Summary:Skye and Alex eat some snacks, engage in some eco-terrorism. Just a day. Log Info:Storyteller: {$storyteller} |
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Skye and Alexander really didn't go shopping. The mood to be around other bodies were gone, and oddly enough she felt a sense of security when being around this stranger. He didn't judge her because of what she did, he assured her that she wouldn't hurt him, and for once she took him at face value. In the back of Skye's van, they have a feast of foods. Cheese steaks and fries, two large sodas and a big bag of chips. Often times when there wasn't a job, Skye would go hungry. But not today, Satan!! "Thanks for this..". She mumbles, mouth full of food. She doesn't really have much to say, being alone for years would do that to a person.
*
Alexander is happy for the company; he's alone probably just as much as she is, though in his case it's not entirely on purpose. People just don't like him, and if it weren't for a conscious effort on his part, this particular interaction would probably not be going any differently. "No problem," he replies, still chewing. Yep, they're big on manners. "So, you live in here?" He gives a more thorough glance around the back of the van, not judging, just curious.
*
The van itself was surprisingly spacious. The seats have been turned and fitted, repurposed into a sofa/bed. There's enough room for a tiny stool which sits before her computer rig; which consists of three laptops. And wires. All the wires! Above that, mounts were drilled into the side, which has four televisions, all of which were hooked into the laptops through HDMI and wired through the makeshift wall to the satellites she has on top. At least, near the double doors of the van were a stash of clothes in a garbage bag. Three outfits. Nothing more. "Yeah.". Her manners? Atrocious! She was a heathen. The type to eat messy wings on a first date. "Beats paying rent."
*
Alexander's eyes continue to cast about the small space, noting the wires with a smirk, but mostly in visible awe of her tech rig. It's an impressive setup, especially considering the confined quarters, and the power requirements. "Rent in this city is fucking ridiculous," he mutters, taking a huge bit of his cheesesteak, which dribbles juice down his chin. "I have a place in the Bowery. It's a hole, and you could buy a whole fucking house in Iowa for what I pay in rent each month," he says, with no small amount of bitterness. Seriously NYC rental market, what the fuck? "My landlord at least leaves me alone."
*
Skye listens with a nod, she may be a heathen but she at LEAST keeps it a bit neat. "See? I don't have to worry about that mess.". Still chewing, allowing the conversation to grow lax so that she could partake of the fizzy bubbly. Then, it comes. "Why are you hanging out with me?"
*
There's a bit of a shrug, and he hesitates to answer for a moment, though that could just be because he's still chewing. "You seemed cool," he says finally, swallowing. "And when I asked, you didn't make up some lame excuse and run off. And then you called me a puppy, and agreed to take off your pants," He takes a sip of soda as well, watching her for a reaction. "Of course, you went back on that, but I won't hold it against you.”
*
Skye? Cool? Laamme! But she takes it, shrugging her shoulders as she polishes off the last of her sandwich. "That should be your new nickname. If we're going to be friends. Puppy. ". Skye smiles at that, nearly reaching for the bag of chips but decided against it. "Anyways, I wasn't going to take my pants off. I totally was going to leave you hanging on that bet."
*
"Yeah, I figured it was a long shot," Alex says with a smirk. On the other hand, he'd have followed through, because he has no shame, and an annoying habit of keeping his word. He doesn't really comment on the nickname, but he doesn't argue it either; he's been called worse things. He also shoves the last of his sandwich into his mouth; it's probably too big to have been a single bite, but he manages with some awkward chewing. It keeps his mouth shut for a few seconds, at least. "I'd be careful with that, though. People are gonna think we're in some kind of domme/sub relationship." Expressionless. Joking? Probably? Hopefully?
*
"It only matters what people think if you're into it.". Skye has never been in a relationship, but she wasn't dumb. She knew exactly what it all meant. "Well, since you're here and it's pretty late, want to help me with something?" Even though she asked, she was going to assume it was a yes. She stands from the makeshift couch, wiping the mess of the sandwich upon her jeans as she struggles to get around him and into the drivers seat. "I need power. And I need to work. Which goes hand in hand so..". She takes out her keys to put it into the ignition, turning it once and again after the engine tries to sputter. It roars to life, and she lets it sit for a minute so that it could get it's bearings. "Are you in?"
*
"Yeah, why the hell not," Alex says, the smile returning to his face. He doesn't know what she has in mind, but it doesn't really matter, as long as she's not planning an impromptu murderous rampage. That might not go over so well upstairs, but anything short of that seems like kind of a grey area considering family history. He too cleans himself up a little, brushing bread crumbs off of him and wiping his face with his sleeve. Classy. "What's the plan?" Plans are key.
*
"Well.". She says quite frankly, "I'm probably going to screw over someone's business by siphoning energy from a transformer to keep my machinery charged. And maybe Rob a store.". Skye wasn't all that heartless. She's an after hours reckless thief! "Just a little something to get me by while I troll the dark web for my next job. I don't know. Can't depend on you forever, Puppy."And with that, she pushed the truck in gear and begins to drive.
*
"Dunno, I might be around for a long time," Alex comments off-handedly. How would the higher-ups view this kind of activity? Probably with disinterest, Alex eventually decides. They're more about the big things. Besides, they're probably not even paying attention. "Do what you've gotta do," he says after a moment with a bit of a shrug, and takes a seat in the passenger side. It should also be noted though, that he's still carrying around that sword. It doesn't leave his person, well, pretty much ever. So if there's robbery, it might end up being armed robbery. You know, by accident.
*
It may be a don't ask, don't tell situation with him and Skye. She didn't ask about the sword, and he didn't ask about her powers and what she is. All good. "Trust me, you won't be.". Skye moves around enough. One day, big city. Next day? Countryside three states over. But her mind was already doing a mental check list, seeing if she remembered to have what she needed in stock, a plan of action and the routes she planned on taking. "When we get there, I just need you to watch the meters, they're underneath the dash. Don't get out of the van."
*
"Watch the meters. Check. Stay in the van. Check." Alex isn't going to pry to deeply into things, because that's how burgeoning friendships get ruined. Of course, if shit goes sideways, he won't be too inclined to follow her instructions. I mean, he's a god after all, and she's just a mortal, even if she is a 'cool chick'. "Hey, out of curiosity, do you believe in like, god or anything?" Probably an odd question, considering the lightness of their conversation thus far. And he definitely hasn't been putting himself out there like he's a JW or a Mormon.
*
"Good. I'll let you know what to look for when we get there." There were a few industrial neighborhoods in the worst parts of town, mostly liquor stores or smoke shops that were closed rest nearby. Clearly one of them had money, and that's exactly what she was going to hit. A blackout of this scale, if she does mess up is hardly on anyone's radar. Robbery? Probably. She pulls around back behind one of the large, brick masonry building, putting the van in park to turn off the engine. Keys in hand, she looks at him puzzled, and frowns. "Sadly, yes. Only some kind of fucked up God would do something like this to me." What? She doesn't elaborate. "Besides, you've seen mutants and the like.". And her. But her bones sometimes shatter. Call HER Missus Glass. "Who knows what's out there?"
*
"They're all fucked up, believe me," Alex says, not bothering to hide some bitterness. Yeah, dad did a number on him. Seeing where they're headed puts his mind a bit more at ease. Not exactly reputable, a lot of these places. "Lots of crazy shit in the world," he comments as he looks out the window. "Don't do anything stupid, okay? And if you need help, call me."
*
She studies him carefully before she starts to move, shuffling into the back to begin to assemble the necessary items she needs. "Yeah..". He was a bit strange, bit in essence, so was she. "Alright, check it. When the meter is full, tug on the rope. Generic yeah but Ill see it.". Hoisting the cords upon her shoulder, she opens the back of the van then hops out. "This technically counts as stupid. I could kill myself with damn near a million volts if I screw up. And, I don't have your number, Puppy, be cool.". And then she slams the doors behind her.
*
Strange is probably the least offensive thing Alex has been called in his life. He nods as she explains, and then watches her hop out the back. "I just meant to like, yell, or-" but he's cut off when the door slams. "Something," he finishes. "Hope she knows what she's doing. God of Fear Dies In Van Explosion is not the headline I was hoping to go out on."
*
A good ten minutes pass before the doors swing open. Skye stands there, still holding the bundle of cords on her shoulder still. "Uh.. Are you going to watch or what?" Yeah, Skye had to pee. "Let's get a move on!" This time she leaves the doors open then begins to feed the cords out as she sprints backwards, soon arriving at the transformer at the base of the transmission tower that rests nearby. "Tsk. No fence. Total code violation. ". Dropping the cords, she takes a pair of custom made gloves for her pockets to slip into her fingers before she begins to hook things into its proper place. "Let the siphon begin…". Kay, maybe the tower itself won't cause a blackout… But as soon as she's done here, an axe to a ratty liquor stores fuseboxes will!
*
"Yeah, I'm watching!" Alex exclaims at Skye's accusation. "I've been waiting on you, lady. I'm watching the meters. I'm staying in the van. I'm crossing my fingers hoping you don't barbecue yourself, and me in the process." He's mock-impatient, but there's a hint of a smirk. And then the siphoning starts, and his eyes glue to the aforementioned meters. So far so good. We'll assume if things go into the red it's bad. That's how meters work, right?
*
Yup! That's typically how it works! Skye waits with bated breath even though she's slightly protected. If anything, she's at risk of frying the van itself and losing her only house, means of transportation, and money. Her eyes keep watch on the cord to wait for a tug, almost antsy. Transmission towers were a thing that was always on. And also easily overloaded.
*
And Alex watches, eyes glued to the various meters under the dash. And when they start to edge toward the red, Alex gives a tug on the cord. The man can follow directions . He looks back at the open doors, and Skye, having tugged the cord, to see if she reacts to it. She better. He doesn't want to get blown up. Not today.
*
No blowing up today! Alex and Skye have completed their first mission of energy theft, cemented by her unplugging everything with minimal spark. He would see the cord slacken enough and the meters remaining at their full state but unmoved, a sure sign that everything was okay. Bit then there was a thought. A wild hair of chaos that gets her. Maybe it was because she wanted to show off of that she was angry with her situation at the bar. Or her good ol impulsive nature that she's developed from breaking bad. Alex can't see her. Good. The cords were picked up and tossed away from her and towards the truck as far as she could toss, gloves fingers soon cracked as she created a steady stance. She was totally going to do it. She was totally going to ruin someone's week and cost them millions!
*
And that's that, right? Alex looks back through the doors to see if he can see Skye coming back. And he waits. And he looks and he waits. And fuck, she's not coming. Shouldn't they be getting out of here? "Uh, Skye?" He calls, not super loud, but she should be able to hear him. He slides out of the passenger seat and crawls back through the van toward the doors. Stay in the van, dude. You had one job.
*
Skye spreads her fingers out towards the transformer box, and internally pushes. And pushes. Nothing. Her lips purse as she tries again, yet Alex's call of her name definitely gets the Sparks going. It was a quick blast-shot, the vibrations shooting from her being to dent the box, causing a loud crack and a mess of Sparks that soon heats the metal.. "Oh shit…". Skye scrambles, gathering up the cords.. "Start the van! Start the fucking van!". Good thing she left the keys inside…
*
Oh shit. Alex scrambles back up to the front seat, and wrangles his way into the driver's side. He turns the key to start the thing, and tries a couple times to get it to turn over, before it finally does. "What the hell were you doing out there? Remember I said DON'T DO ANYTHING STUPID!?" Alex isn't mad necessarily, but there's a point where the emphasis becomes necessary. Now get in the damn van, Skye!
*
"I wanted to try something!". The smell of burning rubber and hot lead had begun to fill the air, as well as metal bending and groaning. Skye leaps (or recklessly falls) into the van with a tangle of cords, quickly attempting to drag them in. Fuck the doors! "Gogogo!". It was going to come down, the feedback from the malfunction was starting to cause the surrounding area to go dark. "If we're going to hit a store we best do it now!". Cause… Who knows which way that 90ft monstrosity will fall. It's all in the rush!
*
Alex slams on the gas, and the van hauls ass out of there. He doesn't drive a lot, and it shows in how he handles the vehicle, but at least he can get them the hell out of dodge. "Do you have any idea how many people have killed themselves and accompanying friends of less than twelve hours because they wanted to try something?" He leans over and grabs the sheathed sword off the passenger seat, making room for Skye, should she be able to crawl up through the van to sit properly and safely.
*
It was a struggle to get the door closed, but she does with a slam. She didn't mind Alex's hectic driving, bit her calculation was way off. They do NOT have time! "Oh I don't know, fifty?!" She shrieks back, finally plopping into the passenger seat and holding onto the dash as he drives. "But you said it! You said that I couldn't hurt you! You opened that door to chaos and Im collecting! TUEN LEFT!". The sword? Glanced at. If he decides to try to hurt her for this, she was short enough to grab it.
*
Alex actually grins. Her choice of words was simply perfect. "I'll bet the actual statistics on that are pretty damn low," he replies, and veers left per her frantic instructions. He might be a bit rough with the controls, but he maneuvers the van with pretty impressive accuracy, all things considered. And really, now that they're driving away from the insanity, he's fairly calm. A glance in the rearview mirror might inform him that the tower is tall enough that it could crush them if it hits, but he seems relatively unconcerned. "I didn't really anticipate you knocking over an electrical tower on top of us, Skye. My bad. We're gonna be okay though, I promise." Today is not his day to die. He's pretty confident about that, even as he veers around another corner at breakneck speed.
*
Don't look back. That is a motto that Skye holds dear. She definitely wasn't going to look in the side mirror to watch it all crumble. It was falling, and it could be heard. "I know where going to be okay..". She says almost snappily, it it was nerves getting to her, nerves that made the van shake as if the road itself was crumbling beneath them. Earthquake full bore, though localized around their can, and it feels like they will fall through the Earth itself. "Oh God…". It was happening.. "Pull over!!"
*
Okay, so the falling tower he could navigate through, of that much at least Alex was certain. He has reflexes enough to make cats look at him and go 'wtf how'. But the van shaking isn't something he can drive through. So when she yells to pull over, he does, hopefully they're far enough from the collapsing tower behind them. "Skye, breathe." He holds his arm out for her. "Hold onto me. Channel it into me. I can take it.”
*
"Im trying!" She was hyperventilating only a little, mostly due to the pain of holding back. If she were put under a microscope, one would see the tiny, hairline fractures forming within her forearms. The bones in her upper thigh slowly begins to draw their lines, and it all hurts. Skye wasn't that selfish to put it all on him, but at this point, she had no choice. With gritted teeth, she reaches out to grab his arm, keeping it tight against her chest, her eyes squeezing shit as she imagines herself putting everything into it. Poor Alex, he was quite possibly getting most, if not all the full brunt of what she puts out, keeping as much as she can to herself as to not kill him.
*
Alex grits his teeth as well, and tenses up his arm as much as he can in preparation. Does he understand the finer points of Skye's powers? Hell no. But he's been able to figure out quite a bit from watching. The vibrations go into his arm, and he's able to contain most of what Skye channels into him. After a few moments, his whole body starts to vibrate, but not to the extent of shaking him to pieces; he can hold it, even if it's painful. Pain is temporary, and even if she's fracturing his bones, he'll heal faster than she will. But even so, he doesn't bear it entirely silently; there's pained groans, and the look on his face isn't one you get from being cuddled by puppies.
*
Puppy! He was actually talking all that she could put@out. And it runs out sooner than she realizes. It was the longest attack she's had, the pain great, the exhaustion even greater. Being untrained in your own biology, and ignoring it sucks. She slowly lets go of his arm, slumping into her seat as she quietly begins to cry. At least he was honest, and probably the it person in the world she couldn't hurt. Who -is- he??
*
Alex lets out a breath at the end of it, untensing his body and relaxing as much as he can after the fact. "Okay, that was intense," he says, his own exhaustion evident in his voice. It takes a lot of effort to contain that kind of power. And holy crap is he sore. "How often does that happen?"
*
Skye wipes the tears away from her face, then finally lets out a deep, sad breath. "I don't know.." She admits. "It just does." From what she could deduce, emotional responses, happy.. excited, anything that gets the blood pumping would do it. And she does know that a few of her bones are broken. "You need to go.". She doesn't wait for a response, she opens up her door to climb out, her legs buckling beneath her. It hurt like hell, and all she needed was a minute to regain herself. At least depression doesn't cause the tremors..
*
"Yeah, no," Alex says flatly. "You need some help, and you need to rest," he continues. "Get back in the van, and don't argue with me." He's not putting up with this whiny bullshit. "We'll figure you out." He starts the van again, and turns to look at her, dead serious expression. If she's going to argue with him about this, well.. it wouldn't be the first time he used his powers for someone's own good.
*
It was hard not to be irritated. The truth was, she was exhausted. Imagine staying up for four days and finally reaching your peak; your entire body wants to shut down and you have to let it. She didn't say a word as she struggled to her feet, dragging herself I to the van and closing the door behind her. She grunted and griped of course, when everything hurts, what can you do? And how in the hell is this guy still standing?? "No hospitals..". Was her it request, and that was before she laid down upon the makeshift couch, and fell asleep five minutes later.
*
Alex breathes a sigh of relief. He wasn't going to be the guy who left a half-dead girl on the ground and drove off with her sweet van. "No hospitals," he repeats as she crawls back in, and once doors are shut, he pushes on the gas again, and starts to drive. A few minutes later he glances back to see her passed out. "Motherfucking OW." His poor arm. He'll drive until they get to his building in the Bowery, and he'll drag her upstairs to properly sleep.
*