15092/Godfellas: You're Not a Russian Hit Man.

Godfellas: You're Not a Russian Hit Man.
Date of Scene:	06 June 2023
Location:	McCreedy's Bar
Synopsis:	An assassin strikes! Ares, while trying to maintain control of his immense power, is aided needlessly by his son and bodyguard.
Cast of Characters:	Ares, Daisy Johnson, Alexander Aaron, Jessica Drew

---

Ares has posed:
Things had been very interesting since the last events. Though it seemed that all of this was in vain. They had already spoken to a suspect who had admitted to hiring a hitman. That hit had supposedly been cancelled.

Yet, he still ended up with a bodyguard, just in case. Though, currently, there seemed to be no need for her. Her presence still set the hairs on the back of John Aaron's neck on end because he really wanted nothing to do with her. She was putting a cramp in his entire life. He hadn't been able to go near his bunker for fear of letting her find out what he had hidden under his house and ruining his life for him. Thankfully the door to the bunker was hidden in the finished basement area but still.

They had butted heads a few times, him having not set the best of tones upon meeting her. But he had behaved since then. Mostly. Until now.

He had been told very bluntly by the SHIELD agents that he was to avoid the bar where he had run into a certain individual that he'd had words with. They didn't want him to run into that same person. He had agreed. Thus why he was in this bar, which was literally one block down from the other one. He hadn't promised not to come to a bar in the same area so technically he was not breaking his word!

He was sitting slumped in his chair at a table, doing his best not to look quite as large as he was. He already had four empty beer bottles on the table in front of him and he raised his hand to try and draw the attention of the server to bring him another. Then he picked up the bottle in front of him and finished off the liquid within before setting it back on the table.

"How long have I been forced to endure your presence?" he asked the petite blonde who served as his boydguard. "Could you guard me perhaps...from the other side of the room? Or better, outside?" A look around at some of the lovely ladies in the room who were utterly ignoring him. "I believe the term for your presence is cramping my style. Or perhaps that is too old fashioned. What is that term I have heard this younger generation use..."

Daisy Johnson has posed:
"Cockblocking, Sir."

That's the immediate, no-nonsense answer out of the bodyguard. But who was enduring who? It was typical behavior from many of her wards, drowning their sorrows in booze. Maybe it was what had started all this, drunken fighting in a bar with the wrong type of person and then here she was. Trying to play babysitter. No judgement out of her though, it paid the bills.

In the same way she didn't judge what most likely was a man cave John had under his house. Not that she had seen it but she could see the signs. The way he hovered around as if he wanted her to just go so he could go do whatever men did on those caves. Her bet so far was a carpentry project of some kind.

"And it's been currently two weeks." No answer about changing her position though. This was the best position where she could have a good angle on checking every approach. She wouldn't jeopardize that on a whim.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Outside in a suitably non-descript SUV parked along the side street perpendicular to the bar was another point of security intent to make sure at the least that the rough patch was past. They had the intel on Bauer, they had the likely gang that was putting out the hit. Things should be resolved and at ease, but this was the first night in those last few weeks that Old Man Aaron was stepping out into the city recreationally. It was a possible point of security failure... and might as well cover it as they can.
    Which was why Alexander was settled in that vehicle, arm resting on the center console as he spoke quietly on the cellphone, listening to the police scanner and watching one of the video uplinks from outside that bar.
    "Yeah, I know. It's not so much we're worried someone might... bust a cap in him." Alex smirks slightly, "It's more... if things go south he might be all... well if people learn about him who knows which way he might jump? Best not to risk it."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Bored with waiting in the cramped crawlspace, Arjun plucked another spider scurrying along the rafter. Wolf spiders were more of a challenge, so he mildly enjoyed its struggles as he plucks off its legs. Light glints off his curved teeth, gleaming white against his green skin as he pops it in his mouth. One sharp ear swivels as he listens to his intended prey in the bar.

He had staked out his target - terms gleaned from his last meal and memorized the details of his face and posture. It made the original's adrenaline spike all the more piquant. He enjoyed learning new things as he picked his victim's brains and licked his fingers.

Ares has posed:
"That's it!" John proclaimed a bit more loudly than necessary as he sat up. "You are blocking my cock. What an interesting choice of language though it is very fitting as that is indeed the situation."

And with that, he gave a nod as the server showed up with his next beer. Then she looked to Kelsey to see if she wanted anything before heading back off to continue her rounds.

At which point John pushed back his chair and rose to his feet. "Speaking of my cock." And he turned to start toward the archway that had the restroom sign above it. He paused after four steps and looked over at Kelsey. "You will not be entering the bathroom with me. There are limits, woman!" And with that, he continued on his way to the mens room. He fully expected Kelsey would be tagging along, as she did much like a chihuahua might being that she was very small but with a big dog attitude, but did also expect her to stop at the door as he pushed it open to enter.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Index finger and thumb join together at the bridge of her nose when Ares starts talking about cocks. Like he was five. Or as if he had skipped modern day times and came out of some time machine of sorts. Urgh, maybe she -does- need a drink. But never on the job.

"Wait." Kelsey fully ignores what John is saying, pace brisk as she goes -past- Ares towards that bathroom. She knocks on the door, "Anyone in there?" satisfied that there is no answer she steps within, gesturing for John to wait on the entrance as she moves from stall to stall to check for anyone there, opening the doors one at a time.

No one inside so she goes back to the entrance, "You can go in now." the blonde fully ready to wait OUTSIDE.

------

Daisy isn't on this stakeout tonight. It was time for the young Aaron to do some solo missions after all and this would be a good one for him, "That's why you are there." she says on comms, "To make sure he doesn't do anything he may regret later. These missions are mostly a testament to your patience though. But if you can get through a night of surveillance you can do anything."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I just don't like change." Alex says into the cellphone, there's a small pause as Daisy gives him her advice, then he nods even though he knows she can't see him. He eventually gives a few words back instead of nodding, "Well I'll keep you posted."
    A beat, then he frowns slightly, "Next update. Depending. See you." A small smile touches his lips, then the connection ends.
    Alexander then settles in, nudging the tablet so he can see the feed a little more clearly, several of the other cameras cycling through the rotation. Nothing too intrusive since they didn't know what bar was going to be used until the last moment, but some exterior cameras are set to keep track of comings and goings, and a disguised directional microphone. That should serve for tonight at the least.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Hunger fills the creature, strong enough to overcome the constant pain twisting his spine. He remembers every broken bone, every burn scarring his skin. All his joints crackle with crippled tissue.

Arjun's skin ripples in anticipation of the coming change - the delicious crack of cranial bone and the last stutters of nerves firing, making limbs thrash as they hold onto life. He sucks the water filling his mouth and poises himself to meet his next meal. This one will not be ordinary.

Ares has posed:
As the tiny blonde opens the door and goes in to check, John Aaron stands outside that door looking bemused. He folded his arms over his chest as he awaited permission to enter and do his business. When she finally slipped back out of the door, he stepped aside so she wouldn't be blocked bo his bulk. Then he headed into the room, letting the door close behind him.

At which point he went over to take care of what he came in here for. At least, the first thing he came in here for. And once that was complete, he turned his attention to the far wall and the window within it.

Time to ditch the bodyguard. He had needs and she was interfering with them.

Though, he was wondering if he was going to be able to actually /fit/ through that window. And he started to walk across the space to check it out more closely.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
The door closes behind her and Kelsey exhales. She knows she should had asked for more pay, this bodyguard job is going to take years out of her life. And out of her patience. But at least she doesn't have to hear the man for a little while now. Not that her attentive gaze stops going over the rest of the bar...

And there we go ... A pair of dudes wanting to go in right as she is standing there, of course. Probably not the type to be hitmen but drunk enough to poke at a woman standing at the entrance to the men's room. "Hey, beautiful. Waitin' for someone to bring you in there?" "Heheh, we could do that... now move out of the way and..."

She cuts in with a gesture. "Bathroom is close for five minutes. Just hold it in." Admittedly she could had used a bit more diplomacy there but then again she is feeling short in the figurative sense and with little patience.

---

Daisy chuckles into the phone, "You don't like change like pretty much everyone doesn't. It only means you are human." and then the phone is off and she goes back to tending to her cat's needs. Director Furry needs feeding.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    On the phone Alexander's rejoinder to the dead cellphone is a simple, "Yeah well, your face is human."
    As fate would have it, that window that John Aaron considers as his pathway to freedom, it looks out upon that black SUV in its comfortable parking spot on that side street. The windows are mildly tinted so will offer little insight into the soul within the vehicle, but the old Olympian likely knows the way of things enough to know that that... is an SUV of some import.
    Alexander, for his part, is unaware of what transpires between Kelsey and her charge. Thankfully so considering how displeased the younger Olympian would be to hear his father overuse various biological terms that as far as he's concerned he should never have to hear from the old man.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Oh, he wouldn't mind having a little dessert. If the little blonde with the sweet blood rushed in, it would be her last moment's on earth. Only rush would spoil his pleasure.

A growl rumbles deep in Arjun's throat at the sound of piss gurgling against the urinal wall; the aroma of ammonia flowers through the room. His target's back is reflected in the bathroom's mirrors as he drops from the ceiling as quickly and quietly as the last spider still bitter on his tongue.

The yaksha's crippled back straightens. Rags mend themselves into a semblance of reality. Tusks retract and hair grows in place of cratered flesh. No puppet, he had no need to relieve himself and stands so close to Ares that he might feel his hot breath stir the hair on the nape of his neck.

Ares has posed:
As he eyed that window, John feels that breath. He hadn't heard the door open though he heard murmured voices outside it. Male and Kelsey? But the door had not opened or he'd have been aware. He hadn't caught the ceiling tile moving nor had he heard the being land behind him. But John is not an ordinary human. Truly, he isn't a human at all. He was not going to simply faint away from such things.

"Is something amiss, Mister...?" he asked as he started to turn, prepared to go into full on combat mode if necessary. Though, for all he knew, this was someone else who was looking to release some tension in another way and happened to like his men on the taller side. His tone was conversational, not confrontational.

And that is when his eyes would widen ever so slightly. Because what he saw was not what he expected. "Well, aren't you a handsome one." Though his eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at...himself.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Beings sensitive to shifts on the arcane plane would feel the expanding aura of power and magic emanating from the tiled room. The crazed mirror overwritten with half-erased graffiti gives back the image of two identical men. Handsome and older with the gravitas of age and the knowledge of power beyond the ordinary mortal, the two regard each other. Arjun smiles in answer and stretches his arms.

Nails transform into curved bone as he wraps his arms around Ares and squeezes.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    There is a hint of something in the air as Alexander turns his head slightly. Some tinge of something that sets off the texture of the world ever so slightly as the young Olympian turns his head toward the bar that holds his father. Perhaps just a feeling or an odd tingle to the youth's curiousity, but it is enough that it motivates him to check the feeds he has established.
    Nothing on the displays... nothing that is obvious. Within the room of that tavern there's no action, no activity...
    No Ares.
    Alexander's eyebrows rise a bit. Though there's the bodyguard...

Ares has posed:
The smile and opening of arms was worthy of hesitation. Yet, Ares was still relaxed as he faced the the being that looked just like him. Thoughts ran through his head of possibilities. Shapeshifter, alternate self from another plane of existence, family member playing a prank. So many things it could be. A true doppleganger was possible presumably, but he doubted a human that looked like John Aaron would react this way to seeing himself.

As the arms started to close in, John brought up his arms up and slammed them outwards, in an attempt to push the arms of the man away from him before they could close around his person. Even as he followed by trying to hook a leg behind the ankle of the man to tug the leg forward and following up with a double handled /slam/ of his palms against the chest of the other man in an attempt to knock him over.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Just her luck. Having to escort a loudmouth around a bar and now about having to kick the ass out of those two guys wanting to go in. And of course they are drunk. Kelsey places thumb and index finger to her nose as if she knew there was an headache coming ..

"Listen, girl. We are going in there whether you want to or..." Whatever the man was saying back at Kelsey he never finishes it because she turns suddenly towards the door leading to the bathroom and kicks it open, "Mr. Aaron!" she starts striding into the room.

And so do the two men that just wanted to have a leak but once they spot whatever Arjun is? They run!

Jessica Drew has posed:
Delicious. They were going to grapple. The raksha liked to play with his prey. Torture had broken his soul long before stamping its mark on his body. The Master was consummate in the art of breaking his creatures.

A low sound fills the tiled room, Arjun laughs amused at Ares struggle. Impossibly long claws wrap Ares in a warm embrace and two identical foreheads meet in a resounding crack as Ares pulls them together and they fall backward to the unforgiving floor. Twisting his legs with Ares, Arjun levers himself on top of the man and fixes him with a picture of his open open mouth filled with fangs as he bends to bite.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The sound of the struggle didn't make it outside. But as that door opened to the bathroom, revealing the two struggling men... or man and man-thing, the bar-patrons that had been following Kelsey into the room suddenly had a surge of surprise. Then when they saw the creature's monstrous features there was a rush of fear.
    Which to the young man on the other side of the wall was an abrupt red flag as he pushed open the door on the SUV and rolled out of the seat quickly. He grabbed his jacket instinctively and then moved in the direction of that surge of panic when he realized it was... right behind the wall.
    Or rather on the other side of that tall window.
    For those in the bathroom they'll hear a heavy /crunch and the shattering of glass as part of that wall is broken inwards, the window breaking open scattering glass and concrete and concrete dust on the far side of the bathroom.

Ares has posed:
That did not go as planned. The creature was stronger than expected and managed to bring those hands back in, taking Ares down with it when it toppled to the ground. As their heads met, there was a loud noise but John Aaron didn't really seem to feel a negative effect from it. Though, he was surprised at how hard the blow had been. This was definitely not human in any way, shape, or form. It might have been a mutant or metahuman but he even pushed that out of his mind after that impact.

Then there were sharp teeth coming toward his head even as he heard the door slamming open and a window breaking somewhere in the room. Yet he didn't have time to look at either. Though he had his suspicions of at least one of them. "Kelsey, nay! Get out!"

Even as he brings am arm up and SLAMS a fist into the ribs of the being on top of him while his other hand comes up to grasp at it's throat and hold that gaping maw away from him.

The problem was that Ares was starting to get mad. The oddness that the assassin already had in the air was starting to crackle with power. Yet, he could not let it loose. Not in front of Kelsey or others. It would betray his nature and that would hurt Alexander, the one thing he would not allow to happen.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Intent on the struggle, two weak humans entering the room barely registers on Arjun. Neck muscles stand out like steel cables as he bears down on the so-called god in his grasp. The warm smell of blood that will blossom in his mouth consumes his attention.

Oooomph.

A cracked rib is nothing compared to the pain of living. Arjun's serrated smile widens.

The surge of supernatural power in the room breaks into his anticipated pleasure like an off smell in a meal. He loosens his hold enough to lever a hand up to grasp his prey's neck in a chokehold meant to cut off air and blows rotting breath into his face as he bends. Arjun would be content with ripping that haughty nose off his face.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
The bodyguard takes a second to survey the scene. Two John Aaron's fighting? No, one of them has fangs and claws. She advances towards the fight, fully ignoring John's warning because she's the bodyguard here. All until that window explodes..

She pauses but manages to not get tossed back, a foot wedging back against one of the bathroom stalls and one arm up to cover her face from any glass that could cut her. She grits her teeth.

Fangs and claws. Something or someone with clearly unnatural strength right outside the window of the bathroom. A normal human might run at the face of such dangers. But Kelsey has a job to do here. So she doubles down on moving ahead, "I will provide a way out."

And she lifts one leg up to bring it down heel-first against the head of the being fighting John, taking advantage that the man is holding that face in such a nice angle for a good kick!

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    There's a faint haze of concrete dust in the air, though only briefly as through the broken window comes Alexander, feet first initially as he had grabbed the ledge above the window and kicked through into the restroom. He lands next to the sink, boots crunching on the ground and giving him a clear line of sight to the mayhem in front of him. First thing's first.
    A bare flicker of silver flame lights his eyes as he rushes forward behind the bodyguard who is going in for that axe kick. Almost negligently he gestures toward the two men who had been hassling Kelsey. Barely a flicker of power sensed only by those two civilians as their hint of fear about the situation becomes a flare of terror that quickly sends them on their way.
    As for the ruckus on the floor... he takes a moment to get into position near Kelsey, probably looking for the right moment to draw her free.

Ares has posed:
John would've cursed but he seemed to have no air suddenly thanks to that clawed grip closing around his throat. Air was necessary for speech. Even for someone like him. As he saw Kelsey come into view, he adjusted his own grip to be sure he kept the creature's head right where it was, giving her that perfect view.

John brought up his other hand to the torso of the creature, grabbing the front of it's shirt and trying to continue holding it a bay before those sharp teeth could make contact with any of his flesh. Because he kind of liked his nose right where it was. It went with the rest of the face, after all.

He turned his head to the side, presenting a little less of a target. Even as he started to smile as he felt that surge of power, realized what the window had been.

The fact he didn't actually need to breathe unless he wanted to? Was the other reason for that smile.

Jessica Drew has posed:
An unexpected blow snaps Arjun's fangs together hard; the copper taste of blood fills his mouth, enraging him and making him miss his first bite. With supernatural speed, he rakes at the offending foot with the intent of claws tearing cloth into ribbons, ruining socks and slicing skin.

A ripple of terror laps the air like a skirl of cold wind presaging a storm. Arjun roars. The blow meant to slice and dice the offending foot aimed at his head now comes down on Are's ear the claws wrapping around the back of his head in a caress sharp as knives.

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Kelsey knew she should had brought her shit-kicker boots tonight. The metal reinforced ones. As it stands the blow mostly bounces off even she at least gets the satisfaction of seeing some blood on the creature's mouth. The counter-blow comes fast and even as she retreats with her leg fast there's brief contact of claws to her boot, she feeling a searing pain on her foot. Something to worry about later.

A familiar figure rushes in ..., through the window? She notes it's John's son, Alexander, lifting a brow in his direction. "We need to get your father out of here." no questions on how he got here, or how he got to just barge through the window like that. Questions will be for later, right now the priority being on getting John Aaron safely out of here!

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    The newly arrived Alexander moves in quickly as the monstrous image of a clawed and fanged father figure menaces. A quick nod as Kelsey speaks and he says, "Window." And then he's moving on the creature.
    There's a small moment in between Kelsey withdrawing and when the creature bears back down on Ares that Alexander takes the instant to dive bodily into the thing known to some as Arjun. He barrels in trying to pin the creature against the wall, forearm against its throat as his eyes lock with the thing. Perhaps in that moment all it can perceive is the sudden rush of movement, the realization of another combatant...
    But then it sees those eyes. And the silver flame within.

Ares has posed:
For a moment, John Aaron feels those claws digging into the back of his head, slicing through the flesh there. Because he knew that it should. And thus he didn't harden his skin into armor to block it. It wouldn't be able to get through the bone hopefully.

He was holding the body up and away from him slightly which perhaps helped Alexander to gain purchase and, hopefully, drag the creature off of him with a forearm across it's throat.

If so, John would roll to his feet in a way that was far too easy for someone of his size. The fact blood was dripping down from the wounds to stain the shoulder of his shirt and back didn't matter. Head wounds did like to bleed a lot. Instead, he was focused on the creature. And intent on ripping all it's limbs off. That seemed a good plan.

Until he spotted Kelsey and this time that cursing did happen as he had the air for it. It would've made a sailor blush. Most would presume it was because he'd been attacked and wounded at least.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Intent on his victim, the perverted raksha dismisses the voices overhead. His next warm meal struggles underneath him and hunger drives him.

An arm wraps around his neck. Surprise at the uncanny strength in his new assailant breaks his concentration on Ares. The razor sharp claws withdraw from their embrace around his victim's head, leaving the heady perfume of warm blood in the air. They wrap around the offending arm, knives intent on severing wrist and forearm as he looks into argent eyes that expand, drawing him away from the cold hard floor and the heat of battle.

Old pain blooms, the memory of cracked bones and fatigue beyond all imagining fills the world. Something strange takes place. In the hatred and blame that enflamed his existence and drove his hunger, Arjun realizes he could have resisted. What is pain but a flare of firing nerves? Action leaves an indelible mark on existence. All those deaths in the name of avoiding pain.

The silver becomes unbearable light as Arjun's life and all the missed crossroads flicker through his anger, killing it and freezing him in place.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    As Arjun's world shrinks to that single perception, the world around him goes on. The newly arrived Alexander rises up while still holding the creature against the wall, securing the monstrosity in his father's image. He says over his shoulder quickly toward Kelsey. "There's a black SUV in the alley."
    His free hand digs into his jacket pocket and a keyfob is slid across the floor in her direction, "Get him in there and to a safe location. I'll handle this." Even as he shakes his head slightly. No thought is spared for the hows and whys of the moment, instead there are the practical matters to attend. In the next instant he's pressing an ear piece into his ear, the action of doing so causing it to key to life.
    On the SHIELD comms a voice is heard, likely by Daisy as well if she's monitoring. << Agent Aaron to Triskelion Actual. I need a secure pick up on an enhanced suspect, doppelganger or amorphous operative protocol needed. >>

Daisy Johnson has posed:
Kelsey moves swiftly, perhaps not unnaturally so, but still fast enough, moving between John and the creature that is now being pinned to the wall by Alexander. She keeps one arm to her side as if to stop John's advance on the creature in case he is having thoughts on attacking it, "This way, Sir." no-nonsense tone as she takes control of the situation, no matter that there's all the supernatural stuff going on.

"Through the window." Or is it a hole in the wall now? Probably the latter. Firm hand takes hold of John's shoulder and then she's moving him through the bathroom and out the window, a glance over her shoulder..

Did Alex just freeze him with his gaze? She catches the keys tossed her way, a sharp nod in return and then they are out, rushing towards that SUV!

Ares has posed:
For an instant, John doesn't move. He has his gaze locked on that suspect being held by his son. There is that swell of pride at the boy but he doesn't have time to think about that. For a moment later, a small hand is shoving his shoulder and he looks down to Kelsey. A frown.

And his essence has fed well from the conflict just experienced though now that red rage in his mind seeks to overwhelm. To allow him to fall into that pit of conflict and battle! To simply go through the building and tear through them all like tissue paper. He looks to his son, to see if he too will partake of the glorious battle to come. And sees the boy slide the keys to Kelsey, instructing her to use them to get him away from this place. And an instant of anger flares that his boy would dare try to stop him. Then slowly realizing that he has to wait. Bide his time. There will be more conflict, more battle. This is but an instant. The red in his thoughts recedes.

And Ares, God of War, does as he is bid.

Though it goes against every core of his being, he turns and quickly is jumping out of that hole where the window had once been. He even offers a hand to Kelsey to help her through before following her guidance to the SUV in question.

Jessica Drew has posed:
Dust tickles his nose, urging Arjun to sneeze. The uncontrollable need to sneeze blends with a new painful sensation: regret. Claws flex and retract, fangs retract scoring his lips that drip with blood. Arjun is caught in a maze of flickering images, deaths relived without triumph. Imprisoned.

Is there a choice before him? He could battle his way out of the hallways of memory and kill everyone in the room. It is only a matter of choice. The vista of breaking free and returning to his old life dies - shadows effaced by silvery light.