Bah Humbug! {Open}

[loki2]

Time: 1730 EST
Date: November 25th
Place: Downtown New York
Status: Open

Christmas Music. Christmas Lights. Christmas decorations. People carrying bags full of soon-to-be Christmas presents. There was no escape from the bloody holiday influence.
It created a steady ache in Leon's chest, a pang of longing and hurt that ran deep and made him feel like there was a blackhole right behind his sternum. The sooner he got this job done and got back to his apartment the better.
Holidays always made him think of his mother, his grandfather, and Elsie.
He shook his head lightly, as though the physical action could banish the thoughts from his head. Instead, he tried to force rage into it's place.

They hate me.
They turned their backs on me.
They don't care about me.
I don't need them!

Soon, his hands balled into fists and he could feel the void in his chest being replaced by white-hot flames of fury.
Good.
Anger was something he could manage; despair and longing were not.

A biting wind blew across the sidewalk as the sun continued to sink below the horizon, despite the thick throng of people milling about and Leon had dressed accordingly. Black jeans, a form-fitting white turtleneck sweater, an old leather jacket with a removable down lining, and he'd placed wool liners in his boots. He also had a small black backpack thrown over one shoulder. His "job".
Within said backpack was twenty grand American that needed to be delivered before six o'clock. An easy job. He'd be there with time to spare.
But, as he moved away from the downtown core into a seedier area, Leon couldn't help but feel a sensation of dread building in his chest, eclipsing even the simmering anger he'd placed there earlier.
Sure enough -

A large hand suddenly darted out of an alleyway and seized his arm, practically yanking him off his feet as he was pulled into the opening. The young man then felt himself pressed roughly against the wall, one grimy hand over his mouth and the cold steel of a gun barrel pressed into his cheek.
"Gimme the damn money, Tiberius, I swear to God I'll blow that stoopid pretty face of yours off right here right now."
It was Edgar - another runner - and he looked like absolute hell. His eyes were shot through with red and his black skin looked more grey than anything else and glistened with sweat despite the cold. The man quivered badly; but not from cold, from withdrawl.
Leon breathed deeply and let it out in a long, exasperated sigh through his nose.
Edgar seemed confused by Leon's lack of fear - then felt raw terror himself as the eyes of his supposed victim suddenly, and quite literally, began to glow.
The man never knew what happened to him as he was suddenly thrown backwards, his head cracking audibly against the opposite wall. He seemed to hang there for a moment in time before slumping to the filthy, glass-littered asphalt, unmoving.
"Stupid bastard," Leon spat. He honestly didn't care if his fellow runner was dead or alive. Served him right.

A sharp gasp to his left drew his attention. Leon whipped around to see a young couple standing at the mouth of the alley. The woman's eyes travelled to his face, and her own eyes seemed to double in size.
Then she screamed.
Leon swore.
Her boyfriend had a cellphone in hand as they ran away, his gloved fingers flying over the keys frantically.
"Dammit it all to hell," Leon muttered, and sprinted for the back of the alleyway where a tall barbed wire fence seperated his current position from an industrial scrapyard. He cleared the fence with a single telekinetically-aided jump.
Looked like he wouldn't be making his delivery on time after all.

[Astrid Jackson]

Setting her glass of Sprite on the table before her, Astrid 'Jacks' Jackson shot her band mates an annoyed scowl. OK, she so understood that they wanted to like party and crap, but this? This was just friggin ridiculous! They were beyond wasted in some seedy New York City Club and acting like a bunch of drunk teenagers!

She shook her head, watching as they began pushing each other around. Idiots, she thought to herself as they began bumping into other people. Ah man, she was so not even gonna hang around to watch them get kicked out because they were acting like morons! With that thought in mind she picked up her hoodie and rose to her feet.

"Whatcha doooooin' Jaaaaaacksss?" One of the guys managed to slur out.

"Goin' back to the hotel, dumbass," She snipped back, quickly tugging her hoodie on over her t-shirt and zipped it up. "You guys have fun making complete idiots of yourself, OK?" Of course the drunk guys failed to catch her sarcasm as they all nodded quite happily to her suggestion.

With another shake of her head, she pushed her way through the crowd of people, heading to the coat-room so she could retrieve her parka and get the heck outta there. Once she had it, and had pulled it on, she made her way outside. As soon as New York's freezing wind hit her fishnet clad legs, a chill swept through her and she immediately wrapped her arms around herself and began sorta hopping up and down in place - hopping to warm herself up a bit. It didn't work, but it was good in theory.

Scanning the street, Jacks' lips turned down in a frown as she searched for a Taxi - there were none though. Resisting the urge to cuss under her breath, she turned on her heel and began to march down the street, figuring it would just be easier to walk to the damn hotel.

Thirty minutes later, and many turns and much confusion later, she somehow found herself standing in the middle of an industrial scrap-yard. She had no idea how she'd managed to get herself there, but there she was. "Great Jacks, just greeeeeeeeat," She muttered under her breath, tucking her hand further into her pockets. Not only was she lost, but she was lost wearing a short skirt, and fishnet stockings! Thank God she'd had the sense to wear a parka!

Suddenly she felt a tingling in her head, and one of her hands automatically freed itself of a pocket and was pressing against her forehead. Great, so she was lost AND there was someone in the area with some sort of magic. Could her night get any better?? Though maybe said person wasn't coming in her direction...

It wasn't long after that thought that a dude suddenly appeared. Well that's what it seemed like. Jacks stood there, watching him warily for a few moments as he seemed to be checking the area out behind him. She edged a bit closer to him so she was able to get a feel of him. He didn't like... Feel like a complete jerkwad, annoyed, maybe a bit angry... But other than that? She was pretty sure he wasn't gonna try and slit her throat or anything... "Ummm....Hey?" She finally called out to him figuring that she should probably say something, no matter how lame it sounded at the moment.

[loki2]

Dammit!

Leon's knee cracked painfully off the pavement on the otherside of the fence; He still hadn't gotten down pat the exact moment he was supposed to release his powers to land perfectly. Sharp pains shot up his leg as he straightened up and he limped further into the scrapyard, head swivelling and eyes scanning.

"Ummm....Hey?"

Leon spun on his good leg in the direction of the voice, one hand automatically slipping to the small of his back where his Beretta 92F rested snugly in the waistband of his jeans.
Oh. It was... a girl. Her clothing said one thing about her, but her excellent hygiene and lost expression said something else entirely.
Leon sighed heavily; he didn't have time to be playing white knight!
But, he couldn't deny who he was at heart...

"Hey yourself," he replied, his Manchester accent lending the words a lyrical quality. He withdrew his hand from his gun. "This area's pretty dangerous, you know? Where were you trying to get to?" He faced away from her in case the glow in his eyes hadn't completely faded yet.
"I know this area pretty well if you need directions..."
No sirens. Not yet.

[Astrid Jackson]

"Hey yourself," The guy replied with a British accent. "This area's pretty dangerous, you know? Where were you trying to get to?" The guy turned from her. "I know this area pretty well if you need directions..."

Jacks stared at the guy for a moment, her eyebrow arched in a mix between amusement and well, annoyance. He had to be kidding, like that wasn't something she already knew. She'd figured that out about fifteen minutes into managing to get herself lost. Yeah, a pimp offering to be her 'daddy'? Something that she didn't exactly think of as something safe.

"Uh, yeah I know," she finally stated sarcastically. She was surprised she was actually able to make sense through her chattering teeth, but well there was a first time for everything, right? She sighed, burying her hands further into her pockets and shifted from foot to foot trying to get the blood flowing through her freezing legs again. Note to self: Fishnets bad idea in cold weather, she thought to herself.

She studied the guy for a few more moments, allowing herself to feel what he was. OK, so he was annoyed, and.... She leaned a little closer without thinking of it. Yeah he was annoyed, worried, and anxious and he was trying to hide something! Ha! She figured he was trying to hide whatever type of magic he had, too bad for him she already figured he had some.

She shook her head, her white blond hair swaying with the movements of her head. "So yeah, dude. Uh, I need to get to the Dylan Hotel.... It's on 52 E 41 street, and please don't give me directions. I suck at 'em. A taxi would be awesome, but they don't seem to run in this part of town..."

[loki2]

She was intensely curious of him; that would have been obvious even without his extended awareness - which, in any case, was rapidly dimming with the setting sun. Her sarcastic retorts rolled off Leon's back as he recognized them for what they tried to mask: Self-anger and fear.
"Dylan on 41? Yeah, I know where it is," he replied crisply. "Not too far from here, maybe a block or so..."
A siren wailed in the distance.
Shit.

He sooo didn't have time for this! However, it would have looked awfully suspicious if he refused to escort her after stating he knew where it was; he did briefly consider just taking off. But, he realized he didn't want to be reading about her in the paper a few days from now, just another statistic. Leon wouldn't be able to live with himself if he knew he could have prevented it.

Against his better judgement, Leon then said, "C'mon, I'll take you there. Let's go before you freeze to death." Honestly, what the hell had she been thinking? Fishnets and a short skirt in this weather? In this area? The young man was naturally curious as to where she was from, as no New Yorker would have such disregard for their own well-being, but he bottled it up. The less he knew about her the better; and vice versa, especially.
He didn't even offer his name as he hiked the backpack higher up on his shoulder and began walking. He still limped, but it was less pronounced; he was going to have one hell of a bruise in the morning.

"This way." He forced his steps to remain slow and unhurried.
In the distance more sirens had joined the first.

[Astrid Jackson]

Jacks' lips turned down into a frown and she stared at the dude. What was his issue?! It wasn't her fault that she'd gotten lost.... OK, so it was, but that was beside the point! Though she hadn't tried to! Sighing, her shoulders slumped a bit and she tucked her chin down into the parka for a moment. She should have just stayed at the club with her drunk band mates and she wouldn't be having to deal with this dude's obvious lack of excitement about helping her.

So much for the friendly Holiday spirit!

"Thanks...." Lifting her head back up, she eyed the guy again before slowly following after him. What was up with people in New York? Was it that hard to help someone? That much of a chore? Gawd man! She kicked a stray can as she followed behind the guy, getting more and more annoyed just feeling his annoyance radiating from him. Dude needed to seriously chill out and relax.

"I know that you're not what you seem." She finally spoke after they'd walked silently for a few minutes. A slight smile began tugging at her lips. Let him try to get around that comment. She did know he was more than he seemed. Even though he'd tried to hide it, it was hard to with her power. Her head was still tingling and she just wanted to clear this B.S. up before they got much further.

[loki2]

What the hell was her problem? Leon could practically smell her irritation of him. But, with the sun nothing more than a rosy stain in the sky, Leon could determine nothing further than that. Geez, he was helping her! What did she want, service with a broad phony smile and a steam-heated terrycloth towel?
Puh-leeze.
Must be some spoiled rich kid, he thought. 'Gratitude' non-existant in the vocabulary...
At least she had the decency to thank him - no matter how gruffly it had been uttered.

They weren't far now from where the scrapyard opened onto the street, and out of the corner of his eye Leon spotted a NYPD cruiser drift by. Damn. Well, if nothing else, the girl would help conceal him from their eyes. After all, they were looking for tall blonde man on his own, not with a girl.

"I know that you're not what you seem."

His steps faltered.
At first, he thought she was talking about his current lawless status, and perhaps why he was in the scrapyard. But after a lingering moment of feeling her out, it dawned on him that she was talking about something very different; something that ran much deeper.
His heartrate quickened; did she know...? But how?!
He turned slowly to face her, a mixture of confusion and intrigue on his handsome face. Masking the flutter of fear he felt with sarcasm, Leon said, "Oh really? Please enlighten me as to what I 'seem to be', sweetheart. Last I checked, I wasn't trying to seem to be anything but myself."
Let her chew on that.
He started walking again.

[Astrid Jackson]

Oh she'd gotten to him! Score! She would have been able to figure that one out even if she didn't have this weird magical sense of hers. The way he kinda just paused for a moment... Oh yeah, dude was easier to read than a book. It also didn't help that a waves of panic and fear just seemed to be rolling right off of him.

Feeling a little indignant, Astrid's head tilted a bit to the side and she crossed her arms, shaking her head. Men, they were so.... Something, she wasn't quite sure what word she'd call them, but whenever she figured it out, dude would so be that! What the freak?! For real though? Sweetheart? Was he asking for her boot to connect with his butt, because it sure sounded like it to her. Jerkface.

Trying to throw her off. That's what he was trying to do. It didn't work, and it sure as hell didn't stop her powers from working. Arrogant butt-head. Nice try, but no worky. She shook her head again, once more following slowly after him. Let him think for just a moment he's succeeded. Only for a few seconds though. She didn't want him to think he was all great and crap. "You have powers.... Don't even try to lie because I know you do."

[loki2]

Leon stopped walking again. He had no idea in hell how she knew, but she knew! At first he surmised that she must have seen him clear the fence, but knew for a fact that human nature itself would have made her unsure of what she had seen; and the smug surety he felt coming off her was almost gnostic.
The young man sighed, hands in his pockets, breath escaping in a long stream of mist in the chilly air. So... what now? Head tilting to one side, he approached her slowly, one hand leaving his pocket and his eyes finding hers, almost as if seeking permission. Leon then gently took the sleeve of her parka and slid it back to expose her hand. Cupping her wrist with long fingers, he then freed his other hand and passed it slowly over hers.
His deep blue eyes then suddenly lightened and took on a faint luminescence.

"Astrid 'Jacks' Jackson, eh?" he mumbled distractedly, letting her arm drop back to her side. He then casually extended a hand again and a nearby snow-covered rock slowly floated off the ground and hovered over his upturned palm. "I don't know how you knew, but since you're so insistent, Astrid, yes, yes I do; some would call me psychic." He stuck his hands back in his pockets and the stone hung in the air for another few seconds before plummeting back to earth with a muted thud.
The glow faded from his eyes.

As if that signified something, Leon then turned away and began walking once more. "Well, you coming, Astrid?" He wore a wry smile.

[Astrid Jackson]

She had to admit that she was a bit thrown off guard with his whole.... Touchy-feely approach with her. He'd like... Just... And then.... It was honestly a bit mind blowing. Sure her boys had powers of their own as did she, but it was nothing like that! Hers was just knowing what people were feeling and oooooooo she knew if they had a power. But this dude had figured her name out... Though it wasn't like she wasn't known, but he really didn't seem like the kind of dude who followed the whole punk scene. And the rock! That had been almost X-Men like!

She shoved her hands back in her pockets and once more began following after him. Her curiousity though caused her to quicken her pace so she was soon walking (well more like a fast walk for her because her legs were a lot shorter than his) beside him. She turned her head slightly, looking up at him. "OK. So you got my name. Though! I don't normally get called Astrid. Most people call me Jacks.. Or AJ even. Though mostly Jacks... " She trailed off, her lips pursing a bit and she quickly turned her attention back to the sidewalk.

"Why are you so nervous? Well, I'd say you were more anxious if you want to be techinical and stuff. You in trouble?" She was tempted to peek up at him again, but fought against it. She didn't want him to think she was some psycho stalker..... Though..... She frowned again as a thought suddenly formed in her head. A completely unfair thought. "You know my name, and yet. Dude, what the hell is yours?!"

[loki2]

Leon felt a twinge of satisfaction at the astonishment he'd stirred within her. And that had been only a small demonstration; if it had been even an hour earlier he could have given her a real show. But alas, if he tried to use the full extent of his psionic talents right here and now, he'd probably fall into a coma. No thanks.

"... Most people call me Jacks... Or AJ even. Though mostly Jacks..."

"I know," he replied, a light smirk on his smooth lips. "But they're a bit too masculine for my tastes, and you hardly seem butch. Astrid is much more fitting for a lady."
They paused at the curb as Leon glanced both ways down the street; not so much for traffic, but for the fuzz.
He let her chatter on and pose her questions, reading her as she did so. From what he could gather Astrid Jackson was no ordinary young woman, either - well, okay, that was obvious, but he meant extraordinary in the way he was extraordinary. Something psionic like him, but no where near as potent.
And maybe that was a good thing; she was making this difficult enough. He really hadn't wanted to give her a name, but if Astrid was going to play the 20 questions game he had no choice but to play along if he didn't want to arouse her suspicions.
"I'm Leon," he replied crisply, not bothering to add his phony last name; he sure as hell wasn't going to give her his real name. "And... I wouldn't say I'm in trouble, but I may have mixed myself up in a slight altercation..."

The lights of a convenience store flickered across the street and he got an idea.
"Hey, wait here a sec; it's a lot bloody chillier out here than I thought..."
With that cryptic statement Leon darted across the street, narrowingly avoiding getting turned into street pizza by a minivan; the driver of which wailed on the car horn and flipped the younger man off. Leon's reply was to blow kisses and cheerfully wave, which of course only aggravated the driver further. The driver began to roll down his window but seemed to think better of it as Leon turned away and walked into the store with a final curt wave.
He exited onto the street a few minutes later wearing a black beanie patterned with beige triangles and a matching scarf wrapped about his neck. On his return trip Leon was nearly clipped in the shoulder by the mirror of a delivery truck speeding by.
"Slow down, you soddin' prat!" he yelled as he skipped onto the curb. "Wanker... Ok, sorry about that; let's go."

A cruiser sailed by slowly, but didn't even give them a second glance.
Leon felt a wave of relief rush over him.

[Astrid Jackson]

Her nose wrinkled and her eyebrows furrowed when she head the lady comment. What the hell was that?? Did she look like a friggin lady? Like prancing around in ballgowns and crap? OK, now she was in a skirt - but dude, she was like... No lady. A chick, yes. Lady, no. "Whatever, dude." She muttered, vocally making it clear that she wasn't pleased with his stupid male reasoning.

She was kinda in a way wishing that she'd just remained lost. Dude's kinda arrogant attitude and like... Crap, yes crap was begging to get on her nerves, and she didn't like that. She just wanted to relax! Mellow out! But no he had to go and have issues with taking her to the hotel and then having a go with her name! Thus making her annoyed. She didn't do annoyed very good.

"I'm Leon," he replied crisply. "And... I wouldn't say I'm in trouble, but I may have mixed myself up in a slight altercation... Hey, wait here a sec; it's a lot bloody chillier out here than I thought..."

Astrid's mouth dropped open and she watched as dude just darted across the street, almost getting hit a couple of times. So what was she suppose to do? Just stand there.... On a street corner? Awesome... Maybe she should have taken the Pimp's offer from earlier in the evening. She managed to dirty look away the few cars that looked like they were slowing down to make her an offer. Oh Leon, dude you suck. She thought angrily to herself as she watched the last car speed away.

"Slow down, you soddin' prat!" Leon was suddenly yelling as said car almost plowed him over. "Wanker... Ok, sorry about that; let's go."

She couldn't help but smirk as he walked closer. "Yeah? Sorry huh? That dude that almost hit you? Tried to rent my services." She informed him with a pout. OK, she really didn't think it was cool that the drivers of the car had just assumed she was a hooker. But.. So the frig what, she was wearing fishnets and a short skirt. She also had a band tee on and clunky combat boots. How many hookers wore combat boots??

"Anyway. Which way? I'm cold and could use a drink or two."

[loki2]

"Across the street here and down a bit," Leon replied, seemingly unperturbed by her clear irritation with him. If anything, he seemed even more cheerful. "The Dylan makes really good B-52's if you're wanting something hot and mind-numbing to drink. And that wanker who tried to 'rent your services'...? He wouldn't have made a good lay; bloke's in way too much of a hurry." He turned away from her to push the walk button as the intersection a few times, but a cheeky grin had tugged at his lips as he did so.

Leon couldn't help it; the boy was never happier than when he was grinding someone gears (or at least, that's what he liked to tell himself). And Astrid's aggravation only served to egg him on further.

"So, Astrid..." he began conversationally, still purposefully using her given name. "What're you doing here in New York? I don't mean anything by it, but it's obvious you're not from around here, darlin'..."
Leon wasn't the type to ask others about themselves, but it was better than awkward silence, and he wanted to steer any conversation away from himself. The less she knew about him when they parted ways the better for them both.

[Astrid Jackson]

Staring at Leon, Astrid's eyebrows shot up and she shook her head. She didn't even want to think about his comment on the guy being a good lay or not. Cuz... She didn't care, but EW! As much as she hadn't wanted to think about it, the thought was in her mind and she suddenly felt sick to her stomach, because really now... That was just a disgusting thought. "Dude, that's just wrong on so many different levels. Thanks."

She shrugged a shoulder, tapping her foot impatiently as they waited for the crossing light to turn green. "Oh we had a show tonight and have a few more this week..." She paused, glancing over at him from the corner of her eyes. "I'm in a band. Not some Hookers-R-Us group." She felt she should clear that up, more so after his not so subtle looks of disapproval at her attire. But, she wasn't really worried about it. It wasn't like she dressed like this all the time - just... part of it.

What was up with this Leon dude anyway? Normally she got along with people. But this dude? It was like he was trying to make her not like him. And he was SMUG about it. Darlin'?!What the hell? She wanted to reach out and connect her hand with the back of his head, but... Well she wasn't a violent person - luckily for him. "You don't have a lot of friends, do you?" She suddenly asked as the two of them set off across the intersection. "I mean, I can totally understand why you wouldn't... Because honestly dude, you kinda suck in the people skills."

[loki2]

Leon burst out laughing. Yeah, it was pretty wrong, but still funny in his humble opinion. Then again, an older fat man bending a beautiful young woman over the backseat of his car wasn't a pretty image and he shuddered slightly at the thought.
Man, making you think about a joke sucked all the fun out of it - well, not always: Leon still remembered the point in his midteens when he had actually contemplated what it meant to call someone an 'asshole' and laughed about it for days after. Buuut that definitely wasn't the case here.
Leon huffed.

"Oh we had a show tonight and have a few more this week..."
She must have spotted the widening grin on his handsome face because she quickly added,
"I'm in a band. Not some Hookers-R-Us group."

Leon couldn't but feel a little envious; she was living the life he wanted to live. The music, the fans, the perks that went with a rocker lifestyle... The pang of longing he felt earlier returned, and sharper than ever.
"Well hey, all the power to you," he said a bit flatly; he meant every word, but encouraging someone else who wsa succeding where you wanted to suceed (and very much so, at that) is a bitter pill for anyone to swallow.

And as if this didn't make him feel negative enough, Astrid went and placed him under the conversation spotlight again.
"My social life isn't up for discussion," Leon countered a bit sharply. "I have a small circle of close friends and that's all I need."
Not entirely the truth, but not exactly a lie, either.
"As for my social skills..." he let the words hang in the air and seemed to relax once more; "Well, it's always been my opinion that anyone can behave as a sheep in a flock, but it takes a true intellectual to go against the grain and shake things up. I'm not as socially inept as you'd like to think, Astrid; I choose to be that one regular in the coffeeshop everyone knows not to approach because they don't want their head bitten off for no reason. Why?" He paused. "...I guess it's fun."
It seemed almost as if he'd wanted to say something else, but the answered he'd programmed himself to say came out instead.
"We're about two minutes from your hotel; then you'll never have to lay eyes on me again."