We Built This City on Rock and Roll
<h1 id="title">Elliquiy Role Playing Forums</h1>
		<h2 id="linktree">Play-By-Post: Extreme =&gt; Extreme Small Groups =&gt; Topic started by: Galactic Druid on 06-12-2012, 06:02:16</h2>
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				Title: <strong>We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>06-12-2012, 06:02:16</strong>
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				What once was known as Vancouver Island had long been known as Rock City. In reality, naming the entire island after the city was overkill, Rock City only took up about half the span of the island, leaving the entire northern part untouched, virgin forest and wilderness, untouched by the greedy hand of man. Ready to be taken and used viciously, then hung up wet by the first young buck to turn an interested eye her way...<br><br>The power plants and large majority of the city’s infrastructure was buried deep in the mountains that spanned the middle of the island, amidst the series of tunnels and monorails that ultimately provided the city with a clean source of energy, without the mess of the plant being a central part of the grid. Hydroelectric power from the plant being free for the use of local residential buildings with businesses paying slightly higher rates than normal to cover costs. The whole power system being run as a socialized benefit for the island’s society as a whole rather than for profit.<br><br>The island had been renamed not for the city so much as to separate itself. For all purposes, Rock City was an independent city-state, neither part of Canada nor America, and boasting a quality of life higher than either nation’s average.<br><br>Frank Lloyd Rock was a successful businessman in the early eighteen hundreds, made his money in rubber, molasses and by the use of cheap sweatshop immigrant labour to build up an impressive fortune. During the Pig War he saw an opportunity to claim a piece of land as an independent state and took it. Managing to broker a peace for both sides while drawing the new agreed upon lines of demarcation between the two countries to exclude the part of the island he was to claim for himself. A few greased palms and Rock had his island. A tax haven, it became very successful, especially during prohibition, where you could obtain whatever you wanted at knockdown prices.<br><br>In the modern day it remains an independent state and a tax haven. Immigration is strictly controlled and its hard to become a resident without having been born there. However the lack of income taxes, the city raises revenue through business, land and goods taxes alone, and the generally very permissive and libertarian attitude that manages to still pervade there makes it a huge tourist attraction to both Americans and Canadians alike.<br><br>November was creeping up on Rock City, as it had it’s way of doing. The cold winter air was wet with impending rain, clouds forming over the skyscrapers.&nbsp; With the early onset of evening the sun began to set before most even left their day jobs. Rock City Rock was just beginning their usual show. For most of the citizens of Rock City, it was just another boring night. For most of them...
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				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>06-12-2012, 06:26:28</strong>
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				(http://www.zen90682.zen.co.uk/yam.jpg)<br><br><strong>Yamalla Pia Constantine<br>At home in Parvarti Hills, 15 Imperial Street<br>Listening to music and surfing the internet</strong><br><br><br>She really should have been looking at the college prospectus and choosing something to study. The thing was, the nub of the problem, the real heart of the matter... Yam really wasn't that interested in attending college.<br><br>Her dad hadn't gone to college and he had made enough money to wind up buying a very nice house in a very nice area of town. And then for some reason that Yam didn't really understand had married her mother, had four kids, two of them her younger sisters, the twins, one her older brother, then been caught sexing up the maid.<br><br>The divorce had, of course, followed local law and had been reasonably amicable in that the kids could live with whichever parent they chose to, the house stayed with whichever parent had the most kids after that had been decided and the rest was split up evenly. Money and all assets were divided up as best as was practicable then all the other stuff.<br><br>Since Yam and the twins had elected to stay with mom they were all still in the house. Dad and Erik had moved to a more modest place on the other side of the city.<br><br>The family in general didn't want for money. Dad had owned a large import/export business and several ships, which he had kept, with almost all the money and other assets going to Dominique, Yam's mother, to balance this out. Dominique had no interest in splitting up the business or running part of it herself so had agreed to that as the best kind of compromise. It gave the four of them more than enough to live on for the rest of their lives after all.<br><br>So why, that being the case, was her mom so insistent that she go to college and 'learn a trade'? She didn't need one. It was all so stupid. Why couldn't she just hang out online all day. People didn't call you names online like they did in high school, would likely in college. It was a nice place where you could be accepted. Or where you could troll the innocent unmercifully for no very good reason.<br><br>Currently Yam was doing the latter.<br><br>She had been putting off going to college since leaving high school in September, and now her mom was on at her constantly about the summer term. Yam figured that if she was careful and stayed out of the way as much as she could, it was likely possible to eke this avoidance out for at least a full year. Maybe even eighteen months if she was really canny about it.<br><br>Switching to her e-mail client at the sound of an incoming message, Yam stopped trolling lovesick wonders on E-Harmony for five minutes to check up on the incoming message.
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				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>07-12-2012, 02:26:06</strong>
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				(http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i408/Aadreal/E%20characters/Jasmine.jpg)<br><strong> Jasmine Vitolli (or so she claims)<br>At the pier surrounded by <del>victims</del> tourists<br>Trying to make a buck or fifty</strong><br><br>Jasmine jerked her head as she tried get a few of the bottle blonde curls out of her face.&nbsp; “Come on, come on give it a try.&nbsp; Can you find the lucky lady?&nbsp; What about you sir?&nbsp; Two to one. Two to one odds is what I'm offering.&nbsp; Find the lady!”&nbsp; Kneeling on a worn cushion behind a skateboard turned makeshift table, she made the trio of cards dance, flipping up the queen of hearts to show the curious but way too small crowd.&nbsp; The fading daylight barely glinted off of the gold rings in her nose, dusky light warming her caramel skin further.&nbsp; Dressed in a pair of ragged jeans and a loose men's shirt covering a too tight tank top she seemed like just an ordinary girl.<br><br>Her hair was tied back in a ponytail but the wind still managed to pick up the shorter curls around her face.&nbsp; Laying on her most innocent and charming smile One of the bystanders stepped closer, laying a fiver on the table.&nbsp; Her hand immediately dipped into her pocket, pulling out a ten and tucked them both under the stone paperweight.&nbsp; <br><br>“Alright, alright, alright! We have a taker! Keep your eye on the lovely lady.”&nbsp; Flipping over the queen she let all take a good look before turning it over again.&nbsp; “You got it? You sure?”&nbsp; Chanting a series of nonsense words she moved her hands over the trio of face down cards.&nbsp; Hopping them one over the other in a dizzying dance.&nbsp; Her eyes moved from her mark to the rest of the crowd, throwing out lines from time to time to entice others.&nbsp; <br><br>Finally letting them settle she knocked twice on the wooden top, close to the card on her left.&nbsp; “For a bit of luck, eh? Know where she is?&nbsp; Did you keep her in your sights?&nbsp; Which one is the lucky lady?”&nbsp; Sure enough the man beamed as he picked the card she wanted him to.&nbsp; Flipping it over to reveal the queen of hearts she let out a rather exaggerated groan of disappointment. “Come one, once more.&nbsp; Match the fifteen, winner takes all.&nbsp; I'm a starving girl here.&nbsp; Give me a chance to win my money back.”&nbsp; Jasmine leaned forward a bit, her loose shirt falling open to reveal the hint of cleavage.&nbsp; <br><br>And soon she was moving the cards once more, another thirty tucked under the stone. .&nbsp; Her agile hands moving with a sure grace as she chanted out the singsong catcalls of her vocation.&nbsp; Each time her eyes moved to her victim his eyes were focused on the swath of skin peeking out from her low neckline. Once again as the cards stilled she did her knock for luck.&nbsp; This time by the center card.&nbsp; And this time it was revealed to be the ace of spades.&nbsp; “Oh! Win some you lose some.&nbsp; Want another go? Best two out of three wins triple?”&nbsp; She started pulling more from her pocket but the man merely shook his head and wandered away.&nbsp; <br><br>Another began to step forward when her watcher let out the whistle signifying police.&nbsp; “Looks like rain.&nbsp; Better pack it in folks.&nbsp; Don't want you getting soaked!”&nbsp; Deftly pocketing the money, the cards and breaking down the set up she looked like just another skater out on the boardwalk by the time the uniformed cop approached.&nbsp; He was watching her intently and she knew it.&nbsp; Doing her best to slip away among the crowd.&nbsp; Only the crowd was barely enough to call it such, her purple patched backpack an easy target to watch.&nbsp; <br><br>“Leave off!”&nbsp; She instantly cried out and began to tug away as she felt a&nbsp; hand grab her arm.&nbsp; Another complaint on her lips before turning to see who her molester was. 
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				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>07-12-2012, 02:53:58</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/b/b8/Firefighter3.jpg)</div><br><br><strong>Meredith Peebles<br>Pier - aboard the moored MV <em>Daylight 3</em><br>Firefighting Drills</strong><br><br>"Hey, Princess, something more important than this briefing?"&nbsp; <br><br>Meredith's head snapped around from where she'd been watching a girl run a game for some of the late season tourists and locals alike.&nbsp; The girl was pretty in a wild sort of way and Meredith wondered what it was like working the crowd for money instead of having a real job.&nbsp; &nbsp;Was it more fun?<br><br>Meredith found the Engineer glaring at her.&nbsp; He bore a livid white scar across the bottom of his jaw where his mask had failed and hot gases, fueled by the air supply from the mask, had flared and burned a reminder into his skin that their profession was inherently dangerous.&nbsp; "Sorry, Critter."&nbsp; <br><br>Critter, his real name was Critz, glared a moment longer.&nbsp; They all had nicknames.&nbsp; There was Ox, because he was big, and Critter, and Hollywood the pretty boy who wanted to be an actor and all the others.&nbsp; Only the Lieutenant didn't have one, or at least they didn't use one when talking to or about him.&nbsp; Meredith's was Princess.&nbsp; <br><br>It wasn't respectful or kind.&nbsp; Everyone in the house had made it clear they thought she didn't belong in their male dominated world.&nbsp; Driving a bus - an ambulance - sure.&nbsp; But not slinging hose or swinging an axe.<br><br>Critz jerked his head towards a hose pack.&nbsp; "Like I said, Princess, you run the short end of the main line to the Storz on the pier supply, then hump that hose pack up and onto the superstructure while Hollywood runs the long end of the main line up the gangway.&nbsp; Sex it up," that meant connecting the male and female ends, "and run your ass below decks and set up a fog nozzle.&nbsp; We'll use it to advance and find out where the devil is.&nbsp; Got it?"<br><br>"Yeah," she said sounding confident.&nbsp; <br><br>"All right.&nbsp; We only got one go at this.&nbsp; Mr. Constantine said we could use her tonight for training, but he's got to get her over to the main yard to fuel and load tomorrow.&nbsp; Let's get in, kill it, everyone comes out," Critter commanded and gave them a moment to seal up their bunker gear before starting the drill.<br><br>The hose was a heavy, dead weight that was already beginning to take its toll by the time Meredith got across the gangway.&nbsp; She was strong for a woman, but no amount of training could gift her the sheer muscle bulk of a man, even a skinny boy like Hollywood.&nbsp; That was one of the main complaints her fellow firefighters had.&nbsp; How could she be counted on to haul her fair share of gear, or carry one of them or a civilian out of a building?&nbsp; Meredith ignored the strain, ignored the sweat already beginning under her heavy coat despite the cool evening, and pressed on.<br><br>"Princess!&nbsp; Heavy smoke below," Critz called out as she passed him headed towards the hatch belowdecks.&nbsp; His hand on her chest held Meredith up and he yanked off her mask, swapped the hose to another one, and pushed it back in her hands.<br><br>The face of it had been completely painted black.&nbsp; She would be blind.<br><br>"Have fun with your shins tomorrow," he said and grinned.<br><br>"Go blow a goat," Meredith muttered and put the mask on.&nbsp; The world went dark, just like it would be if the fire had completely filled the ship's interior with smoke.&nbsp; As predicted, it wasn't ten feet before her shins smacked into something in the passageway.<br><br>It was going to be a long, painful exercise.
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				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>07-12-2012, 12:02:26</strong>
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				<div class="floatleft">(http://www.colourbox.com/preview/4491051-228349-young-mafia-man.jpg)</div><strong>Marco Palazzi<br>At the piers<br>'Fixing' a problem</strong><br><br>"Not so fast there, Vitolli." her 'molester' began, even as she spun to face him. She had seen him once before, or so she thought. It was hard to tell as he kept the fedora low enough his face was hard to make out. It was a wonder if didn't smell like smoke, always so close to his cigarette. The smoking alone was a strange habit to see in public. While it wasn't outright banned, smoking had lost it's popularity over the years in Rock City. These days, if someone saw you smoking, it was assumed you were either trying to impress someone, were a gangster, or likely it wasn't tobacco. The last time she had run into the smoker, who had never given her his name, was on a day she was having a real hot streak, when he had approached her for thirty perfect in 'operating fees' for the use of the pier. That had been the only time Jasmine had probably been happy to see the cop round the corner.<br><br>"Your fees are more than overdue." he explained, keeping a tight grip on the woman's wrist, even as she struggled. "Plus you owe interest, and I intend to collect. People pay good money to use these docks, you know. They don't want them mucked up with you kids and irreputable businesses. So you can either hand over your 'fee' willingly..."&nbsp; As he droned on, across the way, the cop seemed completely oblivious to her plight. In fact he was rather occupied by her watcher, telling the cop a teary eyed story story while pointing down the pier. "...you listening? Don't worry about your friend, he's good at what he does. Not too loyal though, if the money's good."
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				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>08-12-2012, 04:46:52</strong>
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				<strong>Jasmine Vitolli<br>At the pier<br>Dealing with an asshat in an ass hat</strong><br><br>“Leave off!”&nbsp; Once more she tried to jerk her hand free. “I ain't going to pay a fee and you can't make me.&nbsp; You try and I'll raise holy hell.&nbsp; All these tourists with their smart phones.&nbsp; How long you think before you're viral.&nbsp; Some thug roughing up a poor innocent girl.&nbsp; You'll be all over the internet in a heartbeat.&nbsp; Now let go before I start screaming rape.”&nbsp; <br><br>It was all false bravado.&nbsp; She didn't want to end up on any sort of video.&nbsp; There were people looking for her in both the US and Canada, and warrants out for her in both countries as well. Once more she tried to tug free, this time stomping down on his instep as well.&nbsp; Some were starting to take notice.&nbsp; But it wasn't enough to truly draw a crowd yet.
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				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>08-12-2012, 12:58:44</strong>
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				<strong>Parvarti Hills, 15 Imperial Street</strong><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Dear Geoff,<br>I can't believe I'm admitting this so openly, but every time we exchange emails, I get a little more excited. I never thought I'd even meet someone that I share so many interests with, let alone someone that actually lives out here in Rock. As well as things are going, I really think I'd enjoy meeting you sometime soon. You seem like someone I could really trust. Maybe we could go hiking up on the north part of the island... We'd bring our laptops, of course, maybe rent a glider. Okay, now I'm just daydreaming.<br><br>Even a cup of coffee down at Hipster's would be great, to be honest. Anyway, let me know what you think, I'm looking forward to your next reply!<br><br>Yours,<br>Marie<br><br>PS: Even wonder why they don't just call the place Rock Island already? Think of the tourism opportunities!</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Apparently, Yam didn't need to stop trolling any lovesick wonders as she switched to her email. Ever the popular one, Yam barely had time for her email before her phone began buzzing. The number wasn't in her phone, but it was right in the 250 area code, so it couldn't be too far from home. <br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Yam, it's L's friend. U'v got 2 C this. Grab Ur camera and get 2 the piers where Ur dad works!</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>With all the performers and vendors that tended to congregate around the piers, it probably wouldn't be too surprising to be called out on such short notice, even if it was by a complete stranger.
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				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>08-12-2012, 17:03:34</strong>
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				<strong>Yamalla Pia Constantine<br>At home in Parvarti Hills, 15 Imperial Street<br>Trolling and wondering who is texting her</strong><br><br>Yam kinda felt a little bad about this woman falling for her, the whole exercise was supposed to be about conning pics out of people, and this was, it seemed, going too far in another direction. She hadn't ever intended anyone to actually be local. She had written up the profile to troll for hipster girls, and then gone looking for them, writing to ladies all over the US and Canada and having a few hits. Then this Marie had written to her out of the blue having found the profile she had written. It was all becoming a little too real now and Yam was at somewhat of a loss as to what to do next.<br><br>She hit the reply button and sat for a few moments staring at the middle of the three screens she had hooked up to her desktop. Being a rich kid after all had its privileges. She could just reply later, Marco didn't usually reply straight away and there was this strange text message to think about...<br><br>She started typing anyway.<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Dearest Marie,<br>I look forward to hearing the opening riff of 'Teenage Turtles' by Back to the Planet that heralds the receipt of a new message in the hope that it might just be from you. Its amazing that there is someone on this island that is interested in some of the crazy stuff that I like, let alone one who looks so cute in a pair of glasses and has that amazing smile of yours. Hiking sounds wonderful, though I don't know about gliding having never done it, though I am certain you could convince me to try it. Soaring above the island with you would, of course, most likely be amazing.<br><br>I am just on my way out, busy day today, I will look forward to coming home later and finding a message from you.<br><br><br>Yours sincerely,<br><br>Marco.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>Hitting send she turned her attention to the phone, L? Lisa? She hadn't seen that mental case in a while. Last thing she had heard from Lisa was how she had treated dope not as a gateway drug, but as an introductory package to the wonderful world of dreaming your life away with a tainted needle stuck in your arm. Okay, maybe not Lisa.<br><br>Liam? That skinny guy with the nasty habit of wearing the pirate costume so idiot tourists would take pictures with him and tip him? Did he even have her number? Oh, wait, yeah, Julie had given it to him in the mistaken impression that Yam would have wanted her to do so. It was possible then?<br><br>She tapped out a quick reply.<br><br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">What is going on at the pier that requires a camera? I don't just turn up to any old thing, has to be special.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div><br>The message hit the 'Tucker Mobile' network, the islands biggest cell provider run by billionaire Tucker Hope, a few moments later and was on its way.<br><br>Yam turned her attention to crafting the perfect OKCupid profile to troll there too. Coming up with a Eurasian Bi girl who was deeply into reading, music, movies and TV and kept a pet fennec fox named Omi. Something to do while she waited for a reply to the text message.
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				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JessMc</strong> on <strong>09-12-2012, 02:14:14</strong>
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				(http://www.myselfanand.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Adriana_Lima_wallpaper_45.jpg)<br><br><strong>Isabella McBride<br>At the Pier<br>Blowing off College homework</strong><br><br>It was her last year of college. Well her last year before she started her Master's degree. She still hadn't decided whether she was going to leave the island or not.&nbsp; The island was comfortable.&nbsp; It was home.&nbsp; It was safe.&nbsp; Which explained why she was on the pier people watching, instead of at home on the computer working on her research paper that was due before winter break.<br><br>Isabella still hadn't decided which way her career was going.&nbsp; Her father was devoted to marine biology, his specialty being marine mammals.&nbsp; It was his love, but not his passion.&nbsp; His passion was Victoria Batrez-McBride, an archaeology professor currently on sabbatical so that she could spend time with the family.<br><br>She considered herself lucky, her parents were happily married and still in love with each other.&nbsp; They were comfortable with PDA's, romantic gestures, and generally being happy in each others company, despite their children's embarrassment.&nbsp; There is nothing worse than grocery shopping with the family, and finding your parents giggling and kissing in the frozen food aisle like honeymooners.<br><br>Her parents married young.&nbsp; In fact, they met in their first year of college, married by the end of that first year. Her mother was pregnant by their second year with Isa.&nbsp; Isa's grandparents were thrilled, taking Isa while her parents continued their classes. Four years, after Isa was born, her sister Angelica was born, two years after that was the arrival of Jasmine.&nbsp; You would have thought her parents were done, but oh no....her mom waited 6 years and had the twins.&nbsp; Life was interesting but her family loved it.<br><br>She looked up as she heard a woman talking in a loud voice, there was something going down with her and a man.&nbsp; Lover's quarrel?&nbsp; No. It was something else.&nbsp; Especially when she heard the word 'rape'.&nbsp; She wasn't one to stand around and just watch, so she stood up and made her way to the pair.&nbsp; She had her phone out just in case she needed to call the police.&nbsp; Half way there, she called out to the woman, "Damn girl, sorry I am late.&nbsp; Got caught up at home.&nbsp; Everyone is waiting for us in car, come on."<br><br><br><br>
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			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>09-12-2012, 02:43:48</strong>
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				"-inc-ss.&nbsp; Prin-s, open yo- ears."<br><br>The voice was staticky, blocked by the metal of the ship.&nbsp; Meredith stopped wrestling the hose down a ladderwell and responded.&nbsp; "Say again!&nbsp; The hull's blocking comms."&nbsp; Her voice was muffled by the mask.<br><br>"Continue advancing the line.&nbsp; Your hose tender is down, so you'll need to hump the packs from the entry to keep moving," Critz ordered over the radio.<br><br>That was weird.&nbsp; If her hose tender was down, she should fall back, recover him, and wait for another team or reinforcements.&nbsp; You didn't run line by yourself at the front.&nbsp; It was stupid.&nbsp; She'd be totally isolated if it was a real fire and an alone firefighter was a dead firefighter.&nbsp; Maybe it was a test.&nbsp; "Shouldn't I fall back and wait?"<br><br>"What you should do, Princess, is what I tell you.&nbsp; This is a drill, not a turnout, and you need the exercise.&nbsp; You don't want to carry out the order, feel free to drop off your shit on the way to being a waitress or soccer mom."<br><br>That cast iron son-of-a-bitch!&nbsp; Meredith's hand trembled on the hose, anger making it unsteady.&nbsp; It was just one more piece of petty picking, a constant jab jab jab trying to get her to quit and return the firehouse to a man cave.&nbsp; It wasn't like she even asked for privacy.&nbsp; Meredith slept in the same dormitory as the men and why not?&nbsp; They all slept in their clothes, minus boots, ready to go at a moment's notice.&nbsp; She worked out with them, took her turn cooking, washed the truck and cleaned gear and mowed the grass, same as the men.&nbsp; The only concession was she had a toilet to herself and a small shower instead of the big communal one.&nbsp; But the harassment was never ending.&nbsp; They'd replaced her sheets with Hello Kitty ones like Meredith was 12.&nbsp; Painted her airpack bottle pink and even put glitter glue outlining her name on her turnout coat.&nbsp; Tampons in her boots, maxipads in her pockets, all sorts of juvenile, petty shit.&nbsp; The first time she'd laughed about it publicly, spent the next 23 hours holding it in, then bawled her eyes out the moment she hit the door of her tiny apartment.&nbsp; The two days off had been horrible, wondering what they'd do next time she was on duty.&nbsp; Since then, Meredith had given up the tears and reacting to whatever new thing she found.&nbsp; Maybe they'd grow tired of it.<br><br>"Copy," she said, toggling the mic so fast it threatened to clip her transmission.<br><br>Moving the hose forward and going back for more line took half an hour.&nbsp; Angry, frustrated, Meredith kept running into things she should have already remembered were there.&nbsp; Despite the padding in her gear, the bruises were piling up.&nbsp; The final straw came when she pulled the hose to get it past an obstruction.&nbsp; When it popped loose, Meredith stumbled backwards into the side of a paint locker.&nbsp; The sharp edge of it scored along her ribs and it hurt.&nbsp; It hurt so much she fell down and was trying not to throw up.&nbsp; Even breathing hurt, like maybe she'd cracked a rib.<br><br>Meredith laid still so long the emergency beeper on her coat, triggered by her lack of motion, went off with a piercing warble and she had to slap it to silence it.&nbsp; It went off again before she got up.&nbsp; She should just quit.<br><br>No!&nbsp; No way!&nbsp; Meredith had worked hard to get where she was, both against tradition and the boys in the house and her own family.&nbsp; She wasn't going to waste all that.&nbsp; She could do this.<br><br>Getting up, she went back to the line and started hauling.&nbsp; Haul line.&nbsp; Run into something.&nbsp; Take the pain and make it her own and keep moving.&nbsp; Haul line.&nbsp; Haul line.&nbsp; Haul line.&nbsp; It became a mantra, interspersed with sharp moments of shin-smacking.&nbsp; Eventually, there was no more line.&nbsp; She'd gone as far as possible, way further than expected.<br><br>Crouching now instead of on her knees, Meredith straddled the line and picked it up then hurried along it, sliding her hands over each other and using the hose as a roadmap out.&nbsp; In no time she found the hatch to the upper deck and opened it.&nbsp; Screw Critz.&nbsp; Meredith pulled her mask off and enjoyed the slap of cold night air on her sweaty, red mottled face. <br><br>No one was around.&nbsp; Not one person was manning the engine or the command post on deck.&nbsp; Where were they? <br><br>Meredith looked towards the pier, but it was empty of firefighters.&nbsp; They had to be on the ship.&nbsp; As she looked for them, Meredith undid the toggles on her coat and let the air steal inside.&nbsp; It made her gasp but it felt so, so good on her hot skin.&nbsp; She found them on the other side of the ship, well heard their voices anyway.&nbsp; Walking around a stack of pallets, Meredith remained in the shadows cast by the pier lights and was about to say something when she saw the money.<br><br>A lot of money.&nbsp; And it was going into Critter's hand from a man in a shiny black suit.&nbsp; What the devil?&nbsp; Meredith pulled back a little, then crouched down and peered through the holes in the pallets.&nbsp; The man said something, clapped Critz on the shoulder, then walked off on his wingtips towards the gangway to the pier itself.&nbsp; <br><br>"When do we get our cut?" Hollywood asked as they walked past the pallets on the other side from where Meredith was hiding.<br><br>"When I say you do," Critter answered.&nbsp; "Now shut the fuck up about it.&nbsp; This ain't the kind of thing you run your flap about.&nbsp; Businessman like him has an opinion on what fires should be fought and what fires should be let go, I figure it's our civic duty to listen to him and accept his gratitude.&nbsp; You keep talking about it, or let that bitch Princess hear you, it's all over.&nbsp; You want that?"<br><br>"All right, all right," Hollywood groused.&nbsp; "I got it.&nbsp; Besides, no way she's done running that line yet."<br><br>"Pretty smart, huh?&nbsp; Work her ass off, we get all the money.&nbsp; And maybe she gets to have an accident in one of them fires we should let go and we get our house back."<br><br>"Jesus, Critter!&nbsp; Are you serious?"<br><br>"Just saying, Hollywood.&nbsp; Just saying."<br><br>The male firefighters rounded the corner of the superstructure, leaving Meredith undiscovered.<br><br>Alone.<br><br>She hurried back below decks and was wearing her blacked out facemask and pretending to fight hose when Critz came down to cancel the drill and chew her out for not getting far enough along.<br><br><br><br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>11-12-2012, 12:58:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Yam didn't need to wait too long. Whoever this fried of "L" was, they wanted her down by the pier. Within minutes, her phone was buzzing again.<br><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Some yacht pulled in and a huge party broke out on the pier! hurry B4 U miss it! It's crazy!</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>11-12-2012, 13:23:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Marco Palazzi<br>At the pier<br>Turning a small problem into a big one.</strong><br><br>"Nice try, kid." Marco snapped at Isabella, fighting to keep his grip on Jasmine as she struggled. "I know this brat ain't with you. Now beat it, you don't want to get involved in none of this." He glanced around nervously as a crowd was beginning to gather, spitting his cigarette to the ground. He was getting enough attention as it was. At the very least, he wasn't alone any longer. A pair of men in suits similar to his, one especially well tailored that reflected the setting sun, were making their way down the pier from one of the larger ships stationed where fire drills were typically run.<br><br>"Yo, Marco, need a hand there?" one of the men asked, making his way over to the struggling pair. "Let's make things short here, we're meeting Pauly in time for his date with Constantine's brat, don't wanna be late."<br><hr>Meredith Peebles<br>Pier - aboard the moored MV Daylight 3<br><br>Meredith may have been too caught up in the moment to realize, but as the adrenaline ebbed as she waited for Crtiz, so did the pain. The cracked rib she had been so sure of before felt more like an average bruise. Uncomfortable to be sure, but no worse than her shins <em>should</em> have been feeling. As they were, however, she was barely even sore from the entire ordeal. Had she been luckier than she realized, or was she still on an adrenaline high? How would it all feel once she turned in for the night.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>11-12-2012, 17:51:37</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<strong>Yamalla Pia Constantine<br>At home in Parvarti Hills, 15 Imperial Street and on the road again.<br>Heading out</strong><br><br>Yam sighed a little, well, a huge party did sound interesting to watch at least? Plus it was out of the house which her mom was constantly yelling at her about. Which was nice.<br><br>So she set about putting on something that wasn't round the house clothes. Nice matching purple underwear, just in case, dark red skinny jeans, the ones with the lycra built in, big heavy boots and a black t-shirt that read, 'Teenage Mutant Disinterested Hominid' Put a thin leather jacket on over that, threw a few things including her phone in her bag and headed out to Penelope.<br><br>The car was a classic Mini Cooper. A real Mini, not one of those BMW knock offs. It was nicely maintained a deep red with a racing stripe of chequerboard around the side and back and was somewhat of a cherished possession. Hence her having named it. She took good care of the little car and a no small amount of pride in it. Yam climbed aboard and sorted out some music for herself before setting out. It would take her twenty minutes or so to reach the pier and find a space to park on a good day. It remained to be seen if today was good day or not. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>12-12-2012, 02:29:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Looking over with narrowed eyes at the young woman trying to offer her a way out Jasmine continued to fight and struggle.&nbsp; Never trust those offering you a helping hand, she'd been the helping hand in enough cons to know better.&nbsp; Despite her attempts to get him to let go the damned snake in a suit was still clinging to her like a bad penny.&nbsp; And now there were more coming.&nbsp; The time to not make a scene had passed.&nbsp; <br><br>Reaching into her back pocket she pulled out what looked like a cell phone.&nbsp; Only this one had a bit of a kick.&nbsp; “I said leave off!”&nbsp; No longer was she trying to pull away from him, now turning into him and pressing the top of the phone to his thigh.&nbsp; There was a soft click and then 3.5 million volts going into him.&nbsp; She knew from experience the guy would lock up but she should be able to escape while he dealt with the pain. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>14-12-2012, 09:51:32</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				By the time Meredith 'saw' any visitors, the pain was almost completely gone. If she were the religious type, it would probably feel like a miracle, or that fate, should she believe in that instead, was preparing her for the trials she was likely to face ahead. "Hey, Princess!" Critz called down to her, as she predicted. As <em>he</em> predicted, she was still wrestling with the hose, alone. He knew it wasn't a job one blind man could handle, let alone a woman. "Pack it up!" he barked at her, half to keep face, half simply because that was just how he enjoyed treating her. "Drill's canceled, we can't wait around on the ship all day and night for you to put on makeup. We're headed in!" With that, Critz turned to move out, expecting neither attitude nor suspicion on Meredith's part.<br><hr><br>"Mario! Luigi!" A fourth man was approaching the mess of suits, Jasmine, and Isabella as he called out to the two unoccupied ones, pocketing a cell phone as he did. "Everything's right on schedule. She didn't say no, I'm pretty sure I've got me a hot date on her way in!" The men were just starting to have a good laugh when the cohort suddenly screamed out, all three of them turning their attention to Marco, Isabella, and Jasmine. It looked like the girl had stabbed him in the leg, from the way he screamed, thought he was convulsing far too much for it. His entire body locked before he slowly fell back, almost taking Jasmine with him before she manaed to pull free.<br><br>For a brief moment, the man were completely taken aback that Jasmine had one the exchangem but only for that brief moment, before one of them pointed at the two women. "Grab them!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>15-12-2012, 02:00:36</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jasmine hissed and panicked for a moment when the man started to pull her down with him.&nbsp; In her panic and struggle, the taser slipped from her fingers. Finally she broke free, immediately starting to take off.&nbsp; Towards the woman that seemed to want to help as it was the only way out of the piers.&nbsp; The skateboard was tucked under her arm, the crowd growing too thick for her to skate through.&nbsp; Hearing the men yelling behind her pushed her harder.&nbsp; “Run girl! Run!”&nbsp; Her heart was pounding, but not with fear.&nbsp; She was smiling, feeling the rush.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JessMc</strong> on <strong>15-12-2012, 02:54:15</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isa's eyes widened when the girl, holy crap she electrocuted the man in the suit!&nbsp; She took a step back as he fell to the ground and then she heard the other man holler.&nbsp; &nbsp;He said, 'Get them'.&nbsp; Them...not just one of them, both of them.&nbsp; Isabella whirled around and ran. She pushed her way through the bystanders.&nbsp; When was she ever gonna learn. She just needed to keep her freakin' mouth shut sometimes.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>15-12-2012, 16:47:08</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Okay," she said without looking at Critz.&nbsp; What Meredith had seen and heard was hurting deep inside her chest, far more than the ribs she'd injured.&nbsp; Meredith shrugged, rotating her arm on the injured side in a big loop.&nbsp; It hurt, sure, but it was just like a little strain now.&nbsp; Nothing like the stomach emptying pain from earlier.&nbsp; Maybe she'd overreacted?&nbsp; That happened sometimes, with stress.&nbsp; Meredith cried too, but made sure no one ever saw that&nbsp; Men just didn't get it.&nbsp; <br><br>Stretching her arm wide, she noticed it felt better still.&nbsp; Just a pull then, and it needed to be worked out.&nbsp; Her shins felt fine too, but Meredith knew from experience they'd sport broad bruises in the morning.<br><br>Meredith finished prepping and backing the hose.&nbsp; It was important to do it just right so that it would come out smooth and easy when needed.&nbsp; Despite going slow, using that as an excuse to avoid the other firefighters, the task couldn't take forever and soon enough Meredith was walking down the gangway, balancing carefully under the heavy load.&nbsp; She headed towards the engine and began stowing gear.<br><br>One thing she couldn't avoid.&nbsp; Meredith went to Critz and held out the black painted mask.&nbsp; "Where's mine?" she asked as he took it from her hand.<br><br>"Not my job to keep up with your gear, Princess."<br><br>"You took it from me," she pointed out, voice getting a little tense.&nbsp; "Just tell me where it is."<br><br>"Not my jo-"<br><br>"Fuck you, Critz!&nbsp; Where's my shit!"&nbsp; Meredith shook the black painted mask and stepped forward towards Critz.&nbsp; <br><br>"Bring it, Princess," he taunted and stripped off his heavy leather gloves like a hockey player about to fight.&nbsp; "You want to go down this road, let's go."<br><br>"Just give me my stuff," she said, feeling like a kid on the playground again, wanting to but not brave enough to stand up to the bully who was holding her notebook over her head.&nbsp; Some of the other firefighters began to gather around the two of them, exactly like the playground.&nbsp; Meredith knew which side they were on.<br><br>"I told you, Princess, it's not my jo-"<br><br>She interrupted him again, this time by smacking Critz across the chest with the mask.&nbsp; There was no way it hurt, not through the bunker gear, but it was a warning.<br><br>"You little bitch," he hissed and grabbed the collar of Meredith's coat.&nbsp; His hand snaked under her helmet and fastened on the heavy collar, got a good grip, and pulled.&nbsp; There was no way she could resist his force, and Meredith stumbled forward, right into Critter.&nbsp; Unseen, his other hand came up and socked her hard in the gut, angling up under the ribs and right into her diaphragm.&nbsp; The muscle spasmed under the blow and she sagged in his grip, unable to catch a breath.&nbsp; Critter held her from falling and leaned forward so only she could hear.&nbsp; "You can't hang with the men, sweetheart.&nbsp; Let me remind you where little girls like you belong."&nbsp; Critz let go of his grip and Meredith fell to her knees in front of him, half leaning on his legs.<br><br>"Hey, boys, I think the Princess figured out something she's good at!" he joked and the other firefighters laughed.&nbsp; Critz enjoyed the moment, then stepped away and let Meredith sag onto her hands, still trying to breathe.&nbsp; "Get your ass in the engine, Princess."&nbsp; He prodded her with his boot, shoving her towards the fire truck.<br><br>Humiliated, Meredith struggled to her feet and got into the back cab of the truck.&nbsp; It was going to be a long, lonely drive back to the station.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>20-12-2012, 11:40:22</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<div class="floatleft">(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs38/f/2008/350/2/6/Galerians___More_Nalcon_Shots_by_Imari_chan.jpg)</div>"Why do you let him get away with it?" a voice asked from behind Meredith as Critz and the crew got on board the engine. The boy standing behind her couldn't have been a day older than eighteen. His tone was calm and patient to the point that it seemed lacking in emotion. The white jacket he wore ended just before his wrists, where fabric bands covered the rest. Soft and pale skinned, the blonde haired teen didn't look like he got out for much exorcise, much less for any kind of social activity. "We both know you're stronger than this." he continued, as though he thought he knew her from before. "We both know you can fight through the pain, that it only makes you more resolute. Don't forget that. It's why you were chosen." The boy reached behind his back, his hand returning with her mask, still wet from it's trip off the side of the barge.<br><br>Down the drag of the pier, it appeared that a crowd was starting to gather of some kind of commotion, several men with suits like the one she had seen earlier were involved in whatever it was that was going on. "Princess! Get your ass in gear or you're walking home!" Critz bellowed from the driver's seat of the engine, unaware of her conversation.<br><br>A scream from the crowd may have been just enough to redirect Meredith's attention for a split second. In the distance, there was a bright flash of light, people screaming, and a woman fleeing, followed by a second shortly afterward. When she looked back, the boy was already gone.<br><br><hr>Marco wasn't about to go anywhere, and it seemed the one who had most recently showed up was calling the shots. That left the two that had come up from the pier to chase after the fleeing women. Mario wasted no time in his pursuit on Jamsine, knocking people over left and right as he crashed through the crowd after her. As Jasmine fled, she could feel intuition taking over as she felt her rush. Parts of the city block 'called' to her, as though she just someone could feel the right way to go. In particular, one alleyway between two warehouses, tucked away in the shadows, begged to be used as a spot to lose her pursuer.<br><br>Luigi, on the other hand, was having a much easier time. His silk suit shining against the pier lights, he had a fair leg up on Isa as she crashed to the ground. With a smirk on his face, he reached out to grab the girl. "You look like you'll fetch a fair ransom..." he shouted after her as he made a lunging grasp.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>20-12-2012, 17:57:56</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Yam pulled into one of the parking spaces at her dad's warehouse. Bugger driving around the pier trying to find one, the place was packed. It was a bit of a walk to the pier from here but it was so much easier it wasn't worth worrying about it. Besides, a bit of a walk wouldn't kill her.<br><br>She locked up Penelope and headed out of the warehouse grounds and up the street, pulling her phone she sent a message to the number that had called her before.<br><br>'Where are you?'<br><br>Which was simple enough. She rounded the corner and started heading down the incline towards the actual piers and could see the crowd, there seemed to be some sort of commotion in progress, but then that was often the case. As long as there was no harm, loss or fraud Rock City was a little too permissive at times. The police were tough on actual crime, yet they were usually determined that in order for there to have -been- a crime there had to be a victim, some kind of harm. No victim they would usually tell those involved to sort it out civilly.<br><br>Still it did look like there was some kind of party going on down there. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all?
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>22-12-2012, 04:29:44</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				What the hell?&nbsp; That was an electrical arc of some sort.&nbsp; There was no mistaking the actinic flash.&nbsp; People were screaming also, like they would if someone was being electrocuted.&nbsp; Meredith looked back to where the strange, almost ethereal boy had been talking nonsense like he knew her or something, but he was gone.&nbsp; "Hey!" she called out, looking around.&nbsp; The boy wasn't visible, and as pale as he was and with that hair he should have stood out like a whitetail deer's butt in a coal mine at midnight.&nbsp; <br><br>Meredith put her finger and thumb just inside her mouth along her lower lip and gave a piercing whistle to get the attention of the other firefighters on the truck.&nbsp; A few of them looked her way, including Critz, but when she gestured towards where the flash had been they didn't even seem to care.&nbsp; Critz said something she couldn't hear over the diesel, then it grew louder as the truck began to pull away from the pier, leaving Meredith on her own.<br><br>"Screw you too," she muttered and flew a finger towards her alleged comrades-in-hose.&nbsp; <br><br>Meredith was young, barely above being a rookie, and all alone.&nbsp; But she was a firefighter, no matter what those meatheads thought, and she could not ignore the possibility someone might need help.&nbsp; There had been a flash and screaming.&nbsp; Something was going on.&nbsp; As quickly as her boots would allow, she jogged down the pier towards the commotion.&nbsp; Absently, she stuck the still wet and smelling of salt and oil mask into one of the big pockets on the edge of her jacket.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>22-12-2012, 05:01:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jasmine was always one to trust her instincts.&nbsp; Running headlong she dropped her skateboard, hopping on in one fluid motion.&nbsp; She didn't look back, never look back.&nbsp; Instead she was positive she was being chased which added a sense of urgency to her flight.&nbsp; People were still in her way, always in the way!&nbsp; A few onlookers quickly fell out of the way as she barreled towards them, hoping a tangle of bodies would slow any pursuit.&nbsp; Hoping the other girl was caught and proved to be enough.<br><br>Popping the board and leaning hard she twisted and took the corner into the alleyway.&nbsp; The shadows felt welcoming.&nbsp; Inviting.&nbsp; Though far too littered for the skateboard.&nbsp; One foot dropped, the other sliding back in a practiced motion, pushing down on the tail of the board until it bounced up and into her hands.&nbsp; She finally looked back, just once before running deeper into the alley, looking for a place to hide.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>22-12-2012, 11:16:39</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Meredith made it to the docks just in time to see Isa, being chased by one of the suited men she had seen earlier. Despite her best efforts to flee, the man had quickly and easily caught up with her. The man wasn't fooling around, tackling Isa to the ground, twisting her arms behind her back. "You're only making this harder on yourself!" he growled at the poor girl, reaching into his jacket to pull out a small spool of thin wire to tie her wrists. Either girl could probably easily guess the primary purpose of the wire.<br><br>"Right at the central pier, you should see some people." The message blinked on Yam's phone as a firetruck sped by in the opposite direction of the commotion. She was on to something about Rock City's police department, at least those in that district. All the civil services, the fleeing truck included, occasionally seemed a bit... overly relaxed, if one paid enough attention to current events.<br><br>To Jasmine, the shadows felt more than just safe for a brief moment. They felt warm, comforting, like home. She belonged there. Even as she searched for a place to hide among the familiar feeling shadows, she could her her pursuer. "I know you're back here!" Mario's voice called out, his heavy footsteps echoing through the alley. "You're walking right into a dead end, doll. May as well give yourself up and save both of us some trouble!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>23-12-2012, 00:28:04</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jasmine tucked herself within the shadow of a dumpster.&nbsp; The leftovers and trash filling it made her nose wrinkle and nearly gave her position away from gagging. Covering her mouth and trying to not breath through her nose she cowered in the shadows among refuse.&nbsp; Hating that she was doing so but not wanting any part of whatever those men had planned.&nbsp; Men in suits were always bad news.&nbsp; She had a knife in her backpack but didn't dare move to retrieve it.&nbsp; Afraid that even the smallest sound would reveal her location.&nbsp; But she still had her board.&nbsp; She could try and hit him with it.&nbsp; Gripping the trucks, the metal frame between the wheels, she waited in a half crouch.&nbsp; Waiting and praying to gods she didn't believe in that the man would give up and go away.&nbsp; But ready to push off the wall and into him if he didn't.&nbsp; She just wanted to get away.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>23-12-2012, 00:46:51</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Yam stopped where she was, about a hundred meters from the edge of the crowd. She frowned deeply at her phone, "Well duh, you dipshit. Are you even here?" She was talking to a phone. Well, that was sort of normal wasn't it? She texted back, <br><br><em>'I see stupid people. They walk around like you and me, most of them don't even know they are stupid. OF COURSE I CAN SEE PEOPLE GENUIS. Where are you?'</em><br><br>Then started walking slowly towards the crowd, there was some degree of shouting and carrying on happening. Which wasn't unusual. Commotion was the name of the game down here most of the time.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>23-12-2012, 03:13:53</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Hey!" Meredith barked, using her diaphragm to really project her voice at the man on top of Isa.&nbsp; "Let go of her!"&nbsp; She stepped closer, feeling the rush of fear and excitement that was so similar to what she felt going into a fire.&nbsp; It could be dangerous, make you lose focus, and afterwards you felt trembly and exhausted.&nbsp; But right here, right in the moment, it was appropriate.&nbsp; Meredith knew the gear she wore made her look larger, bulkier, and people instinctively trusted and listened to firefighters.&nbsp; More than cops even.&nbsp; It was ingrained on them that firefighters were their friends, there to help, part of the hero culture.&nbsp; A lot of times they could get people to back off when cops would have to resort to physical means.<br><br>"Let go of her," she repeated firmly when she was closer.&nbsp; "Let her go and get out of here."&nbsp; Was that wire?&nbsp; Who carried wire around to tie someone up?&nbsp; Wait...he was wearing a suit.&nbsp; Like the guy on the ship!
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JessMc</strong> on <strong>26-12-2012, 11:04:09</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isa let out a scream that could have been out of teen horror movie as she was tackled to ground. Her scream was cut off as he jerked her hands behind her back and she hissed slightly in pain.&nbsp; She began to panic then, bucking underneath him.&nbsp; She tried to fight him off and was totally relieved when she heard someone shout.<br><br>She screamed again, this time managing the word 'Help'.&nbsp; She continued to fight underneath the suit.&nbsp; "Get off of me!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>27-12-2012, 12:16:27</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				<em>Clomp, clomp, clomp.</em> The firm rubber of Mario's shoes echoed off every surface of the alleyway. "You can't be far..." his voice had a similar effect. "You're only making this harder for yourself, you know... If you'd just pay your protection, like everyone else, you wouldn't even need to run..." Mario lectured the shadows of the alleyway as stalked each one in his pursuit for Jasmine, his voice echoing from around the corner. "Give yourself up now, and we'll give you one more chance to do things <em>right!"</em> A bottle shattered at the end of the street, answered by the hissing and crying of a fleeing cat. Apparently not true to what he was saying, Mario wasted no time to attack anything he thought might be her.<br><br>The clomping of his feet grew ever closer as he rounded the corner, looking into the shadows behind the dumpster. For a brief moment, he locked eyes with the girl as she hid. "Where'd that bitch go..." he muttered to himself, his he looked around, as though he couldn't see her. These suits didn't seem like the joking type, but on the other hand, it wasn't possible that he was overlooking her, though that seemed to be the case. Though she was mere inches from his face, he seemed to be looking straight through her, , though he was still drawling closer, reaching in his pocket for his lighter.<br><br><hr>Even in the setting sun, the fine silk of Luigi's jacket gave the man a shining appearance. There was no doubt with a suit like that, he wasn't just similar to the men on the ship, he had to be the exact one who was making a deal with Critz. He looked up at Meredith even as he continued to run the thin wire around Isa's wrists. The metal was very fine, and he wound it very tight, the more Isa struggled, the more it cut into her wrists. It was never designed to be used as a restraint, which made it a rather effective and painful one. His eyes narrowed as he saw the uniform, as though he knew exactly who she was, as well, and wasn't happy to see here there, instead of being dragged home by the boys. "I'd stay out of this." he warned as he tied off Isa's wrists, clipping the wire to put back into his coat. "Learning to pick your battles is important in this city, <em>Princess</em>, if you want to last long here." he didn't even get up to challenge her, certain she would back down.<br><br><hr>"You like to be a smartass, huh?" A voice sounded behind Yam as someone grabbed her from behind. Pauly reached around Yam, not being cautious of where he grabbed as he wrapped her arm around her chest, pulling her tight against him, slapping a cloth with a strong smell over her mouth. "You think you're so much smarter than everyone else, how come you never saw this shit coming?" his voice was starting to trail off, Yam needed to act fast is she wanted to stay conscious. "This seriously looked like a party to you? You were probably so busy being a bitch you didn't even notice there's no yacht!" Even as she faded, he wouldn't shut up, the man seemed to have quite the temper. "Daddy must be so proud..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>27-12-2012, 13:53:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"You," she said, mouth remaining open a little bit in recognition.&nbsp; "You were on the ship.&nbsp; You gave Critz money," she accused.&nbsp; <br><br><div class="floatright">(http://www.blackanddecker.com/images/55-121_1.jpg)</div>The girl's struggles and the sight of the cruel wire biting into her wrists closed Meredith's mouth and firmed her resolve.&nbsp; A civilian was in danger, was hurt, and she was a first responder.&nbsp; She had to act, and decisively, to protect the innocent.&nbsp; Her hand went to the right side of her jacket, almost behind her, and emerged with her FUBAR tool.<br><br>Superheroes had capes.&nbsp; Firefighters had rescue tools and Meredith's was the FUBAR.&nbsp; The acronym was something dirty, but the tool was all about doing good.&nbsp; Though relatively compact at only 45 centimeters, it was heavy and massed almost 3 kilograms.&nbsp; You could shut off gas with it, pry open windows and doors, grab wall studs with the head and twist them out and smash your way through drywall and brick and glass with ease.&nbsp; It even had a nice rubberized grip with reflective tape and was sized to be used with gloves.&nbsp; Meredith held it low by her side and turned her torso slightly to put her off hand profile towards the man.<br><br>"Just walk away, fellow.&nbsp; Walk away from her and no one else has to get hurt."&nbsp; Tension made her hands shake but her voice was firm and the set of her jaw spoke volumes about Meredith's willingness to take this all the way to the ground to protect the girl.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>27-12-2012, 16:20:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Yam, taken by surprise, didn't really have much of a chance to struggle or fight back too much. However what she had she used. Stamping on the man's foot high up and rocking her head back hard at him trying to headbutt his nose. Using her elbows to smash his belly.<br><br>He was very strong however and she was not a large girl and she found the fight and resistance quickly fading as she started to loose herself to the dark.<br><br>Then there was just the dark and for now Yam wasn't in a position to care what was going on.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>29-12-2012, 00:02:28</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jas was very silently freaking out.&nbsp; Her eyes were so wide the whites were showing as the suited man stared at her.&nbsp; There was no way he didn’t see her.&nbsp; Like a bird spooked from it’s shelter in the long grass, Jas bolted.&nbsp; Pushing off the wall she slammed her skateboard against the man, trying to push him back.&nbsp; She just wanted away.&nbsp; Her heart was hammering so hard she was sure she was going to have a heart attack then and there.&nbsp; If only she could get away.&nbsp; There were other places she could work.&nbsp; “Leave.&nbsp; Me.&nbsp; Alone!”
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JessMc</strong> on <strong>31-12-2012, 03:27:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isa tried to blink away the tears that were quickly forming in her eyes, but she couldn't blink them all away.&nbsp; The poor girl knew she was bleeding, but she didn't stop struggling.&nbsp; She didn't stop until she saw the other girl pull out some kind of tool/wicked weapon looking thing. Then the girl froze.<br><br>Isa spoke up, "Just let me go, and I promise I will just walk away.&nbsp; I won't say a thing."&nbsp; She looked at the other woman and pleaded with her eyes to say the same thing.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>01-01-2013, 00:37:52</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"So you're the little bitch that can't learn her place." Luigi said, reaching into his jacket pocket. "Your friends warned me about you, now I see why." Pulling his hand from his jacket, he flashed the chrome finish of a gun before pointing it at her. "Didn't anyone ever tell you not to bring a... crowbar? to a gun fight?"<br><br>The moment he brandished the gun, he assumed the confrontation was over. "Tell you what, since you're so eager to help, why don't you? Give me that toy, pick her up, and start heading to the warehouse. Easy now, no funny business."<br><br><hr>Mario continued to be oblivious to Jasmine's presence even as she pushed off the wall. It was only as she shoved her skateboard towards his head that his eyes suddenly went wide, as though he just saw her. "The fu-" he didn't even have a chance to swear before she made contact, scrambling to get up and chase her. Jasmine's fingers were tickling, as though a current of static was shooting through her, asshe emerged from the shadows. Before she could consider the sensation, Mario crashed into her back with his shoulder lowered, and effort to tackle the poor girl. With the at wall nearby, she was in bad danger or bashing her head against a surface. <br><br><hr>Every hit, every stomp, every attack she landed only made Pauly tighten his grip. The moment she stopped struggling couldn't come soon enough. "There we go..." he whispered as she drifted into unconsciousness. "That's a good girl... Nice and easy..."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>01-01-2013, 01:44:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"No, I don't think that's going to happen," Meredith said in a still tone.&nbsp; Her voice sounded a thousand miles away and she didn't quite feel like she was even there.&nbsp; Like she was even real any longer.&nbsp; She couldn't quite see, not anywhere but the man and the injured girl and the enormous dead eye of the chrome barreled pistol pointed at her with malice but a stroke away.&nbsp; However, as the man requested, she gave him the toy.<br><br>The throw was something straight out of fast pitch softball.&nbsp; Meredith's arm whirled in an underhanded circle, FUBAR flashing up over her head like she was going to toss it away.&nbsp; It described a whirring, thrumming arc, the force of the wind up pulling hard at her shoulder.&nbsp; Faster and faster and faster it swung, now behind her head, now even with her shoulders, now passing the tightly clenched cheeks of her ass, now down below her knees and starting to come back up towards her tummy.&nbsp; Meredith put the entire whipping force of her back muscles and shoulder and arms into it and let the FUBAR go.&nbsp; She pitched it, three kilograms of steel, and aimed for the man's crotch.&nbsp; <br><br>Her belly muscles were tight and she shut her eyes, wincing against the expected hammering shots from the pistol.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>01-01-2013, 06:50:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jasmine let out a scream as the man barreled into her back.&nbsp; Between the knock to her back and the tingle in her fingers the skateboard didn't remain in her hands long.&nbsp; It didn't have time to hit the ground before her shins encountered it, followed by sole of her shoe catching on a wheel.&nbsp; The end result was the normally agile Jasmine tumbling forward.&nbsp; Her arms flailing as she tried to keep from hitting the pavement.&nbsp; Though the on rushing wall was a real threat.&nbsp; One that she literally met head on, eyes closing as she awaited impact.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>01-01-2013, 11:38:59</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Any trouble on your end, Pauly?" Mario asked, dragging the unconscious street performer out of the alleyway. "None. at. all." The mobster replied, still holding Yam's limp body in his arms, patting down her body in search of her phone. "This bitch nearly pulled some kind of disappearing act. Between that and what Marco said about her, she may be useful at the casino if we can actually get her to stay put." "We'll have to see if she's any useful when she wakes up. Marco wants to fuck the bitch, he tends to exaggerate. Perfect, boss was spot on, daddy's number's on the phone. We'll wait until tomorrow, send him a few pics of his brat in trouble, pier will be ours in no time, and all 4 of us will be be made men. Wanna go check on Lu-" The crack of gunfire quickly gripped both of the men's attention. "Get these two in the van, then we'll catch up to Luigi!"<br><br>Being shot wasn't as bad as media made it out to be. There was far too much initial shock for much pain to register. The worst part about it was the force, enough to send someone with Meredith's frame&nbsp; collapsing to the ground. The moment the FUBAR tool made contact with his groin, Luigi's entire body tensed up. His legs locked, his teeth clenched, his fingers curled into fists. Unfortunately, that also meant his index finger clenched on the trigger of his pistol. With a deafening crack, a single round spiraled from the chamber, hitting the young woman directly in the stomach. As the tool fell to the ground with a heavy clank, so too did Luigi. He writhed on the pier in pain, arguably more than his own victim, whimpering like a scolded child even after his partners arrived in their unmarked black van.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>01-01-2013, 12:46:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				In the movies, when someone got shot they went flying backwards like a rag doll.&nbsp; Meredith just stupidly found herself sitting on the ground like a toddler in front of a teacher reading If You Give a Moose a Muffin.&nbsp; Her belly felt heavy, wrong somehow, like she was about to start her period.&nbsp; There was the same sense of not quite right and unresolved internal silliness going on.&nbsp; Meredith pressed a hand against the front of her turnout coat, then brought it up to her face and saw there wasn't even that much blood.&nbsp; The muscles of her abdomen were tensed up and were largely holding the blood inside her abdominal cavity.<br><br>The asshole with the gun was down, moving around like a catfish someone had whacked across their ugly hard head with a stick.&nbsp; Good.&nbsp; He deserved it for hurting the girl.<br><br>Girl.&nbsp; Where was, oh there she was.&nbsp; Meredith stood up, hand still pressed tight against her belly, and walked over to where she lay still fighting against the wire.&nbsp; "It's okay, miss," she said and sank to her knees beside Isa.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Don't cry.&nbsp; I'll get you out of this."&nbsp; One hand began to pluck slowly at the wire binding Isabella's wrists.&nbsp; It was taking a long time because her fingers were cold, so very very cold and the thin wire was slippery with blood.<br><br>Meredith was still trying to free Isabella when she passed out and fell forward across Isabella's lower body.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JessMc</strong> on <strong>02-01-2013, 00:04:00</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Gun shot sent Isa screaming again. Why wasn't anyone else getting involved, where the hell were the cops?&nbsp; Isa tried to curl up, but the wire cut into her wrists even more.&nbsp; She glanced once more at her rescuer and then noticed the woman had been shot.&nbsp; She started screaming again, this time begging someone, anyone to call 911.<br><br>As the woman began undoing the wire, Isa almost sobbed in relief. It was short lived though.&nbsp; The woman fell across her and Isa cried out again.&nbsp; The woman probably was dead because she stopped to save her.&nbsp; She wiggled out from under her, twisting her wrists around to get the rest of the wire unwound.&nbsp; She loosened one wrist enough and with just a few twists had her wrist free.&nbsp; <br><br>She moved quickly to the other woman and flipped her over, "Oh please don't be dead, please don't be dead."&nbsp; She chanted over and over.&nbsp; She opened the woman's coat and saw blood.&nbsp; "Ohhh geez.....please don't be dead."&nbsp; She remembered some show where they put pressure on&nbsp; a gun shot wound and that is what she did, hoping some had called 911 and someone was on their way.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>02-01-2013, 13:05:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Easy there..." a voice said, along with a click that was all too familiar from moments ago. A man in a suit very similar to the one the man who tied her wrists was pointing a gun at her, while another of his buddies picked up her assailant's gun. "In the van." He nodded at the vehicle they had drove up in, Isa must not have heard it in the commotion. The second man, who was retrieving Luigi's weapon, moved over to the van and opened the back door. Inside there were two other women, one of which Isa would immediately recognize, the woman she had gotten into this entire mess trying to help. "Luigi, this shit is getting sad. Pick your ass up and get in the van. You too, missy." He demanded of Isa.<br><br>Better stuff the corpse in there two." he commented to his partner. "Cops will only turn a blind eye to so much, a fucking fireman's body ain't one of those things."
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JessMc</strong> on <strong>03-01-2013, 01:07:33</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isa whimpered as she heard the click of the gun.&nbsp; She wanted to run, flee, escape.&nbsp; But she couldn't leave her almost savior.&nbsp; Isa looked up at the gun that was pointed in her direction.&nbsp; She looked down at Meredith and her lips trembled as she tried not to cry.&nbsp; She moved slowly into the van, as she glared down at Luigi.&nbsp; She took two quick steps forward and she connected her foot to Luigi's ribs, "BASTARD!"&nbsp; <br><br>Isa moved backwards and into the van, glaring at the other suits.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>03-01-2013, 03:58:12</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				As unimpressed as Luigi's compatriots may have been with him at that moment, they still weren't going to just allow Isa to attack him while he was down. The moment she kicked him, she could feel the sharp pain in the back on her neck as the hilt of a pistol made hard contact with her skull. "Little bitch!" Pauly growled as he made the blow.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JessMc</strong> on <strong>03-01-2013, 06:27:34</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Stars exploded in her head, and she stumbled forward.&nbsp; She collapsed to her knees and then slowly crumpled to the ground.&nbsp; Her eyes fluttered closed and then it was blissfully dark.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>07-01-2013, 12:06:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"...wakey wakey..." the man's voice was probably hazy to all of the girls. Each of them had been through a lot in the past few hours. As they awake, they'd find the four of them, including Meredith, who had been shot, had been tossed in a filthy iron cage like animals. in face, judging from the state the cage was in, it probably <em>had</em> been used for animals in the past, most likely endangered species from the preservation that made up the second half of the island Rock City called home. They were in one of the dozens of pier warehouses.<br><br>Jasmine, Isa, and Yam were all haphazardly thrown into a single pile, practically on top of one another, with Meredith propped against the walls. She had never been bandaged, and hopefully the bleeding hadn't stopped merely because she was dead. There was no light coming in from the windows, it had to be late.<br><br>The men who had assaulted them were all in the warehouse still. Two of them were still seated at a nearby table with a game of poker, the third's hand laying face down on the table as he kicked at the cage. The fourth, Luigi, was still laying in the van, crying over his swollen testicles. "They aren't waking up." Pauly called back to the two at the table. "Give them a drink and see if they come to." With a sneer, one of them got up. He made his way over to the wall, pulling the fire hose from the emergency station. As he took position by the cage, Pauly moved to hit the valve. Soon, a violent torrent of water was slamming into the pile of girls, pushing them against the bars on the far end of the cage.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>07-01-2013, 16:45:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Yam woke up to noise, pressure, pain, force and cold. She opened her mouth to cry out in alarm and it was filled with water. The sensation of water going down her airway was terrifying and was followed by hitting something solid with her side, falling. Then something hit her, and another something.<br><br>Wracking coughs tore their way out of the girl, her lungs trying to expel the water, she couldn't open her eyes, couldn't think, couldn't hardly move. She was bruised all over, felt used and abused. She was cold and wet through. Where the hell was she?<br><br>The last thing she remembered... Oh god, some guy in a suit grabbing her talking about her dad, the chemical smell of the cloth over her face and then...<br><br>Kidnapped.<br><br>Yam opened her eyes a little, she felt like she was under a small pile of bodies. Weight crushing down on her from above. And, well, she was, there were two other girls&nbsp; there, no, three, one off to the side, a fireman? She looked hurt, head down, unmoving, bloodstained jacket...<br><br>This time Yam held onto the scream, the cry she didn't move yet, didn't want to give away that she was awake just yet. She was in some kind of cage, not really much room to stand up, bars to close together to slip through them, shapes moving around outside the cage, dark though. Voices.<br><br>Kidnappers.<br><br>Bastards. What the hell was this anyway? White slavers? No, they had said something about her dad. This was about him, not her, but in that case why the other women? They were going to ship them overseas and sell them as sex slaves, Yam could feel it. Deep in her chest she could sense it and it was making her very scared and no small amount angry.<br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>07-01-2013, 23:16:58</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jasmine woke to the painful jabbing of a jet of water hitting her stomach.&nbsp; Any attempt to scream was killed by the breath being knocked out of her.&nbsp; Skidding along scratchy metal floor of the cage she tried to curl up, tried to protect herself.&nbsp; Finally managing a gasp of air it was lost as she landed atop...a body?&nbsp; <br><br>A body that moved.&nbsp; Trying to twist around and scream and wake up from the nightmare all at the same time, she managed none of them.&nbsp; She couldn't figure out why she was there.&nbsp; Last thing she remembered was running from a man.&nbsp; She finally managed to curl up into a ball, hands over her head.&nbsp; The bare arm that had been scraped along the cage floor was starting to throb and burn.&nbsp; A sure sign it had cut her up.&nbsp; 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>08-01-2013, 02:51:18</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Someone was screaming, but that was okay.&nbsp; It was far off, barely noticeable.&nbsp; It was so easy to sleep through.&nbsp; Only, it was raining too.&nbsp; She could feel it, all leaking down the back of her jacket collar and getting her wet.&nbsp; Wet and cold, not wet and warm like it had felt earlier.&nbsp; So warm.&nbsp; That had been nice to fall asleep to.<br><br>She was still screaming, getting closer. Why didn't someone shut her up?<br><br>"-ut up," Meredith mumbled, chin almost resting on her chest.&nbsp; The coat took the worst of the fire hose's blast.&nbsp; It wasn't pleasant, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it would be for the girls in street clothes.&nbsp; <br><br>
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JessMc</strong> on <strong>08-01-2013, 02:57:20</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isabella was huddled in a ball and was quickly getting drenched.&nbsp; Her mouth was tightly, there was no way she was going to drown.&nbsp; She had survived this long, she was going to survive this.&nbsp; She couldn't even open her eyes to see who was with her.<br><br>Over the rush of the water she could hear a scream, well at least she wasn't the only one alive here. That was a small relief. She managed to flip over so the bulk of the water hit her on the back. She just wanted them to stop...stop...stop...STOP!
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>13-01-2013, 11:01:13</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				After a few more moments, Pauly cut the valve. It didn't stop Marco from keeping the hose on Jasmine until the last drops trickled from the nozzle. "Rise and shine, ladies." Pauly spoke in a chastising tone as he he approached the lot of them. He paused at the table a moment, picking up a cell phone from the table. Yam's cell phone, to be exact. "You know, it's not nice to mess with people online, Yamalla. Didn't daddy ever teach you any manners? Hmmm, maybe we should ask him. Say Hi to daddy, Yamalla..." He pointed her phone at the cage a moment, peering at her from over it. "Come on now, ham it up a bit! You're not giving us anything to work with here!"<br><br>He was laughing to the camera as he spoke, gesturing to Mario to go to the valve for the fire hose again. Marco was already aiming it once more. "Come one sweetheart. A couple of tears, an I miss you, something for the camera. Just stop pretending you're FUCKING ASLEEP!" he swung down the phone long enough to kick at the bars of the cage in his sudden loss of temper. It wasn't enough to do more than rattle the heavy iron cage. "Mario, I think these bitches need another wake up call!"
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>13-01-2013, 17:28:29</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Yam wasn't about to give them the satisfaction. She was going to stay 'asleep' till they came in and tried to drag her out. Then she would have a slim chance of doing some damage right? Right? Yeah, maybe.<br><br>Her Dad, she was fairly sure, once he knew she was in trouble would be the sort to pretend to co-operate while having his own people out looking for these guys. If they were stupid enough to have stayed in the warehouse district, where here Dad's contacts were vast, they were not likely to stay hidden for very long. Still, for now she was nevertheless very scared and was having trouble holding it together. Best to continue to play dead. She was suddenly grateful for whoever it was that was still laying on top of her. The body heat was really nice. Without it she would be shivering and give herself away.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>14-01-2013, 02:33:57</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jasmine didn't know who this Yam person was.&nbsp; Or why she was in this cage with someone that had enough pull to warrant a kidnapping.&nbsp; But she was and there were men yelling for them to wake up.&nbsp; Curling up tighter she wished she could just disappear.&nbsp; Wished she wasn't there.&nbsp; Wished she'd not let her pride get the better of her and just paid the damn shakedown.&nbsp; There was no one that would miss her.&nbsp; No one that would go looking for her.&nbsp; All she could do was hope they'd forget about her and she'd be able to escape.&nbsp; Not that it was all that likely.&nbsp; That shithead went through a lot of trouble to catch her.&nbsp; Shivering in the wet clothes she was feeling sick with a chill deep down in her bones.&nbsp; One borne from terror rather than illness. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>14-01-2013, 17:32:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"When I get out of here, I am sticking a red line up your ass and turning it on," Meredith said with as much strength as she could muster. "Leave them alone, you prick.". She struggled to her feet, hand pressed against her abdomen over the hole in her fire coat. She took a step, then another, putting herself between the hose and the defenseless girls. <br><br>Meredith fixed him with a look full of confidence and disdain; the former was faked, the latter sincere. <br><br>"Leave them alone," she repeated. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JessMc</strong> on <strong>23-01-2013, 06:15:21</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				"Mary, Mother of God...." She whispered as she saw the firefighter stand and confront their kidnappers.&nbsp; Her eyes were wide open, "She....she was...dead."&nbsp; She whispered.&nbsp; "There was no way she could have survived that. She was shot."<br><br>Isabella inched backwards, slowly trying not to draw any attention to herself.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Galactic Druid</strong> on <strong>26-01-2013, 13:30:16</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				The blast of the hose hit Meredith square in the abdomen. The force should have been enough to known the girl back over, easily. She had to know it, as well, working with such equipment on a regular basis. For some reason, however, it didn't. Meredith found herself with the strength to remain standing, steadfast as the stream pounded against her, as though she were being shot with nothing more powerful than a child's toy. Within a few moments, Pauly once again cut the valve.<br><br>"Hold up!" He demanded, as he stormed over to the cage. "We lost one! What happened to that hipster bitch?" He was looking directly into the cage, though he seemed convinced that there was one woman missing. The others would, as well, find it impossible to see Jasmine, so long as she wanted to disappear.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Aadreal</strong> on <strong>26-01-2013, 17:54:45</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Jasmine remained curled up in a ball, silently chanting to herself... <em>Please don't see me, please don't see me, please don't see me....</em>&nbsp; She wanted nothing more than to be away.&nbsp; To be anywhere but soaked and bruised in a cage, all of her worldly possessions in the hands of these thugs.&nbsp; &nbsp;Not realizing she was the one they said was missing.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>mayovagn</strong> on <strong>26-01-2013, 18:06:40</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Yam was cold, wet, bruised and pissed right off. Her dad would likely be marshalling for war right now. He didn't come to be who he was by being afraid of a little confrontation.<br><br>For right now though? She could do with not being in a cage at the mercy of some thugs in cheap suits. At least the water wasn't hitting her full force anymore. She really wanted out of this cage, out from under whoever was on top of her, to be dry and safe somewhere. Only that didn't seem to be one of the current fun getaway packages on offer.<br><br>She decided, laying there in the back of the cage, that she required a happy place. Only it was hard to concentrate on such things when you were wet, very cold, laying on hard metal that smelled of some kind of animal fecal matter and at the mercy of hoodlums who likely wanted to sell you into sex slavery once they had forced your dad (they think) to pay some kind of ransom.<br><br>Frankly this whole situation was shit and Yam was about as fed up with it as it was likely possible to be. 
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>JessMc</strong> on <strong>05-02-2013, 00:31:48</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				Isa was still huddled near the bars of the cage when she heard him talk about one of them missing.&nbsp; She shook her head, she was pretty sure there had been four of them there.&nbsp; Now there were three.&nbsp; The living dead girl, the ransom girl and her. They were missing the one that she tried to help.&nbsp; That was what got her in this mess.&nbsp; She tried to help. She was never gonna do that again.
			</dd>
			<dt class="postheader">
				Title: <strong>Re: We Built This City on Rock and Roll</strong><br>
				Post by: <strong>Branwen</strong> on <strong>13-02-2013, 03:51:03</strong>
			</dt>
			<dd class="postbody">
				For a moment Meredith considered reaching through the bars and grabbing the Guido.&nbsp; In the movies that worked, but in real life she still didn't have the upper body strength to pull it off even though she was considerably stronger than most women her size.&nbsp; Instead, all she could do was put herself once again between him and the other girls.&nbsp; Meredith tried to keep her mien calm, not combative, not wanting to further provoke them.&nbsp; The girls didn't need another dose of the hose.&nbsp; They weren't prepared for it, didn't know how to handle it.&nbsp; Meredith was; all it was doing was pissing her off.&nbsp; <br><br>And, oddly, making her feel better.&nbsp; And that was weird.<br><br>"What do you want with them?&nbsp; Because hurting them isn't likely to get it.&nbsp; Play it cool, right?&nbsp; That's how you guys say you are, right?"
			</dd>
		</dl>
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