Thread: Empire - City of Lost Cause (Black_Out and meomeo)

The forsaken and forgotten Rheinhouse Theater welcomed the return of the Vagabond with it's filtered shadows and typical silence. It had been decades since the play house was basking in glorious activity. The ghosts of those times still haunted the Vagabond's mind. Through the peeled and fading paint, the criminal could feel the brilliance of the past still residing within the dilapidated structure's walls. That familiar sensation soothed his frustration towards the days events as he lowered himself upon his elastic scarf down through a gaping wide tear in the ceiling. The flickering glow of an old tubular television set illuminated a tiny gathering of vagrants lazing about within a small clearing in the mangled mess of chairs that littered the place. Hey boss man, ya done went an made tha news! The familiar voice of Jolly John called out in greeting from the cluster fuck of worn and ruined chairs that littered the once prestigious audience floor. He was a gap toothed and stubborn homeless drunkard that had fallen under the Vagabond's care after the electronics store he worked for went belly up, leaving the price of society to swallow him up in debt. With a flourish of his receding red scarf the self styled criminal champion of the homeless offered a deep and graceful bow towards his underlings. The crooked and battered top hat dropped from its perch atop his head and rolled down his long outstretched arm where the nimble fingers of the villain caught upon it's bent brim. You don't say? Just what pleasantries are they showering me with now? Surely they were telling terrorized tales of me, the wolf that I am, disrupting the mindless routines of the sheep that come and go from this city of tragedy? With a spin between his dexterous fingers the long black spoiled top hat came to rest upon his matted nest of hair once more as the lanky villain waltzed his spindly legs towards the cluster around the fuzzy light of the television. John felt his jaw twitch as he looked towards his boss and caretaker and instinctively he flinched as he spoke up. Uh, well, that there, well tha's not e'xactly whut they said. His eyes swept over the four other refuges looking for support from the faces belonging to those currently loitering in the shelter of the Vagabond's hideout. Jolly John didn't quite feel so jolly as he looked back towards the now looming dark figure of their leader as he stood at the edge of their circle. Uh, tha, tha said ya gots beat. He gulped down his growing worry that his boss was about to fall into one of his infamous rages. Uhm, ya gat beat up by, by some new hero un town. He could feel the sweat beading into existence upon his forehead as he looked towards those narrowed eyes hidden under the shadowy curtain of that crooked black top hat. Thay called her, Hammer, Hammer Time. He tentatively spat out. Beneath the coiling folds of his royal red scarf the villains teeth scraped together as his jaw set tight. Eyes burned with intensity as the Vagabond looked between the loyal faces of his troops. His muffled voice replied with renewed hatred as black leather clad hands tightened into fists as his fury worked its way down into them. Beat! They said she beat! Me!? The steel tip of his dancing shoe lashed out against a nearby chair and sent it hurtling across the auditorium. It, it wus just, just a few minushes ago boss. Jush a real brief bit. Another of the unkempt bums hesitantly blurted out. I bloody ruined her! He stomped his foot back down against the debris riddled floor. She got ONE! His black leather index finger shot up into the air. ONE lucky shot in when my back was turned! His head craned back and he let out a howl of disgust. When will these fucking news people give me the credit I so rightfully deserve! John nodded affirmatively once. Uh, huh, shum purty little thang gonna do an intraview laters with Hammer Time. She, she's at tha hospital, recovaring. His head snapped to look towards Jolly John, one wispy slender brow angling upwards as a glint of mischief shone in his eyes. Ya don't say, an, interview, tonight, at the hospital? ------------------------------------------------ Tucked away in a small corner booth of some sparsely populated vintage street car diner, Andrew Esh stared down at the invigorating black cup of coffee nestled between his sturdy hands. The remnants of his polished off late morning breakfast lingered on the cheap white plate as he took a sip of that steamy hot coffee. As his stubby fingers swept up the loitering scraps of food from his plate with a slice of toast his eyes absently watched the television nestled in the corner out of habit. He nearly spat his coffee out as the breaking news flashed across the screen, displaying a montage of bits and pieces of Allison's spontaneous interview with the cities newest heroine, Hammer Time. Vallie, oh for fucks sake, they sent Vallie Olsen here? The fugitive from the Garrison Agency, that called himself the Crimson Marauder muttered under his breath. The coffee was quickly emptied down his throat as he placed a handful of crumpled up bills under the edge of his plate. The hulking figure pushed the table back then so he could squeeze out from the booth as he grabbed his leather jacket and forced his way into it. Idiots. He breathed out to no one in particular as he took one last look at the brief tease advertising this evenings interview with Hammer Time. They must be desperate, sending my old booty call to Empire City. Andrews thoughts drifted back to those late night rendezvous as he made his way out of the diner and into the hustle and bustle of the midday. I mean really, Vallie, fucking, Olsen? Sure she was one hot piece of ass, but damn if she wasn't a liability to the team. She's gonna get herself killed or worse, messing around with someone like the Vagabond. His lips twitched as he settled on his bike, the suspension groaning under the weight and mass of the Crimson Marauder as he kicked the stand back up and let the engine rev before screaming out into the narrowest of openings in the flowing traffic that zipped along. I'm gonna have to pay her a visit, I just don't know how to go about it, yet.