1719/Teenage Wildlife

Teenage Wildlife
Date of Scene:	29 July 2017
Location:	Manhattan
Synopsis:	Yana gets accosted by a gang, she and Vanya beat them up, and they bond, somewhat, over being Russian, hungry, and money.
Cast of Characters:	Black Rose, Feral

---

Black Rose has posed:
    Yana had become a 'wanted girl' ever since she'd sent a severed finger of a gang member in Mutant Town to the boss, another gang member had disappeared as well (she wasn't responsible for that one), and she'd sent the 'message' after beating the holy hell out of a lanky, tall thin man called 'Slick'.
    She'd parked her motorcycle a few blocks down and was moving through the vast, and bustling streets of Greenwich Village, and several seedy types are shadowing her. Stalking her, taking their time. And she seems indifferent, choosing to cut through an alley to get towards the restaraunt she was headed to.
    Six men follow. One by one. Quiet steps. She keeps walking.

Feral has posed:
    Eating outside to enjoy a stint of relatively cool weather, a rough-and-tumble looking woman is most of her way through her third bowl of rice. Her bare feet are propped on the seat across from her and her hair looks like it might not have seen a brush any time in the past decade. She's going sleeveless still, showing off part of a thoroughly muscled physique, and if the large teeth and claws hanging from her necklace don't complete the brown-haired woman's image, the black runic tattoo stretching all the way across her face might do it for them. As usual, Vanya still hasn't seen a tailor, making her tattered red pants about as concealing as fishnets.
    She looks and smells like she just fell out of a tree to end a late morning nap.

Black Rose has posed:
    The alley that Yana had been looking to exit to get her to the very eatery that Vanya was devouring food at reveals the glint of bright blue hair and dark leather, against the pale flesh, just across the street. And Yana makes to head to the curb, cross the street, and, presumably, get herself a meal. At least, until one of the men speaks up.
    He's got a bandaged nose, and a bandaged head. He's tall. Lanky. "Took us long enough to catch up to you, bitch. But you're going to get it, now. I brought -friends-."
    Three of the men level guns up towards her position, "Now. Get back in here. Like a good girl. We need to talk." The lanky man is holding a ball of fire in his hand, suddenly, as if he were ready to pitch it. And Vanya could see the guns guiding the girl, or prompting her to move back into the alleyways -- where they'll be obscured from the city streets. Murder, afterall, shouldn't happen where eyes can see it, right?

Feral has posed:
    Vanya's pointed ears prick and she sniffs at the air before turning to look towards the alleyway with sharp eyes that are on the yellowish edge of being brown. The lounging predator raises a brow as she catches a glimpse of the proceedings and takes a piece of sushi from her plate. Hefting it thoughtfully for a few seconds, she looks up, then pitches it hard into the air.
    The lovingly-crafted ball of rice, seaweed, and vegetable bits flies through the air with a little soy sauce trailing after it, reaching its peek above the two-lane street before descending towards a bandaged head. It's no rock, but it'll do.

Black Rose has posed:
    The well-thrown piece of sushi slaps Slick in the back of the head, wet, and it explodes rice, and vegetables all over. But, mostly over his jacket, and down the back of his neck. The surprise, and fury makes him whirl around, and then the blue-haired girl is grabbing his arm, putting one leg quickly against his back, and then twisting her body into the air. As she does so, her other leg moves to his stomach, and scissoring him between her legs, she twists her body, hard, and the man's head slams into the concrete as she and him both go down, his back and head first. And she's already rolling away, as three gunshots go off, bouncing off the sidewalk.
    Vanya, poentially, might recognize the martial arts of Sambo in that technique. Then, the blue haired girl is running to try and put distance between herself, and the men, her momentum to get her away from the bullets taking her further into the alley.

Feral has posed:
    A low whistle escapes the seated Slav as she watches the sudden reversal. //Huh, so much for getting his attention,// she murmurs in her native Russian. Her bronze eyes well with inner conflict as she looks between the alleyway and the pile of food still sitting in front of her. To chase or to eat, to chase or to eat...
    
    A few seconds later, a red-and-gray streak darts through a gap of passing cars and heads into the alley with her cheeks fat and swelled like a chipmunk full of nuts.

Black Rose has posed:
    The group of five men are clustered, and unaware of Vanya, behind them. Slick, the fire-hurling mutant, an unconscious heap as Vanya catches up with them. The primal fighter will see a strong-man twist the steel-wrought frame of a dumpster with his hand, as if he were demonstrating what he would do with her head, "Mr. Ramirez wants to meet with you," he says, to Yana, "Very badly. Now. He doesn't care if you're alive, or dead. We'll try alive, first."
    Yana raises her hands up, the guns still pointed at her. But, she's smiling. Sharply. Her wrist flicks, and there's -- a playing card in her hand? A quick motion, and the playing card is leaving her hand, and suddenly one of the gun-toting men is dropping onto his knees as the playing card hits his throat -- and apparently with enough force to quite possibly crush his trachea.
    More gunshots fire. But this time, there is no sound of the bullets hitting anything, as bullets drop out of mid-air, just about 10 feet from Yana's position against the wall. "Guess he'll have to wait," she prompts him.

Feral has posed:
    Crouching down to swipe up a remnant of her thrown sushi and add it to her 'to-go order', Vanya stalls in her pursuit as she finds the group short of capturing the blue-haired young woman. Her jaw works awkwardly to chew through everything in its way and as the brawler lifts her head to swallow, a lump moves down her throat... then stops.
    Little choking noises start coming from behind the armed men as the were-woman turns blue and thumps frantically at her chest before her meal's dislodged and finishes its fall the rest of the way down. Gasping for breath, Vanya leans her hand against a brick wall before calling out.
    "Hey, do you need any help back there?" she asks to the blue-haired girl.

Black Rose has posed:
    Vanya's question earns her attention, "This has got to be one of the others with her," snarls a shorter man, turning back towards Vanya, and slamming his hands together to create a vicious soundwave that sends objects scattering backwards, intent on setting the 'reinforcement' off balance, while others can train on her. The primal girl's presence has, effectively, split the remaining four up now and one of the remaining gunmen levels his weapon on Vanya, fires.
    Yana tips her head, breathing fast, "Buy you dinner afterwards," she promises to the the other woman. It's an off-handed comment, by way of saying thanks, before another man moves to punch her, hard. She staggers back, but doesn't go down, and she isn't injured. "What the hell...," he asks, then hits her again, and her body slams into the wall, a crack spider-webbing out from it before she can return the favor, moving into a hip toss to put the man onto the ground.

Feral has posed:
    Vanya stumbles back and covers her ears as the shockwave hits her, but its force isn't enough to send the woman flying like the alley's lighter contents. She bares a pointed set of canines and growls at the men even as she ducks and dives behind a metal dumpster to avoid the gunfire.
    "I was in the middle of lunch too, it's not fun to fight on a full stomach," she grumbles as the form behind the dumpster gets larger and darker, expanding threateningly as it sprouts black fur. Digging her now clawed feet into the pavement, the were-bear presses off, hard, and sends the entire dumpster and its contents tumbling backwards at the men.

Black Rose has posed:
    Whatever Hands was waiting for, or expecting, that's not it. In a panic, he claps his hands again, this time, harder. The man firing at her hastily moves to load another clip, apparently he one of the couple without any sort of mutant powers, muttering to himself, "Shit, shit /shit/." It's that panic-driven fear when one realizes they're in, too deep, way over their head, and his hands shake as he grabs the clip from inside his jacket.
    <<Impressive,>> mutters Yana, mostly to herself at seeing the great wear-bear. She lunges forward, seeking to disarm the gunmen that is aiming towards her, while the other fellow is still on the ground. She's suddenly -fast-, but the other guy is equally so, and he's doing his own hip-toss of the girl into the brickwall. Again, a new spiderweb cracks, and the wall shifts.

Feral has posed:
    Pushing the dumpster before her like a battering ram, its metal edges screech and shriek as they carve shallow furrows into the ground before coming to an aching stop as the sound shockwave hits it and buffets it back. A large dark shadow falls over Hands as Vanya leaps over her cover with an unmistakable roar and crashes down on him with all the size and scope of a fully grown black bear... in bright red pants and a now very stretched tanktop.

Black Rose has posed:
    It is the force of the jolt, or, the abject terror of having a huge black-bear that looks like it wants to rip out your throat out suddenly pounce on you with the agility of a mountain lion -- but it doesn't make a difference. Hands is knocked unconscious. And, he may have wet himself in the process.
    The gunmen on Vanya's hands are shaking too much, and he ends up making the classical goon blunder of throwing his fully discharged weapon at Vanya, and then turning and running off down the alleyway, hopefully before the creature can capture him.
    Yana, meanwhile, strikes the man assaulting her with an upwward palm-strike against his chin, something snaps - spine, or jawbone, and the man crumples to the ground, unconscious, or dead.
    She kicks the gut of the one remaining conscious man that'd been on the ground, repeatedly, and then his head twice as well for good measure, until he also goes inert.
    Yana breathes, hard, and looks up to Vanya. "Thank you," she says, sincerely.

Feral has posed:
    Low, guttural growls and roar reverberate as the bear's massive paws 'help' Hands out of the waking world and against Vanya's thick, fur-coated hide, the gun is barely even felt. Rearing back up onto her hind legs, the were-woman stands tall... revealing that she's at least still mostly humanoid under her new coat. She snorts derisively towards the fleeing gunman and gives one last authoritative roar while surveying the alleyway before fur begins to recede and the hairy beast turns back into... well, another beast but one that's at least less hairy.
    Smiling fangedly with bear-fur sideburns and forearms still lingering, looks back at the blue-haired youth while flicking her tangled mane back over her shoulder. "You're buying me dinner - we're even," she's quick to remind.

Black Rose has posed:
    Yana blinks once, then suddenly smiles, sharply. She had made that offer. Fully in jest, but, apparently Vanya took the offer seriously. It amuses her, greatly, and she conceeds without further hestitation, "Yes. I'm buying you dinner. But first," Yana considers the shredded clothing, the barefeet, "We need to take you shopping. Then dinner. Least I can do." She toes one of the thugs, looks down at them, disdainfully. "They've been causing - problems, in Mutant Town." And then she's gesturing, "Let's get out of here, before the cops show up."

Feral has posed:
    Vanya looks down at herself with a frown that looks especially sour on her thick-jawed and still mildly ursine features before crossing her arms. "What's wrong with how I'm dressed? I'm not the one who looks like a caught fish," she tosses back, heels firmly planted.

Black Rose has posed:
    "Nothing's wrong with the way your dressed," suggests Yana, absolutely sincerely. "The state of your clothes, on the other hand? Could use some improvement. But," she holds up her hands, palm outwards in a manner of placation, "It's just an offer. Let's go get some food, and you can decide afterwards." She walks forward, to offer her hand to the ursine women, unafraid. She smiles, "Yana. Yana Asarov. Pleased to meet you. Again, thanks for the help."

Feral has posed:
    Vanya swipes a hand downward to dismiss the remark. "Bah, my clothes are fine... but my stomach could use more improvement," she accepts, grasping the teenager's hand in a strong grip as the remnants of her animal traits continue to recede. There are still subtle licks of nature in the woman's features but they're subtle enough to look human again.
    The were-woman smirks. "Vanya. //You're Russian?//" she guesses hopefully.

Black Rose has posed:
    <<Since the day I was born,>> answers Yana, with a more curved smile. She does not press the matter of clothing further, but her bright blue eyes clearly are interested in Vanya's display of abilities. She explains, comfortable in speaking the tongue, <<I do not get much association with others, however, outside my family. It is good we've met.>>
    And, as she escorts Vanya back across the street, she chooses an empty, clean spot to rest herself at, signaling to a waitress. "I'll have the pan-seared salmon steak, and a side order of grilled asparagus. And, whatever my lovely friend here wants, also."

Feral has posed:
    //Good, my Russian is better than my English,// Vanya laughs, switching easily to her native language with the youth as she follows along behind. Taking a seat of her own and leaning back, the were-woman thinks and rubs her stomach, pondering what she's already had before raising a hand to the waiter. "Vegetable egg-rolls and stir-fry vegetables with white rice," she asks before turning back to Yana.
    // So... what did you do to get them so upset? // she asks with an amused and easy smile while stretching her arms behind her head. // That was a lot of firepower. //

Black Rose has posed:
    It's a conversation she might not've had in English, but here in Greenwhich the Russian population is not everywhere. <<There is a man in mutant town who as established a gang of some moderate influence. His methods are crude. And, to get where he is, he broke trust of someone I care about deeply.>>
    The most convincing lies are ones that are utterly truthful. There is much she is leaving out, but she plays the angle of the heroine, or the self-righteous. <<I have friends in Mutant Town. And, I'm fairly gifted. I was responsible for one of his member's deaths, and hurt another one quite badly. It appears he did not like the message I sent to him. But, as a wise man once said: The expert in battle moves the enemy, and is not moved by him.>>
    Yana smiles, confidentally at this. She considers the girl in front of her, thoughtfully. <<Tell me, Vanya. Do you like to fight?>>

Feral has posed:
    Vanya raises an eyebrow and listens with mixed interest as Yana explains but at that final question the were-woman laughs from deep in her chest, setting the necklace of animal claws and bones rattling along her collar. // Oh just try and stop me, // she answers mirthfully. // Why, do I look like hired muscle to you? Send a bear into Mutant Town to scare a few people? //

Black Rose has posed:
    Yana shrugs, looking entirely innocent and amused at the same time. << You look like a woman who can take care of herself, who enjoys her freedom, and, who enjoys showing off what she can do, >> reads Yana, watching the woman opposite her, casually. <<You are the type of woman who wants to be either respected, or feared, I think.>>
    She clears her throat as the meal comes, and she seems pleased by the food in front of her, waiting until the waitress leaves to continue, <<Do I look like a girl who hires muscle?>>

Feral has posed:
    Vanya tilts her head curiously and is about to answer when the waitress returns. The were-woman's distracted long enough to bite through part of an egg-roll and drink a good half of her water.
    // Ahh, it's too hot around here, // she sighs, wiping her jaw before returning to the conversation. // You talk like one. If you butter me anymore I'll slide off my chair, // the were-woman jests. By now the older Russian has said enough that a quirk of her speech formed a pattern. It's still Russian, but Vanya's speech is noticeably dated and in places archaic. It's a bit like talking to an old radio broadcast.
    // And what is it you can do? You're not as helpless as you look. //

Black Rose has posed:
    Yana spears the steak, chews, enjoyably. A few more bites, casual, slow. If she notices the older speech patterns, or archaic forms of words used, she doesn't call Vanya out on it. It's something to be filed for, later. To review in her head. <<To put it in simple terms, I manipulate Kinetics. >> She does not elaborate further.
    <<But, if I was in the market to hire some muscle, on occassion, someone to fight, I would want that person to be someone I could trust. Whose motivations I understood. Let's say, a contractor. Would you be in the market?>>

Feral has posed:
    In the intervening silence, Vanya's eyes have fallen to Yana's plate as the were-woman eats her all-vegetables meal. They're staring enviously at the steak by the time another question snaps her out of it. // Hm? I'll fight for money if that's what you're asking, // she assures with a toothy smirk. // And you might talk me into a discount if it's another animal. There aren't enough werewolves and weresharks and werecoyotes around here, too many people throwing fire or shooting bullets instead of having fun the old-fashioned way. //
    // Kinetics, huh? You make that sound all science-y. //

Black Rose has posed:
    << Mmm. I suppose I cheat, >> admits Yana, indulgently. She spears some asparagus, next, and then on the same forkbite, another bit of salmon-steak. << If you want a more mundane explination, though - well. Consider it this way. I can alter the speed, durability, and power of just about any item I want that is in motion. Including myself. You. Them. >> She nods towards the alley.
    She adds, conversationally, knowing Vanya didn't really need further bait, << Well. The people that want to hurt me -do- have a shark mutant on hand. Large guy. Very brutish. Not so good a thinker. But a hell of a brawler. They call him Sharky, of all things. >>

Feral has posed:
    Vanya spits up water and coughs as she chokes on her drink, thumping at her chest again. // Are you sure that story didn't get twisted a little? How big of a shark are we talking, two and a half meters? //

Black Rose has posed:
    << More like one meter. Dwarf. Large, as in built. Bulging muscles. But, you should know better than most that size doesn't always matter. In the animal kingdom. Or, out here, on the streets. >> Yana's eyes rake over Vanya, thoughtfully, appreciative of the woman. << How can I contact you, when I want your services? >>

Feral has posed:
    // Oh size matters plenty, you just have to have it in the right places, // Vanya assures as she props her chin on her hand for a moment and resting her other arm on the table. The were-woman lets her next breath out a little extra hard and swells the muscles of her arms and torso, making an especially noticeable pop around her neck; it's a dense, fully-formed physique that's begun to glisten a little in the sunny heat. The predator makes her fangs known again in another toothy smile as she gives Yana a few seconds to study before relaxing once more.
    Once more she reaches for her water. // If he's that small that's barely a warm-up. *I'm* more of a shark than that... // Shrugging to herself as she empties her glass, Vanya trades it in hand for another egg roll. // Ask around, or go looking. How many times in this city do you see bright red pants? //

Black Rose has posed:
    << Fair enough. >> Yana nods, and reaches with thin finger into her pockets in her shorts, pulling out several bills. Smoothly, she passes Vanya five $100 bills, and sets another $50 bill down on the table to pay for the meal as well as a tip for the waitress. She tells Vanya, << Consider it a reserve, for future services rendered. >> There's a sharp smile, << I rather like you, Vanya. >>

Feral has posed:
    The older Russian gives an easy-going chuckle as she slides her share of the bills off the table, smiling noticeably wider as she gives them a half-hearted count. // I get that a lot from people I'm not mauling. How old are you, kid? //

Black Rose has posed:
    << Seventeen, >> the girl answers, quite honestly. She looks her age, at the very least. Or could look it, depending on one's perceptions. << And, looking to go to either Xavier's, or Academy of Tommorrow to finish school, and train my abilities a bit further. >> She seems full, her plate mostly devoured, and she signals for the bill to the waitress, handing her the money as she does so.
    << Why? >>

Feral has posed:
    // That's old enough to drink, // Vanya answers cheerfully as she moves through her main course. She did order quite a bit and doesn't seem in a great hurry to finish. // After I punch out Shark-o or whatever you were saying, let's have beer together. //

Black Rose has posed:
    << Deal. >> She nods her head, and by her smile, she certainly has had beer before. Or alcohol, at the very least. << You ever need to find me, just ask for me around Mutant Town. I'm pretty well known at the underground parties. Someone will know how to get word to me. >> She doesn't seem to wish to hurry the girl up, but she does suggest, << And the offer is still on the table, if you want some new clothes. Just an offer. >> Image, afterall, is everything.

Feral has posed:
    // I have been thinking of something a little less snug, // Vanya admits with an amused grin as she tugs at the front of her shirt and lets it snap back against her skin. // Right now it fits just fine but, well, you've seen I need a little more room sometimes, // she adds with a wink.
    //What you just handed me should buy shirts for a year at least.//

Black Rose has posed:
    Yana spreads her hands, still smiling some, her blue eyes attentive to Vanya. She nods, << Yours to spend as you please. >> She seems quite satisfied with the turn of events, and the meeting. And, unabashed, and not for the first time her eyes drift over that mark on the other woman's face as if she were trying (and failing) to place it. << But, I promise. If I see any larger were-sharks, or other animals of note, I will be sure to tell you. It is, afterall, what a friend would do. >>

Feral has posed:
    The mark itself is simple for as much space as it consumes, two large hooks loosely in the shape of a curly Y. The way the sunlight hits it, it looks slightly redder than pure black ink.
    // Don't bother if you meet a huge Russian one with big tits, // Vanya mentions crassly, cupping her own to demonstrate. // We've already met. I still haven't reshaped her jaw though... // the predator trails off, losing her gaze and her thoughts somewhere over Yana's shoulder with a pointy, eager smile.
    // Maybe I'll go fishing later. She looked like she needed a good workout. //

Black Rose has posed:
    << You certainly seem to get around. >> Yana seems to approve, though. She inclines her head, admitting << I've not heard anyone fitting that description. But, I will keep my eyes out. There is another woman. Goes by the name of Hunter. She is interesting. >> And, the tone which Yana uses, interesting is a very good thing. << She is very dangerous, I think. >>

Feral has posed:
    // It comes from living outside. You see all kinds of fun stuff, // Vanya replies as she taps her chin in an uncharacteristically thoughtful moment. // Hunter, huh? That's a name I should use... what's she like? //

Black Rose has posed:
    << Very methodic. Very loyal. >> Yana considers, << Perhaps the two of you will meet. >> The girl shrugs, absently, but she leaves enough open to suggest that she is thinking about hiring this 'Hunter', too. Afterall, one girl can hardly take on an entire network of mutant gang members by herself. Even Magneto has the Brotherhood.
    << Stick with Vanya. It works for you. >>

Feral has posed:
    // Well I also go by 'Feral', // Vanya explains with a chuckle. // 'Vanyas my *name*. // The werewoman hums for a moment in thought before returning to her meal. // Dogs aren't as fun to play with... oh well. //
    // Is there anything else, Yana? // the predator asks out of idle curiosity. She seems quite comfortable in her new seat; the shapeshifter is in no rush to leave.

Black Rose has posed:
    << Feral. >> Yana nods, once, satisfied. But she seems to have nothing else, at least, not yet. She considers, suggesting, << Not unless you like parties, raves. >> A wide grin, << I can guide you to some really good ones. But, I think that settles us nicely, for now. And, if we like the arrangement? Well. We can talk later about maybe strenghtening it further. >> Always keep your options open, afterall.

Feral has posed:
    // I prefer bars and fight clubs. Parties get noisy. My ears are *still* ringing from that clapping and shooting, // Vanya grumbles as she takes her annoyance out on an unlucky piece of carrot. Afterwards she musters up another smirk. // If you've got money and something fun for me to fight, I'll fight it, // she assures.

Black Rose has posed:
    << A fine arrangement. >> The knoweldge is filed away for later, something to consider for her would-be-ally, friend, and potential bodyguard. << Bars are boring, though, >> she admits with a rueful sort of smile. She wrinkles her nose, << Nobody is there to have fun. Just to get drunk. And to pick each other up. >>

Feral has posed:
    // That depends on the bar, // Vanya notes with a knowing smile, // and they're still the best place to drink for cheap. I can't be fighting *all* the time, // she adds with a laugh.