Gully was having a s*** night. Since moving to this city most nights definitely fell under the same description, but for a Friday tonight was just not his night. Gully was moping about aimlessly, Henny in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He'd quickly come to realize, his name didn't hold the same pedigree out here as it did back in Broward. Bouncers were alot less chill about the whole "My face card good, ask about me" thing. Being 16 and drunk in public was also a big "no no" and after being tossed from different lines time and time again, Gully decided to take to the streets. It didn't take long to find trouble.

"Hey..." 

Gully turned instinctively to face the source of the noise. His vision was iffy but he made out the silhouette of a woman. Curvy one at that.

"Hey auntie, what you want?" 

The woman giggled in response. "let me see you right quick."

Gully wobbled over intently, spilling alcohol with every step. He tripped up on a curb just outside his obstructed periphery, but the mystery woman held him straight.

"whoa baby don't go fallin' on me now."

Gully tried to catch her eye as she hoisted him up.

"Whoa, sorry lady. You're just so pretty i must've hurrrrk-"

Gully fell suddenly. The arms that held him up seemed to suddenly have collapsed under him, as he fell hard shoulder first into his own up chuck. Outside of the woman's high pitched squeels and curses, Gully could hear another voice. Much deeper, much less bubbly and probably belonging to someone alot less curvy.

"Are you f****** kidding me Lucian!? I told you some dumb s*** like this was gon' happen. Got me hoe'in out here like your other b******-" 

"Babe, all you had to do was bring him to the alle-"

"LOOK AT MA SHIT LUCIAN!! LOOK AT IT!"

 Gully grabbed at "Lucian's" pants, clawing his way up to a prone. He looked up at the woman, who looked like someone spilled clam chowder over her.

"Aw man, where'd that other girl go?" Gully chuckled as the man tried to shuck him off. The woman struck a look at her man that would send shivers down any mans spine. Lucian knew what he had to do. Without hesitation Lucian turned a full 180 degrees, pivoting on the foot Gully was holding. At the same time he brought his other foot back from Gully's vision, and once it reached its apex, cracked gully mouth and nose first with a knee Gully wasn't in any condition to defend. Gully was knocked back to a seated position, totally taken aback as his Hennessy bottle Shattered on the road. His nose started to run and his eyes began to tear up as the man prepared to rush him. But before the man could reach him Gully ripped a shot through his thigh from hist Colt 25. The woman ran faster than anyone in 6 inch heels probably should, as the man fell side first clutching at his leg and wailing in pain.  Gully popped off another two shots at the man, missing both. Angry as he was, he was also drunk, crying and bleeding from his mouth and nose. He jumped to his feet, stomping over to the man who was now unconscious. 

"What the hell guy!?" Gully cried, his voice cracked throughout the short sentence. "I was just trynna slide and you kicked my f****** s***!?" Gully kicked at the body trying to solicit a response. The man was breathing but didn't say anything. Gully could hear sirens. The flashing lights in the distance. He stared once more at the man.  He stomped with his heel at the guys nose, breaking it instantly. "We good now."


And just like that, Gully was back. By back, of course i mean another nameless alley only a short distance away, with a bloody nose and teary eyes, but back nonetheless. Gully stood in the middle of the alley alone, trying to let this anger dissipate. He kicked at a trash bag on the floor, as rats scattered into the litter and cracks in the walls.

"I wanna go home" he muttered to himself.

 

Tses was in a strange place in life lately. With all the deaged mutants running around, and heck, with all the new mutants running around, she was in a position of responsibility. It was weird. In her younger years, she was the one blowing things up, beating people up, causing trouble. Now, she was fixing half these mistakes. Quite frankly, she wasn't sure she enjoyed it.

It wasn't that she was even pressured to do it, honestly. She kept out of trouble for Chrys' sake and the tasks she was given with the Syndicate. But, she just hated seeing people bite off more than they could chew. Hindsight, and all that jazz, you know?

Tonight she wandering. Chrys would not be home at the usual time so she wanted to get away. She was dressed in baggy pants, a green t-shirt and a half-size black hoodie that hugged her rib cage. This outfit at least had plenty of pockets, from the cargo ones on the sides of her legs to the shoulder one on the sweater. Why a jacket needed a pocket on the arm was beyond her, but that was fashion for you. Maybe it was for your cell phone. Because obviously, your pants were too far away, you needed it closer.

As she walked through a building she landed in an alleyway and almost stumbled into a kid in the middle of...well, she wanted to say tantrum, but that seemed like the wrong word for it. Pausing, one leg still inside the wall, she cross her arms and settled backward, solidifying and considering him. There was blood, and tears, and anger. And, maaaaybe some type of inhibition.

"Aren't you a bit young to be drinking?" She considered for a moment. She was ready to fall back through the wall if need by. Obviously, he had one scuffle tonight. She wasn't keen on signing him up for a second.

Gully stepped back to avoid collision. He wasn't even midway through his little episode before she suddenly appeared. 

A woman, dirty blonde hair tied in scruffy pigtails, dressed in a casual green Tee, half-size black hoodie and some cargo pants. Nothing too extravagant, she could fall unnoticed in most crowds. Except for the fact that she was currently protruding from a brick wall, arms folded. The skin on her neck and forearms were painted with cuts and burns. 

"Aren't you a bit young to be drinking?" the woman asked ever so condescendingly, or at least that's how Gully interpreted it. He briskly wiped at his nose and face, not that it stopped the bleeding.

"You trynna get your ghost nose broken auntie?" Gully grumbled in response, his voice spiking through the tears and puberty.

"Don't know what kind of currency they use in limbo, but i'll snatch your spirit purse if you try me!" he threatened as his nose continued to gush. 





(OOC soz for this short ass post and highkey wack art. Work got me dead as and i didn't want to leave this too long, more substance in future promise.) 

Tses was learning that teenagers seemed to have short tempers. You walk up to them, and they are ready to take a swing at you. She would never act like that. Sarcasm heavily intended, of course.

"You can try to steal all you want, but you would be better saving your energy to stop that busted nose of yours, Tses remarked cooly. She let her body shift back to light form, so she was partially solid, and partially moonlight. She put one arm through the wall as if to prove a point.

"I have picked my fair share of bad fights, but even I know not to attack someone who walks through walls. And does it look like I'm judging? Hell, I'd throw you another drink if it would help with the headache you're going to have later." She was torn between amusement and pity. That was her usual demeanor though. Like a cat that wasn't quite sure if they wanted to stay or go, she walked a line between friend and enemy for most people. It depended on whether they fought first or not.

"So you pick: try to attack someone who can't be hit, or save some face."


((ooc: returning a very sloppy art, been working doubles all weekend, but didn't want to leave you hanging!))

The woman came back fast "You can try to steal all you want, but you would be better saving your energy to stop that busted nose of yours."

Gully's face tightened at the remark, brimming with anger and embarrassment. If he were back at school, the line definitely would have prompted some "oooohs" from the crowd. Gully didn't appreciate it. He watched unfazed as a green energy enveloped part of the woman's body, at which point she slid her arm straight through the wall. Was she taunting him?

"I have picked my fair share of bad fights, but even I know not to attack someone who walks through walls. And does it look like I'm judging? Hell, I'd throw you another drink if it would help with the headache you're going to have later."

Gully continued to stare in silence, save for the odd blood sniffle here and there. It was hard to give off intimidating vibes when you were staring through irritated eyes and a possibly broken nose. The woman offered him a choice.

"So you pick: try to attack someone who can't be hit, or save some face."

Gully, contrary to his typical self, pondered the choice before him. Maybe it was the pain of having had his face kicked in, or maybe it was because some blonde decided to walk through a wall and offer up some help after being threatened by a guy with his name across his jaw. Then again it was probably because of a concussion. But since coming here, Gully was quickly learning that for better or for worse (currently for the latter) he was stuck in this s******e city. He didn't have street cred, or his family, or the security of a gang behind him. More importantly, he didn't have many friends. Stood in that random alley, he was just a 16 year old kid in a big city with scribbles on his arms and face. 

The tears had stopped by now, but his eyes were beginning to itch. He pulled his sweater off and blew his nose into it, letting blood and guck spew out. He wiped once more at his face at the remaining tears, before tossing the sweater to the floor. He reached at a pack of cigarettes in his pocket, bringing the packet up to his mouth and biting one out. 

"That's a real cheap trick bro." Gully remarked as he lit up the stick. He held out the box in the woman's direction, motioning for her to take one. 

"I don't hit girls and i'm not afraid of no ghosts either, so this time you pick: step outta that wall and say that s*** to my face, or go haunt someone else Moaning Myrtle."


(OOC brooo i love your art! You drew my boy PERFECT <3)



 

Kids these days. Tses rolled her eyes, walking closer. The light went off but she knew her reflex time, and if he made a hit for her, she could phase him through to the other side. Even if she didn't want to do that, however, she had enough experience in her years to more than handle a good fight.

"You survive on the streets, you learn cheap tricks. Life doesn't follow a rule book." Tses waved away the cigarette. She wasn't a fan of the smell and wasn't certain Chrys would care for it either.

"If you don't hit girls, why does it matter what wall I'm walking through? I've been in this city longer than you've been alive, kid. I could easily watch it chew you up and spit you out without batting an eye."

Tses had the scars to prove her claims. While she used to cover most of her skin, there were enough areas of her arms now that had marks visible. She was lean, but strong, and moved like a cat as she circled him to one side. There was a difference between the cockiness she had when she was his age, and the controlled prowl she had now. Someone who knew how to move and act quickly was different than someone throwing fists and just hoping to make contact.

Gully watched carefully as the woman stepped out from the wall, the greenish glow from before dissipated as she did so. 

"You survive on the streets, you learn cheap tricks. Life doesn't follow a rule book." she waved away the pack. Gully scoffed at the action, returning the small box to his pocket as he continued to puff away. It was obvious this woman wasn't fazed by him. 

"If you don't hit girls, why does it matter what wall I'm walking through? I've been in this city longer than you've been alive, kid. I could easily watch it chew you up and spit you out without batting an eye." The woman taunted as she circled him to one side, maintaining an arms length between them. She had a finesse about her, a quiet confidence. Gully could typically dominate most social interactions with his brash, arrogant and loud personality coupled with his outlandish appearance. But this woman seemed different. Bold and unshakable, she stood firm before him; every step seemed calculated. She was like the anti-Gully, Someone at the other end of the spectrum who handled things with a little less left to chance. Gully laughed.

"Kid? pfft." Gully didn't appreciate the term. He took notice of the scars layered about the woman's arms.

"I'm no Kellogg's Tiger, but I've earned my stripes sis. And old as you are, you still gotta look up to see my face."

He closed the gap between them, stopping close enough to look down on her.

"I don't hit girls, but i'll slap a b**** if that's what this is." He took a deep inhale of the cancer stick, blowing it directly towards her face in a long and slow exhale.

"That what this is?"

The kid could talk smack. Maybe it was a flaw of him being drunk? Drunk people tended to pick fights when they weren't always certain they could win them. Tses should have turned and walked away at the first sign of a tempter, but she didn't. She really should do a lot of things in life, but they didn't happen. This would just go into her book of 'should have, could have, didn't'.

Before anyone drew a punch, however, there was a yell from the edge of the alley, and Tses looked over. A rather beefy looking guy was coming toward them, and he didn't seem friendly.

"Are you two punks the ones who f****d with Lucian?" The man flexed, and metal rippled across skin like sheets of armor, clanking together. Dark eyes stared out, and a snarl was on his lips. "You look like the punk, alright. Think you can pop one off at someone in this neighborhood without running into trouble? You picked the wrong city."

Tses let out a small curse, but didn't go light form quite yet. She would save that party trick for the right moment. If this man thought she was in on this, it could be bad. She had her own reputation to be careful about. She shot one look at the teenager, and one back at the metal man coming close.r

"Hey, maybe we should take it easy before we start causing more problems. You sure you got the right kid?"

It probably didn't help having your name tattooed on your face. Sometimes, having a bit too much personality had it's downsides like that.

"Are you two punks the ones who f****d with Lucian?"

The duo turned to the mouth of the alley to face a burly and rather upset looking mountain of a man. /This prick just say Lucian?/ The two watched as metal cloaked the mans body from all sides, clanking into place until his entire body was encased. The man stared out into the alley before turning his attention to Gully.

"You look like the punk, alright. Think you can pop one off at someone in this neighborhood without running into trouble? You picked the wrong city.

Gully, already upset, was about to pipe up. But before he could speak...

"Hey, maybe we should take it easy before we start causing more problems. You sure you got the right kid?"

Gully turned to face the woman. She didn't seem scared, but from those words he could tell she definitely didn't want beef with this guy. /Some street kid you turned out to be/. Gully laughed an annoying giggle which turned to a full faced belly crunching bellow, stopping the man momentarily. He only stopped laughing to cough after choking on his spittle. Finally he took one last long puff of his cigarette before tossing the remains to the concrete. He turned his attention once more to the woman.

"Wowee sis, all that tough talk from earlier and you go scary from big chungus over there?" Gully taunted making sure the man could hear him. 

"F*** you say b-"

"You heard me Shrek! What you think i'm scared cos i pissed in your swamp? I put a break in your boy's teeth and imma do the same to your b**** a**" Gully brushed The woman's shoulder with the back of his hand, pushing her slightly to the side and stepping out; a flash of light dissipated from said shoulder as soon as it appeared.

"Wait here Fiona, we can make out after i chop your exes head off." Gully approached at a similar speed to the man. He had the Colt on him and wasn't afraid to use it, but he wanted to prove something to the random ghost lady. He wanted to show her that (brash as he was) he was no punk and that he could throw hands with anyone. Even if said person was a hippo cloaked in steel. Instead he opted for the slightly more respectable yet equally distasteful knuckle dusters. He popped them onto his right hand from his butt pocket, leaving his hand behind his body as he approached to hide the weapon. 

"I'm gonna rip you up and feed you to my Rotty kid!" Gully didn't speak instead answering with a sucker punch straight for the mans jaw from way back at his hip. His fist crossed the mans face with a gong like ring, but he stood unfazed. Gully on the other hand wasn't so fortunate. Almost as soon as his brass knuckled fist made contact with the giant's jaw, his hand seized up. He grabbed at the his wrist as pain shot through it, his fingers frozen in the shape of a claw as he tried desperately to shake some feeling back into them. The man laughed folding his arms.

"They never learn." 

Before Gully could even fully register what had happened, he was met with a fist to his own mid section. The blow landed with a sickening thud instantly knocking the air out of the boy and lifting him a few inches off the ground. He landed pathetically on his knees and shins, folded over and clutching at his belly as blood once again started to spew from his nose and mouth. The man reached down to pick Gully up from his shirt, only to have it rip away from his body. He then instead grabbed a fistful of his hair and forced him up. Gully screamed as he was forced up, suspended about a foot from the floor, but the man taunted through his cries.

"What was that you said? Something about chopping my head off?" Gully continued to shout before another unprotected shot sent his limp body flying across the alley and directly towards the woman.

((OOC enjoy this very rough tingsss))

Tses had hoped the kid could keep his mouth shut. Heck, she even hoped he could stay where it was safe. But that all seemed to be a short lived wish when the little punk opened his mouth and had the nerve to sass her.

Tses sighed to herself, and didn't even flinch when he pushed her out of the way. Kid's gotta learn. Tses wasn't going to get herself into trouble on account of some random brat she met on the street. She almost turned to walk away, then paused when the first punch landed...It....went downhill from there.

It was a rather short lived battle, and it looked painful. Tses started forward against her better instinct when the kid cried out in pain and cursed, managing to awkwardly catch him when he was thrown her way. "For F*** sake." She quickly put him down on the concrete, strong, but not strong enough to go carting him away from this situation. Then she let green light spill from one arm to the other, facing down the taller mutant in front of her.

It was not a fight she could win by strength. Heck, running away would just leave the punk behind her to get pummeled more. Suddenly, memories of a man across a bartop came back to her. What had Chrys said? Someone found her big girl voice. She straightened, and tried to draw on how she felt that day.

Authoritative. Firm. Unyielding. "You are going to leave," she instructed. Her eyes turned green, and she felt energy rushing toward her eyes. The metal man froze midstep. Tses instructed again."You will leave us alone."

He seemed confused, disoriented. One step back, then the other. Finally, he turned and left the alley, disappearing into the night.

Tses let the energy fade from her body, feeling tired. She glanced behind her and walked to where the kid was. Gully? She wondered if that was his real name or just what he had on his face. There was a Doc at the mansion, but she wondered if he would even be the type to go there. What the heck did you do with a drunk kid who just picked a fight with a metal bolder?

((...it moves!!! Nice!!! Hope this post works, sorry took a little longer))

((OOC don't even sweat it, work had me slackin all week Will post fer you and Elliot tonight, but fer now heres ya boi gettin his ass beat )