1313/A Wolf in Coyote's Clothing

A Wolf in Coyote's Clothing
Date of Scene:	06 July 2017
Location:	Bludhaven
Synopsis:	Mercy is helping a customer tow a car and trouble appears. Erica comes in to help.
Cast of Characters:	Mercy Thompson, Erica Reyes

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Mercy Thompson has posed:
For Mercy Thompson it may seem like years since she last worked a solid day, but in reality it's only been a couple.

The woman is finding it hard to get back into the swing of the daily grind, but thankfully a desperate call from a well-known customer pulled Mercy outside and back into the city.

As such, she can now be found here, helpfully assisting a tow truck with a severely beaten-up and run-down car. Sighing at the sight of the poor thing, Mercy will wave the tow truck driver off, as she steps back to the sidewalk. The truck will carefully maneuver itself away from the curb and down the street, as it takes the car back to Mercy's garage.

Shaking her head, the coyote will turn back to her car, which sits a little down the way. It's a Volkswagen Beetle, restored to look new and obviously well-taken care of and currently it's now the perch for three young thugs.

The three are leaning casually against the car and as Mercy approaches her expression turns grim. "Something I can do for you fellows?"

THe expressions on their face clearly show there's not, as they eye the dark-haired woman up and down, seeing an easy mark for the taking.

Erica Reyes has posed:
Erica steps out of the tattoo parlor, sporting yet another hole in her ears, tiny sparkles up high in the cartiledge. She's humming, mind lazily flipping through mental pictures of the tattoo she plans on getting. It has to be perfect, for all the pain she'll go through..and that's after she gets out of the chair. Blonde hair is pulled back for ease of the piercing, a fishtail braid that snakes her hair over her shoulder of her short sleeved cobalt blue blouse that's untucked over well loved black jeans that cuff at the tops of thick heeled boots.

She's spinning the little piercings, keeping them open, the sting of silver of the piercing needle still an active memory as she strolls down the street like a model without a catwalk. Hips forward, shoulders back, a little blonde spot of confidence, coming this way. She'll slow and pause, a sniff at the air curiously before she'll head further down the block to where a smallish dark haired female is looking at three..well, morons, if Erica's senses are on the money.

She'll laugh, a slow, smoky sound meant to draw attention. "Honey, you didn't tell me you were picking us up dates when you went out." She'll walk towards the other woman, and if body posture reads just right, will slide an arm casually onto her shoulder.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
Morons is definitely the correct word for the three men.

Young, stupid and perhaps vaguely drunk. It's always the alcohol that gives them courage, isn't it?

One of Mercy's hands at her side fists, as she considers what to do about this particular situation. She'd rather not escalate it to violence just yet, but it already has all the earmarks of likely going that way. Especially when the three toss aside their casual slouch against her car and straighten to their full height. All tower over Mercy, but that doesn't necessarily cause her to feel scared. Wary and alert, yes, but scared? Not just yet.

While others might miss Erica's approach, Mercy doesn't. Not when her sensitive ears pick up the faintest scuff of shoe upon sidewalk, or the scent that's carried upon the humid breeze. It's enough to cause the coyote to turn just enough to see who the newcomer is; just in case she might be part of the three here. A quick look will disabuse Mercy of that notion, as will that sudden laugh from Erica. While surprise might flash over the mechanic's expression, that surprise is quickly hidden away when the other woman slings her arm casually across shoulder.

Amusement and gratitude might now be seen within Mercy's brown eyes, as well as her scent. It's always nice to know someone has your back, even if it's a stranger.

"I wasn't planning on it." Comes her words, even as she transfers her gaze to the thugs, "They sort of just fell into my lap."

And at this the men do something extremely predictable, they turn angry. The leader, who's between the two henchmen, steps forward now, "Hey, yo, she didn't find us, we found her. And now you too."

Erica Reyes has posed:
Erica tips her head, almost touching Mercy's head with her own. There's a tap of her fingers against Mercy's collarbone in a silent communication to wait on striking. Brown eyes measure the three of them all now that they're standing somewhat straight. Nothing about their scent interests the beta at all. No, this is the fun part of the hunt - playing the vulnerable prey. She will take a step, half away from Mercy, half forward. She will bat big brown eyes, giving great innocent face.

"Oh? You found her, and me too? Tell me.." She will run a slick cobalt fingernail along the front of his shirt. "What ever do you plan to do with us, now that you found us?" She will lean closer. "Hmm? C'mon honey.. you can tell me." She will be subtle, at first, letting those brown eyes shift to that liquid, gleaming gold shade. His first clue they are not your regular damsels in distress, if he wants to be smart and retreat.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
That fingertip is felt and there's a subtle shift from Mercy, an answer from her, that says she'll wait.

Though that doesn't mean she's not already shifting her weight slightly to be prepared for when the attack happens.

Because it will.

The heat, humidity, stupidity of the thugs and alcohol is shutting down the warning signals of their brains. While their hindbrain shrieks at them that something isn't right, their forebrain just sees two attractive women waiting to be pounced upon. If only they knew how wrong they were.

When Erica steps forward, allowing herself to play the damsel in distress, the three young toughs sneer. For Mercy, she can only shake her head slightly, before that movement pauses. When the other woman's eyes turn from brown to gold Mercy's sensitive nose picks up that change within her scent. A wolf. Gaze sharpening, the mechanic now turns her attention Erica for a handful of seconds. Then it's back to the men. "Go, get out of here. We don't want trouble." Stepping forward, Mercy adds, "Before trouble starts."

Those words, however, are fighting words and the leader sneers again. "Fighting words? /Ladies/ it's three against two we'll win."

If Mercy could she'd call them stupid, but before she can get those words past her lips the three strike. Two go for Erica, while the third goes for Mercy. "Dammit." Mutters the mechanic, even as she steps toward that third man, which causes him to look surprised. Rarely has he had 'prey' move /towards/ him.

The two going after Erica are clumsy with their attacks, but they have speed and strength behind them. The first one tries to push her, while the leader tries to envelope her into a bear hug of a hold.

Erica Reyes has posed:
There's a sound kin to a chuckle in Erica's throat when the men start to move. She'll let the first push her into the second, accepting that bear hug of a hold. Those eyes stay that golden bright shade, even as nothing else shifts - no fangs, and certainly no claws - she just painted her nails! She will just go for the classic headbut, jumping up on her toes to add a touch more force and get a better square on thrust against his nose. There will be a telltale crunching sound, if anyone here has ever heard a nose break before, and blood will be soon to follow.

The second those arms loosen, the blonde beta ducks down and out from under, before she will turn, the thick heel of her boot striking at the knee of her second assailant. That will be followed up with a hard thrown fist to the gut that's sure to wind him.. even as the first one, one hand over his face, grabs at the end of her braid and pulls.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
A wince flashes across Mercy's expression at that telltale crunch of bone. Sympathy doesn't, but a wince does.

Broken noses aren't something to mess with.

But, she can't ponder too much about that crunch, as the third man is right there. A seemingly simple Judo-like throw will be done then by Mercy, as she uses the man's momentum against him. He's up in the air and then landing heavily upon the ground and as soon as he's down Mercy is aiming her steel-toed boots at his ribs. While there's no crunch of bones being broken there the man still howls like a rib was snapped. He'll curl up into a little ball of pain and roll slightly away, as he strives to protect his side.

Turning, Mercy now looks to Erica and her two 'admirers'.

While blood pours out of the leader's nose, that doesn't stop him from making a grab at the woman's braid. The second assailant is a little more preoccupied, as he staggers from that knee kick and then offers a pained grunt as the air leaves his lungs. He'll even double over helpfully as he tries to gasp for breath, for all the world looking like a fish upon dry land.

The coyote shakes her head then, even as she moves forward, a foot lashing out to the leader for a hard kick to his shin. The pain of steel-toe into muscle should prove too much for the leader to keep that grip upon Erica's hair. "I think we said leave."

Erica Reyes has posed:
Erica may play pretty and shallow, but she will not hold back if it comes down to it. She will let out a sound akin to a yelp at having her hair pulled, before Mercy intervenes. She will turn, and there's a downright snarl in the blonde's throat as she will punch at the leader of this pathetic group, aiming for his side and those vulnerable ribs. He will fold like a cheap suit, and she'll turn with that predator's grace and advance on her other.. 'admirer'. She will just walk up to him where he's doubled over, trying to breathe. With what looks like a careless, easy motion, she will push him over onto the ground.

"Really boys, maybe next time you should let the ladies find you. Not that anything resembling a lady /would/." She will dust her hands together, before one will reach up to smooth her braid over her shoulder as she turns to her sister in arms. "Hey there. Name's Erica. Hope you don't mind me horning in on your fun."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
And just like that the violence is settled.

Various groans and wheezes can be heard from the three downed men. Eventually they'll get up and run, but for the moment the trio stays down and tries valiantly to breathe. Perhaps they'll stay down long enough for the police to show up too.

Mercy, for her part, turns a critical eye upon the men. Making sure they won't get up again, or at least, not any time soon. Then when Erica speaks directly to her, the mechanic turns her gaze to the other woman. A faint smile will be offered then, "Hey, thanks." She says, polite as always, even as she steps closer to Erica. A hand will be offered, "Mercy Thompson. And no, I don't mind at all. I'm always happy to have back-up, especially when potentially outnumbered."

Because unlike Erica, Mercy is only a coyote, not a were wolf. And while she doesn't necessarily smell any injury on the woman, she will ask, "You okay? No injuries?"

Erica Reyes has posed:
Erica will take that hand with a friendly smile. "Well, it's never nice when they gang up to pick on us women-folk." There's a glimmer of mischief, even if her eyes have gone brown again. "I am sure you could have managed on your own, but this was a little neater." There's a disgusted glance towards a ball of man on the ground. "I needed to blow off energy anyhow."

The smile brightens, a shake of her head. "A couple bruises and a sore scalp that will be forgotten memories in a couple minutes. You? I heard that throw. You're quick."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
A snort of amusement can be heard from the mechanic at the mention of 'women-folk'. "Yes, they always underestimate us, don't they. We're both like wolves in sheep's clothing." Comes the dry words of the coyote, even as she looks back at the would-be thugs.

There might have also been a slight emphasis upon the /wolves/.

Shaking her head, Mercy shrugs with a quirk of a grin, "I've taken a few self-defense classes in my time. Glad they worked out." Her head tilts slightly to the side as she considers the other woman again "You are too. Glad it didn't need to get any rougher than a few throws, gut-punches and foot-stomps."

And then, because Mercy has to ask, she says, "You run with a pack?" That last question is said a bit softer than her other words, intending to keep this portion of the conversation somewhat private.

Erica Reyes has posed:
Oh, there's a lift of her left eyebrow, her lips shifting to smirk at the description of wolves in sheep's clothing. "Indeed." The word is almost purred, the amusement all but shouting from her eyes. "Me? Oh no. No self defense classes. At least not the kind you're thinking of, in a nice padded dojo sort of thing. Mine involved lots of bruises, broken bones and snarling." And from her tone, she wouldn't have it any other way. "I could handle rougher, but it can be so hard to explain away later."

Her right eyebrow joins the left in that lifted arch look, lips pursing before they part with a laugh. "Yes. You? You're not a wolf, but you're.. something. Something enough that I couldn't help but want to make your acquaintance. And now that I know you're smart enough to know exactly what I am and not run for the hills.. Erica Reyes. Not an alpha."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
Again that vaguely dry tone might be heard from Mercy, "Yes, healing from broken bones in hours or days can be hard to explain." Again, words are said low enough that sensitive hears can easily pick it up, but not the thugs.

All they can hear right now is the ringing bells within their ears from all that pain.

"I'm something." She agrees, her tone now dipping towards agreement, though it's laced with something dark. Bitterness? Not quite, but something akin to that. "And not an alpha either. A shifter is the best way to put it, but instead of wolf or half-form, I just shift to a coyote. Though it affords me a few perks -" Eyes, hearing, scent, and reflexes. "- And I have pack, just not here in the city. My pack is a few states away." Which seems to be fine with her, "Though I have some ties to the local packs here. A sorta, hey, how you doing, please don't bite me thing and I'll bring you cookies."

Amusement can be heard in her voice again, even as the first thug begins to move. He's going to crawl away if Erica lets him.

Erica Reyes has posed:
"So is the .. well, things that changed when I became what I am." Erica's voice loses some of that amused cockiness, a glimmer of more being behind the facade of blonde and eager to prowl. "See, that sounds neat. You'll have to tell me all about the differences sometimes, since it seems you've met people like me before, and I've never met a shifter." It's light, congenial small talk.. of a sort.

Then there's a grin. "I had to throw in the disclaimer. Because I'm not someone that holds the power, you know? Well, not that sort of power. If you met my alpha, you'd understand." She nods, toying with the end of her braid. "Even if I bit you, nothing would happen. Has to be an alpha." There's a shrug, hands sliding into her jeans pockets. "Though I will never, ever turn down cookies."

There's a look over at that thug, and Erica will let her eyes gleam yellow and snarl at him, a feint like she's going to attack. Because she feels like it. She'll blink, and brown eyes are back and she's the blonde girl next door.

Mercy Thompson has posed:
That feint earns a terrified scream from the man that's moving; he'll fall back to the ground, unconsciously showing his belly to the two women.

That might appease Erica, but for Mercy she just rolls her eyes at the man's antics.

A phone will be pulled from a pocket, as she considers the other woman again. Then there's a nod, "I understand how the bite works." She says, the faintest smile twitching her mouth upward, "Though I don't know if even an Alpha's bite would work on me." And while she could expand upon that, she doesn't, not when she next asks, "I'd be happy to make friends with your pack? I often find it's easier to make friends first versus later. Later might cause some misunderstandings and I'd rather not get into any misunderstandings with a pack."

Then she'll waggle her phone for a second, "And I think we should probably call the cops on this lot, before they squirm away."

Erica Reyes has posed:
A laugh bursts out of the blonde beta, from down deep at that terrified response. Then she will mockingly buff her nails on her shirt, then blow on them. "Didn't even sprout claws. Thank gawd. I just put this polish on." There's a glance at Mercy then, pure feminine mischief. "I have no idea if the bite would work. I know people it hasn't affected one way or the other, so.." She shrugs, clearly not about to get deep in lore and philosophy. "We can totally make friends. I'll bring it all back to the alpha, let him know the whole deal. He's.. well, when you meet him, he looks a lot more gruff and dour than he really is." There's a note of warm affection in those words about her alpha.

Erica will glance at the phone, and then the three thrashed thugs. "I'll let you do the calling? Just tell the cops I swooped in and left before you got my name? The alpha gets cranky if we're involved in stuff too much. Or hell, tell them some guy did it."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
Amusement lines Mercy's expression, though not at the girl's remark about claws, though that earns a brief grin, it's how she describes the alpha. "I'm pretty sure all Alphas have to take an oath to be gruff, dour and growly. It's in their job description." Her other hand will reach into her pocket again, but instead of a phone she produces a small card. It's a business card for her Garage and she'll offer it to the young woman. "Here, this is where I work and live. You can give me a call there if you need anything, or if the alpha wants to chat - whatever the case may be."

As for those thugs, Mercy slides a look towards them, even as she nods, "I'll say I didn't grab your name and let's keep it that we were both female. That'll make it worse for them when they're hauled into jail. You know how that is - all about who's 'alpha' or not, and if you're not you're in trouble."

Not that it really describes how the alpha life really works in the pack.

Erica Reyes has posed:
"This was was born that way. Still, he's my alpha." And she quietly adores him. Erica takes that car with a hint of "Ooh! I know some people that could use a good mechanic, too. Not necessarily wolves but.. well, in the know. I'll pass it on." She's offered her name, but not much else, certainly not the name of her alpha.

"I like you, because that's perfect. Slightly devious but still totally true. They got their asses kicked by girls, and one didn't even ruin her manicure." There's a grin, just a hint of fang. "If only they knew the truth. But thanks. I should get out of Dodge if you're calling the blue."

Mercy Thompson has posed:
"Pass my number to anyone that needs it." Mercy says firmly, "If they can't pay I offer the barter system too." She'll add, just in case that might be the case.

Then Mercy laughs at what Erica says next; devious. "I'm pretty sure the same can be said for you. It was great meeting you Erica, if you're in West Harlem any time soon look me up."

But as for now, Mercy will thumb her phone on, before she's dialing that three digit emergency number. "Talk to you soon." She says hopefully, even as the line begins to ring. When a voice answers, Mercy says, "Hi, yes, I'd like to report an assault -"

Erica Reyes has posed:
"I will pass it all on. I can be a good little messenger pigeon. " There's a wink at that. "Maaaaaaayybe. I just enjoy playing to people's stupidity sometimes. And if you're ever in Bludhaven.. well, I'll know." There's a low laugh, as the blonde moves to turn on one heel. "Talk later. Have a good time." She will wave with a waggle of fingers, and a wink over her shoulders before she heads off down an alley and is gone.