Snatch 1.11

Sasha stared for a moment, still stunned by the revelation of just how deeply she’d accidentally embarrassed one of the most powerful men in the area. The thought of it left her hyperventilating, shaking in her shoes as she tried not to show it. A failure of an attempt in truth, the domino masked girl’s grin softening slightly into a more sympathetic visage.

Still slowly, Sasha worked at the lump in her throat, breath still rhythmic and steady as she thought about every one of them.

“... You know I’m really grateful for the save and all; I’m not exactly a first date kind of girl. At least buy me dinner and a movie before the Netflix and chill… right?” Sasha babbled nervously, trying her hardest to hide the deep pit in her stomach which had already dropped all the way out. Her eyes focused on the domino girl even as she spoke.

“Hah! Good one!” The other guy, Regent, laughed merrily and without restraint, leaning back against the side of his mount. Behind him the boy in the dog mask and what looked like just a jeans and jacket combo instead of an actual costume stood back tending to the beasts as they sat to his directions.

“But seriously...” She pawed nervously at the ground biting her lip as she struggled to keep playing it calm... Particularly with what she suspected of the group who’d helped her survive… and were now surrounding her like wolves on prey. “Who are you guys really? You don’t look like a hero group...”

The domino masked girl grinned again, whipping back a strand of her blond hair from her face. “We aren’t at all little lamb. We’re big bad villains come to ask you to be one of us.”

“Stop scaring the girl; give her a bit of space.” The motorcycle helmet guy responded, his faceless mask angled to give the impression of rolling his eyes. “Look its fine if you don’t want to join up with us. We’re not making an ultimatum or anything like that, just giving you an option. I know firsthand how hard it can be out on your own. And now with Lung and his goons on the lookout for you...”

“Well, maybe me. But bug girl over there managed to stay out of sight. I mean she looks like a villain and all... but she jumped in to help out against Lung…” Sasha trailed off, that feeling of pressure easing off of her chest a bit. Something about the biker guy set her at ease, unlike his foxy lieutenant. Also passing off the baton to the till then silent girl helped a bit.

“... I’m not a villain.” The girl muttered; her demeanor stock still even as Sasha noticed various insects buzzing around in tight patterns nearby. “I got involved cause I heard Lung say something about killing kids.”

“Lone hero type huh? How’s that working out for ya? Haven’t heard anything about a Bug cape before.” The frilly dressed boy named Regent spoke up, leaning forward onto the end of his scepter like a cane in interest.

“... my first night.” The bug girl clipped, leaving Sasha feeling a bit guilty at having essentially thrown her to the wolves for her own comfort there.

“First night and you pick a fight with Lung? Holy fuck girlfriend… you do know the statistics on how long lone hero capes last out in the wild right? I mean trying to beat the odds is supposed to be in the other direction if you catch my drift.” Regent snarked, his grinning mask a clear reflection of his own mirth.

“Lay off her.” The biker guy casually ordered. “If she hadn’t gotten herself involved then it could have been a disaster for all of us. I don’t think any of us here could have actually fought him if he wasn’t pumped to the gills in bug venom.”

“Wasps, Black-widows, Ants, Bees... you name it and it’s in the city and she hit him with it.” The grinning girl grinned again.

“... it barely slowed him down.” The bug cape spoke again, tight, terse, and almost nervous to the sound. Well, as nervous as one could sound when plaintively echoed by the sounds of a swarm. The effect of that, was just a tad bit creepy.

“Either way. We owe you our thanks... even if next time we meet it could be on opposite sides of the field. Frankly girl, you’re pretty terrifying. You and hoodie here both. Those blasts were no joke.”

“You know those aren’t even her actual power.” The domino masked girl grinned her foxy grin, looking directly at Sasha almost as if to pierce her inner most secrets. “Little Miss Hoodie is a tinker. Makes things that don’t last outside of her presence... oh very nice girl, you make ‘enchantments’ out of items that you break down. Hmm. You know I like that, we could really offer you a lot on that front you know. I have contacts that can really help you push that power to the limits. We basically have the next Dauntless right here in the making.”

The biker guy didn’t bother hiding his surprise at his team mate revealing Sasha’s power. “What, really that strong? You know, I really don’t want to get pushy, but you sound like exactly what we need on this team. You sure you don’t want to give us a go?”

“I… not exactly the villain type either. And my roomy wouldn’t like it if I got into trouble.” Sasha demurred, hoping to high heaven that things would not need to escalate. She’d have at least one partner here if that happened, but that would still be a fight against people who had been putting up an effective fight against Lung. The domino masked girl was giving her the chills too... at the very least whatever her power was, it let her know the ins and outs of Sasha’s, further tipping the balance in favor of these… Undersiders. “But look… I’m open to cooperation if it comes down to dealing with Lung again... if there is a next time on that front.”

“Crossing our fingers I guess. My read on the situation says that at least one or two Protectorate members would have shown up. Probably ArmsMaster or Dauntless. There was some other activity going down uptown earlier... part of why Lung decided to do his hunt tonight.” The domino masked girl sounded just a bit sour at that last note. “They would have needed to send in their big guns to deal with Lung anyway, someone properly prepared for a fight with him. Most of their forces would have been held back from engaging no matter how things shook out.”

“Yeah… that was… holy fuck I nearly got killed by Lung.” Sasha’s breath hitched, as the realization finally, fully caught up to her. “I’m tough as nails, but holy shit I’ve never been so scared in my life… other than that time some guy tried to drag me off into an alleyway right out in public…”

The helmet guy seemed to shift. “You don’t exactly seem the type to get dragged anywhere. Just saying.”

“I’m a tinker… Your friend’s already said it, so it isn’t like I need to pretend... not like I can do much without my stuff on.” Sasha grumbled plaintively, purposely looking away from the group as she did. The bug girl stepped a bit closer, her hand resting on Sasha’s shoulder in what seemed an impromptu show of support. Sasha quickly hid her surprise at that, then continued. “Either way, I’m not a villain, and not going to be one either. You guys seem like nice folks, but I don’t particularly want to be on the wrong side of the law.”

“You mean this whole wargame of Cops and Robbers?” The domino masked girl snorted as she waved her hand dismissively. “Not like being a villain is any real trouble unless you kill someone, or get caught too many times. Or actually hurt someone who isn’t playing it too. And besides, it’s way more fun than trying to be a Ward Stiff.”

“This isn’t a game.” The bug girl spoke up, almost vehemently. The sudden intensity of it was a bit surprising. “We almost got killed out there fighting Lung.”

“Yeah... just cause it’s a big game, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have real stakes.” The domino girl nodded with a grimace. “But it’s not quite the ‘law versus Chaos’ that you are picturing either sweetie. Lung is a big boy, a big player across three major cities, and yet no one has strike forces on his head, the Protectorate doesn’t escalate against him, just stays back and foils whatever plans he might have. And it’s because even if he plays rough, he still plays. He doesn’t overstep some critical boundaries... and he’s no Blasphemies… or S9.”

There was a collective shudder at those names.

“Ok fine, I’ll grant you there’s some rules. But I’m still not interested in joining up.” Sasha folded her arms in defiance.

The domino girl shrugged, then once again gave her Vulpine Grin. “Your loss I suppose. But the offer stays open for as long as you don’t try to kill any of us. Isn’t that right Grue?”

The afore named rider, Grue, nodded his head. “We could use the extra hands. But I can understand not wanting to et involved with the Villains life. I wouldn’t be in it myself without pressing needs. But either way, you’re always welcome to our help if it comes to dealing with Lung. Allies on the other side of the isle are fine too. And hopefully we’ll never have to fight each other.”

“That goes double for you too Bugs.” The girl’s grin seemed a bit... softer, towards the bug cape. “We can get back in touch some time, maybe work out something. Minds change, and circumstances too.”

“I… I’ll keep that in mind.” The bug girl spoke, her body stilled in its expression.

“Tattletale, Regent, Bitch. We need to get going.” Grue spoke, his voice strong and authoritative... but still bothersomely familiar.

“Bitch?” Sasha couldn’t help but ask as she peered over to the one she’d though was a guy.

“PRT calls her Hellhound, to keep things nice and PG-13. She likes Bitch better. Our rides are her dogs.” The newly named Tattletale, the domino masked girl, spoke up with that same grin as she whispered the information with a conspiratory wink. “Either way, we’ve spent enough time here; and there’s no flaming dragon trying to burn the skyline to find us, so I suppose that’s going to be goodbye.”

The butch girl, Bitch, merely grunted. Her... dogs, lined up and ready as the others grabbed on and climbed up their respective hell hound, and then were off, racing into the distance.

Sasha waited a few more minutes until the last of the… god she could hardly believe those things were dogs... were out of sight.

“So… I guess that’s it for that.” Sasha bit her lip before casting back another look towards the Bug cape. “So… you have a name? A cape name I mean.”

“Uh… no. First time remember. Did you have one?” The taller girl asked, her mask and tone as impassive as her body language.

“Uh… yeah now that you mention it… I guess I just haven’t been bothered to make one up just yet.” Sasha shrugged then tilted her head. “Heh, I suppose we’re two peas in a pod then.”

A light chuckle came out from beneath the insectile mask, a relaxation of her previous stiffness now that the moment had passed. “I... dammit. Villains... I ended up helping Villains on my first night out. Oh man, I suck.”

“Don’t worry about it bugsy, you and me, we’re in the same boat you know. I’m not exactly thrilled about tonight.” Sasha laughed with the taller girl, reaching up to place a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “But you know, those guys they had a good point. Its hard out here, hard to be alone you know?”

“You’d actually consider going with them? Knowing that they’re Villains?” The girl asked, a certain level of incredulousness having seeped into her voice. Sasha could practically hear the capital V in the word.

“Well, I didn’t just now. But… I’m not going to kid myself. I don’t really think I’d have refused a couple of days ago. Not if it meant hot meals, a bed, and some increased measure of safety. I’m not exactly a saint.” Sasha admitted, looking slightly away from the girl before her. “Living out on the streets... you learn to take things as they come. And frankly what they were offering would have been a miracle.”

“So why didn’t you now?” The girl asked, a certain… confusion… colouring her voice. The type Sasha’d heard before a dozen times from newbie shelter helpers, the types who come in expecting to make a difference to the world, too sheltered to properly understand the full scope of what it meant to not live with a roof over their heads.

“You ask that… but you really mean, is why I would have before, don’t you.” Sasha deadpanned, eyes focused squarely upon the lenses of the girl’s mask. “But I’ll answer you well enough, my roommate showed up a few days ago in the rain, and she got me off the streets, gave me a place to stay… and asked that I stay out of trouble with the law. I so I figure it’s pretty much my duty to be on the side of angels right now.”

“She sounds like a good person.” The bug girl offered.

“I’d say she’s practically a saint. But then I’d be biased.” Sasha replied with a sardonic smirk. “Either way, that means right now at least, I’m a hero. Or at least I’m not going to be a villain... and I keep running into things I should just stay out of. Keep’s getting me into trouble.”

Bug girl nodded. Sasha couldn’t help but get the impression of a small smile.

“So… ah… maybe we should exchange phone numbers or something? You know, keep in touch for anything that goes down?” Sasha continued, hands braced behind her head as she tried to sound casual making the suggestion.

“I’d like to. But I don’t own a phone.” The bug cape shrugged visibly.

“Well… it just so happens that mugging a bunch of Lung’s goons while they were in the middle of drug run over in the Graveyard is pretty lucrative!” Sasha grinned, reaching into her pocket to pull out an old cellphone, one of those really robust ancient ‘work anywhere’ models. “It’s a cheap burner phone with a good bit of credit still on it. I figure if I need to I can call you, or you can call me right? Can you take down my number?”

The exchange of phone and numbers went quickly after that, as it turned out the bug girl didn’t particularly have a problem with taking the spoils of combat off of a bunch of crooks, though she was pretty quick to point out that doing so beyond money was actually technically illegal.

Sasha simply shrugged at that.

For now though at least… she was going to be taking the long way home.

[Alliance/Communications link get: Bug Cape girl – She seems a little naive, if just a tad bit creepy.]
[Minor Alliance: Undersiders – Won’t attack or work against you, and will work with you directly when it comes to dealing with Lung.]


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Sasha fell asleep on the couch, face first. It was four am when she glanced halfheartedly at the clock on the wall. There had been a small dinner cooked and a note from Sabah. She’d eaten most of the bowl of... the note had called it Bamia, and had taken a swan dive straight down into the depths of the couch, snoring like a buzz saw all the way down as she slept a sleep thankfully too deep to dream.

The nightmares of facing Lung would come later.

Waking up also would see her finding another notes, and a small plate of breakfast. Sasha couldn’t help but smile at Sabah’s kindness. Her chest swelling with a rueful sorrow at the very idea of what she planned to do. The girl had been too good to her... letting herself stay here...

Sasha stared down at her plate, pushing about the contents with her fork as she contemplated her next move.

“Well... a few days and suddenly I have everything I could have wanted.” She spoke to herself, unsure of the strange sorrow settled into her chest. “Maybe… maybe if I just leave a couple of days...”

She knew better. For better or worse now, she’d managed to break into the cape scene. And she’d done it with a splash. If… if Lung was still free, still ready to rumble, there was little she could do about it, even a single report of someone who looked like her might draw him out. He wouldn’t care much beyond the basic rules of cape-hood. But Sasha couldn’t help the encroaching fear of Lung, with all his resources at hand… deciding to make things… personal. And now having something to lose after having had nothing at all, Sasha couldn’t help the worry, the raw and unmitigated dread.

She sighed.

Today she’d go shopping.

She needed to relax, to recoup, and to take perspective.

She cleaned everything up, tidied the apartment, and found her way out of the door, sticking closely to the Boardwalk and away from what was now enemy territory out in the docks. A quick, nervous call to Yon helped to confirm the girl as still where she’d put her, and still out of harm’s way.

At least that was one worry out of the way. The other fell away as news of Lung’s capture circulated. It seemed that ArmsMaster had gotten the credit for the capture, no one else reporting that it had been herself or the Undersiders involved. Sasha couldn’t help the mixed feelings of both being relieved… and feeling cheated, all at once.

Lung was down... but the ABB were still out there, and she didn’t know if they knew more than the papers and pundits were saying.

Shopping at least was an easy enough affair, having money and knowing what she wanted to do with it made everything simple enough. A new set of clothing... new looks and better base on which to build. A fresh start in some ways for herself, to no longer feel like the broken street orphan that she’d become.

She could only barely work up the courage to take a look around for a place or two to rent before she stopped.

Sasha walked into the apartment door with dry lips.

Sabah sat, mending some clothing as she was want to do, she always seemed to have her fingers ready to stitch something or another, her eyes lit up and a smile came easily to her lips as the girl noticed Sasha walking in. A look of both gladness to see her and a slight bit of concern; all of it mixed with a respect for Sasha’s privacy which kept her from outright asking about the night before.

Sasha’s breath caught.

So many things to say... to share about what had happened, what had been happening.

So many reasons not to do so as it bubbled in her gut.

And so Sasha spoke the only words she could.

“Hey Sabah... I’m home.”



[-][-][-][-][-]

New Items
Full body Bike armour set.
Nice undershirt
Flame resistant clothing set
Thermos flask
Colour changing kid’s toy
Camo set (Urban)
New hoodie




Interlude
[] Armsmaster
[] Oni-Lee
[] Victor
[] Grue