A Violent Paradise (Semi-Open RP)

[interim]

"He's like that," Adrian mused. He yawned again, and checked his watch. 4:10am. Christ. "Alright kids, it's been fun." Adrian popped the lock on the doors from the keyfob in his pocket, and sat down in his GT500 with the door still open. He glanced at everyone gathered around. He sighed, then grabbed a notepad and pen from the center console. It seemed like there was always a moment in new friendships where one was uncomfortable to share personal information. He scratched his number out three times, and ripped the pieces out of the notebook. He extended a copy to Alice, then Toshiro, then Rayleigh.

"I'm going home," he said, closing his door. The sound of the Shelby roaring to life filled the alleyway. As the warming scent of exhaust fumes swirled around, he lowered his window and stuck his head out. "Do try and get some rest, will you?"

[tomkat492]

"He's like that," Adrian mused. He yawned again, and checked his watch. 4:10am. Christ. "Alright kids, it's been fun."

"Or not," Rayleigh mumbled under her breath.

He scratched his number out three times, and ripped the pieces out of the notebook. He extended a copy to Alice, then Toshiro, then Rayleigh.

Rayleigh looked over the paper and then punched the number into her phone, saving Adrian under her contacts.

"I'm going home," he said, closing his door. The sound of the Shelby roaring to life filled the alleyway. As the warming scent of exhaust fumes swirled around, he lowered his window and stuck his head out. "Do try and get some rest, will you?"

"W-wait, how am I supposed to get home? You're the one who brought me way out here!" Rayleigh said with a bit of a frown on her face. "Actually, you were supposed to take me to Mike's house. Are you not a man of your word, hmmm?"

[Toshiro Kamata]

Toshiro took Adrian's number with a smile, inserted it into his phone, and threw the peice of paper carelessly on the ground. It was suprisingly comforting to have someone like Adrian on dial if he ever needed help with anything. "W-wait, how am I supposed to get home? You're the one who brought me way out here!" Rayleigh said with a bit of a frown on her face. "Actually, you were supposed to take me to Mike's house. Are you not a man of your word, hmmm?" Toshiro looked at Adrian, then to Rayleigh. "I'll take you home!...or to Mike's house...That is, if you don't mind."

[interim]

Adrian gestured with his thumb at the passenger seat. "Of course I'm taking you. Why aren't you in the car?"

[T.E.R.R.O.R.IST]

Alice took the paper with the number on it and gave Adrian a small nod. She placed the paper in her pants pocket for later. She noticed, behind them, the ambulance Adrian called picking up Sid and Ernie. Three people got out. One mentioned something about “the second time tonight” and the other seemed particularly interested in the ruined sandwich on the ground. Alice pulled her attention away to hear Rayleigh ask Adrian how she was going to get a ride out of here. Toshiro offered her a lift, but it seemed like Adrian would be taking her anyway. Alice felt out of place with a group of people who appeared to be, in the least, friends of some kind, and attempted to leave without any of them noticing.

[Toshiro Kamata]

"Aw," Toshiro said in a slightly dissapointed tone. "Well, I hope i'll see you guys around." With a wave and a wink at Rayleigh, the teen walked in the direction of the parking lot where he and Rayleigh parked. He passed the EMT's on the way. Toshiro couldn't help but chuckle. It was the same group from before...

Jose picked a suprisingly okay looking slice of tomato from the ground and stuck out his tounge to taste it. Tom slapped it out of his hand and exclaimed, "Jose, what the hells wrong with you! You disgust me!" Jose hung his head and sadly replied, "It was a good sandwich. The best sandwich ever..."

Tom's expression turned to a "WTF" face. "Y-You really need to get your life together," he said. "Rosie, help me with these guys. Please..." The redhead patted Jose on the back and did just as Tom asked.

Toshiro looked around once he reached the parking lot. He looked at Phantom's car for a long moment and frowned. "What the hell is he doin'?" the teen murmured aloud as he straddled his Honda. He then postioned his goggles over his eyes and pulled up his hood so that his hair wouldn't get messed up. The motorcycle roared to life after the key was inserted and twisted. Smiling, the Eurasian shifted to second gear and sped off in the direction of the quaint street where his home was located.

[tomkat492]

Rayleigh looked at Tosh and shrugged, "Sorry. We'll hang out sometime though. Honest. Call me up whenever." She then turned and glanced at Alice, "Peace." She then hopped into the Shelby and looked around before looking at Adrian, "Hey, do you remember what I did with my Five-Seven?"

[Toshiro Kamata]

Toshiro sped through San Paro as fast as the bike would allow without using the spray. He wove in and out of traffic and admired the city lights, though they were more like blurs. It almost felt like Tokyo. The amount of bright lights slowly decreased until there were only street lamps and his headlight illuminating the way. Tosh turned onto the peaceful looking block that he lived on and pulled to a halt onto his driveway, in front of his garage. "42 Rosedale Drive...my street...and this is my house," he mused as he looked over the tan painted, quaint structure.

It felt good to him to be a fully functioning member in American society, even though he had only been in the country for just over two months. Toshiro turned of his bike and pressed a button on his keyfob, which opened the garage door. The boy rolled his bike into the garage, planted the kickstand, and closed the garage door. Tosh then examined the blue, shiny, and performance enhanced Nissan GT-R 2010 to his right.

He licked his thumb and wiped off a smudge. It made him smile as Memory and Chris chipped in and got it for an early Christmas present. Since the time was well past 4:00 a.m., it was the officially the 20th of December. "That reminds me. I gotta go by the pet shop, tommorow...and get a new haircut."

After admiring his present, Toshiro entered his kitchen from the garage. He put his cell phone, goggles, and cigarettes on the counter. The boy then inspected a trio of tobacco plants sitting in the window above the kitchen sink. Yawning, he then walked to the living room, where he place his o-katana on a rack of six katanas. Finally, he went to his average sized room and stripped to his boxers, discarding his clothing and equipment in two small piles in the corner. The boy was feeling far past groggy as he hopped into the bed and nuzzled into a pillow. "Hello, bed. I missed you. Sooo much..."

It wouldn't be two minutes before he drifted off into deep sleep...

[interim]

Adrian watched Alice walk away in his side-view mirror. Her feet shuffled slightly. Eyes squinting and half-closed, he found himself lost in thought for a few moments. The sound of Toshiro's motorbike speeding away snapped him out of his reverie. Just at that moment, he realized Rayleigh had spoken. "Check under the seat. You had it on your stomach when we crossed the bridge." The nonchalant way he phrased their encounter on the bridge made him smile. But just a bit. He checked his mirror, watching Alice's back.

"I am only 8 years old, I told myself. No little boy of 8 has ever murdered anyone. It's not possible."
-Roald Dahl

[T.E.R.R.O.R.IST]

Rayleigh turned and glanced at Alice “Peace.” she said. Alice muttered a goodbye as Rayleigh got in the Shelby. She then headed towards her own vehicle. As she watched Toshiro speed off she pulled out her phone and called Morris hoping he was still awake.

The phone rang a few times “Mmmf hello?” Morris answered.

“Hey, its me,” said Alice “I'm heading home, I'll pick up the trail in the morning.”

“Ok...” Morris replied, still half asleep.

Alice sighed “I think Palmer may be involved though.”

“What?” asked Morris, now fully awake.

“I'm not entirely sure of the extent of his involvement with Jackson or Black Diamond. It may have something to do with recruitment.”

“Are you sure?”

“Not yet, I'll have to talk to him to be sure. I think I may know where he is.”

“He disappeared years ago, Alice. How can you know?”

“Just...a hunch.” Alice answered as she tossed her jacket on the top of her car and unlocked the door.

“Still, it doesn't add up. Palmer's killed politicians and crime lords, why is he getting involved with some street gang?”

“That makes me think there's more to Black Diamond than meets the eye.” Alice said as she threw the jacket over the passenger seat and sat down. “See if Jackson's laptop has anymore information, I'll call you back.” Alice disconnected the call and headed towards her home.

Morris flopped tiredly back to bed. “Dammit, Palmer.” he thought “You'll ruin everything...” He was snoring again in seconds.

Alice's residence was an apartment on the second floor of a building in the financial district. It wasn't the most gracious of accommodations, but it was comfortable and inconspicuous. Alice frowned knowing that Palmer was somewhere in this district, and up to something. She used to trust him with her life until he took her out on her first assassination. The target was a political candidate who had borrowed money from the wrong people for their campaign. Alice had made the kill but not without alerting the candidate's bodyguards and the police. During the escape she lost sight of Palmer and had to get away on her own. She managed to hook up with Morris who already had a side business as an underground information broker. Alice's only marketable skill, or at least so she thought, was killing and that's what she did.

Alice pulled into the underground parking lot of the Clear Woods apartment complex and pulled out her phone and the paper Adrian had given her. She wasn't sure if she should add his number to her contacts, but there was something about him she trusted, despite their previous interaction. Besides he might come in handy sometime, Alice thought as she entered the number into her contact list.

She left her car in the parking lot, grabbed her jacket and put it on to conceal her weapon. Then Alice used the buildings clunky elevator to go up to her floor. She unlocked the door and stifled a yawn. She went inside her apartment, placed the pistol on the gun rack and nonchalantly tossed the shoulder holster on the ground, she'd pick it up later. Alice kicked her shoes off and went to bed. She fell into an uncomfortable sleep as she dreamt about her past...

[tomkat492]

"Check under the seat. You had it on your stomach when we crossed the bridge." The nonchalant way he phrased their encounter on the bridge made him smile. But just a bit.

"Okay," Rayleigh said as she leaned forward and fished around under the seat. After a few seconds she pulled the Five-Seven out from under the seat, "There you are." As she sat back in her seat, she looked over at Adrian and said, "You do remember where you're going, right?"

[interim]

"387 Ricochet Court, if I'm not mistaken." He finally took his eyes off the mirror, and shifted the car into drive. They accelerated down the alley, before he slowed, and turned the car onto a side street. The motor was still running strong. It was a testament to Ai's abilities, without a doubt. She was one of the best mechanics and tinkerers in the city. Maybe the state. He depressed the signal lever, and slowed as they approached the light. After they completed their left turn, they would be moving onto Riverside Boulevard, headed back up to the residential district.

[tomkat492]

"387 Ricochet Court, if I'm not mistaken." He finally took his eyes off the mirror, and shifted the car into drive.

"That does sound about right, yeah," Rayleigh said casually.

They accelerated down the alley, before he slowed, and turned the car onto a side street. The motor was still running strong. It was a testament to Ai's abilities, without a doubt. She was one of the best mechanics and tinkerers in the city. Maybe the state. He depressed the signal lever, and slowed as they approached the light. After they completed their left turn, they would be moving onto Riverside Boulevard, headed back up to the residential district.

"Hmph... this car has been through alot... and that's only today," Rayleigh continued on as she looked around the inside of the car a bit. She then redirected her gaze toward Adrian, "How much did all of this cost you? You don't seem like the type to be able to do it yourself. No offense."

[interim]

A smile twitched behind his lips, but was unsuccessful in moving them. Adrian glanced at Rayleigh, wondering if she'd made the address up. There actually was a Ricochet Court, but he wasn't familiar with the homes there. Maybe a home with that number existed, but wasn't someone she actually knew.

Yawning, he realized he had forgotten what he was just thinking about. Something to do with Rayleigh, needing a place to stay? Probably. "Look, you're more than welcome to stay at my place." He realized after a second that it sounded like a come-on. "I'm used to sleeping on the couch anyway, and it'll make it easier to guard you." Now that it was out of the way, he faultered, realizing he'd not answered her question first. Whoops. No way to fix it sounding like he was hitting on her now. Embarrassing.

"To answer your question though... I probably don't look like it, but I own a company that sells auto parts." He smiled fondly. "Ai's my chief engineer. Haibara Ai, Wu's wife. We've known each other for a long time, since I got out of the orphanage." He patted the dash. "This is one of her jobs, actually. She designed all the safety mechanisms for this vehicle, both standard and unorthodox. We sell vinyls, too-- even have our own shop."

[tomkat492]

Yawning, he realized he had forgotten what he was just thinking about. Something to do with Rayleigh, needing a place to stay? Probably. "Look, you're more than welcome to stay at my place."

Rayleigh blinked, then opened her mouth to speak, but before she got a chance to say anything, Adrian continued.

"I'm used to sleeping on the couch anyway, and it'll make it easier to guard you." Now that it was out of the way, he faultered, realizing he'd not answered her question first. Whoops. No way to fix it sounding like he was hitting on her now. Embarrassing.

Rayleigh went to speak once more, but closed her mouth abruptly.

"To answer your question though... I probably don't look like it, but I own a company that sells auto parts." He smiled fondly. "Ai's my chief engineer. Haibara Ai, Wu's wife. We've known each other for a long time, since I got out of the orphanage." He patted the dash. "This is one of her jobs, actually. She designed all the safety mechanisms for this vehicle, both standard and unorthodox. We sell vinyls, too-- even have our own shop."

Rayleigh frowned, "As if that vinyls comment was necessary." Rayleigh rolled her eyes and then continued, "...but I wouldn't mind coming over if that's what you were trying to say. You don't have to sleep on the couch either." Rayleigh pulled out her phone and sent a quick message to Mike telling him she wasn't coming over. Putting her phone away, she looked over at Adrian, "I might come check out your shop sometime. Maybe bring Tosh along too. I know he'd love it, haha."