd done it for him enough that he knew she would refuse. A harmless little tease now that she was back and available for it.
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Cheetah
Villains
This sort of thing doesn't happen to Barbara Minerva. I don't let it.
Posts: 129
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Post by Cheetah on Dec 26, 2016 10:25:39 GMT -5
Barbara tore out of the jungle, making a sharp turn in the sand that would have been impossible for her to manage gracefully if it weren’t for her agility and her tail acting like a rudder. claws digging into the sand, she raced down the beach, her mind set on one thing and one thing only: retrieving the statue in her duffel bag and making that damn jungle god explain himself. Making her way into the villa, she gave little mind to any of the staff that may have seen her. Artie would have to explain Francis’ death to them, so why would explaining her situation be any different?
Entering the master bedroom, everything was where she left it and she yanked open her bag, feeling for the statue that still lay within. This time when she touched it, her skin did not prickle, though she did hesitate for a moment as she gazed upon its shining surface, feeling a sense of longing for it that she quickly wiped from her mind. “Be like the cheetah? You bastard. All this time you could have told me that this would happen. You could have told me in the dream when you took me or at any other point you visited me in my sleep, but no. No, all you did was give me damn cat eyes and promises of power! That is why you were still in that damned temple, rotting away for god knows how long. Your damned sense of entitlement, superiority, and vagueness kept you there and now you’ve dragged me into it. I wanted power, yes, but not to be a freak! Get rid of it! Take this damn curse off of me now!” she yelled at the inanimate object.
A laugh from behind her was all the answer Barbara got. Turning, she saw a man sitting in the plush armchair in the corner, dressed impeccably in a tailored suit and tie, accented with gold cufflinks and a small, jeweled cat head tie tack, and smoking a cigar. His skin was dark, almost black as night, while his eyes were golden and cat-slit. He looked pleased by what he saw, amused even. “My wife is not happy with the gifts I give her? She is selfish then. Am I not a gracious husband, giving her speed and power, enough so she can protect the weak and feckless people she associates with? You saved the laughing boy’s life, does that not make you happy? Perhaps I should give my blessings to the little girl with claws instead.” Barbara’s eyes narrowed at that. “No, you are right. She would be more of a terror to me than you are. And less appreciative. Come wife, do not be so hateful. You gave me two deaths when I asked for but one blood. You are truly good and generous to me. I do not forget such things. You will be rewarded for this.” He stood and, taking the idol from Barbara, kissed her gently. It was a touch that she shivered at, but relaxed into it before remembering both herself and why she was mad at him. Reeling back, Barbara slapped him hard across the face. Urzkartaga reacted simply by chuckling. "That is why I like you."
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X-23
Heroes
There are two types of people. you are weak, or you are me.
Posts: 120
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Post by X-23 on Dec 26, 2016 19:33:37 GMT -5
Once Laura had concluded that everything Barbara was saying was bizarre and that she had nowhere enough context to understand what was being said, it was far easier to just let the Cat lady try and work things out for herself, zoning out just enough to catch her breath a little more. As a result she never saw it coming that Barbara would go zooming off without them.
nor that she would threaten.... something. someone? that may be real or may be the woman going insane from trying to deal with everything that had happened. Either way the most logical action was to follow her. which was not easy when Laura's legs were still stiff and weak. Swallowing her pride, Laura opened her mouth to ask Artie for help getting to the vehicle but found he was already there providing support.
Laura smiled at him as she leaned on him as much as she had to but not a bit more even if it was uncomfortable for her to try and take her own weight even a little. "Possibly? but I do not usually tire so I have an unfair advantage." Laura replied aiming to give him an ego boost he certainly didn't need. as she got into her seat she added a short "thank you."
as they drove, Laura let Artie examine her wound if it reassured him, but wouldn't give him that promise. "i am fine. if I had not done that you would be dead forever. I am going to save your life whenever I can and you can not convince me not to." after a moment of enjoying the wind blow past them she asked "what are you expecting to see when we get to Barbara?" As she had no idea what was going on herself.
the offer to carry her made Laura laugh softly and shake her head. "you most certainly will not. I have been through enough today." she answered, joking with him right back as she let him lead the way inside the vila and towards whatever they were going to find there.
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Post by Artie Cade on Dec 26, 2016 19:52:44 GMT -5
"Well what I...expect...to see..." Artie said as he opened the main, sliding glass door to the villa and began looking on the walls, "...I reaaaaally don't know, so...ah, here we are."
He popped open a steel sheet on the wall and slide it to the side. Within it were a myriad of rifles and pistols of all sorts, modified with scopes and other accoutrements he had determined to pop on as he saw fit. He began to hand one to Laura but then stopped.
"Apologies, I forgot I made a duplicate."
He reached further back in the row to withdraw a short, sawed off shotgun with an axe blade coming through off the bottom of the barrel and handed it to his daughter. He didn't feel the need to say anything, as it all seemed so casual for their usual business. He grasped onto a modified, shortened rifle and loaded it, cocking it so that a bullet was chambered. This was his element at last. As much as death traps were his love, his first would always be a sniper's trigger pull.
He removed his coat and tossed it onto a nearby sofa, not even taking a moment to take in the stunning sunset beach view out the wall to wall, full length windows. He made certain that his twin pistols were in their holsters before he beckoned Laura to follow him as he held his rifle at the ready and moved toward the master bedroom.
He was not in the mood to take any more chances today.
When he neared it, he signaled for Laura to stop and stay along the wall before the doorway. Artie then raised his rifle and slid into view of the door, firing off two shots at the first thing he detected that was not recognizable to him immediately: a tall man, finely dressed, holding Barbara.
The first shot had taken the cherry off the cigar the man held in his mouth and the second had severed the end closest to his lips. The center chunk of cigar fell to the floor as Artie chambered another round.
"Well well well..." he hissed as he stepped into the room, "You'll have to excuse me, I'm not in much of a mood for anything further today. I won't be shaking your hand and I don't care who you are. Get out or I'll put you through the window. It's a long drop. I'd hold my breath."
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Cheetah
Villains
This sort of thing doesn't happen to Barbara Minerva. I don't let it.
Posts: 129
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Post by Cheetah on Dec 26, 2016 21:06:30 GMT -5
Barbara’s full attention had been on Urzkartaga, otherwise it was likely she would have heard Laura and Artie approaching. But as it was, the twin cracks of a rifle was her first indication of their arrival. Her reaction was almost instantaneous and, in hindsight, rather hilarious. The moment the first shot rang out, Barbara tensed as her fur rose and her tail puffed out in shock and surprise. A half second later, she had slipped Urzkartaga’s grasp and was crouched low on the ground facing the door, ready to fight or flee if need be. If Artie looked at her face, he would have noticed that same wide-eyed look she gave him after he demonstrated his marksmanship inches for her head when they first met. The second made her tense and cringe despite recognizing who was doing the shooting.
Urzkartaga, on the other hand, simply looked mildly annoyed as the cigar he was smoking, one from Artie’s own collection, was destroyed. He spat out the end in his mouth, directing it at the little man with the gun. “Rudeness towards the husband of your guest is never a good thing, Mr. Cade. I will forgive this, for you have had a very stressful day, what with the transformation of my wife and the miraculous death and recovery of your child.” He paused, as if catching a scent and trying to figure it out. Barbara took that moment as an opportunity to get in between both men, arms outstretched.
“Put the gun down, Artie. Put it down and just hear me out. You too, Laura. I know you're listening. There is no need for this.” Her eyes were wide as she spoke and fear was in her voice, as if unsure which side would do what.
“I would listen to her. She is very wise, if a bit blunt and stubborn. But I am sure you have noticed that,” he smirked, an air of confidence around him, as if he had not just been shot at.
“Artie, please. I will explain everything, but suffice it to say, shooting him is not a good idea.”
“Explain to him why. Tell him who I am.” Barbara paused, as if reluctant, but she did speak.
“This… this is my husband. Urzkartaga. He, as odd as it sounds, is a god and he is responsible for me being in my current state. As far as I know, you can not kill him or even wound him.” She emphasized that last portion. At that, the tall man snorted. “And I do not want you to test that theory because… because I do not want you hurt.” Barbara was choosing her words very carefully, afraid that a misstep either way would cause someone in this room to get hurt or killed. And that someone was likely to be Artie.
“You worry about her, do you not?” Urzkartaga asked, glancing between the small man and his wife. “I will put you at ease. The change is not permanent. My wife… the guardian and protector of my people who worshipped me, when they existed, can change at will.” Barbara looked back at him, relief flooding her body when he said that. “The cheetah is a servant, and while the power is good to have, it is also a beast and not suited for every duty given. Does this news not please you?” He asked the three of them. “You can still have her sell ill-gotten trinkets from distant places, her face will still be pleasing to look upon and none will know who she belongs to unless it is needed.” Urzkartaga then turned to Barbara, face serious. “Every hunting moon, you will honor me. Do this, please me, and you will keep this blessing, my beautiful wife,” he spoke, caressing her cheek lovingly. Barbara resisted the urge to nuzzle his hand as he did so. Satisfied, Urzkartaga then walked over to Cade, looking down at the small man. “It is rare that a man does not fear me. I am the sharp claws and biting teeth of the jungle. Most men know to fear what screams in the dark night.”
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Post by Artie Cade on Dec 26, 2016 21:29:01 GMT -5
Internally, Artie was seething. But he kept his breathing controlled in this situation. Like any hunt, like any assassination, you had to keep your cool. Keep the shakes from coming on when you're squeezing the trigger. He listened to the imposing man, and looked up at him when he approached. Nodded when it seemed appropriate.
"That seems....fairly generous," Artie said as he nodded in agreement again and limped over toward Barbara, tossing his rifle onto the bed as he did so. He held her hand gently.
"But I'm afraid I just..." he began when the Derringer pistol hidden in his sleeve snapped into his hand and he held it to Barbara's temple, pulling her arm around behind her back, "...can't really abide your presence here. As I said...I've had enough for the day."
He did not break his gaze at the...god or whatever it was, calling out to Laura.
"LAURA DON'T COME IN HERE!" he ordered, "STAY PUT. YOU'RE TAKIN' SHOT TWO IF HE DROPS ME."
A smile slowly spread across Artie's face. The mad light danced in his eyes. He was playing a dangerous game and he knew it.
"So here's what we're gonna do," he continued, "If you don't want your little...what was it, 'wife'? to keep on truckin' along for you, then you're gonna disappear and not interfere with us. I don't wanna see you, hear you or know what you do."
To demonstrate, Artie pressed the gun more to Barbara's temple. He was not bluffing.
"Orrrr you can wait til someone else sucks on your statue. See how long that takes. New wives aren't really that frequent for ya I'd guess. Your choice."
He glared hard up at the god before him.
"Five seconds." he said as he began to slowly count down, "Vanish. I don't wanna see you again....five..."
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Cheetah
Villains
This sort of thing doesn't happen to Barbara Minerva. I don't let it.
Posts: 129
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Post by Cheetah on Dec 26, 2016 22:03:54 GMT -5
No bullets, no gunfire, Artie even nodded when Urzkartaga spoke, perhaps they would survive this, Barbara thought. He even tossed his rifle away as he limped towards her, taking Barbara’s hand. She looked down at it, her heart and breathing slowing down to normal levels.
Then everything went to hell again.
Her arm was wrenched behind her back, and, at first Barbara was ready to struggle and protest what Artie was doing, but when she felt the cold metal of the gun barrel press against her temple, she froze, worried, confused, and frightened over what Artie was doing. “Artie… Wh-what are you…” she asked, voice small and really not wanting to finish that question. Urzkartaga started to advance on the smaller man but soon froze upon seeing the fear in Barbara’s eyes and realizing that this was not the only gunman here. One was hidden and would strike upon Cade’s death. So, he stopped and listened to the other man’s demands.
Barbara, meanwhile, closed her eyes, not wanting to see whether or not the god would rush them both and cause a bullet to go through her head. Just like Laura. Oh god, did Artie not see the irony he was tempting? Have one person he loved come back from such an injury only to lose another the same way shortly thereafter and by his own hand too? What had she done to deserve this? She was tempted to beg him not to do this, but was scared that it would do nothing but egg on the god who was likely already mad, so she remained quiet instead. Only when the gun was pressed further against her did she gasp. She was fast, she understood that now, but she was not fast enough to avoid a bullet next to her skull.
Urzkartaga studied Cade shrewdly, as if weighing his options. He could end the man’s life, though it would mean the likely death of his newly transformed wife. And then there was the second problem of the girl. She was a fighter and not easy to kill. If he failed, she would destroy his statue. If he succeeded, he was in a similar predicament. With no vessel to be his protector, he would be dormant here until someone came to the island, another woman, and found his statue. He could not risk either outcome. So he did what any respectful god would do. He bowed.
“Very well. I will leave you, Cade. I will not interfere with you. You will not see me, hear me, or know of what I do. You are a dangerous man who knows bargains and deals. I like that. But be wary, as threats can lead to downfalls. Farewell.” That said, he disappeared. Only when he was fully gone did Barbara start to sink to the floor, but stopped when she remembered that Artie was still pinning her arm behind her back. "Please let me go, Artie...." she whispered shakily to him.
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X-23
Heroes
There are two types of people. you are weak, or you are me.
Posts: 120
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Post by X-23 on Dec 27, 2016 18:34:31 GMT -5
Some days Laura swore up and down Artie could read her mind. because in the exact moment she was lamenting the lack of her personalised gun, he was handing over a second version he had apparently made. She smiled at him as she carried out her routine visual inspections of any firearm she picked up with one hand, while filling her pocket with shells with the other.
"Do not apologise. it is a nice surprise for me." she assured him before aiming the gun towards the empty door way and dry firing it twice to confirm there was nothing lodged inside it. "apologise to anyone we find trying to hurt Barbara." She added, sliding two shells into the gun with practiced familiarity.
Everything after that sort of passed by without her. It was smart (if infuriating) that Artie wanted her to be the back up plan, giving her more time for her healing factor to do what it could to help.
So she had to hide just out of sight, listening and smelling as best she could while double checking her gun over and over to stop herself feeling useless.
whatever was in there with them smelled like nothing and everything and plants and... it was impossible. like flicking through a photo album as fast as you could she was just being over whelmed with information. So she stopped herself and instead tried to wait for her moment. This impossible person was clearly the enemy no matter what he said and she was more then happy to hit him hard if the moment presented itself.
Instead Artie did what he did best. Act completely unpredictably and win by the sheer audacity of his disregard for what everyone else was thinking the rules were. And the strangeness went away leaving what was only two very stressed out people trying to catch their breath.
Laura came into the bedroom, sweeping it regardless of how clear it seemed before finaly lowering her gun and looking between the two. she didn't ask if they were alright because redundant questions were meaningless. Instead she tried to think of question that would be of use.
"Artie, do you want me to go find your scotch?"
Sometimes she was simply aware of how best to help her Father, and this was one of those moments.
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Post by Artie Cade on Dec 27, 2016 18:53:28 GMT -5
Dropping his hand that brandished the small pistol, Artie fell backward behind Barbara, releasing her as he breathed heavily, having never done something that crazy in a long time...it was a crap shoot, but the dice came up in his favor. He looked at Barbara, he looked at Laura. His mouth was gaping open as his breathing slowed and he stood, clumsily along the wall behind him and he pressed an intercom switch.
"Uh yes, Laura, if you would..." he managed, "A-and perhaps some tea for-for Barbara...?"
He only kept stock of the few sorts of tea that Barbara enjoyed. Everyone else could be American and drink coffee or booze or normal things in the morning.
Artie then spoke into the intercom.
"Mr. Carlos? We need dinner, cook up the works," he said, "I'm talking steaks, lobster, everything you've got..."
He released the intercom button and tried to offer his hand to Barbara but the Derringer was still in his palm affixed to the spring in his sleeve. He growled at it and the reminder of what he had to do just moments before as he struggled to rip it off of its wiring and threw it violently out of the slightly opened window panel. It landed so softly below that it made no sound to him. He inhaled slowly and smoothed his hair out as best he could and turned to face his two companions.
"After you, ladies." he said in a cheery sort of voice.
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Cheetah
Villains
This sort of thing doesn't happen to Barbara Minerva. I don't let it.
Posts: 129
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Post by Cheetah on Dec 27, 2016 20:14:29 GMT -5
When Artie let go of her arm, Barbara made sure not to run from or look afraid. She understood why he had done that, or at least she thought she knew why. Artie had to be in control of everything, even if it meant doing insane things. It was his nature, but it still left her shaken inside. She couldn’t even really look at him right now, though she did reply. “A cup of tea sounds lovely right now.” It was amazing that he could act so normal after all of this. Or at least as normal as he could be. The fact that he could go from essentially threatening her life to escorting her to dinner just astonished Barbara. Taking a deep breath, she sat upon the bed and tried to sort out everything in her mind. The statue had fallen nearby and, upon retrieving it, she quickly removed the remnants of her blouse and wrapped the material around it, not wanting to see a glint of its surface. She then crammed it into the bottom of her bag. Was she worried about retaliation for how she was treating the statue? Not at all. She knew enough that, unless she showed true malevolence towards it, she would remain unharmed.
“Are we really just going to sit down and have dinner, Artie?” she asked him, as if unsure whether she heard him correctly or not. “I’m not exactly…” She looked down at herself, looking very much like a savage in bloodstained, shredded clothes, and feeling a bit in a state of shock. Today had been a long day, one full of twists and turns and it wasn’t quite yet over. At least she had the knowledge that this cat form wasn’t permanent. That was an incredible relief. As her mind lingered on the chance to be normal again, Barbara shivered suddenly, feeling something not unlike a finger run quickly up her spine. Instinctively, she held on to the nearby bedpost as her body reverted to human. While the initial change could have been explained biologically in nature, the reversal was no less than magic.
Claws retracted, spotted fur gave way to pale skin, teeth and ears became blunted, and she was not about to think about what happened to her tail, though she felt it vanish. In the end, Barbara was looking normal, albeit covered in dried blood and shivering from the sudden change in external coverings. Notions of modesty now returning to her, Barbara retrieved the dressing gown she had packed and quickly put it on. Fatigue clearly had also set in as evidenced by the drained and tired look on her face. “Not to be a bother, but can I please bathe before I eat anything?” Then she would love to sleep through the next day.
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X-23
Heroes
There are two types of people. you are weak, or you are me.
Posts: 120
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Post by X-23 on Dec 27, 2016 21:33:07 GMT -5
Laura had already started towards the door when Barbara mentioned the idea of bathing and paused. Slowly she reached to the back of her head, letting her fingers move through the knotted dried lumpy mess her own blood had turned her hair into, looking for something. after a moment she tugged and her hand came free with.... huh.
Slowly she turned back to Artie, looking incredibly unsettled and unsure. "I.... what do I do with this?" she asked faintly, realising she was holding a bit of her own brain in her palm both disgusted her and caused a sort of existential moment. If she could loose part of her brain without a problem what did that imply about where the real her was?
She didn't want to put rotting human body parts in any of the villa's bins. Nor did she think it was a good idea to bother the staff. nor was she going to try and treat it with any kind of dignity just because it had been a part of her a short time ago. after a moment she just walked to the window and threw It out into the sand to be forgotten about. "birds can clean it up." she muttered before leaving for real.
"i think I also need to wash." Laura called over to them, "i will return." she went and followed the smell of her belongings to the room put aside for her, finding her bag but ignoring it as she headed into the bathroom. Looking into the mirror Laura realised for the first time just how much of a mess she looked, her face streaked in blood and her hair a complete disaster that made her look like someone that had been in a bombing raid. Plus there was the added fun that her jacket was already horribly stained. as was everything under it.
Laura propped her gun against the door so that if anyone opened the door the clattering would alert her, before she undressed and set about trying to remove the evidence of the last few hours. she still hadn't processed much of anything but felt like this wasn't the time either.
About half an hour later she was clean, dressed, and heading downstairs. she held her weapon by the butt, the axe head resting casually on her shoulder like it was an umbrella or golf club that had every right to be there as she headed into the dining area to see if she could find anyone.
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