Colin's posts

Jaden just laughed.

"I'm feeling adventurous." he said.

"And if you're from the Triad, oh well." he shrugged.

"I HAVE been keeping my nose... clean..." he went on, growing silent.

"Uh..." he stammered.

"Wait." he said.

"You really DO know a lot about me, don't you?" he asked her.

"That's what made it so brilliant." Saber replied.

"Anyway, yeah, that place is a bit of a craphole." he sighed.

"But if you want to continue some billiards, I know a great place with awesome atmosphere and friendly people." he offered.

"Won't be able to really 'hustle' anyone there, but they're all great about losing." he went on.

"Mostly because it's a place where people with a lot of money go, but they don't want to flaunt it." he then added.

"By the way, call me Jaden." he finished, smiling at her.

He paused when she addressed him.

"...huh." he said.

"Shouldn't be surprised you know who I am." he muttered.

"Or, rather, I shouldn't expect anything, really." he then mumbled, shaking his head.

"Right, I don't know how to word that." he admitted.

"Regardless, that was some nice hustle you had going back there." he complimented her.

He watched as she left, catching the 50.

"..." he was silent, putting some money on the bar for his drink.

"Sorry 'bout that." he apologised, before following the woman.

"Hey!" he called to her.

"Hold up a second!" he said.

"Can we talk for a moment!?"

The man was clearly still dazed, and wasn't sure what to do here.

"Why you-" one of the patrons growled in a threatening tone... mere seconds before something flew past him. A 'thunk' was then heard, and when they looked, they saw a dart embedded in the wall.

And then where it scratched them on the cheek started to bleed a little.

"OR..." the blonde said, holding another dart.

"You can all have US to contend with, she'll get her money anyway, and you'll all be in the hospital." he added in a dark tone.

The one on the floor started to shake a little, before handing the woman his wallet.

When she was hit, the leader smirked, even though she dodged the three that had leaped for her.

"You need to be taught a lesson." the leader said.

"Doesn't matter who you are or what you look like. Hustle the leader, pay for it." he told her.

"One way or another." he snarled.

Then, before he could do anything else, a cue ball smacked him in the side of the head, causing him to fall to the floor.

"Hey." the blonde-haired man said.

"Can a fella get in on this brawl?" he asked with a smirk, having now moved to a nearby pool table, tossing another ball up and down in one hand.

The man grew angrier, and threw the cue off to the side.

"All right." he said.

"You wanna have a smart mouth?" he asked.

"I'll wipe it off your face!" he declared.

He then grabbed a handful of pool balls, and whipped them at her.

While he did this, about 3 others approached her from all sides, aiming to tackle her.

That seemed to do it.

That seemed to break the man.

He let out a primal scream of rage, broke the pool cue he was holding off of the nearby table, and swung it at her.

As he did this, about 65% of the bar got up, ready to join in the fight.

And the blonde man just sighed.

"Of course." he muttered, taking a drink of what he had.

Sure enough, the one she had just been playing was growing QUITE irate now. And his blood pressure was rising as well, if the flush to his cheeks and face was anything to go by. He looked to be seething and shaking with anger, and the other patrons of the bar noticed this as well.

Some were ignoring it, others were nervous and scared by it, but it seemed that the majority looked quite miffed, or angry. And it didn't look like it was towards the one that she had beaten.

The man, himself, wasn't a huge deal or anything... but he WAS considered the head honcho of all the ruffians and gangs in this part of the city. And angering him generally meant that you had a whole lot of people coming after you to worry about.

However, there was ONE patron that wasn't acting any of those ways. He was sitting at the far end of the bar, and just looked to be trying his best to continue on with his night... but he looked irritated. In general.

'Figures.' he thought. 'One of the few places I can go to without getting hassled, and THIS happens...' he mumbled internally, as he moved a long blonde bang that was sticking out of his black woollen hat away from his eye.

"Let's see where this goes." he then said to himself, keeping an eye on everything.

"I don't appreciate being cheated." the man growled at the woman. "But I'll give you a chance." he went on.

"$100. And you walk away. And never come back. And then maybe your pretty little pale face won't be smashed in." he offered/threatened her.

Zeke just nodded in response.

"All right." he said.

"Come on, let's talk to Agent Sharp." he suggested.

'...this could really happen.' he then thought.

'All right, then. Onward.' he thought further.

'For.. maybe... maybe, finally... some peace.' he finished, as they started to walk.

"....that is invaluable information." Zeke said.

"Even if you don't want to fight, would you be willing to share information?' he asked Ayla.

"Ie: details about Vanessa's lair and such?' he went on.

"Again, if you don't feel comfortable with that, you don't have to." he then assured her.

"But... would you?"

"...." Zeke was silent for a moment.

"Hm." he mumbled.

"...wait." he then said.

"Wait, wait, wait." he muttered.

"Where she came from..." he muttered further.

"Do... do you know where Vanessa IS?" he asked the two of them.

"As in, do you remember how to get there?"

"That's all we ask." Zeke replied.

"ANY help is invaluable." he told her.

He then gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"We won't force you to do anything you don't want to do." he assured her.

"Anything you feel comfortable helping us with will be tremendous." he continued.

"Okay?" he asked.

"No need to feel pressured."

Aly just giggled and cuddled into his arms, wrapping her arms around him.

"Yep." she replied.

"Let's cuddle together." she said.

"Fall asleep together." she went on.

"Keep each other warm." she continued.

"And wake up together."