21/A Fishy Situation

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A Fishy Situation
Date of Scene: 19 February 2020
Location: Upper East Side
Synopsis: Lois tries to investigate a fishy situation, Aquaman and Thor save the day from another.
Cast of Characters: Thor, Lois Lane, Arthur Curry




Thor has posed:
    Winter on the East River is never an entirely pleasant thing. With the angry nor-easter bearing down on the city, the heavy weight of the ensuing snowstorm is often heralded by chunks of ice that drift down the river, small islets in the cold water that flows past Manhattan and sometimes carrying seagulls or albatross. It's a time of heavy fog rolling in off the ocean and over the docks, making visibility slim, only slithering away when the sun hangs high overhead...
    But this time of night, with the last ferry on its way, it's at least peaceful. So few passengers, so few people around. Only a dozen cars on the lower deck being hauled across the water. At times there's a distant clanging of a buoy or the cry of one of those birds while the boat crunches past a piece of ice here or there.
    All is quiet, save for the small gathering of four men in long jackets or burdened with heavy pea coats settled there on the eastern deck near some vehicles. From afar, if one were in the know, they'd recognize Manny Lieber. Head of the local 409 Teamster's Union and his aid. And next to him is Councilman O'Connell with his aid. Both of those aids entirely seeming like the only aid they could provide is in the breaking of legs and the smacking of jaws.
    "I'm telling you, Manny. You push harder and you'll regret it."
    "You talk to me this way, O'Connell? After everything I've done for you? Where's the respect? The shared camaraderie?"
    "We're not comrades, Manny. We're not... I don't know what we are, but we're ending this."
    "I'm hurt, buddy."
    And all the while the two men are talking, the other two men are sizing each other up. Just in case.

Lois Lane has posed:
Bundled up for the cold, Lois Lane is positioned close to the cluster of men. Not /too/ close, as she doesn't have a particular excuse ready if she's addressed. It certainly doesn't look good for her, crouching behind a car. Of course, she doesn't plan on being caught. Instead, she's listening, taking it in, and recording the audio onto her phone. Video's usually too dangerous, too easy to be noticed. She narrows her eyes, peeking around the front of the car to try and get a visual on the situation.

It's only now that it crosses her mind she should have told someone where she was going.

Arthur Curry has posed:
Want to know a good piece of advice? Never be on a large body of water late at night, especially if it leads into the greater oceans. Predators feed at night, where others can't see them coming. Well in this case, there's a warning of whatever's coming when a sort of angelic light is glowing from beneath the water. Did someone drop another lantern in the water and forget to close it, or is it one of those secret military subs they don't want you knowing about.

Get out the tin foil hats, because its neither.

Because about twenty seconds after the light is shining, it gets brighter...and brighter...and HOLY-

A GIANT Angler Fish that looks like it was spawned from hell itself bursts from the water, its mouth unlatching with its long razor sharp teeth biting into a portion of the ferry, like it wants to just eat the entire thing...and it probably could.

Fortunately, something also bursts from the water, though its much smaller. To those who are familiar with the Justice League member, its Aquaman! ...the dude who talks to fish. Aquaman wields his trident in his hand as he lets out a battle cry, latching onto the side of this monster by stabbing into its flesh. A battle has begun!

But who will record this event?!

Thor has posed:
    At first the four men on the starboard side of the ship see that light. It starts with a slow steady build up of a glow that gleams across the surface of the water. It stops conversation cold, Manny looking up, frowning, grimacing. "The hell is this? Another ferry?"
    "No," Says the councilman, frowning as well as he rests his hands on the railing. "This is the last ferry. I think it..."
    And that is the moment the great maw arises, and those teeth and fangs and that glowing beacon of malevolence that casts everything around them in that sickly pale light. Only for that light to /shine/ off the brilliant trident now embedded in the creature.
    "The hell!?" Manny says as he pulls out a pistol, joined by the two other burly men. Only for O'Connell to blink, "The fuck did you bring a gun for?!"
    And suddenly O'Connell's 'aid' is taking a bead on the other two men with weapons, even as beyond them there is the amazing tableau of the King of the Sea struggling with a gigantic creature that should be the primary concern of all involved.

Lois Lane has posed:
Well, this wasn't the story she was going for, but Lois is pretty sure she can swing it. The angler fish is honestly a little terrifying, just enough that it startles her from a crouched position flat onto her butt with an 'oof'. She's not sure, at this point, how much of a danger the fish actually opposes to the ferry, but it's certainly big enough that it just might rock the boat... literally.

She does angle her phone to take a picture of the fish while it's still in good view--and, of course, Aquaman on the side of it. She might need it for an article. Regardless of what Aquanman and the fish are doing, however, she's still on a ferry with some men who she is now realizing are armed. That could be an issue. She moves to get up a bit, trying to creep backwards to find a safer hiding spot.

Arthur Curry has posed:
The sea creature roars as Aquaman buries his trident deeper int othe creatures flesh, causing it to unlatch its jaws from the ship to try and shake off the Atlantean. Unfortunately, as it does so, its tail, which is deceptively long and strong, smashes into the side of the ship, likely knocking a few people into the water and threatening a full capsize of the boat being the most imminent danger!

"Dammit!" Aquaman growls to himself as he lifts his hands towards the sky, lighting starting to crackle between the clouds. "FALL, MONSTER!" and upon throwing his hand downwards, lightning strikes the creature hard, but it doesn't seem to kill it quite yet.

Sea creatures are a tough bunch, after all.

Thor has posed:
    Of course, as Lois slips back to what she likely hopes was a safer spot... that puts her in view of Manny's bald bodyguard as the big man says, "Who the fuck is that!?" As he gestures with the barrel of the pistol in his hand in the reporter's direction.
    To which the Councilman's aid snorts, "Nice try." Even as he keeps the gun on the teamsters as best he can, despite the rocking and swaying of the boat.
    "No wait, that's the reporter chick!" Manny growls, his eyes flicking over to Lois even as she ducks away. "Oh hell, get her phone!" He gestures with her gun and it's enough that it causes the heavily muscled thugs start over in her direction. Even as one says over his shoulder, "But boss shouldn't we like..." He gestures, "I mean... that monser is big and it's eatin' the ship!"
    "You wanna see a big monster I'll show you one if you don't get that phone!"
    And as quick as that, poor Lois suddenly has two men trying to rush her, even as their sea legs betray them with the jolting bounces of the ship up and down, the water raging with the tumult of the great creature struggling against the Atlantean there in the wide water.
    And suddenly the creature twists and /slams/ into the side of the ship, sending it rocking and tilting precariously so heavy to the side that one of those men falls and starts _sliiiiiidng_ across the deck, shrieking a high pitched shriek as he abruptly falls over the side, managing just at the last second to /grab/ onto the railing and prevent himself from going overboard into the churning sea.
    Out on the waves with the creature, as the lightning flickers and dances across the water, and as the Lord of Atlantis still struggles, another figure can be seen in dark silhouette. "You almost had him, warrior!" Cape flowing off his shoulder, the armored Asgardian seemingly appearing out of nowhere holds aloft Mjolnir and calls. "Let us try this again. Only together!"
    And with that said the storm swirls and roars, now raging around them. Lightning crashes again into the great hammer, and then flows forth from the Thunderer's hand toward Arthur's trident as together perhaps the two can down the beast.

Lois Lane has posed:
There's a mad scramble to get away, and Lois finds herself contending with both thugs and a rocking boat. The former have her moving around a car to find a better hiding spot, the latter finds her slammed into the side of said car in a rather painful sounding manner. Still, there's got to be a better place she can position herself other than being a ping-pong ball between cars or potentially pitching off the railing.

"When you're done stopping that thing there are /guys with guns/ down here!" Lois hollers in the general direction of the fish fight. She knows it's a risk because it calls attention to herself, but it's a calculated risk.

Arthur Curry has posed:
Aquaman was already close to killing this bastard of a fish before he looks up to see the God of Thunder looming over head. He understands what must be done. Taking his mighty fist and bashing the creature right in the eye in order to both half-blind it and keep it still enough for this attack to make it, Arthur lifts up the Trident of Poseidon so he and Thor can perform some electroshock therapy: royal edition.

As soon as the electricity makes it to Arthur's trident, Arthur plants it into the creature, causing a tremendous explosion of electricity that cooks it to such an extent that its rubbery skin is now quite crispy. And surprisingly edible. The great fish is dead!

"Thanks you for the assist." He yanks his trident out of the fish's corpse and is about to say something else before he hears Lois calling out for help. So, Aquaman gives a smirk to Thor and leaps on down there, first moving to the opposite side of the ship to right it to a more stable area before getting on the ship proper.

"Didn't your mothers ever tell you to treat a lady with respect?" Of course, if Thor joins him then...these guys REALLY need to surrender.

Thor has posed:
    While the battle raged things were entirely too chaotic for the men to rush over toward Lois Lane. Everyone on deck is trying to maintain control and their footing, even as the ship swayed and lashed back and forth with the wild ocean. Some of the vehicles strained at their locks, the chains and clamps to hold them in place never intended to have to deal with such a riotous mayhem as they did. Some ten feet from Lois one SUV snapped its tether and /slammed/ hard into a smaller jeep. All while the remaining men from the meeting tried to work their way across the deck toward the secure cabin areas...
    It left the one man dangling over the side, shrieking for his life even as Aquaman begins to make his way over.
    Perhaps it is not Lois' cry that draws Thor's attention, but the sight of a man endangered has the Asgardian blurring across the distance, cape billowing as he flies to the side of the boat and hooks the railing with Mjolnir, extending a hand to the dangling man.
    "Take my hand, mortal." And entirely fearful despite the death of the fish, yet wishing to be safe once again, the tall gunman reaches out and grabs Thor's hand, only to be hefted into the air as the Thunderer flies forward into the deck, setting him down upon the now settled deck. Right beside Lois Lane and Aquaman.
    Suddenly the thug looks very uncomfortable as he looks at Lois, then at Thor, and then at Aquaman. Then even more uncomfortable as Thor asks, "Why do you have a gun?"

Lois Lane has posed:
The two heroes killing the giant fish is an impressive spectacle, although Lois only really gets to watch it out of the corner of her eye. Mostly, because she's hoping not to get shot. However, when Aquaman arrives, there's a little bit of relief from Lois because her odds are significantly better. She might get shot, but there's a better chance of it not happening. With Thor appearing, the odds of getting shot decrease further. Good odds.

"He was probably going to shoot someone. Possibly me. I don't know, I don't know the moral fiber of these creeps. But they did bring guns." She shrugs, as if to say 'I rest my case'.

Arthur Curry has posed:
Spinning his Trident in his hand, Aquaman approaches the nervous-looking thug and he gets right up in his face. Ah, scary Arthur being scary. "I really don't like it when guys like you are trying to mess with ladies in a way that is...unchivalrous." So, Arthur looks at Thor for a second. "Well, my friend. Would you care to show this fellow why its...unadvisable to act that way around a lady?" He offers the Thunder God to get a pick of the litter, as it were.

"I'd be most appreciative." Then, he moves over towards Lois, but stops at a respectful distance and planting his Trident's end into the ground as if to stand tall. "Are you alright?"

Thor has posed:
    Sidelong toward the Thug, Thor looks the man over critically, one eyebrow quirked with curiousity and perhaps a bit of disdain. The two heroes definitely look a bit out of place considering their garb, though for his part Thor simply rolls with it. As is his manner.
    Back toward Lois, "Further animosity would be ill-advised for this vessel has come under the protection of two fine worthies. Thor, Son of Odin, and..." The Asgardian looks toward Aquaman and only then realizes the conversational cul de sac he's steered into as he adds, "The Water Warrior, of great strength and ability." There, clearly nobody will notice what /really/ happened there. That said he _thumps_ Arthur on the shoulder companionably as if the two had known each other for a good bit of time, and not just had met.
    "Look, lady. I wasn't gonna shoot anyone." The Thug offers, though doesn't sell it too well. Even as then Arthur gets all in his grill and the tall man winces visibly, averting his eyes and looking down. Then away. Eventually he sort of looks inwards almost angrily at his 'comrades' inside the cabin of the now stable ship. Comrades who are hastily beating feet as soon as they're noticed.
    Then it's to Lois that Thor says, "If you fear for your safety then that matter shall be redressed, and woe be to the one who would gainsay my words."
    That said Thor plants a hand on the tall bodyguard/gunman and begins to walk with him off toward the edge of the ship.

Lois Lane has posed:
Straightening up her clothes, Lois gives a look towards Aquaman. "I'm fine, probably just be sore in the morning. Who knew ramming into the side of cars could hurt so much." She shakes her head. "No really, I'm good, I promise." But there's the reporter in her, itching to come out. "So, random question, do you get /cold/ in the water? I mean, does the water temperature make a difference to you?"

Her attention is drawn to Thor, though she's not too concerned anymore. "They did rather loudly say they were trying to steal my phone. You can do with him what you want, I just don't particularly like armed thugs trying to steal my belongings."

Arthur Curry has posed:
"Aquaman."

Arthur casually corrects Thor, though the Thunderer is not quite wrong when he calls Arthur simply a worthy water warrior. He was and is a better fighter in the water, but he's no slouch on land either. When Thor is escorting the poor sod off the boat, Arthur's left alone with Lois as she's already asking him questions.

"No, to me water is just water. I'm resistant to such things." Though he might sound like he's tooting his own horn, its an honest reply. "I imagine the Son of Odin will manage as he's done for awhile now, if legends are to be believed. But I gotta get going. So uh, stay safe and have a good night." Aquaman then dives into the waters, where he quickly fades from sight.

The day is saved!