Training? (Bow)

Subject: Training? (Bow) Tue Aug 20, 2013 11:35 pm

In the late hour at the Jump City park, a man stood over a woman. Or rather, a shattered frame of a man stood over a vibrant young woman. Neither was what anyone would call an ordinary human. To most, it appeared the specter of a man hung over the woman, ready to strike as some predator. But who really knew what happened there? Perhaps not even those involved.

What they all agreed on was that the woman had been approached by a mysterious assassin, only for the assassin to have been headed off by a madman. The ensuing battle had seen the madman victorious. But at what end? What were his intentions? What were hers? Who was the real predator here?

Zack narrowed his eyes as his grin widened. "What now, eh love?" He stared Bow down, ready to fight if the situation called for it. "Want to tell me why you're holding back?" He leaned in, putting his face inches from hers. "We both know you aren't human. You're something more. So why run?" His mind was exploding into thousands of rabbit holes, each one self replicating until they were no longer recognizable.

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Tue Aug 20, 2013 11:58 pm

All she could do was to stare back into the eyes of the one who had just supposedly saved her. But his eyes and ever widening grin made her feel as though she wasn't out of the clear just yet. It was as if at any moment he would just open fire on her and she had no means of escape. Her powers were rendered useless as terror was still the dominant emotion encompassing her entire body right now. She had just watched this man defeat another who had extraordinary powers and, although she couldn't physically see him utilizing any abilities, she knew he was no simple man. What was he then? Why should she even ask him that question though when she couldn't answer it for herself.

Her mind began to wander past normal borders into obsession over every little detail of what she could be. What he could be. What any of them could be. What are humans anyway? Every single one of them is an individual, not even identical twins are actually identical. What makes a human human? She kept thinking it had to be something with emotion but, did that mean she was human? Or was that just what she said because she wished she was. She didn't have very long to think about it before he began to speak again.

Bow blinked, snapping back into reality and her heart skipped a beat as he stared at her, her cheeks flushing red as he got close to her. She instinctively held her breath, holding even it back as he talked to her. When he finished, she looked down and sighed, all fear escaping from inside her as she tried to be kind again. He did just save her life after all. She looked back up at him and blinked, gulping slightly. Her voice was still shaken with fear but coated with sugary sweetness. "I-I'm not holding back... I know there's something inside of me... But I don't have very good control over it... I-I had to run... I'm not strong like you are..." She looked away ashamed of herself and hugged her knees.

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Wed Aug 21, 2013 12:49 am

"Can't control it? Not strong?" Despite his grin, Zack managed to look disgusted and confused all at once. He tossed his hands into the air and turned away, ranting senselessly to himself before turning back to face her, leaning in close once more as he shook a finger in her face. "Where I came from, girly, those words saw your corpse dragged away if it was in few enough pieces. Otherwise they used a wagon." He abruptly burst into what could only be described as maddened laughter: Hysteric, yet joyless. As empty as a shattered and abandoned vase.

"That answers my other questions... If you were one of them we wouldn't be talking right now." Apparently that was amusing to him, as another wave of empty laughter followed the remark. He leered at her. "Tell me then, girly. Would it be merciful to kill you? Would you be able to stop me if I thought so?" He leaned closer, his grin a mask of teeth. "Do you think anyone would be able to stop me if they could hear your screams?" He slowly reached for something behind his back. "There are so many... Can you keep from joining them?"

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Wed Aug 21, 2013 1:18 am

Bow couldn't decipher what to make of this man's personality. Obviously he was mocking her, and had plenty reason to do so. It was embarrassing that she had powers and yet was absolutely useless in battle. Never had she thought though that she would ever actually have to fight for her survival. She always thought there was some way that they could communicate without the need for violence. Even tonight she believed that if it had just been her she could have talked that man out of harming her. Hopefully. Then he was back in her face and she gasped. A shiver ran down her spine as he spoke and she watched him laugh, both appalled and intrigued at the same time. She wanted to hug him and run away from him as fast as possible.

As she opened her mouth to speak, he did so first. Her eyes widened a bit more with each question. Her heart sped up with each passing word. Was he really going to attack her now? Of course she knew this was a possibility from the beginning. When he asked his last question though, all of her resistance seemed to escape her body for a moment as she whispered "no", but then something ignited in her and she looked up at him, face inches apart. Her voice still shaky though. "I will try with everything I am if you decide to try and kill me. I know I'm no match for you but I would fight until my dying breath... However... I don't honestly think you will. Something about you... You seem..." She shakes the thought from her head and giggles. "Maybe I'm insane, but, do you really want to kill me?" She tilted her head and looked up into his eyes curiously, only slight fear pressing against her heart now.

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Wed Aug 21, 2013 11:16 am

"Maybe YOU'RE insane?" Zack let out a short burst of laughter after a series of throaty sounds that sounded like he was trying not to. "It seems we're all mad here!" He laughed again, as if a floodgate had been released.

His mind fought itself, several arguments battling to be his final decision. He should leave. There was nothing for him there. No. He should help her. She wouldn't last without it. No, that was a waste of time. She was beyond help. She didn't want his help. Why didn't he just kill her? The screams may yet stop. And she would look so beautiful painted a sticky crimson in the pale moonlight. No... She was innocent, she was non-combatant... Or was she? This could all be a ruse, some clever trap... He should kill her, stab her, shoot her, strangle her, just to be safe. No! She had no reason to die. She was no combatant. But then what did he do? Did he leave? Doing so was just like killing her himself, as she'd never last without some kind of help. But why help? She wasn't his problem, and she'd be getting herself killed not him. Perhaps the best thing was to kill her now, quickly so she would not suffer through the tortures of another.

"Will you now?" He swung a backhand at her temple. From his perspective it was quite gentle as the metal under his flesh let him fracture and shatter bones with ease, but he knew his body well: He swung only hard enough to daze her, not even hard enough to break the skin. "Do you think so?" He swung a kick to her side, more intended to send her rolling than do any damage, though it was still hard enough to leave a bruise.

"How do I seem? Eh girly? Do I seem a friendly monster? Do I seem a kind hearted devil?" He strode after her, his eyes sparkling with some inner light. Was it glee? Was it some sadistic cruelty? Was it sorrow? Was it merely the light of his own madness? Perhaps even Zack didn't know, but he certainly wasn't particularly illuminating on the subject.

"You think you can defend yourself?" He leaned down, his face next to hers again, filling her vision. "Do you think you can survive? Can you save yourself from the monsters?"

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Wed Aug 21, 2013 12:12 pm

As he spoke again and laughed maniacally, the fear spread through her body again along with adrenaline. Her eyes were trained on him as it seemed he was struggling within himself and she took this opportunity to back up very slowly, trying not to disturb his thoughts. Something about him though had her moving even slower than she thought she would want to go. There was some strange attraction she couldn't explain to herself just yet. Maybe it was the simple fact that he had saved her life. Possibly it was something to do with the fact he was battling against himself and she knew how that felt. He seemed so... distant? Alone? Something along those lines. Though that was all guesstimation and she couldn't be certain of any of it. It could all be a trap for her. And the longer she stayed, the more it seemed that was the case.

He then seemed to rest on a side of himself and she was now the only one in thought. The backhand came as a surprise and she squealed, her eyes going wide and blinking as she looked back up at him, just about to say something when his foot came in contact with her side and sent her rolling away with a sharp gasp. As soon as she could, she stood up. He really did intend to kill her it would appear. She looked at him in pure fear, trying to calm down, but unable at the moment.

When he tossed questions at her in rapid succession, her mind boggled, still fuzzy thanks to that slap. As he strode toward her, she tried backing up, but kept stumbling and almost falling. Her voice was soft and unsure of itself, but she wanted to hope. She didn't believe anyone was truly a monster, much less a devil. "I-I do not think you're a monster at all... Just... Different... M-maybe you just need a hug? Or a friend... I could be your friend!" As she spoke her last word, she fell back down on her butt and grabbed her side with a wince.

He was back in her face again and she gasped, blushing at the closeness that she didn't expect. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She didn't want to fight him. She knew she would lose. But if he did try anything again she would try and be prepared. As she spoke, she breathed slowly, concentrating all that she could into warming her palms. "Again I say... I don't think you're a monster... I don't believe in monsters... But... I don't think I could survive against you... No... B-but I would try..."

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Mon Oct 07, 2013 9:36 pm

"A hug? A friend?" Zack's voice sounded insulted, but his mind flashed back. Dead. All dead. No, not quite. He still had their souls. Their souls were still safe. But their bodies... No. The memories forced themselves upon him.

A gunshot to the chest, burning in betrayal. A trio of Nato rounds to the back. A knife slashing for the throat.

He closed his eyes, hands clamped to the sides of his head.

The sound of approaching hunters. Time running out. The feeling of despair, of failure. The oncoming doom of impending dissection. A broken arm, the Glock it's hand had held clattering to the floor as an upward strike shattered ribs, ruptured organs, and punctured a lung. A shot to the shoulder. A cry of pain and hatred as a slender knee was kicked in. The sound of skull cracking as a right hook connected with a temple. A gurgle as a left jab crushed a windpipe.

Zack dropped to one knee, unaware that he was muttering names, curses, and remarks on the need to escape in a barely audible tone.

Almost here. Almost caught. Almost failed. One obstacle left. A slash across the chest, and another to the thigh. A handful of hair, the wet crunch of bone on stone. A body slumping to the ground. No time to think. Must run. Must escape. A clatter of weapons collected. The clatter of armored boots. Angry voices. Running. So much running. Almost as much as the blood...

Zack opened his eyes. That's right, he was here. In a park. With some girl. Who was she again? She hadn't said. That's right... He was debating on what to do. It seemed he had made a decision, or at least part of one. He stood, shaking his head. His grin widened. "Ah schizophrenia, the silent killer." He said with a wink. "Now where was I? Ah yes. You were under the impression that I just needed a hug." Zack's eyes narrowed. "Making up words won't help you stay alive, girly." He leaned in again, his face centimeters from hers once more. "You may not believe in monsters, love, but believe me: They're out there. And most of them are just as dangerous as I am. They're everywhere. They're anywhere. They're everyone. They're anyone. Your butcher, your baker, even your candelstick maker. Anyone could be your worst nightmare just waiting for the right time to strike." He quite suddenly straightened up. "Or I could be making this up as I go along. Who believes a madman? That's the best part about the process... We're all insane!" As if having told another joke, he burst into laughter again, spinning away.

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Fri Jan 10, 2014 4:04 pm

Bow watched again as the man she feared more than anyone at the moment began to appear to remember something. Perhaps something that was troubling him. He dropped to a knee and she gasped in surprise, going wide eyed as she sat up herself and went to his side in worry for him. It couldn't be helped that she wanted to comfort the man that was trying to kill her. It was instilled in her very essence. She was a lover, not a fighter.

Gently she rubbed his back as he muttered to himself. She whispered to him, softly, sure that it probably wouldn't even reach his ears but, she had to try. She knew what it was like to be consumed with the thought of the past. Though never did she actually think about events. Hers were always 'what if' situations and 'I wonder what this was like...'. It was hard to imagine what he must be going through right now, and yet, it must be so similar to the nightmares that keep her up at night. "Shh... It'll be okay... Just breathe... I'm right here..."

As he started speaking again, she blinked. Listening to him just made her upset. He was lying to her and she could tell. His words were just a play. It wasn't him speaking. At least, she didn't think so. She didn't like it. The way he spoke as if this were all a game to him. She started to think he wasn't really going to kill her. Which, in turn, made her grow in confidence just a little. When he stood up and negated everything he had just told her, she pouted. Bow had had enough of his blabbering at this point. She stood up and, without any warning, slapped him across his face with a hot hand, tears in her eyes.

"SHUT UP!! God! You treat this like an idiotic game! This is life! You're scaring me! Okay, so they're monsters. You see yourself as a monster. Maybe you are one. But... JESUS! You just put a nursery rhyme into what I'm assuming was supposed to be a threat! I don't get you..." Every word she spoke up until that point had made her aura get hotter and hotter, sparks flying off her skin. However, when she spoke that last sentence, all malice seemed to dissipate and the aura grew cold again. Her eyes were leaking tears and she sighed, gripping her forehead. "You seem... Off. But I still don't get the sense of monstrosity from you... It's more like... A mask? Like, you're being fake and not yourself... I don't know... I don't even know your name... So... Let's start there..." She sighed and wiped her tears away. Looking back up at him through glistening eyes, she smiled softly. "My name is Rain Bow... What's yours?"

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Tue Jan 14, 2014 9:37 pm

As her palm connected with his jaw his head moved with it as one would expect, however an astute enough person may notice something off about the movement, as if it was intentional. Zack's eyes narrowed at the heat of the slap: that definitely wasn't normal. His head slowly swiveled back to face her.

"Naughty naughty girlie, you could get hurt like that." His brow furrowed as Bow exploded and he nearly laughed in her face. She didn't seem to understand his point. Any point for that matter it seemed. At least any point he was intent on making. Then again, everyone else he had met thus far never did either. Then he felt the heat emanating from Bow and despite the nagging worry in the back of his head his grin widened. He was right about the slap, and he was right about what he had seen earlier. Now he knew for sure, and now he also knew she had multiple powers. Though he had to wonder why she hadn't used them yet. Perhaps this was the extent of her abilities? Floating gently to the ground and radiating heat? Or perhaps there was something he was missing... Maybe there was some sort of restriction? Maybe they didn't work while she was terrified? Or she just couldn't focus enough when stressed? He pushed the thoughts to the back of his head as her temperature continued to rise.

He considered putting a bullet between her eyes to stop it. As every second passed and the temperature continued to rise he came even closer to doing so. Then she stopped. Why did she stop? Was that all she could do? Maybe she was untrained, or maybe she was just restraining herself. Either way neither pointed to the fact that she couldn't be one of them. They were better trained, and they would have attacked him by now. He tilted his head to one side.

"I'm a Zack. At least that's what I remember. And you're like them, aren't you? I knew it. Yet you aren't them, are you? Too..." Zack seemed to struggle to come up with a word. "Different."

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Mon Jan 20, 2014 4:31 pm

(OOC: Sorry for the length... I can't think of anything else to put right now... >.< )

His smile got wider as she talked. What was he? Obviously he wasn't normal but, none of them were. No one was. Not really. But, he was starting to actually worry her. Until she got done and he actually spoke again. He answered her question and then said something about being like them but, not them at the same time. She blinked and tilted her head to the opposite side of him. "Well... Nice to meet you, Zach... What do you mean I'm like them? Who are them?" She took a few steps closer to him, now intrigued by him. It seemed he was starting to finally calm down. Or, at least, he wasn't trying to scare her anymore.

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Fri Feb 07, 2014 2:32 pm

The madman leered down at the relatively small woman now stepping closer to him. It seemed she wasn't quite as afraid of him as she was before, unless she planned to trick him. Maybe he should just shoot her and be done with this. His finger twitched and his pistol jiggled slightly on the back of his belt.

""Them?" "Them" are the monsters, girlie. "Them" are the worst monsters of them all - the kind that carves up it's own kind, it's own children, in order to mold them into weapons. "Them" are those who you precious citizens of this country trust with your lives, with your children, with your safety. "Them," girlie, are in the last place you expect, hidden behind incompetence and power." He leaned in, his grin widening and his eyes maniacal.

"And do you know, little girl, who's working to stop them? Oh ho, there are several who would like to see them burn, but they don't know that anything exists behind the mask. There's only one lone madman standing between "Them" and planet wide domination, the slaughtering of millions, the capture and dissection of every non intended metahuman, and the subjugation of all who survive." He leaned even closer. "Now tell me that doesn't scare you." As he leaned in, he had brought his right hand up to rest on his hip, making it look like he was in a mock chastising pose, but in reality his gun was now much closer to his hand, just in case.

Subject: Re: Training? (Bow) Sat Feb 08, 2014 12:39 am

As he leaned over her, Bow realized just how tall he was. A whole ten inches above her, forcing her to arch her back as she tilted her head up to look into his eyes. Those eyes were like nothing she had ever seen before. So wild and full of life, yet dead at the same time. Just like a mask, she thought to herself again. The smile too, it was so fake it literally hurt her to look at it.

Then he started to speak about 'them'. Her heart started to pound in her chest and she really couldn't pin point why. Maybe it was because he was getting closer and closer to her face. Maybe it was the fact that his voice was shrill. Or maybe it was because she believed what he was telling her was truth. And that scared her most of all. That this madman in front of her, because she truly believed he was insane, was telling her truth beyond what anyone else was capable of saying. And then he got even scarier.

One man. No, just a man. One insane lunatic was the only one holding everything in the balance. It had to be him. He's the only one that knows the truth. And she believed that. She believed that his conviction came from a place of knowledge. Of torture and heartache beyond was she was even capable of understanding. And then it hit her.

He must be so lonely. It looked like it. The way he could never let down his walls, his mask. She bit her lip and teared up, fear and sorrow gripped her heart and slowly, unconsciously, she wrapped her arms around this madman's neck, starting to sob gently as she whispered. "You don't have to be alone, Zack... No one should ever have to be alone. If there's any way I can help, any at all, just let me know..." She took a moment to look up into his eyes again and smiled gently. "I may not be the best fighter or anything, but I'm a really good shoulder to cry on and will always be here to listen... I think you're in grave need of a friend... And so I've decided. Whether you like it or not, I'm you're new friend!" She smiled with determination and giggled lightly.

Of course there was still fear in her heart because of this man but, she also trusted him not to kill her. If he had really wanted to do that, he could have already done so. So obviously there was a reason why he wouldn't pull the trigger, and she wanted to know what that reason was. Bow always had a thing for jumping into things too deep, too fast, and maybe this is one of those times when it would backfire on her... Or, maybe she was on to something and this odd meeting really could turn into a friendship, or maybe even more~

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