Thread: A Game of Cat and Mouse [AlluringEnigma x Iron and Wine]

Repressing the facial tic that threatened to rise up and consume him at hearing her cavalierly addressing him, insulting him. Not only did this costumed Crystal represent everything that was wrong with the City, in his mind, but also she represented the unruliness and degeneracy of modern youth. It raised Mr. Dalmeres hackles, put his entire state of mind at risk of being perturbed, and once perturbed it was more difficult for him than most people to restore his balance. You see, Crystal, his gritty voice rang out over the public parking lot, there are two driving forces in this City, my City. Order and chaos. You think you are fighting for order, for the people, for truth and justice, but you most assuredly are not. The people are chaos. They dont have a unified voice or a vision. They need to be led. And you? He sneered indignantly. You think youre going to lead them, save them, with your Halloween costume and stripper name? You think youre going to make a difference by beating up my men in some dark alley? Despite his raging arrogance and jarring mannerisms, the large mans words carried a weight to them. He adjusted his cufflinks, as if they were having a business casual conference, as if it were common for him to discuss business in abandoned parking lots. Sensing that Crystal was moving around to them, three of the thugs armed with baseball bats tightened their grips and stepped forward with glowering looks on their faces, pointing at her outfit with clear disdain. If it hadnt been for the fact that she beat the piss out of Tiron, they wouldnt have taken her the least bit seriously. Then there is order, the kind of order only I can bring. This city needs it, craves it like water. And that order is predicated upon one thing.Youre familiar with the Golden Rule? Im sure they taught that to you in English class. The Golden Rule is simple he who has the gold makes the rules. Thats my job, my commitment, my mission. To make this city a place of order, to make it what it deserves to be. What was most frightening about the man was not just his size, but his almost fanatical belief in his own words. This rampant vigilantism that youve embarked on? This idolatry that you foster, believing you have some kind of mission? Convincing the media that you are going to save this city with your fists and billy clubs? That is chaos, and chaos is something I cannot abide in my city. I will not! His voice had grown thunderous. Well youve gotten my attention now. And Ive decided that, since you decided to send a message with one of my men, that Id use you to send a message Pulling off his coat, he had one of his men helping him out of it, and the man folded the coat carefully like it was the most precious item in the world. High beam emanating from behind him, the massive man cracked his neck, picking up a baseball bat. He moved like a professional fighter, a bit rough around the edges and perhaps a bit stiff, but with a cat-like ferocity that was belied by his mass. You saw what she did to Tiron? he called to the three dozen men lurking in the gloom behind the lights. She thinks that anarchy is preferrable to the order that I provide. She thinks that wearing a mask and taking some karate classes gives her the right to flaunt my rules. Are you going to take that? Are you going to be pushed around by a fucking teenage stripper? There was a chorus of angry gutteral shouts from the thugs, who seemed extremely loyal to the man, either because of his strange charisma or because he paid them obscenely. Leveling the bat at her, he growled, Teach this bitch a lesson. The three men closest to her readied their bats with eager expressions, making lewd gestures at her, attempting to taunt her into making the first move. Then a bullet rang out, slamming into the ground just five feet from her, sending up a spray of dirt and asphalt against her legs. One of the men behind the boss cleared the chamber of his rifle, then readed the rifle for a second shot, looking through the scope. It was clear the boss had no intention of making this a fair fight. If she tried to flee, she was likely to end up with a bullet in her back. The momentary distraction of the shot echoing in the night was what the three men needed to advance on her suddenly. One went for a tackle on her legs, while the other swung his bat at her upper torso in a clothesline maneuver, and the third hung back looking for an opening. These werent common drug-dealers, but hardened thugs who knew how to fight, and fight dirty.