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Post by aegis on May 26, 2016 7:08:55 GMT
[nospaces][Googlefont=Droid Sans] [attr="class","bouncet"] [attr="class","bouncep"]  | [attr="class","bounceq"]broken arrow
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[attr="class","bouncew"] The weapon is lying on his belly above a pale stone building sandwiched between a Loft and a Smoothie King. The blue sign on the front reads blue mercury: skincare, makeup, spa. He notices all these things, and none of them mean anything to him, a parade of shapes and colors that slide through his mind, unable to find a hold. He stares down the sight of his gun at the sidewalk across the way. The roof is cold, even beneath the thick layer of Kevlar and fabric he's swathed in. He notices that too, and it also means nothing. [break][break] Little dots of light weave and bob their way down on the street: people with their heads bent over glowing cellphones and tablets, cars streaking by and leaving silent orange afterimages in their wake. The weapon tracks his target through the scope, a middle-aged man with a thick head of hair and a slight pot-belly, until the moment he's about to disappear into the deeper darkness beneath the bridge. Then he drops him with a single, soundless headshot. [break][break] The man's body crumples in a boneless heap, dead before he hit the ground, listing against the bridge wall. It will be long moments before anyone comes across him, and a longer time still before anyone realizes he's more than a passed out homeless bum, trying to curl up for the night. The weapon has completed his mission. [break][break] He swings his gun across his back with the ease of muscle memory, if not true memory, and prepares to disappear. [break][break] artemis #TEAMSAUSAGE [newclass=.bouncet]width: 300px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 15px;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncep]width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; background: #363636;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq]font: italic 20px/18px droid sans; letter-spacing: -1px; text-transform: lowercase; color: #efefef; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq b]font-weight: normal; color: #FF001B; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncew]width: 250px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 40px;font: 10px verdana; text-align: justify; margin: 10px auto; color: #efefef; [/newclass] |
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Post by artemis on May 26, 2016 8:19:35 GMT
Artemis smells the man's blood before she hears the sound of his body hitting the pavement. Or the disappearance of his heartbeat. She lowers her bow.
She was meant to take the man alive. Shoot off a few limbs maybe, but not to kill him. Not because she had any mercy for her target, but because any common idiot with a pike could kill a man. It took a certain finesse to capture a man, and now she's going to have to go to the Initiative with a corpse instead of their prize.
She can scarcely stand to imagine the humiliation. She refuses. Artemis recreates the fall in her head, the probable angle of the bullet. With her bow in hand, she parkours along the street until she reaches the Smoothie King. She is close enough to discern someone's steady heartbeat. Artemis advances upon the man with the gun.
She was dressed like a girl from private school, pleated skirt and all. Artemis draws herself up to her full 5'6 height and snarls. "Prostrate yourself before me and repent. Only then will I consider forgiving your mistake."
Once upon a time, she may have shot off an arm. But if even Apollo can change gracefully with the times, then so can she. One chance, and she may end up sparing a life today after all.
aegis | let us reward our female offspring  |
#TEAMSAUSAGE |
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May 26, 2016 20:57:02 GMT
Post by aegis on May 26, 2016 20:57:02 GMT
[nospaces][Googlefont=Droid Sans] [attr="class","bouncet"] [attr="class","bouncep"] | [attr="class","bounceq"]broken arrow
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[attr="class","bouncew"] He studies her, memorizes her, (a memory that will only last until his next mission) and understands what he has to do before she's finished speaking. No witnesses, he was told. The fact that she doesn't appear to be more than a child doesn't even register. [break][break] The weapon draws a Sig Sauer with his flesh hand, without pause, and fires twice before moving to close the distance between them and get his metal arm around her throat. [break][break] artemis #TEAMSAUSAGE [newclass=.bouncet]width: 300px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 15px;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncep]width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; background: #363636;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq]font: italic 20px/18px droid sans; letter-spacing: -1px; text-transform: lowercase; color: #efefef; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq b]font-weight: normal; color: #FF001B; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncew]width: 250px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 40px;font: 10px verdana; text-align: justify; margin: 10px auto; color: #efefef; [/newclass] |
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May 26, 2016 21:02:12 GMT
Post by artemis on May 26, 2016 21:02:12 GMT
Artemis doesn't bother dodging. The bullets do nothing to her flesh.
"You would reject the gift that I offer?"
The words are more a vehicle for her fury than a real question. She puts her hand on the on the metal against her neck and squeezes hard.
aegis | let us reward our female offspring |
#TEAMSAUSAGE |
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May 26, 2016 21:23:17 GMT
Post by aegis on May 26, 2016 21:23:17 GMT
[nospaces][Googlefont=Droid Sans] [attr="class","bouncet"] [attr="class","bouncep"] | [attr="class","bounceq"]broken arrow
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[attr="class","bouncew"] His arm screeches, metal plates grinding together, and he registers damage, if not pain. His gaze flicks over her body as he tries to wrench his arm back out of her grip and regain the distance between them he'd closed so hastily. No damage noted from his bullets. [break][break] The only thing more important than an individual mission's parameters is what's been beaten into him, blood and bone, again and again: protect the asset. Accomplish the mission, do not fail, but protect the asset. [break][break] The weapon has completed his mission. He circles backwards, torn between two conflicting demands.[break][break] artemis #TEAMSAUSAGE [newclass=.bouncet]width: 300px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 15px;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncep]width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; background: #363636;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq]font: italic 20px/18px droid sans; letter-spacing: -1px; text-transform: lowercase; color: #efefef; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq b]font-weight: normal; color: #FF001B; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncew]width: 250px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 40px;font: 10px verdana; text-align: justify; margin: 10px auto; color: #efefef; [/newclass] |
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May 26, 2016 22:19:08 GMT
Post by artemis on May 26, 2016 22:19:08 GMT
Artemis doesn't even take the time to aim properly at the man. At one point of her life, her shots were a product of muscle memory. Now it's so much more than that. Now it's just a desire to hit a specific location. Her arms move as the thought occurs to her.
Her first arrow is to the knee. Maybe then he will learn how to bow. No need to puncture his head yet, not when she could have it any time that she wanted.
"I was talking to you, human" Artemis only stays close enough so that the man can hear her. "Who do you work for?" Between simply killing a man and following him to his nest, Artemis knew which one she preferred.
aegis | let us reward our female offspring |
#TEAMSAUSAGE |
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Post by aegis on May 27, 2016 0:48:54 GMT
[nospaces][Googlefont=Droid Sans] [attr="class","bouncet"] [attr="class","bouncep"] | [attr="class","bounceq"]broken arrow
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[attr="class","bouncew"] Metal meets metal and he can feel the muscle tear in his leg, even as he feels it try and start to knit itself back up. He re-assesses the situation and decides with robotic finality on a course of action: disengage. Protect the asset. [break][break] Aegis flows into a back handspring off the roof and lands on the ground, ignoring the sharp bite of damage in his leg, before taking off at a run through the back alley that snakes into a leafy, tree-lined residential area.[break][break] artemis #TEAMSAUSAGE [newclass=.bouncet]width: 300px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 15px;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncep]width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; background: #363636;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq]font: italic 20px/18px droid sans; letter-spacing: -1px; text-transform: lowercase; color: #efefef; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq b]font-weight: normal; color: #FF001B; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncew]width: 250px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 40px;font: 10px verdana; text-align: justify; margin: 10px auto; color: #efefef; [/newclass] |
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Post by artemis on May 27, 2016 1:09:03 GMT
Artemis is not his only enemy here. She had prepared reinforcements, in case her original target had escaped. Nevertheless, she jumps down the building and gives into pursuit. She turns the corner, her next arrow already loaded.
One of her reddish hunting dogs was sunbathing on a patch of grass nearby. He perked up upon smelling the distinctive poison from her arrow. The ninety pounds of pure woof ran off to head off his master's prey.
In one direction was a 9000 year old Fido with a mouthful of razor-sharp canines. In the other direction was a fleet-footed goddess.
It's his move.
aegis | let us reward our female offspring |
#TEAMSAUSAGE |
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May 27, 2016 18:08:45 GMT
Post by aegis on May 27, 2016 18:08:45 GMT
[nospaces][Googlefont=Droid Sans] [attr="class","bouncet"] [attr="class","bouncep"] | [attr="class","bounceq"]broken arrow
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[attr="class","bouncew"] He lobs a grenade at the dog and skids to the left. That way is a major intersection ( R St. meets Connecticut Ave., a fragment of information from his mission report floating to the top of his mind), but he can feel a sharpness in his side that isn't just the damage from the arrow, and if it takes collateral damage to secure the asset, that's what it requires[break][break] The relative quiet of the residential street breaks into sudden alarm, cars swerving around him in a cacophony of horns and screeching tires, headlights spilling across the street in jagged patterns. He dodges between two Toyotas easily, and when a sleek little Porsche roars across his path, Aegis throws himself onto the back, metal arm punching through to grip the frame, and hitches a ride as it blows down R St. NW.[break][break] artemis #TEAMSAUSAGE [newclass=.bouncet]width: 300px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 15px;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncep]width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; background: #363636;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq]font: italic 20px/18px droid sans; letter-spacing: -1px; text-transform: lowercase; color: #efefef; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq b]font-weight: normal; color: #FF001B; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncew]width: 250px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 40px;font: 10px verdana; text-align: justify; margin: 10px auto; color: #efefef; [/newclass] |
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May 27, 2016 20:50:13 GMT
Post by artemis on May 27, 2016 20:50:13 GMT
In all honesty, Artemis was waiting for the enemy to become dog food. Instead, her dog gets one of his legs blown off.
His master is now out for blood. Today, there are no more games. On a better day, she might have opted to take the tires out. Not today. Not after what he did to her baby. Or what's the closest that she can consider her baby, virgin goddess and all. Instead of chasing the car on foot and causing a scene, she opts to jump onto one of the cars and switching platforms whenever they started changing lanes.
A car follows very predictable paths: namely, the road. It is also unlikely to hop into a building or jump into the sewers. It's almost as if the villain is telling her to put an arrow into the shoulder juncture between flesh and metal. So she does. Twice.
aegis | let us reward our female offspring |
#TEAMSAUSAGE |
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Post by aegis on May 28, 2016 5:46:06 GMT
[nospaces][Googlefont=Droid Sans] [attr="class","bouncet"] [attr="class","bouncep"] | [attr="class","bounceq"]broken arrow
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[attr="class","bouncew"] The car swerves wildly. His grip tightens on the frame as the driver tries to throw him off--if it weren't a one-way street, they would have wrecked by now, and it is a mild miracle that they haven't regardless--and Aegis looks over his shoulder to see the girl leaping from car to car after him. His eyes narrow and he throws himself over the roof of the car, landing heavily on the hood, as she fires.[break][break] The engine makes a pained noise beneath his weight and he presses himself against the windshield, ignoring the pale, terrified face beneath him. He tosses another grenade at the car the girl is currently balancing on, and then for good measure shoots out the two front tires on the car directly behind the Porsche, just in case she was planning on transferring to it.[break][break] The Porsche squeals onto two wheels, leaving a slick line of tire-tracks on the road, as it turns sharply onto Florida Ave. Aegis punches down through the glass and grabs the man driving by his shirt collar, throwing him into the street. He's sliding down into the driver's seat as all four wheels touch asphalt again, and then he floors it. [break][break]They're coming into the city proper again.[break][break] artemis #TEAMSAUSAGE [newclass=.bouncet]width: 300px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 15px;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncep]width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; background: #363636;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq]font: italic 20px/18px droid sans; letter-spacing: -1px; text-transform: lowercase; color: #efefef; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq b]font-weight: normal; color: #FF001B; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncew]width: 250px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 40px;font: 10px verdana; text-align: justify; margin: 10px auto; color: #efefef; [/newclass] |
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Post by artemis on May 28, 2016 6:42:29 GMT
It's come to the point where Artemis would probably get less flack for stopping him flashily than letting him run amok.
Instead of transferring to another car, she transfers to the ground, opting to make the jump forward while the car explodes behind her. She survives. Her pleated skirt ... well. She has enough fabric covering where it counts.
It's like the hunts of the old days, except in a concrete-and-asphalt maze. She's even faster than the car that was actually driving at the speed limit. More for the intimidation factor than the actual need to close the distance.
And then the villain gets into the car. A fatal mistake - Artemis will make sure of it. She waits for the car to accelerate before shooting one of the tires with a golden arrow.
She doesn't decelerate herself. She won't make the same mistake again.
aegis | let us reward our female offspring |
#TEAMSAUSAGE |
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Post by aegis on May 28, 2016 7:40:17 GMT
[nospaces][Googlefont=Droid Sans] [attr="class","bouncet"] [attr="class","bouncep"] | [attr="class","bounceq"]broken arrow
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[attr="class","bouncew"] The tire blows with a sickening snarl and Aegis slams his foot against the accelerator as if he can urge the car on even further, faster. It rises to the occasion with an admirable growl, despite what it's been through, and he bursts through the intersection in a fury of smoke and noise. [break][break]He wrenches the failing car to the left, slamming up against a storefront. He throws up his metal arm to take the brunt of the impact. The car door crumples. Inconsequential. He doesn't need it anymore.[break][break] Aegis reaches down to peel away the floor beneath him, and then the manhole cover he's come to rest over, before dropping down.[break][break] artemis #TEAMSAUSAGE [newclass=.bouncet]width: 300px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 15px;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncep]width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; background: #363636;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq]font: italic 20px/18px droid sans; letter-spacing: -1px; text-transform: lowercase; color: #efefef; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq b]font-weight: normal; color: #FF001B; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncew]width: 250px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 40px;font: 10px verdana; text-align: justify; margin: 10px auto; color: #efefef; [/newclass] |
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Post by artemis on May 28, 2016 8:30:35 GMT
If she quits the chase now, then she'll have to deal with people nagging her about how much damage they've caused on the street. Artemis decides to pursue the man so that they'll have someone else to blame. Someone who isn't just her.
Artemis doesn't hesitate to drop down into a den of sewage. She can attest that Athens was worse, on the few occasions that she even bothered to visit. When she lands on the ground, the man is already out of sight. Except a man breathes. A man's heart beats. She gives chase with her bow at her side. As soon as she sees so much as a foot, she would fire.
aegis | let us reward our female offspring |
#TEAMSAUSAGE |
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May 28, 2016 18:30:56 GMT
Post by aegis on May 28, 2016 18:30:56 GMT
[nospaces][Googlefont=Droid Sans] [attr="class","bouncet"] [attr="class","bouncep"] | [attr="class","bounceq"]broken arrow
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[attr="class","bouncew"] The sewers are dense and dimly lit, but he sprints through them as fast as he can without pause. The arrow in his knee would have crippled someone else, but he is beyond letting pain hinder him, even as he is aware that every step tears the muscle further. Repairs will be extensive.[break][break] He runs, and he thinks of the information accumulated while he does so: impervious to every form of damage he's put out so far. Fast. He can out-run a car, and has before, and probably will again, but it's not often that he's come up against someone as fast or faster. Strong; his metal arm is still making soft, internal noises of protest from her grip.[break][break] He makes a right. There's the sheen of light on water ahead of him as he plunges through, a metal grate blocking his exit. He doesn't slow down, just drops his metal shoulder and lets momentum carry him up and out.[break][break] artemis #TEAMSAUSAGE [newclass=.bouncet]width: 300px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 15px;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncep]width: 100px; height: 100px; padding: 15px; border-radius: 5px; background: #363636;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq]font: italic 20px/18px droid sans; letter-spacing: -1px; text-transform: lowercase; color: #efefef; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bounceq b]font-weight: normal; color: #FF001B; text-shadow: 1px 1px #FF001B;[/newclass] [newclass=.bouncew]width: 250px; background: #1F1F1F; padding: 40px;font: 10px verdana; text-align: justify; margin: 10px auto; color: #efefef; [/newclass] |
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