[closed] tonight out on the streets I'm gonna follow you

[valr]

WHO: Kara and Lydia
WHERE: Heropa?? Probably
WHEN: Night time like the 24th
WHAT: A murder in progress. Maybe. Depending on Lydia's debating skills.
WARNINGS: mur..der...


[Kara's opinion on humans isn't ever really likely to change; she might like some of them, and she might occasionally admire the whole lot of them for what they've achieved. But generally, she thinks they're all kind of stupid.

The current events aren't really helping with the overall opinion.

She's been back in town for barely a week and already some asshole has decided that Kara would make a good target for whatever he has planned. It seems like a stupid decision to come to in a town full of imPorts, but Kara doesn't let him know that she's aware of him just yet. It's still a little too public, and there's the tiniest chance that all this is a coincidence. It would be unfortunate if she killed the man over nothing, and just as unfortunate if she got caught having killed him. Self-defence might work as an argument, but she'd rather not risk her status as a registered imPort when it makes life so much easier.

So she'll wait, heading further from the well-lit main streets and further into back alleys, waiting to see what this man will do, and waiting for an excuse to put a knife in his gut.]

Comments

[immuno]

[ There’s a neon orange sign flashing just above the alley—some gaudy advertisement that’s supposed to alert passerby to the presence of a pawn shop that trades in gold jewelry. Every time Lydia closes her eyes, she sees it, flashing, feels the dull burn of the neon just behind her eyelids.

It’s been itching in the back of her mind since the sun went down. By the time she finally finds it, she only barely notices Kara walking down the alley with some sketchy dude hardly a few paces behind her.

When she’d gotten that creeping, invasive feeling and the pervasive whisper started in the back of her mind, she certainly never expected it’d be Kara. So she hurries to the mouth of the alley, heels clicking loudly on the concrete. Even hurrying, she’s a good thirty feet away. ]

[valr]

[If it weren't for the heels, Kara might not have realized they had company, but both her and her shadow notice the sound. Kara thinks it's someone unfortunate who happened to stumble this way; the man thinks it might be an easier target.

But Kara is still closer, so she's the one who gets the knife pulled on her. It almost makes her laugh, but instead she just twists around to grab the man's wrist, her grip tight enough to break it.

He screams, but she ignores that too, throwing him hard against the alley wall before going for the knife he dropped. She's got her own, but it's better to use his.]

[immuno]

Kara?

[ Lydia picks up the pace. ]

Kara!

[ While Kara disarms the guy, she loops around the corner—just in time to see Kara doing the threatening. She skids to a stop, hands out at her sides, eyes wide. A creeping chill starts up her spine and her eyes flicker between them, just far enough inside of the alley to not draw attention. ]

What are you doing?

[ The discomfort that layers her voice speaks pretty clearly to the fact that Lydia can obviously see what Kara is doing, and the question really lends itself more to why. ]

[valr]

[Oh, it's Lydia.

That isn't quite what she was expecting, and Kara lowers the knife as she turns to look at Lydia. The man seems to think that means she isn't paying attention anymore and lunges at her, but Kara doesn't even look back at him as she holds the knife to his throat.

He stops moving.]

Go home, Lydia.

[She doesn't need to see this, and Kara doesn't need witnesses.]

[immuno]

[ All things considered? Going home should happen. It should really, really happen, and Lydia knows that, but the problem is that there’s this stupid part of her brain that won’t let go of the absurd notion that she can do anything to help people. That she can do more than find the bodies after it’s already too late.

At the very least, she has to try. Her heels stay firmly rooted in place, and her breath quickens. ]

Why?

[ Even asking sounds stupid. Still being here is stupid. She has a knife. ]

What are you gonna do once I’m gone?

[ They both know the answer to that, but Lydia feels the need to point it out. Make it clear that she's comfortable with her presence being what stops that from happening. ]

[valr]

I know you ain't stupid.

[So there's no point in asking questions that all three of them already know the answer to. Although the man looks like he's about to say something, but Kara just presses to knife a little harder against his throat.

Her next words are addressed to him:]

Shut up, we're not talking to you.

[immuno]

You're right. I'm not.

[ Spoilers??? Whatever Lydia feels like it's important to embrace that when people identify her as such still. It hasn't always been the case. ]

But I don't think you are either, and this is a really stupid move. I don't know what he did to you.

[ Slowly, raising her hands, she takes a wary step forward, a clack resounding through the alley as her heel hits the ground again. ]

But this isn't the way to fix it.

[valr]

[Approaching her like she's a cornered animal earns a roll of Kara's eyes, but she'll continue the conversation anyway.]

He knows our names now.

[It wouldn't matter if he was dead, but if they let him go then he knows their names and faces and that would be the stupid thing. Kara knows how to get away with murder; getting away with beating the shit out of someone and letting them live is a little trickier.]

[immuno]

[ Well, that’s true. And unfortunate.

Not for Lydia, since she’s the one trying to help him survive this, but for Kara. Not that Lydia’s keeping track or anything.

Luckily, she’s the smartest person in the room alleyway. (And in most places, if she’s being honest.) Her hands drop and she straightens her shoulders, pacing closer and stuffing her hand unceremoniously into the creepy mugger’s jacket pockets (with Kara holding a knife to his throat, he's not exactly stupid enough to try moving) until she finds—

Holding up a leather wallet, she starts to rifle through it. When she plucks an ID card out, she checks it against his face and then turns it toward Kara, stepping back and tossing the wallet onto the ground. Not the biggest concern. ]

And now I have his. I’m willing to bet he blinks first.

[valr]

[Kara waits for Lydia to do whatever it is she's doing, trusting that the girl isn't going to do anything stupid, since they've already established that isn't a trait of hers.

The wallet and ID earns a raised eyebrow.]

I don't like leaving enemies alive.

[Knowing his name doesn't mean much to Kara; he could still call the cops on her or get some friends of his involved. It's too much of a mess.]

[immuno]

Mmm. Wow. Yeah, that is just charming, and I'm sure it's worked out for you in the past. But let's try the version where no one dies, hm?

[ She slips the ID into her back pocket. ]

With that lovely threat in mind, I'm sure your ... enemy, here ... will keep to himself knowing that we have his last known address.

[ Her gaze slides over to the guy and she tilts her head, eyebrows arching. ]

You're not that stupid.

[valr]

He's a human, he's definitely that stupid.

[Kara doesn't even bother looking at him, although he's gingerly nodding in agreement to Lydia's not-question.]

You know I can just kill him when you ain't around?

[Since now they have his address.]

[immuno]

Not if I hold onto it.

[ Actual gatekeeper to murder Lydia Martin. ]

[valr]

You think I need a name?

[It'd make things easier, but she can do without.]

[immuno]

I think you need an address.

[ Which, with the name, is on the ID in her pocket tyvm none for Kara bye. ]

[valr]

Tracking people down is what I do.

[It's almost cute that Lydia is underestimating her.]

[immuno]

And the threat of that will be enough to keep him from coming after you. You don't have to kill him, Kara.

[valr]

For fuck's sake.

[This is the stupidest argument she's ever had, but she isn't going to kill a man in front of Lydia.

So she'll compromise, which means placing the fingers of her free hand into her mouth so she can whistle loudly. A few seconds later, a raven flies down to land on Kara's shoulder, making the man try to scramble away.]

Follow. He tries anything, peck his eyes out.

[The bird croaks and flies up to circle above, as Kara shoves the man away.]

Fuck off before I change my mind.

[He runs.]

[immuno]

[ She doesn't exhale until the guy's out of the alley and the bird has fluttered after. Eyes drifting shut, she takes a moment to steady herself. ]

Good.

[ Okay. When her green eyes open and turn on Kara, her gaze is harder, distrusting. ]

[valr]

[The look doesn't bother her; she's received it more than enough times, and she knows she'll keep receiving it whenever she does something stupid like befriend humans.]

I'm walking you back to your place.

[She doesn't bother saying that it isn't safe, they both already know that.]

[immuno]

[ ExcePT APPARENTLY KARA IS WHO SHE ISN'T SAFE FROM.

Lydia looks thoroughly unsettled by the flat stipulation, but she's also smart enough to know that she's already out on a limb here with keeping Kara from murdering the petty criminal. Telling her that she should back the hell off seems

unwise.

But she does pull her phone out. ]

Fine.

[ And turn to indicate the direction they should start walking. ]

[valr]

[Kara starts walking, assuming that Lydia will keep up. She hasn't missed that the poor girl is nervous now, so she keeps her body language casual and non-threatening, lazily lighting up a cigarette.]

I ain't gonna hurt you, Lydia.

[immuno]

And you can see how that might be unconvincing.

[ Her lips tighten and she shakes her head, transitioning into looking pressed and angry, but not exactly scared. Just tense enough to be ready to bolt if she has to—as if that will help. ]

[valr]

Unless you're planning on attacking me, I ain't got no reason to hurt you. I'm not a sadist.

[And she isn't, she'll hurt people if she has to, but she doesn't really get any pleasure out of uneven fights.]

[immuno]

No? [ Clearly Lydia doesn't entirely believe that. ] What would you call it?