survival of the fittest

[advanced]

who: Bucky and anyone!
what: Bucky is a big old thief, tracks down his name twin, and also goes monster fighting with Clark
when: Anytime between March 8th and March 12th
where: Around Quarantine
warnings: Probably violence

[i: Around Quarantine; open to anyone]

[Bucky has chosen to eschew the communal housing gifted to him, as well as all the benefits that affords. Like food, shelter, and access to a shower. The last two aren't such a big deal, but he needs a lot of food to keep him going, the bastardised serum in his veins makes him burn through calories at a ridiculous rate.

Which is why he's ghosting through Quarantine on the look out for empty housing or possible a not very well attended street food stall, in order to snatch a hand out and take something. He can be found shoplifting in the street; or, if you'd prefer, breaking into your character's housing in search of food.]

[ii: Down a back alley somewhere; closed to Bucky Barnes]

[Ever since he saw that name on the network, his own name, Bucky has been in overdrive trying to figure out what's going on. It takes him a day or so to track down who owns the username, and then another day to just follow them around and try and figure out who they are. It's only when he catches the imposter out alone, whatever he might be doing, that he reveals himself by trying to drag the other man down an alleyway in an explosion of movement and bad decisions.]

[iii: Monster hunting; closed to Clark Kent]

[The perimeter is of interest to Bucky, partially because it means an escape from this town and partially because he knows that Stark is going to be making upgrades to it. It's why he's scouting around it today.

He's too focused on the possible security measures, trying to find surveillance equipment or defence mechanisms, that he has completely failed to notice the large monster shaped like a monstrous caterpillar creeping up behind him on silent feet.]

Comments

[dust_of_life]

[It's almost kind of funny, really. In a morbid sort of way. Like he thinks the kiwi is a grenade. Like she would randomly just blow up a total stranger simply because he was rude.

Well, actually, there are plenty of Cainites out there who would do something like that.

Fatima isn't one.

She takes a moment to weigh his reaction. Then decides to maybe test it a little bit. She reaches into her bag and pulls out another piece of produce. She picked it up earlier in the day. It reminds her of eggplant. only a little rounder and--from the sample the vendor gave her--sweeter. Taking careful, slow, measured movements, she leans over, rolling that to him as well.]

[advanced]

[This is ridiculous now and, no matter how uncomfortable people are with public displays of affection, someone is bound to notice the random rolling of fruit and vegetables across a street.

So he steps forward just a single pace to intercept it, picking it up more quickly this time and raising his eyebrows at her in a question.

What does she want? What game is this?]

[dust_of_life]

[She raises her eyebrows right back at him. Is the knife really necessary? She's armed with tomato.

And, okay, yes, she has her Thaumaturgical powers too, but it's not like she was ever threatening to use them. She just wanted to talk to the guy she caught stealing.

Maybe still does. But he seems a little volatile. A volatile thief. Go figure.]

Sweetheart.

[Her voice isn't quite so high and loud and squeaky. She's just committing to her initial gambit.]

We should talk.

[advanced]

[He really doesn't want this to escalate further, not when there are people milling around in the fair. A fight here could so easily become a bloodbath, and he doesn't want that on his hands.

He's still half convinced that she intends to lure him into a trap, but he has numerous weapons on him and he's fairly confident that he can take her if it comes to it, so he finally gives her a wary nod.]

Alright. Where?

[dust_of_life]

[The shrug she gives him is, perhaps, the most genuine interaction they'd had so far. He's as twitchy as an internet troll meeting an actual girl or something. And seems to be convinced that she wants to hurt him.

You know, with her evil fruit grenades and stuff.]

Anywhere.

[It's not a smart move, from a tactical standpoint. Arty would definitely object. But Arty isn't here. Or a people person. Or here, damn it. Fatima needs to figure this out on her own. And if that means being more of a person and less of a soldier, she's kind of okay with that.]

You pick.

[advanced]

[He isn't going to take her far, and certainly not to anywhere that he uses as a hideout, so he just nods towards an alleyway a short way down the street.]

You first.

[He's not about to expose his back to her by leading, he's not that stupid.]

[dust_of_life]

[For crying out loud. It's so paranoid, she's doing everything she can not to roll her eyes at him.]

The communal housing? I'm on the first floor.

[And not paranoid of letting him know.

Maybe she should be...]

[advanced]

No.

[It's immediate and firm, there's no way he's setting foot in there. It's far too crowded, and far too full of people that he's trying very hard to avoid.]

They alleyway or nothing.

[He's quite prepared to run.]

[dust_of_life]

[How very Russian spy novel.

Fatima pretends to give it a moment's careful consideration, before shrugging.]

Okay. Any alleyway in particular? Or are you not picky about that?

[advanced]

[He nods again to the same alley that he nodded to in the first place.

It's nothing special, just the closest one by merit of being only halfway down the same street that they're already on.]

There.

[dust_of_life]

Okay.

[She starts to take a step in that direction, but then stops, spinning on her heel to face him again.]

I'm sorry. Did you wanna go first?

[advanced]

No.

[He doesn't want to turn his back to her at all.

He will, however, follow her to the alley if she chooses to actually walk there.]

[dust_of_life]

[Fatima really hopes all the natives aren't like this. She's used to being the most paranoid thing in a room. And even she's getting wigged out.

But with a shrug, she sashays her way into the alley, hips swishing.

Which isn't to say that she's blissfully oblivious to the situation. He might try to jump her from behind. So she's running the math the entire walk there, figuring out exactly how she'll have to ram her heel into his shin to get free, if the worst should happen.

And Arty said it wasn't practical to train in stilettos.]

[advanced]

[He doesn't follow her very far down the alley, just enough that any violence that happens likely won't spill out onto the street to get anyone else involved. Not that he wants violence to happen, he'd rather avoid it, but sometimes things don't go the way he wants.

Often, actually.]

What game were you playing back there?

[dust_of_life]

[She whirls around to face him, eyebrow firmly raised.]

I saw you swiping food from the stall. I wasn't gonna bust you, but I had some questions.

You're the one who got twitchy.

[She holds up both hands, palms out in a gesture of surrender.]

I just wanted to ask you a few questions.

[advanced]

[She certainly went to a lot of trouble just to ask someone swiping food some questions, especially if she isn't planning to alert the authorities.]

What questions?

[She can ask, but his body language clearly says that he's unlikely to answer.]

[dust_of_life]

Well, I haven't met a native of this place yet.

I pretty much have all the questions.

[She folds her arms. Not a defensive gesture. More thoughtful.]

I mean, I'd like to know a little more about this world that decided to kidnap me. I'm funny that way.

[advanced]

You think I'm a native.

[He repeats it flatly, not exactly a question, before snorting.]

You're wrong.

[dust_of_life]

[Okay. Unexpected plot twist. Fatima scowls a little bit.]

Then why were you stealing food?

[They're being provided for in the weirdass dorm. Maybe her Hot Topic theory isn't as far off as she thought?

But that feels a little too facile for this guy.]

[advanced]

[He supposes he can see where the misconception may have come from, but it's still not one he was expecting her to come out with.]

Because I'm hungry.

[Why else does anyone steal food?]

[dust_of_life]

And you won't eat the food they're giving us in the not-dorms.

[Not a question. He's paranoid. Of course he wouldn't.

Fatima bites down on the inside of her cheek, raking her fingers through her hair. As much as she loves to show off her swagger, she can't deny that this backfired in every possible way.

She lets out a few choice words in Hindi.]

[advanced]

[His eyebrow raises slightly at the cursing, he does understand Hindi, but he chooses to remain in English for now.]

Is that the end of your questions?

[He's not of interest any more, right?]

[dust_of_life]

[Not really. Fatima will never not have questions. But she needs to regroup.

Sighing, she reaches into her bag and starts pulling out all the fruits and veggies she bought.]

Here. You can have these. It's not like we know what they do to thieves around here.

What's your name?

[advanced]

[He hesitates, extremely wary, but eventually snatches the fruit and veg out of her hands and begins shoving it into pockets and his rucksack.]

Ian.

[He takes a step back towards the entrance of the alley.]

Don't follow me.

[dust_of_life]

Ian. My name is Fatima.

[There are certain connotations with a name like 'Fatima.' And the guy seems American. American-ish, anyway. She considers tossing in her standard joke. 'And I'm not a terrorist.' But she doesn't think it's going to help this situation.]

I'm not gonna hurt you, Ian.

Why would I?