Post by looker on Oct 29, 2015 1:02:28 GMT -5
Bronze Tiger: Ben stepped into the parking lot behind a large gymnasium, listening to the sound of the gravel beneath his black suede boots. He didn’t even flinch at the biting cold against his cheek, as his eyes warily darted from side to side as though leveraging those sharpened senses. There were a lot of things that left him unfazed in the city– muggers, gunshots, loud voices, druggies – all of it paled in comparison to the things he’d seen. But it wasn’t all bad for Ben, as he seemed to fare well in his quest to lead a normal life. He was well-groomed, his shoulders wide and imposing with a face and body that hadn’t aged a day over his 20s. Although quiet and reserved, he didn’t appear to be ‘shaken up’ as many hardened veterans were, in fact he was just walking out of a martial arts tournament that left him feeling rather revitalized. Judging from his attire, he hadn’t competed, but these days Ben was content to spectate – anything so long as he could reconnect with what he loved. He settled
on a simple attire for this cold evening, draped in a black trenchcoat with a grey hoodie beneath and a pair of matching denim jeans. His large hands buried themselves in his coat pockets impulsively as he disappeared across the street, calmly making his way back to his apartment which was a few blocks down. Ever step he made was quiet, coordinated and confident as he navigated past alleyway entrances and made his way toward the darker parts of the city. It was clear that he didn’t fear muggers; these days if someone attacked Ben, it’d be something to talk about. He often wondered if there was an allure that drove him to places of conflict like this, one that was waiting for a chance to flirt with whatever danger happened to be close by. With his track record, it certainly wouldn’t have been implausible. His eyes dropped to a black leather wristwatch, noting the time under the glow of street lights overhead as he resumed his natural poise, inviting all forms of strange that came out at night without a single word.
Looker: Emily touched her cold fingers against the chest of a 25 year old man. Her nail just barely grazed his skin enough to leave a faint red mark. "A couple more weeks of crossfit training and I think we could work you into next year's calendar." The male was still taken back by her touch unable to mouth a single syllable. "However, that does mean you'll get to go to this year's ball. We could use more men in costume." Her red hair flung over her shoulder like a whip over a mule's ass. "Your invitation will be waiting on your cellphone by midnight tonight. Make sure you RSVP no later than 12:05." She stretched her arms upwards while noticing the boy's intense stare. A quick kiss to his cheek burned into his memory forever. Emily walked off to the entrance of the gymnasium. Her hips swayed as she walked over to her driver holding a brown bag. Dinner was quite early today. She supposed her body would need it after taking on the task ahead for tonight. "How are we doing on decor? -c-
Did we get those fire and ice lights I ordered?" The driver handed over the bag with a curious look on his face. He had no idea what was inside the bag nor was he allowed to look. "Ms. Briggs, I am not your planner. I suggest you look at your phone for the status of your ball." She cringed at his tone. He would not be receiving his paycheck on time. "I'm driving myself home tonight then. You can walk your witty ass home." Emily stormed out of the doors and into the gravel with a pair of heeled boots. Her balance was incredible. That or she was hovering right over the edges of each rock. "Fog machine, industrial size vat of candy, and..." No fucking fire and ice lights. Who the hell placed the order? A fucking five year old? Fired. Whoever was in charge was fired. Her hand gripped the iPhone as though it were a stress ball. She really couldn't trust anyone to do a job correctly. -e-
Bronze Tiger:
”That’s strange,” thought Ben as he settled into a brisk walk after jogging across the street. ”Is someone important showing up for one of the winners?” He caught himself rubbernecking the chauffeur and the girl who stepped out, as well as the Maserati they arrived in. Bad news? Ben had an inexplicable gut feeling that he learned to trust over the last twelve years. He stopped at the mouth of an alleyway, staring at the girl as she angrily marched inside of the gym in an attempt to somehow decipher what their intentions were before click! “Yo,” a deep voice bellowed as metal jabbed at his back, prompting Ben’s hands to instinctively raise. He glanced over his shoulder, careful not to turn his head too far or too fast and earn the gunman’s ire. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ben said calmly, seemingly unaffected by the fact he was at gunpoint. “Sorry bro. Gotta eat,” the mugger explained simply while patting him down. In one swift twist, Ben stepped out of
the man’s line of fire, bashing him in the jaw with a vicious right hook that staggered the man. He latched onto his wrist, weaving his hand over the man’s arm to grab his own forearm and pull the man’s wrist back over his shoulder to force him to his back. Ben wrestled the 9 MM pistol out of his hand after pinning his head to the ground with his knee, unloading the clip and moving down the latches to rip the slide off of the top of the gun before carelessly tossing it toward a dumpster. He dropped a couple of bills on his chest, spending money he brought along just in case. “Next time, ask nicely,” Turner remarked with a snarl, turning to face the gym once again as the mugger scurried down the alleyway. Well, investigating couldn’t lead to any worse alternatives than that, could it?
Looker:
The ex-model caught the sound of two sets of footsteps as she exited the car. Two men had seemingly gotten into an altercation, but only one was victorious. There had been a man on the ground with an inexplicable welt on his lower jaw. "Just what did you--" Emily heard a noise from the dumpster. Someone had dropped something from in front of her. A faint shadow appeared from the edge of the alleyway standing tall and nearly proud. He clearly slouched but the muscle made up for it. "You there! On the ground!" Just as she yelled up to the man a figure from behind whispered in her ear: "Face me." She turned around to look at whomever whispered. There was no one. Not even footsteps sounded. A faint scent of smoke trailed behind her. Something of burning cornfields brought back memories that she would rather not keep in mind for the next hour. Perhaps the man in the alleyway was some sort of sorcerer? How strange to find one in this city. "Just what do you think you're doing? -c-
Do you really think you can charm me?" Emily felt her fangs tingle. She was ready for a good fight right now, but Looker needed to be suppressed until she could find out who the stranger was. -e-
Bronze Tiger:
When he heard her voice, Ben realized he’d drawn attention to himself. So much for investigating. He turned to face the girl across the street as the sound of rubber soles shuffling against the concrete faded into a distant whisper itself. Her fragmented words roused his curiosity further. “Pardon?” He asked calmly as she turned. Ben was far more imposing up close than he was hunched over a mugger across the street. His chest was as broad as his shoulders, his neck thick and flanked by two toned trapezius muscles. Add on his wingspan and Ben was a physical specimen to boot, one whose presence could be used to intimidate others either willingly or unwillingly. Albeit caught off guard by her response, Ben was still able to make some kind of sense out of it. Perhaps the confrontation earlier and his sudden approach made her nervous? Maybe she was just scared. “I think you’re mistaken. You were speaking to me less than a minute ago,” he said, eying her carefully. He wondered if she thought
was staged in an attempt to impress her. It was the only unaided conclusion he could draw from what she was saying.
Looker:
"I think you're a fucking liar." The knuckles of her balled fists rested on her hips. This was really going to suck. Potential hottie in an alley, late for her usual bubble bath and champagne, and a lack of party supplies. "Who are you and what did you do to that man over there? Don't lie to me...I could tear you in a second." The fiery red-head narrowed her gaze at the man. Muscles, over here, wasn't the least bit intimidating. She had dealt with sports models four times his size. Slept with them? Never. They were either on steroids or just too hard to ride out. Emily liked a warm body not a hot piece of swollen tissue. "Tell you what. I'll give you five seconds to step into the light. If you do I'll give you a ticket to my ball tomorrow. If you don't...I'll pin you to the ground like the kinkiest game of pin the tale on the donkey." She held up an index finger to start the count. He didn't look that stupid. Though high school taught her a lot about the sporty jocks. -e-
Bronze Tiger :
Ben squinted skeptically at the girl. What was she in fear of? Why was she acting this way? Having been on the other side of apprehension more than a few times, he felt more compelled to understand the trigger than wiggle his way out of the situation. If there was any indicator of experience under the influence of duress, it was his levelheaded response to her interrogative line of questioning. “Easy there. The name’s Ben, the man is a mugger who’s a few dollars richer and you aren’t very good at making threats,” he quipped with a smirk, raising his hands as though at gunpoint. “In all seriousness, I don’t know what happened to you, but you’ve got me confused with someone or something else.” His hands dropped to his sides as his eyes studied her. They weren’t eying her up and down nor were they trying to convey some hidden sincerity, but were rather watching for signs of hostility in her body language and studying the movement of her eyes to see if she was hiding
something. There were subtle ways of reading people, and as someone who dealt extensively with shady people, Ben knew plenty of them. Believe it or not, her hostile reactions felt relatively normal in this particular instance. “Care to explain why you’re treating me like a common criminal?”
Looker :
Emily caught a scent of death from the air that had been left behind by the mysterious figure. It did not meet the same scent existing on the skin of the man in front of her. "Don't joke with me. And I'll continue to treat you like a criminal until you stop hiding from me. No mortal human could take down a petty thief the way you did. There's more than enough trauma and..." Emily looked over his muscular form. Even the dark wasn't enough to hide that, "...Your body is the only other piece of the puzzle. So, are you friend or foe?" Emily casually walked over to the figure. Her heels clacked in a rhythmic pattern. She was taking her time to reach him. Gods she was hungry...Too bad her bag was still in the car. "Call me Looker. Anything else will get you killed." -e-
Bronze Tiger :
There were many layers that could describe the things that Ben felt in this very moment. On one hand, he was revitalized at the thought of excitement creeping back into his life. Part of him felt he still had more to give, and thus was unwilling to slip into the complacence of watching martial arts tournaments and carrying on the rest of his life as O-Sensei did. On the other, there was a pang of regret, a trepidation that made this course of events seem never-ending. What if he did start a family? What was next when he was no longer undecided on the prospect of retirement? It felt as though his past were a specter, doomed to follow and forever submerge him in tragedy and death. This was the bullet he lived and died by, one he’d first fired a meager twelve years ago. Now the sound of heels clicked like a prelude to a grim new reality, breaking his conflicted train of thought. “Right. ‘Looker,’ I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, but you’ve got the wrong idea.
I’m not hiding from anyone and was just on my way home, until you had something to say about it.” At this point, he glowers down at her over his broad chest, reinforcing the gravity of his deep, solemn tone. “So let me cut to the chase and make this easier for the both of us. What the hell are you on about?”
Looker :
Emily took a breath and sighed. "You wouldn't even begin to understand. But you're not something to worry about apparently. Look, I feel bad. Here, take this invitation. I'm having a costume party tomorrow night. It's going to be intense. Booze, broads, bros...you name it." She reached into her her back pocket and pulled out an envelope in the shape of a bat. The paper was a deep shade of crimson and, when touched, it eerily made the writing appear. "Don't bother bringing anything. I'm pretty sure we'll have all of the basics." She spun on her heel almost making it seem like she had lifted off the pavement. Of course, that was impossible. "Bring a few friends if you want. It's a huge place." The redhead made her way back to her car. That interaction had been more embarrassing than she thought. What had been behind her? The whisper had chilled her very soul. It was a magical presence which could conceal itself better than any natural predator. It would need to be stopped. -e-
Bronze Tiger :
11:00 PM, Uptown, New York. Penthouse Party. - The tears and crinkles of paper caught Ben’s ear louder than normal, a selective focus that manifested itself over a staccato of voices and drowned out bass that thumped through the walls. His was a lost mind collapsing inward among a sea of would-be distractions and potential threats. Maybe he was off his game, or maybe he was just more introspective than usual tonight. It was, after all, his first night back in action since his tenure with the Suicide Squad two years ago. ”You’re good, man,” announced one of the bouncers, quickly waving him in. ”I don’t know why I’m doing this,” he thought, jostling through a crowd of bouncing bodies as he made his way toward the widest space he could find. His eyes meticulously scanned the building, taking in every possible detail they could find, from escape routes to electrical hazards to suspicious members of the crowd. I’m practically asking for whatever happens...
Bronze Tiger:
here tonight. He made his way to a bar after combing through social groups and couples, taking a seat for mere seconds before a voice blared from beside him. ”Sick costume, bro! I don’t know why you went with the Bronze Tiger, though. I mean you pull it off 10 out of 10, but wouldn’t you rather be like the Green Lantern or something? Or like Batwing….or Falcon….or that one Cybor—“ An annoyed Ben interjected, “you want something?” The man, dressed in a Dracula costume, stopped for a moment. “Ahhh…selfie?” Click. This is a death wish. Maybe Deadshot influenced me more than I thought. After glancing up toward a clock behind the bar, the Bronze Tiger drew from his seat, turning his gaze center stage. It was only a matter of time before someone, something, noticed he was here. That is, assuming of course, the lady from last night wasn’t completely off her rocker.
Looker :
"Mmm...that's enough, boys. It's time for the first act." About ten men crowded her with bare chests, leather pants, and of course gimp masks. What Halloween party would be complete without a little leather? Emily traced her leg down to the tip of her toe with a smile. She had dressed accordingly. A one piece leather suit. The inspiration? Courtesy of Batman's little stray. Emily had made only a few changes to the outfit. No ears, her usual fangs, spiked and studded heels, with the nicest surprise beneath the suit. "Ten seconds till curtain, Ms. Briggs." It was going to be a fangtastic night. She was carried out by the men who were each leashed. Five on the left and five on the right. The ends of the leashes were gripped tightly by her pale hands. Sparks flew out from the corners of the stage just as Hell would have had it. "I'm glad you're all having such a Happy Halloween." Her silver polished nails twinkled from a spotlight. Slowly her fingers peeled down the front zipper of her -c-
Looker :
suit to reveal a red corset, thigh high boots, and the tightest pencil skirt she could find. Even better, each piece was leather. It was to be expected of the Looker fashion CEO. "I'm trying to teach these boys the true meaning of Halloween. I think it would help if we got a little louder. Tonight will be the most sinful night of your lives and then...well, once we're all dead from partying...I'll see you all in hell for your punishment." Fog lifted from the ground. Emily disappeared from the roaring crowd. "Oh gods, yes...Have you ever seen a sexier party?" She turned to her secretary who nearly spat out her drink looking at Emily's costume. "I'm going to go greet the guests. Look alive for me, will ya?" -e-
Bronze Tiger :
”I’m glad you’re all having such a Happy Halloween.” Ben recognized that voice right away. It was her – the girl from last night. Right on time. He swam through the crowd to get a closer look, taking in her cryptic words. There were some off things about her, such as the way she spoke, her aggression, her inexplicable charm, and the eerie aura she gave off in general. Sure, he could’ve written her off as an over-the-top fashionista, spoiled rich girl, or crazy goth chick, but she fit the role of a femme fatale a little too well for Ben to simply ignore. He’d also noticed her fangs, though he dismissed those as part of a scary Halloween get up; still, he had to wonder if there was more to these things as a collective. ”Well, once we’re all dead from partying, I’ll see you all in hell for your punishment.” In a matter of seconds, she disappeared into the fog. Well, there was the excitement he asked for. He was stuck as a self-appointed bodyguard of a potentially dangerous
Bronze Tiger :
woman and bait to a creature that he didn’t even know existed yet. It was a precarious set of circumstances. The Bronze Tiger blended perfectly into the crowd, dancing with girls and quietly sitting in social circles, contributing the least possible. The waiting game was killing him inside, and he needed to find the girl before whatever was looking for her last night found her first.
Looker:
It was now at least 11:30. The party was practically shaking the building. Emily laughed it off greeting guests on her way to the open bar. "You're so lucky to have all this!" "Tell me more about yourself." "Going to top Wayne's party, hm?" She really didn't care for the small talk. Emily was hiding something. She used to live a quieter life. A life of love with deeper connections to the world around her. Looker had kept her from all of that. It was a change she was willing to accept. Perhaps it was for the best. Emily was successful now and had more than everything she wanted. "Double shot of fireball. I'm gonna need to get through the night twice over." Fireball for the fiery redhead. Things seemed to slow down from that point on. Emily felt strange about it. Not once had she seen anyone take off their costume. Something brought her back into the crowd. She took both of her shots in one go then stormed off. A whisper or a hum of some kind followed her as she walked. "Ms. Briggs, -c-
Looker :
there's something in the bathroom on the West side. You'd better have a look. The police are here." Oh no. It was going to be that kind of party. Emily nearly died all over again. -e-
on a simple attire for this cold evening, draped in a black trenchcoat with a grey hoodie beneath and a pair of matching denim jeans. His large hands buried themselves in his coat pockets impulsively as he disappeared across the street, calmly making his way back to his apartment which was a few blocks down. Ever step he made was quiet, coordinated and confident as he navigated past alleyway entrances and made his way toward the darker parts of the city. It was clear that he didn’t fear muggers; these days if someone attacked Ben, it’d be something to talk about. He often wondered if there was an allure that drove him to places of conflict like this, one that was waiting for a chance to flirt with whatever danger happened to be close by. With his track record, it certainly wouldn’t have been implausible. His eyes dropped to a black leather wristwatch, noting the time under the glow of street lights overhead as he resumed his natural poise, inviting all forms of strange that came out at night without a single word.
Looker: Emily touched her cold fingers against the chest of a 25 year old man. Her nail just barely grazed his skin enough to leave a faint red mark. "A couple more weeks of crossfit training and I think we could work you into next year's calendar." The male was still taken back by her touch unable to mouth a single syllable. "However, that does mean you'll get to go to this year's ball. We could use more men in costume." Her red hair flung over her shoulder like a whip over a mule's ass. "Your invitation will be waiting on your cellphone by midnight tonight. Make sure you RSVP no later than 12:05." She stretched her arms upwards while noticing the boy's intense stare. A quick kiss to his cheek burned into his memory forever. Emily walked off to the entrance of the gymnasium. Her hips swayed as she walked over to her driver holding a brown bag. Dinner was quite early today. She supposed her body would need it after taking on the task ahead for tonight. "How are we doing on decor? -c-
Did we get those fire and ice lights I ordered?" The driver handed over the bag with a curious look on his face. He had no idea what was inside the bag nor was he allowed to look. "Ms. Briggs, I am not your planner. I suggest you look at your phone for the status of your ball." She cringed at his tone. He would not be receiving his paycheck on time. "I'm driving myself home tonight then. You can walk your witty ass home." Emily stormed out of the doors and into the gravel with a pair of heeled boots. Her balance was incredible. That or she was hovering right over the edges of each rock. "Fog machine, industrial size vat of candy, and..." No fucking fire and ice lights. Who the hell placed the order? A fucking five year old? Fired. Whoever was in charge was fired. Her hand gripped the iPhone as though it were a stress ball. She really couldn't trust anyone to do a job correctly. -e-
Bronze Tiger:
”That’s strange,” thought Ben as he settled into a brisk walk after jogging across the street. ”Is someone important showing up for one of the winners?” He caught himself rubbernecking the chauffeur and the girl who stepped out, as well as the Maserati they arrived in. Bad news? Ben had an inexplicable gut feeling that he learned to trust over the last twelve years. He stopped at the mouth of an alleyway, staring at the girl as she angrily marched inside of the gym in an attempt to somehow decipher what their intentions were before click! “Yo,” a deep voice bellowed as metal jabbed at his back, prompting Ben’s hands to instinctively raise. He glanced over his shoulder, careful not to turn his head too far or too fast and earn the gunman’s ire. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” Ben said calmly, seemingly unaffected by the fact he was at gunpoint. “Sorry bro. Gotta eat,” the mugger explained simply while patting him down. In one swift twist, Ben stepped out of
the man’s line of fire, bashing him in the jaw with a vicious right hook that staggered the man. He latched onto his wrist, weaving his hand over the man’s arm to grab his own forearm and pull the man’s wrist back over his shoulder to force him to his back. Ben wrestled the 9 MM pistol out of his hand after pinning his head to the ground with his knee, unloading the clip and moving down the latches to rip the slide off of the top of the gun before carelessly tossing it toward a dumpster. He dropped a couple of bills on his chest, spending money he brought along just in case. “Next time, ask nicely,” Turner remarked with a snarl, turning to face the gym once again as the mugger scurried down the alleyway. Well, investigating couldn’t lead to any worse alternatives than that, could it?
Looker:
The ex-model caught the sound of two sets of footsteps as she exited the car. Two men had seemingly gotten into an altercation, but only one was victorious. There had been a man on the ground with an inexplicable welt on his lower jaw. "Just what did you--" Emily heard a noise from the dumpster. Someone had dropped something from in front of her. A faint shadow appeared from the edge of the alleyway standing tall and nearly proud. He clearly slouched but the muscle made up for it. "You there! On the ground!" Just as she yelled up to the man a figure from behind whispered in her ear: "Face me." She turned around to look at whomever whispered. There was no one. Not even footsteps sounded. A faint scent of smoke trailed behind her. Something of burning cornfields brought back memories that she would rather not keep in mind for the next hour. Perhaps the man in the alleyway was some sort of sorcerer? How strange to find one in this city. "Just what do you think you're doing? -c-
Do you really think you can charm me?" Emily felt her fangs tingle. She was ready for a good fight right now, but Looker needed to be suppressed until she could find out who the stranger was. -e-
Bronze Tiger:
When he heard her voice, Ben realized he’d drawn attention to himself. So much for investigating. He turned to face the girl across the street as the sound of rubber soles shuffling against the concrete faded into a distant whisper itself. Her fragmented words roused his curiosity further. “Pardon?” He asked calmly as she turned. Ben was far more imposing up close than he was hunched over a mugger across the street. His chest was as broad as his shoulders, his neck thick and flanked by two toned trapezius muscles. Add on his wingspan and Ben was a physical specimen to boot, one whose presence could be used to intimidate others either willingly or unwillingly. Albeit caught off guard by her response, Ben was still able to make some kind of sense out of it. Perhaps the confrontation earlier and his sudden approach made her nervous? Maybe she was just scared. “I think you’re mistaken. You were speaking to me less than a minute ago,” he said, eying her carefully. He wondered if she thought
was staged in an attempt to impress her. It was the only unaided conclusion he could draw from what she was saying.
Looker:
"I think you're a fucking liar." The knuckles of her balled fists rested on her hips. This was really going to suck. Potential hottie in an alley, late for her usual bubble bath and champagne, and a lack of party supplies. "Who are you and what did you do to that man over there? Don't lie to me...I could tear you in a second." The fiery red-head narrowed her gaze at the man. Muscles, over here, wasn't the least bit intimidating. She had dealt with sports models four times his size. Slept with them? Never. They were either on steroids or just too hard to ride out. Emily liked a warm body not a hot piece of swollen tissue. "Tell you what. I'll give you five seconds to step into the light. If you do I'll give you a ticket to my ball tomorrow. If you don't...I'll pin you to the ground like the kinkiest game of pin the tale on the donkey." She held up an index finger to start the count. He didn't look that stupid. Though high school taught her a lot about the sporty jocks. -e-
Bronze Tiger :
Ben squinted skeptically at the girl. What was she in fear of? Why was she acting this way? Having been on the other side of apprehension more than a few times, he felt more compelled to understand the trigger than wiggle his way out of the situation. If there was any indicator of experience under the influence of duress, it was his levelheaded response to her interrogative line of questioning. “Easy there. The name’s Ben, the man is a mugger who’s a few dollars richer and you aren’t very good at making threats,” he quipped with a smirk, raising his hands as though at gunpoint. “In all seriousness, I don’t know what happened to you, but you’ve got me confused with someone or something else.” His hands dropped to his sides as his eyes studied her. They weren’t eying her up and down nor were they trying to convey some hidden sincerity, but were rather watching for signs of hostility in her body language and studying the movement of her eyes to see if she was hiding
something. There were subtle ways of reading people, and as someone who dealt extensively with shady people, Ben knew plenty of them. Believe it or not, her hostile reactions felt relatively normal in this particular instance. “Care to explain why you’re treating me like a common criminal?”
Looker :
Emily caught a scent of death from the air that had been left behind by the mysterious figure. It did not meet the same scent existing on the skin of the man in front of her. "Don't joke with me. And I'll continue to treat you like a criminal until you stop hiding from me. No mortal human could take down a petty thief the way you did. There's more than enough trauma and..." Emily looked over his muscular form. Even the dark wasn't enough to hide that, "...Your body is the only other piece of the puzzle. So, are you friend or foe?" Emily casually walked over to the figure. Her heels clacked in a rhythmic pattern. She was taking her time to reach him. Gods she was hungry...Too bad her bag was still in the car. "Call me Looker. Anything else will get you killed." -e-
Bronze Tiger :
There were many layers that could describe the things that Ben felt in this very moment. On one hand, he was revitalized at the thought of excitement creeping back into his life. Part of him felt he still had more to give, and thus was unwilling to slip into the complacence of watching martial arts tournaments and carrying on the rest of his life as O-Sensei did. On the other, there was a pang of regret, a trepidation that made this course of events seem never-ending. What if he did start a family? What was next when he was no longer undecided on the prospect of retirement? It felt as though his past were a specter, doomed to follow and forever submerge him in tragedy and death. This was the bullet he lived and died by, one he’d first fired a meager twelve years ago. Now the sound of heels clicked like a prelude to a grim new reality, breaking his conflicted train of thought. “Right. ‘Looker,’ I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about, but you’ve got the wrong idea.
I’m not hiding from anyone and was just on my way home, until you had something to say about it.” At this point, he glowers down at her over his broad chest, reinforcing the gravity of his deep, solemn tone. “So let me cut to the chase and make this easier for the both of us. What the hell are you on about?”
Looker :
Emily took a breath and sighed. "You wouldn't even begin to understand. But you're not something to worry about apparently. Look, I feel bad. Here, take this invitation. I'm having a costume party tomorrow night. It's going to be intense. Booze, broads, bros...you name it." She reached into her her back pocket and pulled out an envelope in the shape of a bat. The paper was a deep shade of crimson and, when touched, it eerily made the writing appear. "Don't bother bringing anything. I'm pretty sure we'll have all of the basics." She spun on her heel almost making it seem like she had lifted off the pavement. Of course, that was impossible. "Bring a few friends if you want. It's a huge place." The redhead made her way back to her car. That interaction had been more embarrassing than she thought. What had been behind her? The whisper had chilled her very soul. It was a magical presence which could conceal itself better than any natural predator. It would need to be stopped. -e-
Bronze Tiger :
11:00 PM, Uptown, New York. Penthouse Party. - The tears and crinkles of paper caught Ben’s ear louder than normal, a selective focus that manifested itself over a staccato of voices and drowned out bass that thumped through the walls. His was a lost mind collapsing inward among a sea of would-be distractions and potential threats. Maybe he was off his game, or maybe he was just more introspective than usual tonight. It was, after all, his first night back in action since his tenure with the Suicide Squad two years ago. ”You’re good, man,” announced one of the bouncers, quickly waving him in. ”I don’t know why I’m doing this,” he thought, jostling through a crowd of bouncing bodies as he made his way toward the widest space he could find. His eyes meticulously scanned the building, taking in every possible detail they could find, from escape routes to electrical hazards to suspicious members of the crowd. I’m practically asking for whatever happens...
Bronze Tiger:
here tonight. He made his way to a bar after combing through social groups and couples, taking a seat for mere seconds before a voice blared from beside him. ”Sick costume, bro! I don’t know why you went with the Bronze Tiger, though. I mean you pull it off 10 out of 10, but wouldn’t you rather be like the Green Lantern or something? Or like Batwing….or Falcon….or that one Cybor—“ An annoyed Ben interjected, “you want something?” The man, dressed in a Dracula costume, stopped for a moment. “Ahhh…selfie?” Click. This is a death wish. Maybe Deadshot influenced me more than I thought. After glancing up toward a clock behind the bar, the Bronze Tiger drew from his seat, turning his gaze center stage. It was only a matter of time before someone, something, noticed he was here. That is, assuming of course, the lady from last night wasn’t completely off her rocker.
Looker :
"Mmm...that's enough, boys. It's time for the first act." About ten men crowded her with bare chests, leather pants, and of course gimp masks. What Halloween party would be complete without a little leather? Emily traced her leg down to the tip of her toe with a smile. She had dressed accordingly. A one piece leather suit. The inspiration? Courtesy of Batman's little stray. Emily had made only a few changes to the outfit. No ears, her usual fangs, spiked and studded heels, with the nicest surprise beneath the suit. "Ten seconds till curtain, Ms. Briggs." It was going to be a fangtastic night. She was carried out by the men who were each leashed. Five on the left and five on the right. The ends of the leashes were gripped tightly by her pale hands. Sparks flew out from the corners of the stage just as Hell would have had it. "I'm glad you're all having such a Happy Halloween." Her silver polished nails twinkled from a spotlight. Slowly her fingers peeled down the front zipper of her -c-
Looker :
suit to reveal a red corset, thigh high boots, and the tightest pencil skirt she could find. Even better, each piece was leather. It was to be expected of the Looker fashion CEO. "I'm trying to teach these boys the true meaning of Halloween. I think it would help if we got a little louder. Tonight will be the most sinful night of your lives and then...well, once we're all dead from partying...I'll see you all in hell for your punishment." Fog lifted from the ground. Emily disappeared from the roaring crowd. "Oh gods, yes...Have you ever seen a sexier party?" She turned to her secretary who nearly spat out her drink looking at Emily's costume. "I'm going to go greet the guests. Look alive for me, will ya?" -e-
Bronze Tiger :
”I’m glad you’re all having such a Happy Halloween.” Ben recognized that voice right away. It was her – the girl from last night. Right on time. He swam through the crowd to get a closer look, taking in her cryptic words. There were some off things about her, such as the way she spoke, her aggression, her inexplicable charm, and the eerie aura she gave off in general. Sure, he could’ve written her off as an over-the-top fashionista, spoiled rich girl, or crazy goth chick, but she fit the role of a femme fatale a little too well for Ben to simply ignore. He’d also noticed her fangs, though he dismissed those as part of a scary Halloween get up; still, he had to wonder if there was more to these things as a collective. ”Well, once we’re all dead from partying, I’ll see you all in hell for your punishment.” In a matter of seconds, she disappeared into the fog. Well, there was the excitement he asked for. He was stuck as a self-appointed bodyguard of a potentially dangerous
Bronze Tiger :
woman and bait to a creature that he didn’t even know existed yet. It was a precarious set of circumstances. The Bronze Tiger blended perfectly into the crowd, dancing with girls and quietly sitting in social circles, contributing the least possible. The waiting game was killing him inside, and he needed to find the girl before whatever was looking for her last night found her first.
Looker:
It was now at least 11:30. The party was practically shaking the building. Emily laughed it off greeting guests on her way to the open bar. "You're so lucky to have all this!" "Tell me more about yourself." "Going to top Wayne's party, hm?" She really didn't care for the small talk. Emily was hiding something. She used to live a quieter life. A life of love with deeper connections to the world around her. Looker had kept her from all of that. It was a change she was willing to accept. Perhaps it was for the best. Emily was successful now and had more than everything she wanted. "Double shot of fireball. I'm gonna need to get through the night twice over." Fireball for the fiery redhead. Things seemed to slow down from that point on. Emily felt strange about it. Not once had she seen anyone take off their costume. Something brought her back into the crowd. She took both of her shots in one go then stormed off. A whisper or a hum of some kind followed her as she walked. "Ms. Briggs, -c-
Looker :
there's something in the bathroom on the West side. You'd better have a look. The police are here." Oh no. It was going to be that kind of party. Emily nearly died all over again. -e-