[eschatclcgy]

( dev patel, 143, cis man, he/him ) — Look who it is! If you take a look at our database, you’ll find that ADAM KOVAK is a PASTOR & TEACHER that works in SECTOR 5. According to the file, they’re a mutant with the power of IMMORTALITY. That must be why they’re KIND and SKITTISH. If you ask me, they remind me of embers burning in the dark, musty book pages, and fog fleeing before sunlight. They are affiliated with NODBODY. ⸻ played by zeke.

~~

( daniel craig, 148, cis man, he/his ) — Look who it is! If you take a look at our database, you’ll find that WALKER is a BARTENDER / ESCORT that works in 10. According to the file, they’re a mutant with the power of SELF-DUPLICATION. That must be why they’re ADAPTABLE and DESPERATE. If you ask me, they remind me of tumbleweeds on an open plain, the creak of a leather saddle, and the smell of sweat and smoke. They are affiliated with NOBODY. ⸻ played by zeke.

[uncny]

“ Don't mind if I do, ” Hikari giggled as she began to dance, though her movements were very restrained, only swaying from side to side, intimately savoring the music and the respite the rhythm brought to her sense of peace and individuality. Even outside of the theatre, she still lived the cultural dance form that became her new sanctuary. But something that was said spurred her curiosity, perhaps even her concern. Was someone hurt? Brutalized? “ Hmm? Where is this man? What exactly did you do with him? ”

[eschatclcgy]

Kit pouted cutely, trying to encourage more life into HIkari's movements with eager gestures and exaggerated moves of her own.

"Oh, Trick? He's..." She scanned the bar where she had left him, then snuggled to HIkari's shoulder so she could point her at a man who listed heavily on the bartop. He was barely keeping the glass in his hand from tipping, his glassy eyes slowly scanning the crowd as a lazy smile pulled at his lips.

"All he wanted was for me to feed on him- silly little man didn't know his limits, but lucky I dooo~" She twirled in place before swaying to a stop.

[buriedwithit]

good, he knows his name. that's a good sign. at the very least, he's not slipping into shock. adrian doesn't know how bad the injury ( old or new ) is, but he certainly doesn't want to make it worse. "i'm adrian," he answers, grimacing as he notes the spasm rippling through adam's back. he doesn't have the equipment to restrain him... and even if he did, he doesn't know if that would work, let alone help. "just try and keep steady, alright? help will be here soon."

[eschatclcgy]

"Adrian," he repeats. "I'm sorry to- ngh- meet you like this, but- I'm glad-"

He exhaled unevenly, then drew in a slower breath that shook... only a little bit less. He needed to relax, he knew that well enough.

Nodding his understanding, he breathed out carefully. Slowly, some of his tension eased. Enough that he noticed the heat tickling his palm, and the coolness on his skin.

"Ah," he said, apologetic. "I'm getting blood all over you, Adrian..."

[buriedwithit]

"okay," he says, even if he isn't sure what to make of dancing. he's never been invited to do it before, and never thought of it on his own. before ed takes her hand, he leans in for a sniff. still weird. but nothing sinister, as far as he can tell. confident enough in his decision, he grabs kit's hand and half drags him further out into the sea of dancing—or rather, bumping and grinding—bodies. his moves... leave something to be desired... but at least he's having a good time.

[eschatclcgy]

"Oh!" She can't help her giggles this time as the man audibly smells her. "Aren't we friendly, love...?"

Surrendering to the beat of the music, she bites her lip around a smile as she watches him- the graceless, but joyful, moves as he more or less flails about the dance floor.

"Come here, sweetheart," she finally purrs, catching his forearms. "Do what I do, okay?"

With some gentle pressure on his arms for guidance, she shows him how she moves with the music. Her movements are a bit exaggerated so they're easier to follow, fluid and large.

[buriedwithit]

ezra notes with pleasure the shift of walker's hips, like he's considering exactly how that burn feels. if he gets his way, he won't have to consider it for long. the real thing's always better, always sharper. "with where you work, i wasn't counting on it," he replies, a sly smirk creeping onto his face. a snake in the grass. "but i can tell you're a man for the classics. nothing wrong with that." he lets his grip linger for a moment too long before he pulls back, gulping down the rest of his drink. "bit of a window shopper, i'm afraid," he admits, lips twitching with amusement. "i like to try all the merchandise before i pick a favorite. but who's to say? maybe you're my lucky match." eyes dipping low, he adds, "i haven't tried you, yet."

[eschatclcgy]

Walker responds with a chuckle, tilting his head in a warm gesture of well, yes.

"Wouldn't make it very far in this business if I was one to turn my nose up at much, mm?"

Unflapped by Ezra's confident handshake, Walker gives a little hum as the man speaks. He's no strangers to johns peacocking; flexing their muscles, flashing their teeth... some men liked to show off their strength or wealth, but Walker wouldn't let them make him flinch.

"Oooh, well, if I'm not..." He trailed off, glancing to his side as a duplicate stepped around from behind him.

"Maybe I am?" the twin purred, leaning on Walker.

[freshcir]

@eschatclcgy - buckthorn

He knew he was taking a gamble but he really needed an income to help pay off some of these student loans and the guy he was going to talk to wasn't half bad to look at - even if he was quite a bit older than him. "Hey, hi," he said as he peaked out from the corner, "sorry to bother you, man, but I was wondering... Are you hiring?"

[eschatclcgy]

Patiently running the sharpening stone along the blade, Buckthorn glanced up as a curly-haired head came around the corner, followed by the body of a scrap of a man.

He grunted softly as he leaned back- but a voice at the back of his mind reminded him that he was the last person who could judge someone by their appearance.

He tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the stone in his hand.

"That depends. You afraid of fire?"

[all-cf-me]

"Now that's what I like to hear," Seth says with a wink of approval - Walker is about as new to the game as a guy can get and yet he seems perfectly accustomed to the rules. It's hard to judge after only one week of work, before things have a chance to come up in personal lives and the threat of burnout looms, but Seth can definitely see the potential... especially in how Walker's hand seems to naturally find its way to caress Seth's outstretched leg, bringing the hair on his arms to an interested bristle. "The clients out for blood come much later, stretch... the ones that don't even wanna fuck, just sit there and watch you bleed. Think you could handle that?"

[eschatclcgy]

The old cowboy absently purrs- a very feline vibration rumbling in his throat and the top of his chest, just like any house cat- as he strokes his hand up and down Seth's thigh.

His gaze shifts idly across the room as his boss continues. The image Seth conjures nearly brings a grimace to Walker's face, but decades of honing his poker face helps reduce his reacytion to only a slight tightening around his eyes, a faint deepening of his crow's feet.

"They can do it to my dupes," he says, readily enough. "Me? I reckon I got enough scars."

[uncny]

“ Kids should definitely be off-limits, ” Hikari nodded, though the sigh that escaped her lips betrayed her attempt to keep her own emotions hidden. Her childhood had never been sound, and she often wondered if she would have had a better life if only she was also off-limits. “ Keeping to those ethics can be rare out there, I'm assuming, but it still seems quite rewarding, isn't it? ” Hikari tilted her head to one side, mustering a smile. An eye for an eye, it seemed, was the lesson she could gather from Walker's adventurous encounter. A life for a life, such is the law of nature, the law of life. “ Oh, an extremely loyal heavy does sound very appealing. You'd get a very tenacious and ferocious security. Can't say that wouldn't...inspire me, knowing I'd be safe and to such a very determined degree. Can you be that kind of protective as well, Mister Walker? ”

[eschatclcgy]

Walker's eyes flick up from beneath his brow as he catchs something under the surface but, ever the gentleman, he doesn't press. There's no guarantee, but the post-impact world is one of ugly childhoods, and he imagines that the woman before him is ne of those kids.

"Well," he chuckled, "I don't know about tangible rewards... but it sure helps me sleep at night, and that's sometimes all a man can ask for."

He smiled as he listened. Having met that mama, he knew exactly how scary a loyal Gatorfolk could be; a hell of a guardian to have at your side.

"I sure can, ma'am," he answers, earnest. "Not to brag, but I do pride myself on my loyalty- I'll stand between a friend and the fires of called on.'

[eschatclcgy]

open | Buckthorn

His voice rang out as clear and strong as the hammer in his hand, marking the time as he brought the hammer down on the nearly finished knife on the heavy anvil before him.

He was so focused on his work that, at first, he didn't notice the other person had entered his workshop. When he did, he stopped mid-swing, his voice trailing of.

With a detached curiosity in his eyes, he looked them up and down before turning his eyes back to his anvil.

"I'll be with you soon."

[embraciingchange]

starter for @eschatclcgy - {{ adam }}

"you know, i can't remember the last time i was in a place like this," rafael muses. 'nita is shimmering eagerly in the back of their mind, curious about the new space. "but your message said you wanted to talk about something for your students, yes?"

[eschatclcgy]

Smiling shyly, Adam's eyes flick to the floor before returning to Rafael with a timid pride. It's nothing like churches he's tended in the past, but it is the little slice of the world he has carved out to worship his God. It is, in many ways, his home.

"The desire for places like this may have dwindled over the years," he says, "But not the need."

As the other continues, Adam nods, putting his fingertips together as he sits forward.

"Yes," he agrees. "I have some... unmotivated students, shall we say, and I was hoping that hearing from those working in different sectors could maybe encourage some curiosity in them."

[buriedwithit]

it doesn't surprise him that adam continues to try and wave away the problem, particularly now that he knows he's a veteran. of what, who knows? it doesn't matter. he's seen the type before—although old, he would say, is probably stretching it. then again, with wings and antlers, with mutation, maybe not. it's never naturally where his mind wanders. "hey, nothing to it. wouldn't sit right with me if i just left you on the ground. everyone needs help, sometimes." and thankfully, he knows that other ( more qualified ) people will be on the scene soon enough, too. sol city is large, but not that large—even people without any extraordinary abilities get around quick. "what's your name?" he asks, figuring he could try and keep him occupied while they wait.

[eschatclcgy]

Tremulously, Adam gratefully patted one of the arms supporting his aching body. The pain shooting through him was just short of convulsion-inducing, and he sucked down breaths as evenly as he could.

"It's- nngh- good of you to help," he gasped out, his fingers digging into the Samaritan's arms as Adam's back arched from the pain.

"I'm, Adam- Adam Kovak."

[eschatclcgy]

drabble | Kit | cw: stalking

Curled up into a tight ball in bed, Kit hid fully beneath her blankets.

Her mind reels as she struggles to process the depth of everything she had just learned. Ezra, one of the most wealthy clients of the Bearded Lady had been stalking her-

She covers her mouth, tears filling her eyes as her mind offers a hundred memories; missing clothes, lingerie laid on her bed that she had never purchased, her journal moving… the soil-covered necklace that had been set lovingly on her pillow…

Desperate to escape, but having no where to run too, as Ezra had already proved to her, she flings herself off of her bed and scrambles, blankets and all to wedge herself into her closet.

Her chest rises and falls rapidly as she remains just this side of hyperventilating.

He's been watching me, she thinks for the umpteenth time. He's been…

Her head snaps up as a new realization hits her- Ezra is a man with a job, he can't just hang around her apartment all day. He's got the have other ways of watching her…

Her stomach clenches as she climbs out of the closet and, in a frenzy, she begins to tear apart her cluttered bedroom, looking for anything that doesn't belong. Her hands shake as she goes, tossing things carelessly onto her bed when she deems them safe.

On to the next shelf-

Her heart lodges in her throat as she moves aside the lingeried koala that lives on her top shelf, revealing the camera hiding behind its lace.

Trembling from head to foot, she pulls the small device out and sinks to her knees as this new piece of proof piles on top of all the rest. Vengeance suddenly sparks in her and she bares her fangs, digging her nails into the camera's casing. Before she can rip it back, though, the vengeful fire is doused by an icy thought- if Ezra drugged her and bound her for cutting him off at the Lady, what would he do if she took out his eyes in her apartment?

"Oh, my God-" she tosses the camera away and scoots back from it, hands covering her mouth as tears burn her eyes. He'd been watching her sleep‐ he'd been watching her in her private moments in bed- he'd seen her…

If it wasn't such an extreme violation of her privacy, and if Ezra wasn't such a bastard, it might have been flattering, or even arousing, but as it was…

Her eyes flick from her door to the camera. Was he watching now?

Pinching her legs together, she scoots back over to the camera and examines it, making sure she hadn't damaged it when she threw it. She stares into the camera's uncaring eye and thinks, quite unbidden, about Ezra on the other side. Was he watching? Was he at work?

She whines, wishing she could smash the thing and be done with it, but instead, she rises to her feet and carefully replaces the camera and her koala, then looks miserably at the mess she had made while searching for cameras she couldn't do anything about.

Her mind swirls as she tidies the disaster. What can she do to get him off her back? Should she move away from Sol City? Uproot her life, abandon her parents?

What if he followed?

She glances at the camera again and goosebumps spread across her skin. Would he be angry she'd moved it?

[buriedwithit]

despite all the i'm fines and no, nos, and everything else in between that adam managed through what he could only assume was gritted teeth, adrian doesn't stop dialing. the good thing about his communicator, and emergency services, is he doesn't actually have to stop what he's doing. these implants can be life-savers. "try not to move too much," he says gently, trying to be more anchor than boat. he can't afford to be tossed about in the storm when there's somebody else in need. "it's alright. you're alright, now. people are on the way that are going to help get you patched up."

[eschatclcgy]

He groans, eyes rolling to the heavens as his body stiffens under the pain.

"I'm fine," he tries again, his voice strained. "It happens from time to time- curse of being an old-" He moans, squirming. "An old vet-"

His hand squeezes tight on Adrian's wrist, trembling from finger to toe.

"I- oh, bless it-" He squeezes his eyes shut, accepting that this isn't one of the episodes he can shrug off.

His voice, softer and contrite, offers a, "Thank you, stranger."

[freshcir]

"Woah, hey," he said with a nervous laugh as he recoiled from the other. "Appreciate the offer but I'm good, honestly," he said with raised hands. "I can buy you a drink though and we'll call it even?"

[eschatclcgy]

Walker is quick to withdraw his leg, showing the palms of his own hands with an appropriate amount of contrition.

"Forgive me," he says, earnest. "Some men come here chasing taboo, and who am I to deny them?"

His expression softens as he nestles against the bar.

"Lets do," he replied. "I'm a whiskey sour man myself, if you don't mind."

[all-cf-me]

She runs through his hands like water, appreciative, responsive. He wonders if her answer is genuine or if it's a calculated attempt at giving Seth what he wants to hear, but it contents him all the same; after all, it's what he likes best about people too, so she hit the nail right on the head.

Seth leans in, then, his unkempt facial hair scratching rough against Kit's jaw as he murmurs into her ear: "Let's go have us an interview, then."

Without another glance he removes himself from her proximity, pushing off of the bar and wheeling round to stalk away into the crowd. If he assumes correctly, Kit is following him, though he doesn't spare any glances over his shoulder to check... he only continues forward, winding his way through the pulsing throng of bodies until they reach the door to his office. It unlocks at his bio-signature and he leads the way inside, hoping, knowing that Kit is bold enough to follow.

[eschatclcgy]

His beard on her soft jaw makes her shiver in delight, her hips and thighs shifting as the sensation sends tingles through her. Then, her thick eyebrows pop up as he speaks. His quick departure saves her from having to hide her, admittedly brief, astonishment.

She wastes no time in slipping away from the bar and hurrying after him, moving through the tangle of bodies like a bit of quicksilver, laying the occasional hand gently on someone so that they didn't back into her or trip over her.

She masters her shivers of excitement as she joins him at the door, following him inside. The sway of her hips has all the confidence of someone already employed at the Lady.

[buriedwithit]

ezra watches intently as she continues to drink, wondering if it will be too much for her... or if he cares. he's just here to have fun, too. why else would anyone be here, if not for pure indulgence? he's met the owner—it's the most kinship he's ever felt with a person before. even ihsan gets a little too depressed for him at times. yeah, yeah, you're smarter than everyone else. why cry about it? ezra thinks he's smarter than most people, too... and he doesn't lose any sleep! he makes a low noise in the back of his throat as kit leans up to moan in his ear. the number doesn't matter to him. he can shake it off anyone he likes, no trouble at all. "that all?" he asks, grinning so wide it nearly looks like he'll shear off his own head. "sexy little thing like you... i would have thought you'd charge double that. tripe, even." it's easy to spend money when none of it is yours. "what do you say you and i get a nice room together? that way i can have you all to myself..."

[eschatclcgy]

She giggles, giving his cheek a quick peck again at his comments.

"Oh, baby~ I'm nothing if not an equal opportunist- I think everyone deserves to a taste of me, not just the ones with mountains of creds~"

She smiles over the rim of her glass, dimples flashing in her cheeks, and she wiggles with excitement.

"You don't want to give anyone a show?" She teases, then giggles again. "No, no, I want our first time to be just us~ Come on, handsome." Tossing her head back, she drained first one glass, and then the other. Alcohol dribbled down her chin and she wiped at it, sucking it off of her thumb as she lead him away from the floor. "Follow me~"

[all-cf-me]

Seth's having a hell of a night himself, between juggling a rowdy party of bachelors and hosting a semi-annual meeting for the Jaguars. He's about ready to disappear into his office and let the fuckers tire themselves out when suddenly someone barrels straight into him from the employee entrance, and his tongue is ready to lash as he turns to address them.

"Hey, keep your eyes on the fuckin' road, huh? You could've run into..." When he sees Kit, though, and the disheveled state of his arms and clothing, he's given pause, his expression creasing with concern. "Kit? You're off the clock tonight, darlin', you..." Seth reaches up a hand to find Kit's chin, gently tipping it up so he can get a better look. "What the hell happened here?"

[eschatclcgy]

Kit winces immediately. Never one to shrink away from any attention, he nevertheless shrinks away from Seth, blinking quickly as his shiny eyes grow even shinier. Seth is stressed, Kit can tell, and he doesn't want to deal with any more shit on top of what he just had to deal with.

He swallows around his sore throat, unable to meet Seth's eye, and sniffles as he puts his hand on Seth's. The feather-light touch asks Seth to remove his hand, but doesn't do anything more than ask.

"N-nothing," he says, his free arm wrapping protectively around his middle. "Just some- damn john who thought b-because I work here he has a right to me on the street-"

His swollen eye burns as he blinks and he finally looks up at Seth, begging.

"I know I'm not on tonight, I just- I need a drink, b-boss man... blood and alcohol." A long finger wiped at his good eye, smearing away the wetness there, as he trembles before Seth. "Once I get some blood in me, I'll look better."