ArchivedLogs:Punks and Thugs

Punks and Thugs
Dramatis Personae Ororo and Daniel Ketch	2015-09-26 Ororo kicks ass. Daniel helps.
Location <NYC> Central Park South
Central Park South is home not just to the park itself, but also to the Belvedere Castle, the Alice in Wonderland statues, and the Central Park Zoo. These areas tend to draw tourists like a magnet - it is, perhaps, for that very reason that places like Bethesda Terrace tend to attract more New Yorkers than not, if just to escape the press of tourism that infiltrates the whole city. It's nighttime in Central Park, and with a history of muggings and other unsavory activity it's no wonder this place is mostly deserted. The night air carries the ghost of a chill, but obviously not enough to convince Daniel to actually wear a real shirt. The man is seated on one of the benches eating a giant pretzel, dressed in a black wife-beater, worn blue jeans, and combat boots. The chill may not have gotten to some but others are prepared for it. Ororo walks down the path, bundled up in a grey sweater that overlaps with the brown maxi skirt. Her white hair hangs freely about her broad shoulders which, coupled with her unsually tall height, makes her stick out quite a bit. Daniel takes another bite from his pretzel, watching Ororo approach. He chews for a moment or swallowing and actually speaking. "I wouldn't keep going that way if I were you." he says simply, turning his attention back to the salty goodness in his hand. Ororo pauses in her step as Daniel speaks up, turning her head to look him over. "Why not?" she asks simply, looking over the young man curiously though whatever she is thinking remains unsaid. "Further back that way there's about five /really/ angry men." Daniel explains simply. "Figured I'd have a snack before they made it this way." He starts to take a bite before holding it up instead. "Want a piece? Haven't touched the bottom yet." "No...thank you," Ororo says, pressing her lips together with a frown. "Five angry men? How so?" she asks, glancing down the road where Daniel implied. "Perhaps we should get out of their way then?" "More for me then." Daniel says, happily biting off a corner piece. His attention turns back down the way as well, chewing silently for a moment or so. "You're welcome to leave, in fact it's probably best. But I don't run from a fight. Especially not from punks like them, people not standing up to them is why they think they can get away with whatever now. I figure tonight's as good a time as any to teach them why crime doesn't pay." "Punks? What exactly are they doing?" Ororo says, looking to Daniel with some concern, both for his well-being and for the troublemakers. "If they're as much trouble as you suggest they are, maybe we should call on the proper authorities?" "Selling drugs and causing problems." Daniel explains. "Oh, I'm Danny, by the way." he introduces himself with a warm smile. "I'm sure they've been to jail before. That won't scare them straight." "There's that motherfucker!" A distinctively male voice calls out, soon identifiable as a young man with dreadlocks and facial tattoos. Four other males follow behind him, none of them out of their mid-twenties. "Oops, that's me. You can stay if you want, of you wanna join in you can have the two trailing up." Daniel says with a devilish grin, carefully wrapping his pretzel up before pushing to his feet. "Ororo. I very much suggest you go home Danny, fighting them is not..." Ororo says, pausing midsentence as one of the males approaches. She stands up straighter, neither approaching nor backing away. "We were just leaving, gentlemen. I suggest you do the same," she says, her deep voice carrying across the nearly empty area, unwavering and firm. "Oh no, we got something ta say to this jerkoff here." The male says, advancing on Daniel and throwing a punch, the rest of the gang hot on his tail. Daniel actually dodges the strike, swinging hard and connecting firmly with the man's jaw, putting him to sleep. "One down, four more." He says cheerfully hands coming up to guard his face. As the first punch is thrown, a blast of air appears out of nowhere. It's enough to knock the thugs backwards and throw them a few feet, though they'll survive with nothing more than a few bruises. Ororo appears unphased by this mysterious wind blast; in fact, the only thing that's changed is blue missing from her eyes, replaced by a milky white. "Think you just pissed them off." Daniel sighs a bit, looking over at Ororo. "They won't be holding back now, looks like the Rider is going to have to come out and play." Sure enough the man's skin starts to bubble before simply melting off, leaving behind a flaming skeleton. "You'll want to sit this one out." the Rider hisses, empty eye sockets turning back to the remaining men. One of the men managed to take his head out on a rock and hasn't gotten up, but the remaining three men do, and are only still long enough to ensure nothing is broken. Bone spikes pop through the skin on the face and arms of the slimmest thug, the largest bares his canines which strongly resemble those of a large cat, and flames break out on the arms of the youngest looking thug. "If they had sense, they'd take the warning and leave," Ororo responds, watching the others rise back up. Daniel's transformation into a flaming skeleton does not go unnoticed and she turns her head to watch him, face emotionless and eyes still white. Her eyes quickly dart back towards the thugs as they reveal their mutations. Suddenly, she holds her hand in front of her and a bolt of lightening shoots out, connecting with BoneSpike's chest and behaving like a giant, non-lethal but still painful taser. One after the other, she aims similar lightning bolts to the other thugs. And down goes each of the mutants, causing the Rider to turn his attention to Ororo. He watches her silently for a few moments before muscle and flesh grows back over his frame and he's Daniel once more. "I said you could have two. Not take all the fun out of cleaning up New York." He doesn't seem too upset by it and moves over to retrieve his pretzel, unwrapping on it and taking another bite. "Suppose I should pile them up and call the cops. Or just leave them for now and see if they change their attitude any." "This isn't a game," Ororo says, her eyes fading back to their natural blue. "Provoking fights does nothing for our cause." Once the situation is under control, she quickly makes her way over towards the one that fell head first onto a rock. She appears genuinely concerned, despite his attempted attack, and carefully looks for signs of a serious injury. "Yes...calling the cops might do them some good," she says, half distracted with her examination. "I'm not provoking fights. I actually mind my own business, I just happen to run into assholes that pick fights." Daniel lifts his shoulders in a slight shrug, finishing off the last little bit of his food. "Haven't gotten into a fight since those bigots tried to jump an invisible kid. First time I've seen anybody with a panic button though, more people need to get those." He finally turns his attention over to the fallen man. "He'll be fine. Just knocked out." "You had every opportunity to leave and you chose to stay here and confront them," Ororo argues. She carefully sets the man's head down, apparently in agreement that there's nothing serious. The mention of the invisible kid gets her attention, "Jack? They tried to jump him?" She looks back down to the unconcious man before rising, brushing the dirt off her skirt. "Those panic buttons exist for a good reason, to get our students /out/. Not back them up in a fight." "Yeah, that was his name. And yes, they tried. He hit the button about the time the Rider scared them off." Daniel says. "I take it you work at that school that just came out the mutant closet? Wish I'd have known about that place. Also wish my mutation manifested before I had graduated. Kind of hard keeping the Rider on a leash sometimes. Just got to where I don't have to wait until he tires himself out to turn back to normal." "Good. Too many students try to handle things on their own," Ororo says. "Xavier's Institute, yes. I was a student myself years ago. You are certainly not the only one who wishes they had known about us, which is partially why we've decided to 'come out of the mutant closet' as you say. I'm afraid our resources are rather limited to non-students but we are open to those in need of us. So this 'Rider', you speak as if it's separate entity from yourself?" "Yes, and no." Daniel says with a slight wave of his hand. "Just a bit more primal when I transform, used to not remember some of the stuff I did. So I gave the guilt monster living inside of me a name. Should see why I call him the rider, practically live on my bike. Well, did for a while. Might be again soon if I don't find a permanent place to settle down." "Interesting mutatation. A second personality is...well, it's uncommon but not unheard of," Ororo says. "Though it seems as if you've learned to control your mutation without the help of our school so seem to be doing well for yourself." She glances down towards the thugs still passed out on the street with a slight frown. "Your lessons on using your abilities appropriately could be fine tuned though." "At least I didn't throw a dumpster at them. This time." Daniel says with a grin. "But this isn't the only thing I do with my free time. Sometimes I'm up at the bar not to far from where that institute is. Noticed more obvious mutant kids running around out there, but I never would have guessed that's why. You guys are doing a really good thing, and if people ever try to do bad things to the school or the kids there, feel free to hit me up. I don't mind working gate duty. A job's a job, you know?" Ororo says nothing about the dumpster comment but she does raise an eyebrow slightly. "We did ask the students to be discreet but there's really only so much you can expect. Half the time it's a struggle to keep them from accidentally destroying the school." His kind words do not go unnoticed though and she can't help but smile for a moment. "We do try our best. And many of the staff is ah...exceptionally powerful and we're prepared to defend the school but an offer is always appreciated." Daniel nods slightly, "That's a good thing. And the offer doesn't have an expiration date. Been meaning to apply either at the clinic or that mutant friendly cafe, Evolve." He finally looks back over at the unconscious men. "Maybe we should head out. Before they come to, or somebody investigates all that lightening." Ororo looks over towards the thugs and nods. "That might be the best idea," she agrees. "Well, pleasure meeting you. I really should be heading back to the school. And I will let you know if we're even in need of your particular...skill set. And the Clinic and Evolve are both very good places to work. I wish you luck applying there." "Alright, take care. I'm sure I'll run into you again, doubt I'll forget your face." Daniel says with a wave, turning to head back out of the park.