station72 | DAY :048 | DO THE CREEP

Entry tags:

DAY :048 | DO THE CREEP

CHARACTERS: All
WHERE: Concordia, Misc.
WHEN: Day :048 - :050
SUMMARY: Seek ~~and destroy~~; the hosts follow up on the three suspects identified at Saffit's fundraiser. One of the three eventually leads somewhere significant...
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary.

((OOC NOTES: This is the catch-all log for characters following Aytac Devin, Kusuma Ming and Kalup Aquila. Feel free to use these characters however they suit your threads - we'll jump into modjack when and where we can! At some point, we'll highjack one of your threads to direct it toward plot relevant information, but until then don't hesitate to go wild.

If you have any questions, drop them over HERE at the calendar questions post.))

NAVIGATION • SETTING • FAQ • MOD CONTACT • GLOSSARY

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

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( NOTES: Leaving the day/time up in the air for now to account for any timeline wonkiness. Consider this a free-for-all thread, no strict tag order! Plotting was here but anyone is free to jump in via action and/or mental link, people can spread out across the park and stuff. I've made up the park stuff, so feel free to add in whatever other details you like! )

THE MARK

FROM THE MOD POST: AYTAC DEVIN - ...was one of the names in Ngozi’s list of slush cases. Devin (late 50’s) is one of those old money Concordian elite who makes money off money and increases that income by buying up and managing property (something of a commodity in a city like this one). In the aftermath of the Royal Parlor bombing, one of Devin’s investment properties suffered some minor vandalism as he demanded that Public Security patrols in the area be increased - conveniently at the same time that the investigation into the bombings should have been drawing on most of Public Security’s workforce; for some reason (as of yet uncovered, though we’ll update this if Pidge gets into Ngozi’s private data partition), Ngozi bowed to the demand. All that said, Devin seems to largely be the affable grandfather type and quite the family man. The Devin family is one of those traditional, sprawling Concordian families and it’s clear that Devin puts a lot of time into doting on them. He has a slew of nieces and nephews and is still celebrating his first grandchild even though the kid’s six years old. Devin regularly attends any activity this his grandchild is participating in, though at the moment that usually amounts to days in the park and baby’s first martial arts classes. Find one and you’ll likely find the other. That said, Devin does seem to often travel with two body guards - a slim man by the name of Leoban Vurwal, and a bruiser-type woman named Alani Amir.

THE PARK

The gossip and lifestyle sections lead to a large park in the Alpha Block, all fancy statues with placards dedicating or attributing their placement to long deceased high society folks. Off the regular path and near the man-made lake Devin can be found seated on a bench, watching a boy clumsily practice Zero Ball with a fit young man. A pair of woman stop to watch, followed by another lone bystander that keeps shifting from spot to spot, likely taking pictures. It's the young man that's capturing their attention, some big name player from a favored Zero Ball team. Devin's bodyguards are quick to move - the slim man remains close to Devin, while the large one approaches the voyeurs. Her murder-walk is enough to get the young woman to move along, but the man stands his ground and the two can be watched arguing.

The boy seems oblivious to all this.

[ It's a park, people are playing ball, and that's all Sam needs to look like he has every reason in the world to be there. He's tossing around a ball of his own, still a distance away from the commotion, watching from the corner of one eye, but looking mostly focused on what he's doing. ]

( So I'm guessing I won't be able to get away with asking for an autograph, huh. )

[ A shame, considering he's actually been watching Zero Ball, and the guy is good? ]

[ Halfway around the lake Steve's got a little easel set up, painting the lake in watercolors on a canvas that's only the size of a small picture frame. He's got a hat on, the brim shading his eyes from the glare of the sun and obscuring his features. ]

( I don't think that'd be keeping with low profile. ) [ There's some wry humor in his tone.

The bulky woman says something that finally sends the voyeur stalking away. She watches him go with both arms crossed over her chest.

Behind them the boy gives a kick that sends the ball into the water, upsetting a flock of water birds. ]

( I hate to say it, but I think I probably look a little less like a potential threat than that guy. )

[ Strange unknown men raise more eyebrows than...than no don't make him admit how small he is. ]

[ Look at who you're talking to, Sam.

Some serious consideration, then the equivalent of a mental shrug. ]

( Well, I guess it couldn't hurt. )

[ If he really wants to try for that autograph. ]

[ Some people just don't have to look for trouble because trouble always comes around to find them. Not that Parker avoids trouble at all cost. In here, maybe, but mostly because she stays out of the business of spying for an entity she doesn't know, much less trust. On her day to day basis (when she was back on Earth, that is), she was more than happy to look for trouble and if she didn't find any, she would certainly cause it. Pushing for rebellion has never been difficult for her.

But give her some credit. In here, she doesn't care to. The universe is intent in proving her wrong it seems.

Across the pond, she's taking laps around it. She doesn't care who the kid is, or who the bodyguards are guarding (because even if you don't know who that is, those are clearly bodyguards with the way they stand), she is minding her own f-word business. It's certainly not her fault that runt is kicking the Zero Ball around. Much less when it hits her square in the face. It makes a beach-ball sound as it bounces off her head in comical fashion. Parker staggers backwards in her run, nearly slipping on to her ass.

The ball rolls down sadly behind her. The kid stares at her, apologetic, but definitely hopeful in getting his ball back. Holding a hand over her face, part of it red from the impact, Parker is clearly contemplating kicking the ball right back into the kids face. Yes, even with the watchful eye of the other bodyguard not engaging with the voyeurs.

Maybe in this planet they don't mind child beatings. ]

[ The slim guard lets out an unmistakable snort. Funny. The beefy one seems slightly less amused from where she stands closer to the boy, and there's something about her posture that makes it clear she's ready to intervene. The Zero Ball player looks mortified.

All three are taking their cues from Devin - and he gives a nod to the player. ]

Sorry about that... [ The tall, dark and handsome Zero Ball celebrity starts jogging toward Parker, clearly intending to retrieve the ball from where it's landed. There's nothing to say he's from a top team unless you've managed to miss his face plastered all over posters. His relation to the Devins is literal - a twice removed cousin of sorts. Used to money even before his paychecks started coming in, his jeans have that look of 'expensively worn' and what he paid for those sunglasses could easily cover the rent of a moderately priced loft. ]

( Don't engage - )

[ Usually, Steve's much better at not reaching out to people instinctively. Especially when they're someone that clearly does not want to be reached out to like this. He's still at his spot around the bend of the lake, within line of sight and sitting on a bench with his drawing tools, eating some lunch that's probably about to be quickly forgotten. ]

[ Whatever her intention was previous to this situation, it became void quite quickly. As soon as Steve breaks through her (admittedly distracted, considering the ball that had smacked her right on the head) walls, Parker makes a very, very clear point of setting her jaw even further, eyebrows pushing angry lines in her forehead. She doesn't look for the source of it, because part of her instinctively knows where he stands. All of her hates the fact that she does, even though it's less so nowadays, with her actively blocking everything and then some. But it's still that, that nauseating pulsing beneath her flesh.

It doesn't matter. Parker has told so many times to so many people to not to get in her head. She has made exhausting efforts to make sure it's clear that she does not want anyone besides herself in her head. And yet the only time anyone seemed to listen to her was when she punched Angel. She hasn't done it again. Pretty sure those that were there to witness didn't either.

So, she's through trying to make it louder than she possibly can. If they keep doing what she has asked not to, then she is definitely not above of being vengeful and giving back what she gets.

The tilt of her head is subtle. Like a crick on her neck. She doesn't look for long to the bench Steve is sat on. Just a quick glance. Oh, she is not above this at all. ]

Really? Are you sorry? Because maybe you should keep a better eye to make sure your kid respects who's around them.

[ Everyone says she should be more social, after all. Why shouldn't she take this opportunity to engage? ]

[ He's getting too used to communicating this way. At her radio silence he pulls back into himself, quieting the link as best he can. His sandwich and tools are abandoned at the bench and he's a little too swiftly making his way toward the scene.

Meanwhile, the gleaming smile on the player's face wavers along with his PR training, and there's a second where he seems to be considering that he's misheard her. ]

You forget to take your meds? He's just a kid. [ A kid who's already running back to his paw-paw at the bench. ]

[ If you were to ask her, everyone is getting too used in communicating that way. But nobody is going to ask her, and surely most people don't need to ask her to know what she thinks about the whole ordeal. She has made it clear, time and time again.

Parker doesn't miss a beat, expression unwavering at the sudden shift. Her eyes glance behind him as she sees Steve making his hurried way to them. Just a quick glance, too quick to make it noticeable, and then she looks back to the now unsmiling guy. She has no interest in this. She's just making a point here.

As for the rude commentary, she seems very uninterested in it. ]

He's your responsibility. Teach him to apologize. Lest he ends up as polite as you.

[ Sarcasm skill leveled up. ]

[ POWER-WALKING WORKS BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE LONGER LEGS, he's still not close enough to call out.

The player scoffs. ] Look - I said I was sorry, alright? [ Behind them it appears that Devin and his group are getting ready to leave with the sniffling child. A young woman on the path to Parker's left stops, clearly getting ready to take a photo - the player abruptly gives a false smile in her direction, not wanting to be caught looking like he's arguing. ]

[ Although one might not believe, Parker knows all about public image versus personal image. After all, with the parents she has, it would be hard to miss the subtleties of a celebrity public life. And she spots the woman with her photo and Parer is quick to take a step back. She's going to break that camera if she gets the photo.

Regardless of her understanding about celebrity drama, she harbours absolutely no pity for this guy, or the kid - but much less for Steve and his wonky power-walk. ]

I'm not interested in your apology.

[ Too bad, Conchita. The woman snaps her shot and starts hurrying off, the fake smile fading from the player's face as quick as it appeared. ]

Whatever - [ And that seems to be the end of his patience for her, especially since the rest of the Devin group is starting to move out. Near the edge of the water Steve stops some meters away from Parker, his features pinched as he's clearly deciding whether to approach or just... let the guy go. Seems to be going for the latter since the player turns his back on Parker and starts stalking off. ]

[ She's going to break that camera once she's done making this guy's day - and Steve's, by proxy - way worse.

Parker seems to have, for a second, the same amount of done with the player as she turns around. But with the ball still behind her and her waking towards it, it doesn't see like it's going to be the case.

Using her foot, she kicks the ball towards her and then up to her hands. With it in her hands, she gives Steve one final look. Fatality. ]

Hey. You forgot something, asshole.

[ And she throws it, straight to the back of his head. 100 points. ]

[ Slow motion horror plays across Steve's face as the ball sails through the air, smacking the guy hard in the back of the head and causing him to stumble forward. He turns, confusion and anger flickering across his expression. He grabs for the ball, making like he's going to come at her. ]

What the hell -

[ Finally, Steve regains use of his legs and steps forward, calling out to the player and holding his hands near his face like he's clicking something - pretending to film them with an implant he doesn't have. ]

Hey! Smile for the camera! [ The player goes from bright red to blanched. ]

[ It's a near victory when he turns around with a look that says everything that he can't- not because he won't, but because Steve barges in trying to salvage the damage (too little too late, you could say). Parker slowly looks at him coming up on her right and then back to the player. Deciding she has had enough revenge - not on the player but on Steve, she clicks her tongue as if tired and looks at the shorter man for a second too long to be a glance. Should say enough.

It sucks when people do what you ask them not to, isn't it? ]

[ Devin's bodyguards are still busy with their master and his grandbaby as they get ready to leave the park, nowhere to be found while this is all going down (or perhaps the elderly man thought it best to leave his distant relative to deal with his problems on his own rather than have his direct people add to the scene).

Either way, when Steve turns to meet Parker's gaze with narrowed eyes, the player comes at him, shoving him to the ground and lifting him up again. ]

Is this a set-up? [ shove ] You want a show?

[ Before Steve can tear himself from the other man's grip, he finds himself sailing into the lake.

The player offers Parker one last glare, crazy bitch muttered under his breath, and this time jogs off. A couple of new onlookers have stopped to watch from a safe distance, though the show seems to be over. ]

[ There is a small twinge of amusement when she turns to see Steve fly towards the lake. She can't deny that. After all, she has no actual problems with the celebrity. She did this because Steve ignited the short fuse (shorter the longer they are stranded here in this planet).

She watches the guy walk off and smirks - an actual thing she does with her lips other than scowl apparently - before walking over to the edge of the lake where Steve is currently residing.

She crosses her arms and frowns slightly, watching him. She's not entirely sure he can swim. ]

That rough, buddy. [ She is about as sincere as an unaffected teenager at the peak of their puberty. ]

[ Although he can swim, the edge of the lake isn't all that deep. Mostly he's soaked and muddy. Also cold. ]

Yup. [ Dry as the desert. He pushes his bangs out of his face, wiping the droplets of water from his face. If he's annoyed with her, he's not showing it, instead he deals with the situation with a sort of methodical practice - and besides, his attention is more focused on the sudden realization that he's lost track of Devin completely.

With a wet cough he stands, shaking his head and his arms to send water flying every which way, not unlike a wet dog. ]

[ She takes a step back as he shakes himself off and makes a small sound in the back of her throat. Gives him one last look and then tilts her head. ]

I think we understand each other now.

[ Before she turns around and goes back to her jogging. Rude. ]

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DAY :048 | DO THE CREEP

STALKING AYTAC DEVIN @ THE PARK

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idk what i'm doing

i'm making it worse

escalates too quickly

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