Mystique
Villains 
Raven Darkholme is not a woman to be trifled with.
Posts: 107 
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Post by Mystique on Sept 6, 2017 22:15:23 GMT -5
Hearing about Bullseye's "abilities" was ... well, interesting. He didn't sound like a mutant, but a well trained assassin. When Artie showed her his freshly healing scar, she fought the urge to lean in and kiss it, especially in front of his daughter. She made a note to do just that later, if given the chance. Instead, she leaned across the bar and kissed his cheek as some form of condolences.
"Well, I'll be sure to keep out of sight if I need to get close to him," she said. "But I see your point. There's no one else it could be. Fisk is a smart man, he'll know it was you. Bullseye will be gunning for you. With any luck, though, I can draw him off your trail long enough to-"
And that's when the doors were kicked in.
The police were storming in.
Before she knew it, Artie was standing protectively in front of her, pistols drawn.
Mystique stared at him. Of the two of them, she was better equipped to protect, and here he was trying to protect her.
The sergeant ordered people to vacate, and Mystique glared at him, defiantly standing behind Artie with her hand on his shoulder.
So, the toy cop had a warrant. What did he expect to find? All of the evidence was gone. They made sure of that.
"The lady friend has a name," she said, laying the charm on thick. After all, as far as he was concerned, they had nothing to do with Fisk. She stepped from around Artie and sauntered over to officer, extending a hand in greeting. "And I'll bet you do too. Mine is Mystique. What's yours?"
She smiled sweetly. Anything to try to sway the odds in their favor.
After all, if she could charm the sergeant into leaving them be, so much the better.
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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 Oct 24, 2017 15:40:25 GMT -5
The front door slamming open had Laura acting on instinct before she could even see who it was attacking. Laura's hand had closed around the handle of the shotgun hidden under the bar before her brain had fully registered they were in danger. she had started to raise it by the time she realised it was the police and stopped herself just before they passed the point any of the officers could start claiming they were being threatened. It was a damn close thing though, and Laura was fully aware letting cops like this tell stories where it was them or you was never going to end well for you.
So she lowered it. but not for a second was she going to put it down. Instead her eyes narrowed and her teeth bared into an expression similar to an angered predator. "Father. we should also leave. After all we are not involved in any illegal activities either are we?" Laura had never been much for the sardonic banter her Father would engage with at times like this, but she did have a brain for tactics, and was aware both that it was always wise to keep up the claim of innocence, and that it would probably be a sore spot to remind Tipton he didn't have anything to pin on them and likely never would.
the angry were always the first to make mistakes, which almost became Laura herself when she listened to the way the Policeman talked to her. "Mister Tipton." Laura replied, deliberately forgetting his title of Officer. "I am consistent. I have not missed you. or your...." Laura gave the two men flanking him a glance over. "men?"
While her Father and Mystique spoke to Tipton, Laura kept her attention fully on his lackey's, if it came to it she was certain her Father could kill Tipton without her help in the time it'd take her to kill at least one of the other targets. It was only with her attentions focus on them that she realised the youngest of the Officers had his eyes on her as well. but he certainly had not met her gaze...... Laura frowned and decided to put her shotgun down after all. Letting it drop with a heavy thud onto the counter, the barrel resting with zero subtlety in his direction.
The Officer jumped, tried to hide it, and scowled at her. "You want to be more careful! Things like that shouldn't be in the hands of little ladies that don't understand simple things like 'shotguns can go off'!"
This time their eyes met and Laura's voice was flat. "Then look elsewhere."
Whatever the Officer would have liked to say to that died when he seemed to remember his boss, and the famously dangerous Boss Cade could hear everything, with a glance in their directions he bit his tongue and very deliberately chose to find something else to look at.
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Post by Artie Cade on Oct 25, 2017 0:43:49 GMT -5
As Sergeant Tipton sneered at Laura's response, he tapped his knuckle on the bar counter as he looked over at Mystique.
"Sergeant Tipton. And you'd be another mutie stumbling into Boss Cade's loving arms, I see," he grunted, "At least you're old enough I'd guess that he didn't pull ya off the street some place and call ya his. He's had a couple of girls like that, one of em right h-"
The good Sergeant was cut off when Artie tapped his pistol on the table mimicking Tipton's previous motion, stepping closer to the much larger man without a trace of fear.
"Don't listen to this mook," he growled, "This knuckle dragging excuse for a cop. He knows better than to talk about my daughters like that...but ya gotta talk big when your last five years of busts have been busts themselves, eh Sergeant?"
Artie tossed a grin to Laura then looked back up at Tipton.
"You're wasting your time," he said as he holstered his pistols, "There's nothing illegal going on here, in or out of my districts. I'm a businessman, not a monster."
"They're not exclusive."
"They are for me."
Tipton laughed.
"Ohhhh..." he chortled, "You're so very right, the infamous-"
"Allegedly infamous."
".....you'll never quit this will you, ya slimey little man?" Tipton growled, the amusement leaving his face.
"Well, I can't be blamed," Artie shrugged, "The rest of the cops around here spend their time on actual criminals, but you seem to be chasing ghosts. Or certainly...what did you call them? Muties? You know better than to throw that talk around here."
The Sergeant leaned down close to Artie's face and bit down on his own lip, probably to avoid shouting obscenities at his adversary.
"I shall return to my duties..." he hissed.
"If that's what you see them as." Artie replied, unmoving.
Tipton grunted and moved with the rest of his men to continue searching the room and the adjoining office.
Artie lit a cigarette casually and watched them with half lidded eyes. He knew they couldn't find the door to the Rabbit Hole, it was locked shut tight. Always his practice during business hours. Tipton fancied himself a smart man, but he was the only one who did. Certainly not Artie. But even a broken clock is right twice a day, and Artie kept his eyes on them to see they didn't stray too close.
One of the officers looked at Mystique and threw her a wink and a nod.
Artie didn't notice until he approached her. Then Artie noticed.
Mystique had to keep cool. Artie patted her hand lightly as he limped passed her to signal that, moving around behind the bar near Laura.
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Mystique
Villains
Raven Darkholme is not a woman to be trifled with.
Posts: 107
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Post by Mystique on Oct 31, 2017 17:54:58 GMT -5
Mystique visibly bristled when Tipton called her a mutie, but was at least a successful enough actress to look taken aback that he was not as accepting as Artie was. The truth was, she was just waiting for someone like him to come along. Someone with a badge that thought he knew what was best for everyone around him. Someone she could knock down a peg. After all, if he thought mutants were that far beneath him, he had a long way to fall before he caught up to the program.
But Artie interrupted her thoughts, and it was probably for the best. Give much more time, she might have- ... Did he say daughters .... plural? Where was the other one? Was she also a mutant?
She resolved to grit her teeth and glare at Tipton until he left. It was easier not to attack him with Artie touching her hand. In fact, it was an oddly calming gesture. She found it easier to breathe, despite the anger bubbling up in her chest.
Then she noticed that one of the officers winked at her. She smiled uncomfortably at him and walked to the bar, giving him the impression that he had the upper hand, but she was already planning to kill him as soon as he was separated from the rest of the officers.
As much as she didn't want to, she was specifically trying to distance herself from the situation so she didn't exacerbate things for Artie. She was starting to care about him and she didn't want to make things worse for him when it was clear he didn't get along with this Tipton character.
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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 Nov 10, 2017 18:35:39 GMT -5
Laura hated the word 'mutie'. it was never spoken, but growled out like a curse. Or worse was when it was given like how Tipton let it hang in the air, the same way people used words like 'murderer', 'drunkard' or 'child abuser'. it was something that was meant to define you. a warning that you weren't safe to be near, that you were less then everyone around you.
Seventy three different scenarios ran through her head, all of them a different way of killing every police officer in the room. All of them as a way of distracting herself as they moved around the bar. She was waiting for one of them to find the excuse they were so desperate for. Laura knew she shouldn't be thinking like that, but part of her was pessimistic enough to constantly expect each second to be the moment one of them decided they'd got enough to trump up a charge or two.
The nineteen year old relaxed a little when her Father and Mystique came closer. she was able to stop focusing on the feeling of her claws pressing against the inside of her hands, waiting to emerge. "Do either of you want another drink?" Laura asked, forcing her voice to sound calm as she leaned under the bar to grab a glass for herself, mainly just to waste time and give herself something to do that wouldn't end up being rash.
As movements tend to draw the human eye, the same cop that had been bothering her before glanced in her direction and paused, before getting a smug sort of glint in his eye. "Hey Sarge..... we got a record of a shotgun licence for here?" He asked, being able to get a glimpse of her gun from where he'd been poking at the windowsill as if expecting to find secret documents taped there or something.
Laura rolled her eyes in annoyance. It was possibly more insulting then any derogatory term for Mutants to think her and her Father were stupid enough to have the illegal weapons being the ones under the bar. And the look Tipton gave his underling showed even he wasn't entertaining the idea that this thread was anything worth pulling on.
The yonger cop seemed to wilt a little, but continued anyway. "Because i'm pretty sure I ain't ever heard of that kind of modification bein' legal! you mind if we take a closer look Miss'ie?" he asked as he approached the bar, taking the long way around the entire length of bar rather then risking having to pass by Artie himself. when he finally got to her, he very carefully lifted her gun and placed it on the counter.
"see I have no idea what the hell a giant blade like that's doin' there. but it sure as hell ain't regulation!" The Youngster continued, glancing between everyone with the hopeful eyes of someone who didn't exactly know whether he'd done good yet or not.
Laura just stared at him, thinking.
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Post by Artie Cade on Dec 15, 2017 23:37:34 GMT -5
Artie kept his gaze on the men, but didn't turn his head to look at them. Only focusing on them through his peripheral vision as he looked at Laura.
"Yes, another drink sounds called for-" he nodded before he blinked at the exclamations of one of the younger officers.
He turned his attention to the man who had made note of the shotgun. Artie's expression flattened. It became blank almost entirely as he stepped toward the officer, who took a pace back, looking from the shotgun to Artie and trying to presumably maintain what he imagined was his composure.
"Ya know..." Artie said as he noted that Tipton was steadying his men around him, "Warrant or not....this is beginning to smell like police harassment to me. I'd hate to play that card if I didn't have to on one of your little errand boys here, Tippy, but....I think I have an ace up my sleeve for the occasion."
Artie's voice was cool and icy as he opened up a small hidden drawer under the bar, drawing out a file and holding up a piece of paper from within.
"This is...privileged information," he said with a grin, "But as you can see, Officer Whoever, I hold in my little hand here a contract from Uncle Sam which states that I am on payroll to construct and design weaponry for the United States military. Therefore I don't think I have to further explain what's...'regulation' and what isn't."
Artie slapped the paper onto the counter, the loud sound it made causing the younger officer to jolt slightly, realizing his error and looking back at his Sergeant.
"AND since I'm sure General Hendrickson would be interested to hear that I'm being bothered to show documents like this...out of school..." Artie said as he slowly looked back at Tipton, "I think it sounds better if you boys saddle up and get the fuck out of my bar, whaddaya say?"
Tipton's face had gone stark white, a contrast to its usual red color. He swallowed dryly and nodded to his officers, hurrying them toward the door.
As the younger officer prepared to follow suit, Artie gripped the man's right hand tightly with his, leering up at him.
"...and I promise you this," he hissed, "I ever see you again, I'll be feeding you in little pieces to the gulls down at the docks...have a pleasant evening. And that goes for the rest of you good gentlemen!"
Artie let out a laugh as Tipton scowled at him, closing the doors behind them when the police had all filed out. He then let out a sigh of relief and slumped back against the bar counter.
"Well....welcome to this side of the business, my dear."
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Mystique
Villains
Raven Darkholme is not a woman to be trifled with.
Posts: 107
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Post by Mystique on Jan 11, 2018 18:31:04 GMT -5
Mystique let out a great sigh of relief when Tipton had at last departed from their company and pushed her hair out of her face, taking a moment to herself to let herself decompress. She hadn't realized just how much she had let herself tense up, and she had desperately needed to release.
"Aside from the not-so-subtle racism, I kind of liked it," she admitted after a few moments of silence.
She let herself be quiet for another beat and then, she chuckled.
"I just had a funny idea. Wouldn't it be great if every time he came in, I had the shape of a different woman? Just to confuse him. Make him wonder just how many women you manage to get into bed with you."
She chuckled again at the idea and shook her head, sure he wouldn't go for it. But it was an amusing idea while it lasted.
"But really, I do think this was exciting. Kind of fun, too." She got up from where she sat and walked over to take Artie's hands. "Honestly, if you can put up with me and my lifestyle, I think I can live with yours as well. It's the least I can do after you broke me out of that horrible place."
She pressed an almost tender kiss to his forehead and brushed her thumb across the cheek of his mask.
"Is it sad that I'm still shocked and relieved you came back for me? I really wasn't expecting you to..."
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