Owner	Pose
Michael Hannigan	It was a dark and stormy night. Seriously. There's off and on again rain which makes outdoor fitness kind of a wash for residents in the area. So for one Warren Benson, a newer face on the NYC City Council, this could be aggravating. Jogging in the park is something he likes to do. But desparate times call for using a tredmill over at the gym he has membership to. It is a nice gym, and judging from the amount of machinery and rooms, likely a popular one. So Warren opted to head over later in the evening to avoid the rush. There's not many people about in the building. Save for the visible staff at the Front counter and shake bar, the manager assumed to be in his office, and MAYBE ten actual clients in the building, the gym is pretty quiet. So Warren's mood was improving as he had HIS pick of the tredmills in the Cardio Cinema. Upon on the upper level of the stadium layout, he chooses the centermost one. Of the few people in there, several have migrated over to the cinema as the movie offerings have just switched over to a new selection. Another guy has taken the treadmill to the far right of the row. An additional man is working the weight machine to the far left of the center row and up in front and center a lady is pedaling away. Small strips of theater lights outline the edges of the rows to prevent unecessary trips. As for the movie playing? Why that cult classic, Life Bites!
Frank Castle	A dark and stormy night? That's one way to put it. It's around the time Warren is a minute into his treadmill workout that a man walks into the gym through the front door. A man wielding an idled Remington shotgun to his chest. A man wearing a trenchcoat and a skull vest. Apparently, the Punisher has just walked through the front door of the gym, with full bodysuit and a gear web. "TIME FOR A BREAK PEOPLE!" The Punisher casually lifts the shotgun at the ceiling and pulls the trigger, spray of pellets booms through the gym. Inside the Cinema, a preplaced canister is remotely activated by Microchip, almost instantly blanketing the entire area in smoke... and slowly but surely, the rest of the gym follows.
Michael Hannigan	The employees working at the front counter for varied reasons were not looking to the front door. The front desk worker was currently working on the computer display while the one at the Shake bar was busy getting a head start on cleaning up for the night. But the shouting does draw their attention to the front door. "OH MY GOD!" The front desk clerk shouts, reaching under the counter for a moment before the blast of the shotgun causes for her to back up quickly. The Shake bar employee blinks, and grabbing the front counter worker, essentially runs around the corner, herding the other around the hallway that leads over to the office coridor. They have already vanished around a corner. A man emerges from the Spinning class room and after spotting Punisher, thinks twice and opts to run to the back of the gym instead, following after another person heading to the crossfit room. In a sign of fear or selfishness neither of those two help the poor gym goer that fell off the bicycle. There's an utterance of pain as another gym goer ends up taking a header into the bar of the treadmill. The safety clip attached to their shirt ends up shutting down the machine fortunately. As for the Cinema room, half of the occupants run out, heading towards the Mind and Body room follwoing after another gym goer. For some reason no one wants to use the front door to make their leave. As for Warren? Well. Unfortunately for him the guy at the end of his tredmill row also took a header and he's a bit of a big guy. So getting out has been slowed down consdierably. He cuts off his machine and hunkers down between the wall, tredmill, and the wooden safety barrier separating his row from the rest of the cinema. Maybe if he hides, he'll be good to go.
Frank Castle	Unfortunately, the Punisher has more than enough experience fighting in these conditions that he can easily see through the fog the canister created... and he casually makes his way towards the cinema. The Punisher isn't here for most of the people... he's here for a very specific person. As he walks, he pumps the shotgun, the shell dropping to the ground audibly as he heads in inside. Upon getting near the Cinema door, Punisher raises his voice just a bit, "Hey blondie. Anyone ever tell you that living in low income housing isn't fun, but it's better than being on the street?" Punisher flatly asks, "Might want to think about that in the afterlife. Your mob friends can't help you now."
Michael Hannigan	Warren bites his lip, staying still as he hopes that his chosen hiding place will be sufficient to have the man try elsewhere. Don't take the bait. Just pray the guy looks elsewhere. Yes. Good plan. It is quiet inside save for the movie that has recently started up. The introduction credits were still gradually filtering in, showing in stark contrast to the extremely dark tinted scene of the Seattle streets at night. With the darkness, the smoke, and the lack of light from the movie itself, there is no hope of the intended prey seeing a way out of the room. And then the movie cuts away to a scene in a nightclub with a familiar faced celebrity hanging out near the bar. Flashes of Pinks and blues highlight the bits of smoke near the screen.
Frank Castle	He walks. Casually. Slowly. He can tell the man hasn't left, and no one else is moving it seems. He ignores the bystanders, making no move to stop them as he passes them to leave... searching for his target... "What, no witty comeback for ruining lives for rich assholes?" Punisher grates out, "No telling me how they mean nothing?" He fires another shell into the ceiling, "no rationalizing how getting on the city council with dirty money will let you do more later?" The Punisher pumps and fires another shell into the ceiling, "TELL THAT TO THE PEOPLE YOU MADE HOMELESS FOR YOUR BULLSHIT!"
Michael Hannigan	Warren looks wide eyed but in the moment of flight or fight, he demonstrates freeze. The movie is the only thing that really answers Frank as the dialogue exchange in the club scene indicates an interest in the other. It's an awkward exchange. Not in execution but in terms of content. A one sideded interest, attempts to discourage have failed, and the pair leave together for some place more quiet. As dreadful as that premise is, those inside the room would likely prefer it to the reality going on right now. The bystander who stumbled earlier and essentially blocked off Warren's escape manages to come out of his stunned status. But when Punisher fires a shot into the ceiling, he lets out a blood curdling scream. "NOT SO CUTE NOW AM I?!" A male voice errupts from behind Frank before another scream is triggered from the same direction. Without any of the exercise equipment running, it becomes quite clear just HOW loud the speakers are in here. The gas highlights to a crimson color as blood flashes upon the screen. "I TOLD YOU TO WALK AWAY!"
Frank Castle	The scream is ignored as Frank reaches into a utility pouch on his gear web and pulls out a thermographic monocular. Scanning the room briefly to pick out signatures, Frank continues his casual walkthrough of the Cinema. Batman might be terrifying, but the Punisher follows through. "Doesn't feel good when people ignore the law for their own agenda, right? I'm the pressure valve for assholes like you. People like you laugh at the law, think you're above it." He fires yet another shell into the ceiling. "But you don't get to laugh at me." There's a pause as he steps in front of Warren, intentionally, "I am Punishment."
Michael Hannigan	"OH GOD I'M SORRY!" a panicked voice protests from behind Frank as he makes his way up the steps. One would think the tone would be feminine but as the portly fellow on the floor staring at Frank in a terror stricken manner has exhibited, what you hear can be decieving. The device Frank uses is quite revealing in the dark room. There are no figures to the direction of the screen but to the backmost row where the treadmills are, there are two heat signatures. The first one has already introduced himself to Frank. As for the other. Well, he's being incredibly rude hiding in the far end of the row. Judging from the posture, they're trying to keep themselves as small as possible. "Oh dear." the male voice that had earlier been yelling says, "Well, in that case since you're so sorry then let's just call this whole thing off." There's a bit of a tone to the voice to betray the insincerity of the statement.
Frank Castle	"Got more balls than I expected... or is that the flight or fight? It doesn't matter." Punisher informs him as he brings a boot up to his face and slams it just enough to knock him out. "Better then you deserve." Punisher mutters, before he starts to literally drag Warren out by his shirt, right in front of everyone. Indeed, he's heading for the entry again, dragging the man.
Michael Hannigan	The bloodied figure on the screen weakly looks up, giving a hopeful look "...You will? Oh...thank G-" The dialogue is cut off as a hand goes around the victim's throat "No." The voice hisses. Wide eyes set on Frank as the brain starts processing the man before him. It's not processing quickly enough as the foot takes him down to snoozeville. Which, honestly is probably the best outcome he could have expected. Warren's body thunks down the steps as more blood appears on the movie screen. A closeup of a bloodied vampiric Nick Drago appears on the screen, smiling as Frank makes his way out of the theater. This is surely the end for the poor politician but- What's this? Did Screams McGee find his courage? "LEAVE THE GUY ALONE!" The large man runs down the steps towards Frank. Well, he definitely didn't find his brains.
Frank Castle	Instead of answering the big guy, the Punisher pumps the shotgun halfway, unloading the buckshot shell in the chamber... but leaving it empty. Instead of loading a new shell, he pulls one of the beanbag shells from the rack on his gear web, and finishes the pump, loading the non-lethal shell inside as the newcomer is coming at him. The Punisher sits there... wait for the man to rush at him... and when he gets down the stairs, the Punisher pulls the trigger, aiming at the mans chest. "No."
Michael Hannigan	Screams's advance, while a bit ballsy, was definitely ill advised as the non-lethal round hits him. The force of the hit causes for him to fall back, landing on the steps. "uuhhhh" Certainly Warren would have been touched if he had been awake for this part. From the screen, there's the sound of the club door creaking open. Another clubgoer has opted to head out this way for privacy. But instead they find half of the pair that left out that way prior. Another loud scream errupts. But not from the one who just got shot.
Frank Castle	As the man falls back, the Punisher simply.... loads another beanbag shell into his shotgun, grabs Warren, and starts walking out again. By this time, he's at the entry and walking into broad daylight with the man. "Time for police response, Microchip?" Punisher asks over his commlink as he pulls Warren towards the Battle Van parked just out front. He's completely in public, kidnapping a man.
Michael Hannigan	With the exception of that man, the rest of the gym holds no additional challengers. Most of them had the time and sense to make it out one of the many different emergency exits available in the building or are practicing what Warren did. They key difference for them being they're not on the target list. "Blocked most attempts but Police was dispatched a bit ago." Microchip states over the comm as Frank heads to the waiting battle van. The door slides open to allow for a quicker deposit of the prize, "If you move we can miss them. Already found a route."