[Open] Why deal with your emotions when you can just beat people up?

[noodleboi]

WHO: "The Skull" aka MK in a dress and a mask and YOU
WHAT: Being a vigilante is just hostile cosplay. MK is out to kick criminal butt, save people, and pretend he's someone else.
WHEN: From mid-February through early March
WHERE: All over Nightwake
WARNINGS: Violence and Mk being a bit of a jerk

The Halloween party on the airships had been horrible for MK. Sure, it all started out as fun. He dressed up as the scariest thing he knew of, the Lady Bone Demon. Well, his own little mask and dress he found that she wore. It has shoulder plate armor on it and his skull mask had glowing red LED eyes. it hid his face and was good enough for the Masquerade. After talking to others who struck back at the criminals here in Ellispa, Mk got the idea maybe he could do the same. He was a hero back home but the gangsters and mobsters here would try to hurt the people he cared about.

Which was why he thought of using the costume to hide his identity. If he didn't use his signature weapon or any of his powers from home, no one would be the wiser. Right? That was his hope. Of course, what tipped MK into actually playing vigilante was a fight with his friend, mentor, and person he cared a lot about. Which was why he was sneaking out at night to fight when he wasn't busy with his boyfriends. Time to blow off steam by kicking the crap out of criminals.

Scenario A - The Skull saves you

Perhaps you're being chased by the gangsters here in Ellispa. Or you're cornered. You're in debt and they're hounding you. The Skull would come to your rescue. It was the perfect time to show off his abilities with the magic here. He'd been here for a while and was always a fast learner. Which is how rocks suddenly appear and slam into the gangsters. They pin them to the wall and start to spin, giving them some serious road rash before the stones move and let them fall over.

The Skull appeared suddenly after that to motion with his head for the person to move.

"Let's go. They won't be getting up for a bit. I can take you somewhere safe."

Scenario B - Passerby

Perhaps you simply see the vigilante in passing. The Skull was getting around floating on a rock he had conjured and controlled. It was easy to move around flying when you could just control and manipulate rocks. Seeing gangsters out and about, the Skull struke. He flew down and dropped the rock he was riding on in front of the criminals. Then he came down hard and landed on one gangsters before he jumped over to spin kick the other in the face. He summoned three more rocks to float around him.

"You criminals don't show others mercy or kindness. What makes you think I will," Mk said with a certain aloofness before he slammed the rock into one of the gangsters."

Do you stay and watch, do you help the vigilante, or do you maybe try to save the poor outmatched gangsters?

Scenario C - Wildcard

How do you come across this rock weilding vigilante who seems to have perfect balance? Anything goes here after all. Nightwake is the city that never sleeps. Anything can happen.

Comments

B

[sangreine]

[ Saya is drawn by the sounds of a scuffle or struggle in an alley, and comes racing around the corner before she gets a good look at what's going on-- ]

[ She can't quite place the voice, but the costume. She could never forget that thing. ]

[ She catches MK's hand after the first hit, mainly because she knows exactly how strong he is and what the hell is he even doing? ]

Stop. [ She's not going to keep his arm in her grip, she just wants to give the other guys time to flee. ]

Re: B

[noodleboi]

[The catch of his fist surprises Mk enough that he goes still. He slowly turns to look at Saya. The gangsters quickly take this chance to flee. Oh yeah. They want nothing to do with this.]

They wouldn't stop if they had the upper hand.

[He doesn't strike them again, even though he could. A rock to the back of the head to drive the lesson home. Still, he doesn't. Saya is fast enough to slice the rock in half before it gets halfway to the gangster.]

Re: B

[sangreine]

But you're not them. MK, you could have killed them. Were you planning on killing them?

[ Being a cold blooded murderer, you don't come back from that. Ask her how she knows. ]

Re: B

[noodleboi]

No. I wasn't going to use my full strength.

[He doesn't want to kill. He just wants to let the anger out. Road rash on faces and body parts, slamming them around. Sure, there might be broken bones involved, but he isn't killing anyone.

Not on purpose.]

All they do is hurt people. Change them. Make them feel afraid and nothing seems to stop them. Might as well make them feel small and weak. Make sure they know they can't just do what they want and we're just gonna take it.

Re: B

[sangreine]

[ She lets out a slow breath. She wants to believe him. ]

You sound pissed. You want to talk about it instead? We can spar if you need to get it out.

Re: B

[noodleboi]

I am. [He really is pissed. He's so pissed at himself and at Macaque. He just needs to let it out somehow.]

I don't think talking will do much good but sure. We can. Hold on. [Mk holds out his hands. Suddenly all of the ambient noise around them ceases. He pulls out his phone and starts to type out his message.]

Macaque can't hear us this way. And he's why I'm mad.

Re: B

[sangreine]

You never know.

[ Macaque... The moody thing that hates her for ??? reasons and yet can't stay out of her club? Ah. ]

I'm telepathic, if that's easier. Or we can do this.

[tethered_roamer]

Cole was less than pleased with his current predicament. It was slightly better, because being Lost meant that no regular containment could hold him...but being a little black cat didn't help much, even if he was a free cat. And it was a long walk in such a small body to find anyone he knew. His tail began to tick back and forth in annoyance as he sat on the curb to think. It would likely be better to find a teleporter, but he'd need a better vantage point to get his bearings.

Standing and looking around, Cole spotted a trashcan that was placed where he could use it to gradually access the roof. Padding over to it, he hopped up and landed with a louder than intended clang from the lid not resting flat.

[noodleboi]

The clang caught Mk's attention. The masked vigilante floated down quickly and looked around for the source of the noise. He spotted the cat on the trash can. He tilted his head and stepped off his rock. He walked over to the cat and spoke with a muffled voice thanks to the mask.

"Did you make that noise? You alright?" He asked as he held his hand out to the cat to sniff.

[tethered_roamer]

Cole watched the masked figure carefully, his fur starting to bristle and his back arching to make himself look bigger as the hand approached. He didn't growl or hiss though, extending his neck enough to sniff the offered fingers. His ears perked and swiveled, trying to identify what felt like a stranger. The inside of was was an almost golden yellow, and the other an almost mauve red.

[noodleboi]

The hand stops when Cole shows he's not feeling cuddly. Definitely not a lost pet then. The ears perk up and swivel and MK's eyes widen behind the mask. Golden yellow. He knows that color. Wait. It can't be.]

Cole? [He asks softly and turns his hand over to offer his palm up. If he wanted, if it was him, he could climb up his arm and onto his shoulder.]

Cole is that you?

[tethered_roamer]

Cole paused, the soft tone finally registering as MK's voice. That and the upturned hand...he stops bristling and looks up at the mask as he cautiously places a paw on his palm. Then another, a questioning meow, and finally moving up to his shoulder. What is going on, MK?

[noodleboi]

Cole was a cat now. But Cole wasn't turning back. MK felt the anger still burning inside him suddenly burst. It was hotter now and he slowly brought his hand up to pet Cole gently once.

"Just lay on my shoulder. I'll get you back to normal. I'm pretty sure I know where to go." MK summoned his rock and headed for the mall. Best place to go looking was at the source. If Cole was a cat, and not by choice, likely it was the gangsters who did it.

B

[othellovonryan]

Donnie had....well, honestly, he had been coming for an exchange.

Listen, he grew up in a sewer, with no legitimate way to make money. His very existence back home was several crimes. So he was used to ignoring the law for the most part and focused instead of what did and did not hurt people.

And honestly, his metabolism made it a fucking bitch to get painkillers that work, let alone several other drugs, so he was picking up a supply from the local gang in exchange for safe crackers. Hey, if they can get to a safe, more power to them, most safes worth robbing were people who could afford to lose money anyway.

Only to walk into the alley to see someone assaulting his contact and friends with a bunch of rocks.

"Uuuuh....is this a personal matter you're dealing with, or....?"

Honestly, walking around in a mask and hoody is probably something he shouldn't be doing since it DOES make one look sus, but the day Donnie broke a habit without it being forced is the day he passed on eating pizza.

Re: B

[noodleboi]

Donnie's contacts were definitely not having a good day either. One right now was dangling upside down being hung up in the air by three rocks pressing very hard on their ankle. The others were being slammed around by rocks. One tried to draw a gun but the metal of the barrel was twisted into a spiral and bent backwards with a motion of the masked vigilante's hand. The skull face turned to look at Donnie with those glowing red eyes.

"These meaningless criminals aren't the issue but they serve the purpose to help me work through mine. Why? Were you the one they said they were waiting on?" MK slammed the dangling gangster into the ground and floated toward the hooded masked turtle. Talking like her came so easy. That Masquerade party definitely helped but having her voice in his head sure didn't hurt either.

Re: B

[othellovonryan]

Donnie raised an eyebrow at that, a hand resting at his waist, the other holding onto the strap of his bag. "Yes, actually. They were helping me get some hard to obtain supplies," he said. "I've been told beating up people to work through your issues isn't the healthiest coping mechanism."

Re: B

[noodleboi]

"Maybe it isn't. But the monsters can't help their nature. These people made their choice," The vigilante said. He raised his hand and the metal of the cases Donnie's supplies were in floated up and over toward the two of them.

"Dealing with criminals isn't always the best way to go shopping either. But who am I to judge? What are these for?"

Re: B

[othellovonryan]

"Personal use," Donnie said. "And I don't feel like explaining anymore than that someone who calls people monsters. The first step to continuing the constant cycle of prison and criminal activity starts with dehumanizing the criminals. The first step to stop is recognizing there are many reasons for one to turn to crime, a great many factors are outside of their control."

Said all very flat and calm.

Re: B

[noodleboi]

MK scoffed and slowly spun the crates around with a twirl of his finger.

"I wasn't speaking about the gangsters. I meant the monsters outside the city. The werewolves and the like. I could be taking my issues out on them. But they're simply monsters. They don't know better. These gangsters do. And they choose to engage in crime, hurt people, and experiment on them. That's why I'm punishing them," They lowered themselves down and moved the crates to sit on the ground beside Donnie.

"Does that clear up my meaning? Now, personal use. As long as you aren't helping them experiment on unsuspecting people, I may let you have your supplies. And you won't even have to give them what you promised. Isn't that a steal?"

February 25th - Locked to <user name="legsfordays"> and <user name="dealtinthebar">

[noodleboi]

Following Donnie's advice, Mk had started to observe the gang members more than hunt them. Less beating them up and more foiling their plans from a distance. He could freak them out, interrupt their plans, and eavesdrop on them. It helped when he could just make it so he couldn't make any noises from where he was. Working like this got him some great intel on some booze the gangs were moving. Free booze!

Mk broke into the warehouse and easily took a few crates of the stuff. The rest he smashed with rocks or used the wooden crates to crush the bottles inside. That way they couldn't sell the stuff or use it in their casino. Take that, gangsters!

MK took his haul and made sure to change out of his vigilante outfit before he excitedly knocked on the door to Husk's and Angel's apartment.

[legsfordays]

It was Angel that answered the door, fully clothed for once and looking fairly surprised to see MK standing outside his apartment. He quickly checked his phone — no messages. Must have been in the neighborhood or something.

"Hey. Wasn't expectin' company." But he moved back to let him in regardless. "What's up?"

[dealtinthebar]

Husk's ear twitched and he glanced in the direction of Angel and the door, but he didn't move from the kitchen sink where he was washing the dishes. Who the hell was at the door. It couldn't be Charlie or her dad. But whoever it was was clearly someone at least Angel knew.

[noodleboi]

MK grinned seeing Angel. He waved and motioned with his hand. Three wooden crates floated into view from down the hall and entered the apartment before him.

"Hey. I brought gifts~" Mk said with a proud tone in his voice. With a motion of his hand, he set the three crates down on the floor.

"Tah dah! More booze. In case you guys drank through the other stuff already. Thought you'd like it."

[legsfordays]

Angel hurriedly stepped out of the way, picking Fat Nuggets up off the floor before he ended up under the crates.

"Holy shit. Did you rob a brewery or somethin?"

[dealtinthebar]

That gets Husk out of the kitchen, turning off the water and walking over to see...and freezing when several crates just float over to the living room. "That's what I wanna know. No way you got all this on a friend tab." Or a friends with benefits tab for that matter.