Nina Krakowiac - F - 22 - Mentions(s): Verruck, Caspian (ind: Nicholas)

~

Nina wasn't entirely sure what she was doing, going up to the two of them, but it was better than nothing. Or doing work on the stupid wall. Which they wouldn't need. Or they could probably blow up later, if they wanted to.

"Like what you see?" Nina didn't know Caspian that well, but right now he was not helping at all. Nina considered the impulse of giving him a finger to tell him what, exactly, she thought of what she saw.

That would also probably be not that great of an idea. So maybe she wouldn't give him the finger.

It wasn't ruled out of the realms of possibility, though, as she approached. She did not want to bother with the attention of him. Although, apart from sneaking around she did have a pretty good idea of how to piss people off.

Another glare was sent Caspian's way, minus the finger, in a compromise. It really didn't accomplish much, but at least it told him what exactly he could do with the shameless flirt.

It wasn't until Verruck (sorry, I am not getting the umlaut) started that she realized she had probably been fading in and out again. Which was helpful if she was trying to hide, but when she was in a situation like this?

... yeah.

"... I'm not a ghost, no." Nina chose to concur with Verruck's statement as she completely ignored Caspian for the moment. She nodded slightly, almost as if agreeing with her own statement, before continuing. "It's not my fault if you can't hear me approaching, though, is it?" Was she riling him up? Probably, but did she care?

Not really.

A raised eyebrow emphasised her question, before turning to Caspian. Blatantly ignoring his body language, she answered with bored indifference. "I heard there was something going on here that was more exciting than building a goddamned wall." Namely, an explosion, and Nicholas preaching ethics and morals. "I'd rather be here than doing whatever - they -" she gestured with her left hand at the other people who seemed to be doing productive work "- are doing."

Her gaze dropped back down to Verruck's dog. Nina didn't actually think she remembered... their? ... name. Who was now crunching on something.

Nina dismissed it and looked back and forth at the two of them. "So, are we just going to watch them break their backs over some pointless venture?" she idly drawled, before stepping back a step. She was so nice to even make sure that it made a little crunch on the ground.

Blake Borrelli | M | 36 | M : Valencia (dir.) Finntello (ind.)

Out of the corner of his eye, Blake saw Valencia looking up at the sky. His blue eyes slightly wide as he slowly looked up to the decendless blue. There was just a dot in the sky. Was it a threat? His eyebrows knitted together, reaching for his firearm. Did he shoot it down? It didn't seem to be doing much harm, so he left it alone. Quietly the man went back to his work. He acted as if he had blinkers on. He couldn't see Valencia, and maybe, just maybe she'd leave him alone. Quietness was bliss. It was rare to have quiet moments, hence why he tended to stay up far later than everyone else. His night vision was handy in that sense. He could walk around the ruins without being seen, or heard. He was cloaked in the dark. It was his refuge.

.

Movement alerted him out of the corner of his eye. He quickly glanced, seeing she was coming his way. His nose wrinkled in displeasure, tilting his head to the left as she got closer. The glare isn't working. She was still on route. He looked away from her for a moment. He hated talking. He didn't want small talk, or to talk at all. Angrily he chewed the inside of his cheek. Dammit. He had no choice. He wanted to be blunt about his answer ‘no.’ But was that rude? He couldn't be sure. She would be a good one to be on his team, after all, she clearly had no issues lifting the heavy rocks. He swallowed and turned to look at her. Words escaped him, and he ended up standing there staring at her, jaw clenched. After she'd already picked up the rock, he found his voice. “No.” He said, glancing away, distancing himself from her.

.

He couldn't help but to stare at her as she threw the rock like it weighed close to nothing. His jaw slowly opened in shock. He hadn't paid too much attention to the other’s powers. Why would he when he could just be isolated? His eyes narrowed as he gazed around. Had he been stuck with the bum power? He’d thought that his night-vision was cool– damn, he was left in the dust. That sparked his interest, what powers did everyone else have? Who would tell him? Who… who could tell him? The red head. That was his answer. He’d track him down and get him to spill all the information. His first glance was not at her scars, it was instead her tattered clothes. He knew that the ‘wounds healed, but the scars forever ran deep.’ Not his own words. Farther away, he couldn’t really see them.. The glaring sun wasn’t any help to his poor sensitive eyes. She was coming back his way… Really? His eyes quickly averted to the ground. He wasn’t any good at words. What would he say? Silence was far better than stretching the vocal cords. He rubbed his hands together, a nervous notion. His eyes rapidly blinked at her, hoping, no, begging that she would get the hint and go away. Wishful thinking. Nothing against her, or anyone for that matter, but she simply wasn’t his person.

.

Blake turned his head towards her, listening to her as she worked. He was too hungry for this. He didn’t have the energy, how did anyone else? Was he that much weaker? Of course most of his meals had gone to his pal, but surely it didn’t make that much of a difference. He stopped rolling the boulder, straining and grunting, pushing the rock taller than he to look at Val. His mouth once again opened from astonishment. Was… was she really asking how he slept? What did he say? Did he tell her everything? Did he say good, did he ask her? There were so many paths to travel down for an answer. Yes and no he could do, but this? “I uhhh….” His voice cut off as he looked away. His answer flashed through his brain but got lost in translation. “I slept.” He simply said before hanging his head in defeat. ‘I slept.’ Was all he got out? He cleared his throat, looking away to hide the raging red his face had become. “How did you sleep?” He asked, eyes tearing up from embarrassment. “I uh… yeah.” He simply said, pushing the boulder as fast as he could, trying to escape from her, to escape the embarrassment of talking. He gazed up again, hand shielding his eyes, the rock sitting next to the fence. Was that Finn he kept on seeing from the corner of his eye, or was he being paranoid? Surely Finn wasn’t stupid enough to venture out of his own. Only time would tell.

.

Finntello (Finn) Terrence / 24 / Male / Cop / M: Blake, Valencia (dir.)

The vultures were circling in front of him, something that Finn could keep track of. His eyes lowered slightly, spotting ... he nearly fell from the sky with the surprise.

They had been circling the carcass of a two-headed deer. Which was startling in and of itself. But now he realized why they were hanging back. The ... he had to take a long moment to figure out what he was seeing. It looked like a mountain lion of sorts, a deep blue in color with long black spines protruding down its back. That was currently feasting on the carcass.

Of course, he had to shake himself out of the subtle shock. He had seen a lot of weird things in his lifetime but those were definitely one of the top ones.

The vultures, now that he had a good enough look, had fang-like protrusions from their beaks.

"... I'm tripping, there is no way," he muttered to himself, banking suddenly to snag one from the air. The bird was rather large but that was the idea. It screeched, trying to flap and bite. It did, however, nick his shoulder with its beak. He ended it rather quickly with a sharp twist.

But soaring overhead, he could see a smaller river--maybe a creek--that lazily drifted down from the mountains. Perfect. A source of water.

The bird in hand probably wasn't big enough to feed everybody but it was at least something and Finn knew how to do it now. He could hunt!

He turned around, headed back to the town. He had to tell somebody about what he had found. The deer, the mountain lion, that he had food and had found a source of water!

His bright eyes flickered with delight and a small bit of worry. If that was... if that was how things were starting to look?

Oh, right the vulture too.

But he swiveled, landing less-than-gracefully beside the other two. Almost immediately, he began to launch into a rambling recap of what he had seen. "You won't believe this--the animals and stuff are getting weird too. Look--I saw a two headed deer and there was this mountain lion that had spikes--it was blue. Blue! Also look at this--I found some food! There's also a stream that's a little bit North--but like look at this vulture--they all looked like this. The little like... tusks? Fangs? Their beaks are weird."

He held the bird out toward the pair.

"I know it's not much but I can get another one--it's not too hard."

Caspian Cadogan | M | 28 | Mafia | Mentions: Nina, Verrück (dir.) Fintello, Valencia, Blake (indir.)

His eyes only glinted with satisfaction at the harsh glare Nina sent in his direction, drawing a dry chuckle from the back of his throat as his head turned to look back down to Verrück. Who, it appeared, had not noticed the arrival of their new companion. He watched and waited for the realisation and when it came with the leap of surprise, Caspian snickered quietly to himself. Only furthering his amusement by pointing out Verrück’s deafness was likely from his explosions if nothing else.

He only piped back up after the conversation had been opened back up to the masses. “It’s pointless to tell them to do anything else!” Caspian sighed out, theatrical ad he threw his head back and tossed an arm in gesture towards the corner where Valencia was piling more onto the fence.

“They seem to think some old rubble will keep out the horrors, like it could keep out a mountain lion or whatever monster is going to come thundering through that fence and flatten it in a second.” They didn’t exactly know what was out there now, it was hard to tell. If animals had survived, were they twisted into nasty versions of themselves. Were their new species running around, preparing to kill them and devour their flesh.

“Why do you ask, Nina? Looking for something to pass the time?” He slathered his question with all the implication in the world, his eyes darkening for a second before they glittered again with amusement. He leaned away from her and waved a hand in front of his face, grinning from ear to ear. “I’m pulling your leg, don’t plot my death, please.” He flashed Verrück a quick look, anticipating his contribution.

After a few minutes of listening, Caspian snapped his head up as a shadow dashed across the floor, preparing to send a fiery message up to the sky when he recognised the red feathers of the creature. His taut shoulders slumped back down, hands returning to their casual position in his pockets, tutting his disapproval as Finntello came crashing back down into the clearing. Obviously chattering about something two the bewildered pair of cops, Valencia and Blake. They were staring at him like owls as he tried to relay whatever silly information he had thought worthy of sharing.

“He’s such a…well, there’s no other word for him, he’s an idiot.” Caspian cooed, gracing his companions with his gaze once again, losing the playful glint as the winged man had ruined his bemused state. Far too full of energy, that’s what it was. They were all starving, dying and there was Finntello jumping around like a child at a fete.

Nina Krakowiac - F - 22 - Mafia - Mention(s): dir: Verruck, Caspian (ind: Finntello)

~

Caspian's head on a stick would have looked really good at that moment. If only she was allowed to, that would have been quite the plan indeed.

Unfortunately it wasn't. Which quite probably killed her plan, but it was definitely something to remember. Caspian's head on a pike? Maybe one day... check. Maybe he would get the message then.

At least she was inclined to be in agreeal with their views on this. The fence was absolutely pointless. It wouldn't help in the slightest if they had to keep out something - they might as well build a moat, to make it all castle-y like and all the crap that "the good guys" would be spewing. Wasn't that a point of inspiration, indeed?

What she wasn't inclined to agree with was Caspian's not-very-subtle way of saying his thoughts on exactly how they could pass the time. A scowl didn't work, maybe flipping him the bird would work?

"Unfortunately for you, I already get enough people that are worth more than you asking to 'pass some time', as you put it. I don't need you too pulling on my leg and begging for some time too." Although your death would be a sufficient way to pass time. In fact, more than that.

Turning to Verruck, she might have accidentally almost elbowed Caspian in the place that males hate being elbowed in. Oops. Was it bad she felt no regret at the accident she might have caused?

The motion also unfortunately put her back to Caspian, so she wouldn't be tempted to try it again. It would have been rather satisfying to see his expression if she carried out her threat, though.

"I don't think I'd go for such a simple method of execution." Nina's words carried a faint accent to them. Almost... cultured. As if they were talking at some fine restaurant - not that there were any left, but still. "It's much more satisfying to see one go splat against a solid wall like a fly than you'd imagine." Not that she'd ever done such a thing before, but it'd doubtlessly be as satisfying as she imagined. Especially if it was the person who had just implied something and was now thankfully out of her line of sight.

Her vision didn't need to be spoiled by imbeciles like them.

Her fantasies of Caspian going splat against a wall were interrupted by a certain somebody with the head - and apparently the wings and tail, too - of a flying bird-head. Likely quite literally, too. Nina couldn't decide if said being was more person or bird.

Maybe it was more of both, too. After all, that's what had happened to everyone after the bombs. But if said bird-man was more bird than human but more human than bird, then... wouldn't it be equal?

Whatever it was, mister bird-man had definitely a way of making her annoyed. Nina cast another glare - that was the third one today, and she'd barely started - at Finn, before turning away and looking back at their little group next to the broken car.

Which meant the imbecilic flirt was now in her line of sight. Which made her want to cringe.

She cringed slightly. Just for the hell of it. Not because of what Verruck said, or what he did, but because now she was forced to have Caspian in her line of sight. Which was definitely something to be cringed at.

What was the lesser of the two evils, though? Glaring at the bird-man as they discussed him, or being forced to have Caspian in her line of sight?

Maybe the latter was the less of the two. Which said something. She only had two eyes, after all, and the vision of which was rather precious and not to be tainted with certain people in said range of vision.

At least now the two of them were right, Caspian included this time. "Maybe the bird-man can flap enough and produce enough air that it blows the stupid wall away. Now, that would be a productive use of his time, I'd say." she mused idly. "Although, after that there'd be no way for them to waste their time playing around with bricks and building another wall."

Or maybe Finntello could flap Caspian into the wall. Simultaneously achieving two goals at once, and efficiency was key. Well, efficiency and entertainment.

Valencia Cobris-Strix | F | 29 | Cop | Mentions: Blake, Finntello (dir.)

As she tossed the last of her rubble onto the fence, her eyes drifted back across the clearing to meet Blake as he replied to her sleep question. His answer sounded as dry as the question she had asked him. Rather stupid question to ask really, they were all sleeping horribly. There were no comfortable places left to curl up, a torn up couch, the back of a car, the floor. The options were very limited.

“Sorry, that was a silly question to ask.” She offered as lightly as she could manage before beginning to short walk back towards the debris pile. Valencia tossed a small look over her shoulder, trying to give a short smile. “I would much rather sleep on the-” Her words were cut off by the sudden arrival of Finntello as he came slamming down between herself and Blake. Startling the poor women so much that she staggered backwards with a short yelp of surprise before she managed to balance herself, regaining composure as he began to chirp away.

He was talking but her brain was struggling to keep up, Valencia found herself being drawn to the bird he was gripping in his fist. The sight made her mouth water, it was food. Not only that, it was fresh and unaffected by the bombs. The bombs had crushed tins beyond usability, bursting the contents across the ground. Supplies were always low. However…one bird would be tough to share between their entire group. On that note, a cop had found it so maybe they should share it between themselves instead.

Her eyes blinked rapidly as she was brought back to the conversion. A two-headed deer? What on earth…Valencia shook her head and held her hands out, palms facing the younger man.

“Slow down, Finn. You always talk a mile a minute, it’s hard to keep up, darling.” She sighed, uncreasing the scrunch between her eyebrows. As much as she found this young man a pain, he did pull on her heart strings. He was so full of energy and enthusiasm. It was a shame he had to live through this mess, he would have done incredibly in the society that existed before. Her eyes softened at the mere idea of what this man could have been instead of plucking mutant birds from the irradiated sky.

“Bringing back food and finding water is incredible, good work.” Valencia closed the distance between them and clasped her hand on his shoulder in praise. “We can use the feathers to make something warm, if we collect enough. The bones could make a good soup too.” She looked over Finn’s shoulder to Blake and raised an eyebrow, expecting the older cop to continue the praise to the rookie by comparison.

The most they could do is encourage the enthusiasm, without it, the outlook on their current circumstances was dire and left much to be desired. She knew that all too well, in fact her head was constantly splitting with a headache. The call for alcohol had been pulling on her body the past week, but this time she had no option to go to the store and buy a bottle. She had no option of supply. That was what made this sober stint different to the rest and she knew it made her a cranky thing to deal with if you caught her at the worst of it. At the moment, she was coping but soon enough it would rear its ugly head.

Caspian Cadogan | M | 28 | Mafia | Mentions: Nina, Verrück (dir.) Finntello, Blake, Valencia (indir.)

A rough laugh drew up over his dry throat, pulling a short coughing fit forwards which Caspian had to turn away to get under control. Finally finishing, removing the crook of his elbow from his face to look back towards the pair in front of him.

Just as he turned around, Nina flicked her arm and his whole body lurched out of the way. A flash of panic emerging over his features as he anticipated the impact, but nothing came. Rather awkwardly, Caspian cleared his throat and straightened up his spine, determined to pretend nothing had happened. Not even sparing Nina a glance of annoyance as he continued. It would probably be a good thing if that particular area was damaged enough not to cause any little wasteland children. What an awful existence that would be.

“Splat me against a wall? How tame, I painted you as more of a …savourer of pain rather than something to sudden.” He cooed, brushing dust from the front of his duster coat as he spoke. “I always did like the way their eyes changed when they realised they weren’t leaving alive.” Caspian mused about his past, it was an incredibly enjoyable role. He was the debt collector, the last thing anyone in his district wanted to see looming around the corner as the made their daily walk home. Oh the joys of bringing home a finger or a whole hand if they couldn’t pay their debt. Ah the beauty of mortality, the look of fear as they realised they were about to lose a limb or their lives as payment.

By the time he had finished reminiscing about his past, Nina had turned to keep her back to him and he gave a short grunt. He didn’t miss the look though as she turned back to face him, the disgruntled look could fell a hundred men. Caspian’s lips parted in a conniving smile, preparing his next comment when he felt the weight leaning against him. Making his head snap down to his side, spotting Verrück just as his eyes lifted up to meet his. For a moment, he made no effort to hide the pleasant surprise that crawled across his face, then came the large crooked grin.

“I reckon he sleep flies, that’s why he looks such a mess all the time.” It took little to no time for him to join in on the mockery, the arm on the side Verrück was on arching back for a second. Soon enough he had it secured around Verrück’s shoulders, slumped there casually. Only encouraging the extra weight as the other man leaning further into his side as he hooked a finger to idly play with the fabric of his shirt.

“I hope they eat him first, it will be a whole lot quieter here, to say the least.” Caspian threw another look over his shoulder, catching Valencia as she patted her hand on the winged man’s shoulder. It was then that he spotted what Finntello was holding in his first, obvious now that he was holding it out in front of him.

“Hey..” He started, craning his neck further. “He’s got a bird with ‘im.” Caspian mumbled under his breath. “Surely we get some of that, even funsize down there.” He gave a short gesture with his free hand down to Lump on the floor. He quite liked dogs, even if he was more of a cat person. There weren’t many animals left to appreciate that weren’t either trying to kill you or vile looking. He could live with dogs.

Nicholas Accardi / 46 / Male / Mafia / M: Nina, Verrück, Caspian (dir.) Blake, Valencia, Finn (ind.)