[Deleted]

Alright so yes, the ID was fake, and yes it did cost him more of his disposable income than he would have liked, though the smile was real at least!  And while he felt a little bad using a fake ID it was that or go another year without being able to go out and get some drinks.  Did he drink often?  Not really, he couldn't really afford it.  Well, not anything good at least.  And certainly not from a bar.  Not with the kind of markups there were on drinks.  That's why he was frequenting Pat's Bar rather than trying to get lucky at the club.  The club would certainly have more people closer to his age to try to woo for the night.  Maybe a lucky lady or two that he could entice with his bed in a box and incredibly cheap studio apartment.  But more likely is he'd get hassled even getting in being a young guy with no girl to go in with him, and then if he did get in the drinks would be even more expensive, and then there was the whole game with guys prowling like wolves.  He couldn't compete with that, not while running close to empty.

But at Pat's, well here he could nurse a beer for a while, and he could hustle a bit of pool or darts.  He'd always been alright at both, his Dad having a table and dart board in his man cave back home.  Better with darts than pool just because he took to it younger.  Something about throwing sharp things being allowed was appealing to a young boy with too much energy.  But pool hadn't been neglected.  He spent a good deal of time in high school practicing trick shots so that he could impress girls.  And now that he had powers?  Well he was more than just alright at both, and the best part was that he was good enough that he didn't have to do anything really obvious.  Just nudge the vector a little bit, make sure he got the clutch bullseye, or sank the ball in the corner pocket when the stakes were right.

As it was now, he was up a couple of hundred bucks from a few rounds and a couple of testy middle aged guys grumbling about him being lucky.  He'd just respond with a big grin as he palmed the small roll of bills that he'd won so far.  "Hey, we are just having fun right?  Tell ya what, this round is on me alright?"  He'd say lifting his hand and motioning to him and the guys at the pool table, as well as the couple of loners at the bar.  The place wasn't too packed so he felt he could swing it, and he wasn't really looking to profit, he was just trying to drink and have a bit of fun on someone else's dime.

"Could we get a round for everyone on me."

He'd ask as he made his way to the bar to pay, he didn't like keeping a running tab.  He preferred to just stay paid up so he could leave when he wanted and always knew what he had remaining cashflow wise.

Grace Gatsby

[Grace Gatsby]

OOC: sorry this got so long! The next ones should be more chill x3

------


Pat’s Bar wasn’t her favourite haunt in Los Eurosia. She much preferred neon lights and heavy bass rattling her ribcage, dance floors crammed with bodies and maybe a VIP section for when her heels hurt. But she was bored of dancing, bored of the group of strangers she’d wriggled into at the start of the night. And Pat’s was fine. Laidback. It would suit her needs well enough, bringing in all sorts of people that she could either flirt with or coax crazy-ass stories from, and the staff didn’t tend to complain if they spotted her with a bottle she hadn't bought from them.

Grace easily slipped into her sorority-girl persona, a little ditzy but bright and smiley as the doorman waved her in. Her glittery heels and bubble-gum pink mini dress (which she’d picked out for a place with lower lighting and far less allowance for talk) didn’t quite fit the vibe of the venue, but she didn’t falter as she made her way to the bar, quickly dismissing the bartender who came over to serve her. She never paid for anything.

Her gaze skipped over beards and tattoos and receding hairlines, searching for someone prettier and finding her options were… tragically few.

Still, hope was not all lost. There was a group playing darts. Joining them could be fun, albeit a bit of an easy win when she got so much practice against Guild members. She imagined this group of locals would severely underestimate her and be blindsided when she hit the bullseye, their dropped jaws providing enough amusement to redeem the disappointment of the rest of her night. Maybe she’d suggest throwing knives instead – if they were the right crowd for it.

They finished their game and the winner turned, finally allowing her to glimpse his face. He grinned at his companions. She straightened. He was pretty enough.

He made his way over to the opposite end of the bar, the music low enough that she could hear him buy a round for everyone. She eyed the wad of cash he handed over, and her painted nails clicked on the surface of the bar as she tapped her fingers there and considered what fun he could provide. Generosity like that usually came from those who could afford to do so. While it was clear he’d won it from his game rather than having carried it around all night, she didn't imagine a person who needed money would spend it so easily. Was he a bored little rich boy? Wasting time in Pat’s to feel like an average Joe? Maybe she’d convince him to take her to his home, where she could find something pretty and expensive to steal when his back was turned.

Decision made.

There was an amused curl to her lips as she sidled up to him and leaned her elbow on the bar, unabashedly taking in his appearance. There was something elfin about his high cheekbones that she appreciated. Big brown doe eyes. Long lashes. It was ridiculously unfair, she thought, that so many men had such features – that she had to go through the hassle of mascara and eyeliner to achieve what this guy had naturally.

“Hey –” he wasn’t blond nor blue-eyed, his hair wasn’t long and there wasn’t a bow and quiver slung over his back, but she just had to nickname him – “Legolas.” It was his aim with the darts and his high cheekbones that did it. She smiled at him, leaned a bit closer as she dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper and tipped her head towards the corner of the room. “You see that booth over there? Don’t tell anyone, but there’s vodka stashed under the table.” There wasn’t, but Grace could reach under, pretend she was picking a bottle up from the floor when really she was drawing it from her void. She pulled back and flicked her hair behind her shoulder. “I’m going to check if it’s any good. You’re like, totally welcome to join me. Unless…” Her gaze slid past him to the middle-aged men dotted around the darts board and pool table. “You’re having too much fun with your herd of dads?” She quirked a brow. Her smile sharpened into something that was almost a smirk.

She didn’t wait for him to answer, simply sauntering away to sit in the booth she’d pointed out. She suspected he’d follow – if not immediately then sometime later in the night when his buddies couldn’t match his youthful energy anymore. She dropped a hand under the table, dipped slightly as if she were reaching for something, and pictured the liquor she'd stolen when the sun still hung above the horizon. There. She felt it. There was familiar sensation of her fingers growing cold as if she were pulling something from a freezer, and a moment later a bottle of vodka appeared in her previously empty grip. Smug as always when she used her gift, she placed it on the table and waited for her new acquaintance.

@eric

[Deleted]

Was he surprised to find a cute girl in a bar like this?  Not really, he was young sure, but if he had the thought about this kind of place it only stood to reason that he wouldn't be the only one.  And if there were no cuties to chat up he'd have just kept doing what he was doing.  Having some fun, making a quick buck, and just do what he could to make the night he was presented with as enjoyable as possible.  He was a believer in going with the flow and not forcing things.  It was much easier to avoid disappointment if you could find enjoyment or roll with whatever happened.

Now what did surprise him was what the cutie was wearing, you didn't see a lot of bubblegum pink out in the wild.  The color said prom dress to him, but the cut said so much more.  And when she leaned in to check him out, blatantly so even, he'd just grin at her attention.  Shooting her a quick wink while the bartender started fetching drinks for everyone while he counted bills to pay and leave a good tip for the good man behind the bar.  Again, it wasn't his money, he could be generous.  It's not like he couldn't just make more if he needed it.  Not tons, but enough to have fun now and then.

"Legolas is a new one."  He'd say with an almost snicker.  He didn't see himself as being the kind of pretty boy that Orlando Bloom was in Lord of the Rings, but he did seem to be the favorite for the ladies so he'd take the compliment gratefully.  And he'd assume it was a compliment and not some weird nerdy sleight at his height or something.  "Well I AM having fun with the guys."  He'd say turning to the guys at the dart board who were absolutely watching this.  He'd make a show of giving an exaggerated shrug to them, like what are you gonna do, before hooking a finger into his mouth, and pulling back toward her direction like she had hooked him.  "But it would be rude to turn down such a generous offer."  He'd say taking his finger out of his mouth, using that hand to grab his drink, and his other hand to grab the one the bartender poured for her.  He did say he was buying rounds for everyone.  The various guys of the Dart Dads started shuffling up to the bar  to get their drinks as he slid into the booth across from Grace, sliding her drink in front of her.  

"You don't have to drink it if it's not your taste."  He'd say motioning to the bottle that she had hidden under the table.  "Cheaper by the bottle I'm guessing?"  He'd say leaning in a bit.  "Surprised they let you bring in your own drinks though.  Or did you smuggle it in secretly?"  Though he wasn't sure where in a mini dress.  One of the many mysteries of women, right up there with how they didn't get cold in outfits like that, how they all know how to do that towel thing with their hair, and why they all have that same smug stare....

Let's just say he wasn't ruling out some kind of hive mind.

"So let's see, if I'm Legolas would that make you..... Hmmmm."  He'd look her over again, but the pink outfit is what was catching his eye most.  "Atom Eve?" A bit of a pull, she wasn't a main stream comic book hero from Marvel or DC, but the adaptation of Invincible on Amazon was pretty good, it was possible she'd catch it from that.  Either way the name was accompanied with a smile as he'd reach his hand over to her for a shake.  "You can call me Eric though, it's a bit easier than using the Elvish tongue."

Grace Gatsby

[Grace Gatsby]

As Grace predicted, she wasn’t left alone for long. He slid into the booth with drinks in both hands, promptly extending one to her that she took without question or thanks. Most women would be more wary and were wise to do so, only accepting drinks directly from the bartender and refusing to leave their glass unattended until it was empty. But Grace – Grace was untouchable. The cautions drilled into half the human race weren’t necessary for her. She wouldn’t be taken down by some human in an establishment as boring as Pat’s. She could withstand enough sedative to kill a small horse! (Or so she believed – that arrogance her training had given her knew no bounds). Regardless, she severely doubted Legolas was the criminal type and she trusted her gift would keep her safe if nothing else.

He leaned in, implied her liquor choice was inexpensive before asking how she got it inside. She scoffed, her nose wrinkling. “Are you kidding me? I don’t do cheap.” Why bother with the unbranded junk when she could steal top shelf? Yet her offence didn’t last for long, grin easily sweeping back into place as she winked. “And I happen to be very likable, thank you very much. Rules don’t tend to apply to me.”

He bestowed her with her own nickname: Atom Eve. She couldn’t help the huff of a laugh that escaped her lips, her eyes crinkling in delight. What were the odds that he’d give her a superhero name? The name of someone that Grace would absolutely batter to death if they were real? She bit her lip to stop herself from laughing further and shook his offered hand. “Well Eric, I suppose I better dye my hair then.” Despite her inclination towards chick flicks and high school dramas, she made a point of consuming superhero media. Or at least, she'd watch the shows and movies; comics were only a tiny step up from books and she’d realised long ago that reading was boring. It was good practice as a hunter to analyse fictional superheroes and consider how she would take them apart. If she met someone with similar gifts in the real world, she’d be ready.

“I’m Grace,” she said warmly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “As cute as Atom Eve is, it’s a bit of a mouthful. Nice reference though! I do love a realistic take on superpowers. Invincible makes it to the top three. Along with Misfits – the first few seasons, anyway – and The Boys.” She nodded, more to herself than to Eric. The Boys was her favourite, mostly because it focused on human characters taking down superpowered ones. Hunting, really. She could relate. And the gore and bloodshed was very similar to her own experiences. “The Boys is definitely the best. The most accurate depiction of what would happen if heroes were real, being corrupt and controlled by corporations and stuff. Nothing like that Marvel crap.” She sipped the drink Eric had gotten for her. Blinked down at it curiously when its flavour swept over her tongue. “What even is this?” Maybe it was time to open up the vodka.

“I wanna play a game,” she purred. She hid her hands under the table, quickly summoning a shot glass from her void that she placed in front of Eric with a quirked brow. “Truth or dare. If we don’t wanna do the dare or tell the truth, we drink instead.”

Her hand slipped back under the table. She dipped into the void again –

The other glass didn’t appear.

A crinkle appeared on her forehead. “Hang on,” she muttered, leaning down further as if she were reaching. Her mouth fell into a pout. Ugh! She must have already removed the matching shot glass and left it somewhere. She seriously needed to update her mental inventory, send someone into the void with a headtorch and notepad again to write down all the things they saw. But that would involve tracking down a Guild member in Los Eurosia or going all the way back to the Guild’s base. Not ideal.

She stifled a sigh, wracked her brain to remember if she had a different glass. Yes! Solid weight appeared in her hand and she quickly slammed it upon the table, only to frown at the object in dissatisfaction as she comprehended its appearance. It was made from tinted pink glass, shorter and wider than the clear one she'd set in front of Eric. The lack of symmetry was annoying.

She forced herself to smile. “There. Now we're ready.”



@eric
OOC: Fun fact, I actually have an Atom Eve costume! lmaooo

[Deleted]

He'd shrug it off when she said she didn't do cheap. That may be true, but it still stood that it was probably cheaper by the bottle than paying a markup for each glass. Bars had to make a profit. But he wasn't about to sour things by trying to be pedantic and and annoying over something that honestly, no one would care about. He'd just count the small quip as a swing and a miss on his part. But it wasn't a strike out at least, he was still in the game, as evidenced by the shot glass she'd slide in front of him.

"We should all be so lucky to not have to follow the rules from time to time. And for what it's worth you probably don't have to dye your hair. I think most cosplayers just wear a wig right?"

He was actually a bit surprised she caught on right away! Not that it was super niche since it had been on Amazon, but still it wasn't exactly what you expected from a young girl in a dive bar wearing a pink mini dress. But it just really goes to show that you should never judge a book by it's cover. And he agreed with her, he loved the realistic take on super powers. It was something that he was learning as he had been figuring out his gifts the past year, that it wasn't all like the comics made it out to be. A lot of pain, nausea, and complications. Comics never really seemed to emphasize how weird it is, like flexing muscles you never knew you had. Muscles that weren't physical. And then to not accidentally flex them, and in his case figuring out how to judge distance and vector as well. And it wasn't like he got all of the side super powers, there was no enhanced speed or reflexes from him. No extra durability to let him get thrown through a wall and get back up.

"I mean, if they were corrupt and being controlled by corporations that would make them super villains would it not. And yeah, I'm sure if super powers were a thing some people might misuse them, but that's what makes a hero special. They withstand that call to corruption. Great power comes with great responsibility right?"

He shrugged again and would down his drink. "It's Hendrick's and Seven. Gin and Seven Up."

If she was going to be pouring shots there was no point in savoring his drink. Besides they were talking his kind of game. Super heroes and stuff like that. Cute girls, super powers, liquor. It was shaping up to be a decent night. He wouldn't even so much as snicker at her own cup as she slammed it down, if she wanted a special pink cup that was all good for him, he wasn't here to judge.

"And I'm down for some truth or dare, sure." He'd never played it in a bar before, but he was down to try new things. Keep the night interesting and all that. "I'll even get us going if you want to give me a dare." Yeah, he was going to get things started right.

Grace Gatsby

[Grace Gatsby]

Eric proposed that real heroes would resist corruption and Grace bit her lip, resisting the urge to sigh. She shook her head instead. If only it were that simple. In a way she pitied him, being so naïve to the reality of gifted individuals. He had no idea what was out there – what abominations they were. “It doesn’t matter who they are, or if they have good intentions or whatever – it’s wrong for anyone to have that sort of power. It’s unnatural. All power corrupts whether it takes months or years or decades, and those who ‘withstand that call’ will probably end up hurting humans by accident anyway.” She took another sip of the drink he’d gotten her. It was growing on her. She preferred pink gin but the classic stuff was good enough. “If people with gifts existed, you’d better hope there’s someone working hard to put them down, wiping them out as fast as they can. The world’s a lot safer if everyone’s on an equal playing field.”

Gifted weren’t human and therefore they were wrong. It was as straightforward as that. The fact that she enjoyed the hunt (the discovering, the stalking and traps, the thinking on her feet, the crack of bones and the warm spray of blood) was simply a perk of her profession. But even if she didn’t enjoy it and didn't think gifted were monstrosities, she’d still hunt them down out of duty, to continue her father’s legacy and uphold his ideals. It was the least she could do after all he had done for her; raising her in such lavish wealth, teaching her how to fight and indulging her every wish.

Before she could get too contemplative and completely kill her buzz, Eric accepted her challenge of a game and chose the bolder option. She grinned brightly. She wasn’t going to give him something easy just because it was the first round; he would be thrown in the deep end straight away. While they played truth or dare she would be playing a secondary game, one called ‘how much could they wind up the other patrons before they got kicked out?’ And if he refused the dare and chose to drink instead, that suited her fine as well. She imagined he’d be even cuter when he was drunk. All defenceless and clumsy.

She played with a strand of her hair. “I’ll pick dare too.”

With a thoughtful hum she looked around at the other people in the bar, the ones she’d skimmed over earlier and found lacking. She pointed a manicured finger at a man perched near the pool table, clad in a sleeveless denim jacket and nursing a beer bottle. “Him. I dare you... to kiss that guy’s head.” She pulled Eric’s shot glass towards her and filled it with vodka. “Right on the bald patch, or the forehead. Do it sneakily or march right up to him – it’s up to you. Otherwise...” She slid the shot back to him, smirking. “Bottoms up.”

There was a chance that Eric already knew the man, that they were friends from the darts game Eric was playing before she got there. But she assumed they weren’t that familiar with each other. If Eric accepted her challenge he might get some weird looks at the least, a punch at the worst – not that she wanted to see him hurt (she'd obviously step in if she thought a fight was brewing) but it would be kind of hilarious.


Grace Gatsby

[Deleted]

She was really set on her idea about super powered people being evil. For a moment he wondered if she knew about people like him. If she had some kind of run in with a villain of some sort. It just... felt personal. But that was probably because he was taking it a bit personal. He did discover he had a power, and he had no intention of hurting people. Sure, it would probably happen, but that's because everyone hurt someone at some point in some way. There was no way to tell all of the effects of every action one takes. But if he saw someone in front of him that needed help. Someone that he could help and chose not to. Wasn't that worse then ignoring his power? If his power gave him that ability isn't that a good thing?

"I don't think there really is such a thing as an even playing field. Some people are born rich, or talented, or beautiful. Some people are born in safer regions. We have privileges based on our race and class and geography. Wanting an equal playing field is admirable but I've never seen one." He'd say with a shrug, leaning out of booth to scout out the guy that she wanted him to kiss. He was one of the guys that he'd been playing with earlier, but hell if he knew the guy's name or anything.

"Well, here's to the game." He'd say sliding out of the booth stumbling over to the guys with a grin. "How's the drinks guys? Jus' wanted. Jus' wanted ta say y'all gave me a good time. And this guy! This guy here!" He'd say slinging an arm over the balding man's shoulder. "This guy is a real killer. Gave me a run for my money." He'd say quickly leaning in to give the guy a kiss on the bald patch. Slurring his words a bit heavier to try and play it off as just drinking too much. "I jus wan yuu ta know that next time I'm here. We should play again." He'd wobble a bit as the guy shrugged him off, giving him a bit of a shove as he shifted away. But things didn't escalate there beyond some laughter and teasing. Eric just grinned at them and gave them all a goofy two finger salute before stumbling back to the booth where he'd slide back in and drop the act.

"Hmmmm, I dare you to unlock your phone and let me see it."

He'd grin wickedly, fully expecting her to drink on this one. Phones were private, and who knows she might have spicy pictures on there or texts. Though really he just planned to text himself from her phone mostly to get her number. But you know, he'd still take a peak if she did. It would be a shame not to.

OOC: Apologies for the delay I got caught up in work things followed by catching COVID.

[Grace Gatsby]

OOC: omg sorry this took so long! I don't know what happened there >.<


For a moment Grace was genuinely caught off guard, blinking as she realised… Eric was kind of right.

It wasn’t the same, she told herself. Gifts were a whole different ballpark. The (literal) power they gave people was unsafe in a way that the other traits Eric mentioned were not – not in obvious ways, at least. But she recognised that Eric was right in the sense that there would never be an even playing field – she herself being born into a wealthy family in a first world country. If, somehow, she and her Guild succeeded in their mission of wiping gifted from the face of the Earth… what then? Their speciality was killing. Would they try murdering their way to a world of equality? And she supposed… for the original mission to truly be complete… she would have to go, too. Her lips tucked to one side, frowning down into her drink as Eric slipped out of the booth to complete his dare.

She lifted her gaze, distracting herself by watching him stagger up to the man she’d pointed out. He did a pretty good job at pretending to be drunker than he was; speaking loudly, flinging his limbs around, being overly affectionate. Her lips curled as he accomplished his trial, snorting as he was shoved away and a few other patrons called out teasing remarks, and when he came back to their booth she awarded him with a tiny round of applause.

“That went better than I thought,” she mused, privately a little glad he wasn't attacked; she liked his face. Although it might have been funny for a few seconds, him getting a black eye would have marred her good humour a bit. “Well done. Though, you’ve probably got some sort of cooties now.”

But then he dared her to show him her phone and her tickled expression skewered, abruptly appalled. Uh-oh. This was why she was always being told to have a separate burner phone for her Guild contacts. She, of course, didn’t listen. And though she didn’t save them under their real names or attach any photos to them, there was always a chance that a particularly observant individual could piece together enough strange, cryptic messages to know something wasn’t right.

Her eyes sparked, hit with an idea as she turned over the dare in her head. Wording was important.

Grinning, she summoned her phone (beneath the table again – couldn’t get too reckless) and tapped in the password. It opened up to her homescreen full of apps, which she turned to Eric for his viewing pleasure. “There,” she said smugly. “I unlocked my phone and let you see it. Dare completed.”

With a snicker, she quickly stored it away in case he tried to make a grab for it, then jutted out her bottom lip, rounding her eyes. “Aw, was that unfair?” She might have left it at that, let him react to her ‘cheating’ however he wanted, but she wasn’t sat with Dane or some Guild member she was trying to annoy. She rolled her eyes. “Here, we’ll compromise.” She picked up the drink he’d gotten her and took a hearty couple of gulps. There. It wasn’t the vodka shot, but she was still ingesting alcohol for her ‘failed’ challenge – maybe he'd be satisfied with that.

“You want another dare? Or are you ready to confess to your sins?” she asked gravely.


@eric