7090/The Reluctant Hero

The Reluctant Hero
Date of Scene:	26 July 2021
Location:	Queens
Synopsis:	Thomas and Terry foil a robbery! Then they get bored...
Cast of Characters:	Thomas Blake, Terry O'Neil

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Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake does not swear. Doing so would waste energy and even dry you out a little (at least in the Serengeti you did not open your mouth lightly. Dehydration and constant bugs. Instead he puts his shoulder to the shovel and attempts to uproot that damned stump yet again.

He started the yard work and against all odds he was beginning to like it. The stump was an obstacle and it had to go. After another minute of Thomas prying to no avail and almost immobile, he stops and pulls his shirt up and converts it to rude hat, sweat now kept from his eyes he returns to his pose from a moment before. The three jagged scars on his chest stand out against the hair plaster to his pectoral muscles.

Across the street his septuagenarian neighbor, Muriel, woots. He blows her a kiss. Horny old pervert.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
There is a shimmering in the air that, at first, might indicate that the temperature has gotten to a dangerously high level- but no, in this case it is merely the brief anomaly that presages the arrival of a Rabbit Hole. The familiar figure of Vorpal steps out of the tear in reality, probably making Muriel wonder what the hell it was that they put in her tea this morning- that is, if the Rabbit Hole were at eye level. For the sake of discretion, this one materializes lower, under the hedge, which means that Vorpal ends up crouching on the ground when he comes out.

"Hey there!" he calls out as the rift closes up behind him, "Just doing a quick check-up with the..." he pauses, for the very same reason that Muriel wooted, and then blinks a couple of times.

"... What was I saying?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake stops his struggles and blinks. Then he gets a very lewd smile and says, "Aw you don't have to beg for it. But come in the house. I want a water anyway. Got to stay hydrated." Terry gets grabbed by his belt and draped across Thomas' shoulder facing forward. Thomas begins walking into the house, purposely strutting a little for the neighbor coot.

"You figure out what you came for yet, big guy? Hey does this count as me capturing you?"

Terry O'Neil has posed:
It's not every day that something like this happens, so Vorpal is momentarily speechless as he is swung over a shoulder and carried into the house. Surprising absolutely no-one who knows him, the Cheshire puts up absolutely no fight at all.

"I guess it does. Oh, help. Help. What ever shall I do?" he says, a grin flashing across his face as his hands reach over to brush lightly across what hair peeks out of the improvised shirt-hat. "I guess this is the point where I negotiate my release and offer bribes? Unless the tying to a chair and gloating part comes first, I'm a little rusty."

"... oh- right! I was just dropping by. Got done with my shift at Nick's and thought I'd come by to check on you while the other guy took his turn... you just have a way of being very distracting." His hands settle down on Thomas' chest ot get a better balance as he's carried, and he looks down. "You're drenched... who goes out to do yard work at eighty five degrees?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
inside the house Thomas sets Terry on his feet, putting his hands on the smaller man's shoulders. He touches foreheads and confides. "I lived on the Serengeti a long time. You think this is hot? You don't know hot till you have to drink water out of an elephant's footprint. Sorry about the sweat. You want to take a shower, I wouldn't fault you. Yeah, Nick called and says we're off duty right now. I guess he thinks he can call the Avengers in if things get rough?" As he speaks he slides his hands up to the sides of Vorpal's neck till he is holding his face between his palms.

"Tell me, do you ever purr?" He edges in closer. "Sorry again about being a mess."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
The feline closes his eyes at the touch, and then smiles, a very, very audible purr comes out of him, and then he opens his eyes as Thomas edges closer. "It seems as if though you just had your answer, hm?" His own hands reach out and rest on Thomas' sides, the palms lazily moving up and down the muscular expanse as he takes a step closer as well. "No need to apologize, I spend half of my waking hours getting into fights and coming out a mess. Though I have to admit... there's a certain appeal to seeing you glistening with so little on..." he winks one jade-green eye and brings his hands to rest on Thomas' chest again, foreheads still touching he leans in to rub his cold nose against the man's. "You really should get some water, though, you look like you've lost enough water to run a hydroelectic plant."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake nods and reluctantly steps away to get some water from the fridge. He bends way over and sticks his head in the fridge to enjoy some cold air a grabs a free dish towel to dry off further as he explores.

"Well the demon girl must have drank all my Pellegrino. I find it amusing she's from Hell and needs so much water. I guess we gotta hit the corner store. I'm not drinking water out of the tap if I don't have to." The shirt is replaced on his chest. He walks to the door and says, "Not carrying you all the way there, Vorp." He does take Terry by the arm.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Maybe it's one of those exotic experiences things- something you can't easily get at home becomes something you just positively can't live without," Vorpal comments with a grin. When the shirt is replaced, he makes a point of looking visibly disappointed and adds, "Right, then, we should make haste to stock up on water. This heat is no joke." Forty-eight percent humidity makes all the difference, although the Cheshire is sure that this temperature is nothing compared to the likes Thomas has seen. Still, having never been to the Serengeti (yet), this is as hot as he has felt in a long time- only his second year of his life having to live through a summer while being covered in fur, after all. That's why he was only wearing his bike shorts and the very light tank-top, anything else was murder.

He could, of course, change into his human shape. But he was so pale a ginger that that shape really was no better prepared for the heat and sunlight: he would have to lather himself in sunblock or walk around looking like a lobster.

"Oh, well. If I /must/ walk," he says with an affectation of feline pride, letting Thomas take his arm and leaning slightly into it while he glances at the man with curiosity, "then you must tell me about your time in the Serengeti. You can't expect me to not be curious about it, and right now your shirt is standing in the way of distraction, so regale me with a tale as we walk."

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake looks embarrassed and then something else. "Uh... not much that would interest you." Something bad happened in Africa. "Trying to live off the land, hunting with a knife when I could. Sleeping in trees sometimes till the pride took me in and... we had disagreements as you could see." Something very bad happened. Was that really him? Or is this sort of shy, slab of beef chilling with an honest to God good guy, him?

"So how the hell do you win fights against someone really ripped? I mean you're teeny -no offense but Satana is bigger than you. Is it all magic? You fight dirty? Claws? You dazzle them with your wit and good looks?"

Terry O'Neil has posed:
He isn't as unaware as his carefree demeanor might otherwise lead people to believe. He senses that he has just toed upon a sensitive subject, and so he doesn't prod or press, but accept what is given to him without further comment. Though, he does slide his hand over to Thomas' back and lets it describe a few comforting rubs in a wordless gesture.

"I may be short, and I may not be built like a power-lifter, but I /am/ strong and I have muscle on me, you know..." he trails off and looks at Thomas out of the corner of his eye with mischief, "But why am I telling you? You have firsthand knowledge, after all..." he then decides that he has met his quota for teasing before he decides to give an actual answer, "Learning to fight with Harley has taught me that there's always a weakness to exploit in anyone, you just have to catch wise of what it is and press that button. Training with Troia is teaching me to try to come up with good strategies on how to reach that button. I can fight dirty if I need to, or jump around and do acrobatics so that I'm very hard to hit and catch... and if something fails, there's always magic. But nowadays, unless innocent lives are at stake, I try to use my magic last in order to train my other skills." And the look of mischief comes back again.

"The wit and good looks are saved only for a very select few. Mostly because I don't think Doctor Light really is very interested in the fact I have the second best set of legs among the male titans after Nightwing," he grins.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake smirks. "He has the best butt. You have better legs. let us not spoil a nice day bringing up any Bats though. Heh. Oh here we are." Thomas opens the door for Terry. "And Light is an asshole. Trickster is fun from what I heard. Penguin can be fun but he never invites me to anything. Deadshot can be a lot of fun when he behaves.He grabs a large case of Pellegrino out in front and moves towards the counter. In passing he notes the gunman crouched on the floor next to the owner's wife.

Wait. What? A moment later a second gun gets waved at him as the partner grabs him by the shirt.

"Down on the floor! You too, Mutie, or your boyfriend here gets it! Eeew you pig. Why didn't you shower?"

Deja vu.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Vorpal looks absolutely terrified out of his mind and his hands go up in the air, showing that he is completely unarmed. "Y-y-yes sir, anything you say! Just d-don't hurt him!" and he goes down on the floor.

Or, rather, the illusion he created of himself goes down on the floor. The actual Cheshire cat is now invisible, quickly moving to assess the situation and see, up close, how many hostages are there.

Thomas' sense of smell may give him an inkling that things are not what they seem, because the Vorpal whimpering on the ground, hands over the back of his head, is producing no scent whatsoever, whereas Vorpal's scent- something with which he is familiar by now- is coming from the general vicinity of the gunman holding the owner's wife hostage.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake says, "Look, my pal Floyd could explain this way better than me but..." The man's wrist is in Thomas' hand and the gun bent back, against the crook's temple. "You put the gun up against the mark so they know if they move they're dead. You keep your voice low and controlled so they see you are in charge." His own voice, low and controlled. The gunman nods. "This shit happens to me a lot. I must give off a vibe." Hmmm. Wonders what that scent is on Vorpal? He goves his partner aq chance to act before he moves further.

"Pozhalusta sir! He kill me! I have a son!"

"Shut up bitch!"

Terry O'Neil has posed:
The Cheshire cat frowns. In order to disarm the hostage-taker, a distraction is needed. A first-rate distraction. Fortunately, the woman's Russian immediately gives Vorpal an idea to put into practice. After all, there is the man at the back of the store to consider as well, so he needs something that will distract both of them at the same time.

Which is why the store is not a store anymore, but the interior of a modest, if rather large, wooden hut. The heady scent of some concotion or another wafts across the room, coming from the bubbling cauldron in the corner, and the aisles of products have been replaced by wooden shelves containig items and ingredients of indeterminate origin... many of which appear to have tentacles, dendrites, appendages or other similarly disturbing protrusions, all of them reaching eagerly towards the man at the back of the store. They are only illusions but hopefully enough to keep him occupied for just a bit...

In the front, the counter has been transformed into a table full of flasks, a pestle and mortar, and a skull with eyes that emit a flaring, golden light. But that is nowhere near as disturbing as the figure that is now standing in front of that counter, towering ove everybody.

She is ugly, there are no two ways about it- easily eight feet tall with some spare change. The ogress, for that is what she is, is clad in long flowing rags and has a disproportionate nose and chin, but which are nothing compared to the menacing, fang-filled mouth that is currently set in a snarl. "You attack my countrywoman! How dare you? You shall face the wrath of Baba Yaga!" she screeches, arms flung wide in order to display hands that end in long, talon-like fingers, presenting herself as a perfect target for that gun instead of the owner's wife. The moment that gun leaves the hostage, Vorpal will materialize and sock the gunman hard across the side of the face, hoping for a knockout.

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake is a bit taken aback by all this. He's felt soul sipping and soul fire, been ported. Illusions were not his baby's thing and these were damned good. But... magic right. His recovery is still faster than the man in back. The gun falls from the gunman's hand under enough pressure. Amazing what civilized people consider strong. It's a mockery. The gunman has a moment of relief before his is sailing through the air at his partner. Thomas is right behind him going low.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Once the gun is knocked off the hostage-taker's hands Terry proceeds to go to town on him, Harley style. First comes a punch to the solar plexus, a kick to the nuts, and a knee to the face when the man does the inevitable and bends down to protect his vulnerables. As he is reeling back, blood flowing from his broken nose, the Cheshire unsheathes his claws and draws a quick gesture across the man's forehead, leaving a red 'V' that is painfully visible.

"Virgin!" he says, his outfit suddenly changing into a perfect replica of Frank N' Further's getup, "I guess that means you get to do -the time warp!"

The hostage-taker falls into the Rabbit Hole that Vorpal has opened for him, in order to deposit him on top of the two men who have collided, courtesy of Thomas. Terry is very considerate and he likes to share.

The illusions are dismissed now that they are not needed, including the change to his outfit, and trusting the Catman to deal with the crooks, he kneels over to check on the proprietess. "Ma'am, are you hurt? Do we need to call an ambulance?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake shotgun is yoinked from the crook's grasp. He gets the butt end in his face, smashing his nose. He dodged the man who flew at him. That guy hit the refrigerator case head first.

Milk doesn't always do a body good.

Catman drags the two back to the front of the store. He says pointedly to the owner, "Erase the last five minutes of the CCTV. I want nothing to do with the cops. You can credit it all to my husky friend over there. Yes. Oh, taking this water because... this made me very thirsty. That okay? Spacebo. Hey, killer let's jet. The owner is fine with keeping this quiet I think. I buy enough ice cream from him."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
After being reassured that the woman will be fine, Terry joins Thomas after he has negotiated the owner's silence. "You know, that was quite heroic of you," he says, half-teasing, half-earnest as he grabs Thomas by the arm on the way out, "I think such good behavior deserves a reward, personally." Green eyes glinting with a hinted smile, he says "... now, what do you think that reward should be?"

He pauses for a moment, and adds, "That lady sure was grateful. But she kept calling me-- what does 'kotenok' mean, exactly?"

Thomas Blake has posed:
Thomas Blake shrugs. "I don't know. Sounds somewhat cat like? Then again all I get from her is 'sookin sin. You got some neat moves. Marking that guy. Very bad ass... So... wonder what we can do to pass the time till Satana gets back? Oh I know, but first I need to get hydrated!" He drapes his arm over Terry's shoulder carrying the case on his shoulder.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Vorpal grins, "So I may have watched a Zorro marathon with Nick during one of my guard posts. Thats' the first time I actualy got to do it to someone! Za-za-zah! Mark of Vorpal!" he traces the V in the air, and grins as Thomas puts an arm around him .

"Great minds think alike, I would say. Let's go get you hydrated... so we can get you all dehydrated again," he says with a broad grin, and then adds with a certain gusto- "I like to reward good deeds. Consider this an incentive to do more of them." Sneaky sneaky.