#umbracut

[thefireandtheblame]

@umbracut

It has been two weeks since Shroud was captured and detained. More importantly, it has been two weeks since Robert made the call: Coop's back on the roster, and - as gracious a gesture as that is - they still haven't talked about it.

(Well, Flambae, delicate as ever, brought it up during her first shift back, but Robert had pointedly responded to his usual shit-stirring with a call regarding a blown sewage line.)

So, technically, he and Coop have not talked about it. At all.

Which is why Robert has no fucking clue how he's going to cancel on her and Punch Up the night of, two hours before the showing. (Do people scalp tickets to these things? Can he legally get away with that?)

He shows up anyway, on pins and needles, only to see Coop without Punch Up in tow. Fuck. This was all just a setup.

Gingerly, Robert lifts a hand and waves to her: "Did Col—did Punch Up eat a chimichanga supreme before this?" Had diarrhea shits been his excuse for leaving the two of them alone like this?

[websriot]

@umbracut    ( j.    bardot )    liked this.

“ oi,    hold on a second!    i ain't here to start $?@!,    i swear —    jus'    wanna talk!    it'll give us both a second t'    cool off,    yeah? ”

[villainpowers]

Runaway Villains | Starter for @umbracut

Courtney couldn’t care less for everyone else in that van. Her eyes were on one person and one person only—the one who would have still been part of the Z-Team, had she been cut instead, like she was meant to be.

It surprises Courtney—that after all of that, the Z-Team still wanted Coop back. So eager to forgive her after she practically wreaked havoc on the city, even if they did manage to stop her in the end. Makes Courtney wonder what was so un-fucking-forgivable about her. Why they all got together and collectively cast a vote to cut her out.

But maybe it’s because they feel the exact same as Courtney does. Because they all agree she should have been cut from the get-go, and Coop should have been kept.

What’s past is past, and Robert deciding he was done with the past is no surprise to Courtney. So, she makes her move, staying invisible while jumping on top of the van, holding on tight as it drives away. Timing is important here. It’s not until the vehicle is a good distance from SDN that Courtney punches the window to the driver’s seat, shattering the glass in the process and, ultimately, causing the driver to swerve and crash the van against the back of another car.

The driver’s partner stumbles out of the van with his gun out, searching for the attacker. Surprise! Courtney’s right behind him when she throws a kick to the back of his head and slams him against the vehicle. One down.

She ducks out of the way seconds before the driver blindly opens fire at the hostile air. He’s panicking and calling for backup on the radio. Courtney uses his blindness to swiftly go around to his side. A forceful arm wrapped around his neck, she pulls him out of the seat through the broken window, then throws him on the ground. A kick knocks his gun out of his hold and sends it clattering under another car. Then her boot is against his neck, pressing, until he passes out.

The keys are fished out quick. She traces her way to the back of the van and unlocks the door. The confusion and fear are clear on the Red Ring goons, though Courtney barely spares them a glace as her eyes settle on Coop.

“Sorry for the slight detour.” Courtney rematerializes, dangling the keys to the cuffs in her hand. “There’s been a change in destination.”

[gclden-paragon]

@umbracut "this is my best chance at finding something approaching a normal life."

If asked where she was going to spend her weekend, Blazer would have never said: a supermax in Colorado. Yet, here she was, on visiting day. There were a few people conversing with their families, partners and a few kids were about, but with barriers which prevented direct contact or for anything that might be exchanged. Bored guards swarmed the area, though a few kept eagle-eyes out, with Blazer occasionally feeling the weight of their stares. Could only imagine how much worse those looks were towards the inmates.

"I understand and I want this for you" problem was, getting someone from an out of state institution required a little more time, more wrangling with red tape. Only reason she knew of Coupe was because Punch-Up said if the former assassin was going to stay locked up, he didn't want any part of the program.

While Blazer could admire such brazen loyalty, did he have to pick someone in another state?

"It's taking longer than anticipated, but we're going to get you out" perhaps she shouldn't be so certain, there was a hold up with the paperwork and Colorado law enforcement wanted more than promises and papers that if they released a super villain they wouldn't come to regret this decision.

Ideally, someone higher up the chain in SDN should be here, but they bailed last minute and it was decided if Blazer want this program to survive, she'd have to fight for it and make sure all of the new team could ideally get to Torrance without additional problems.

"We..." realized she was using the 'royal we', had to give some separation between SDN and herself, "I want you to come work for us, know it doesn't mean much at the moment, but you have been patient with all of this so far and it hasn't gone unnoticed" still felt like all she was saying was corporate bullshit.

[b1oodhunt]

"sorry, what did you say?"

Normally Bloodhound is not one to touch without asking first but this matter is one of life and death. A gloved hand curls around her arm, stopping her from reaching for the door. "I know all appears quiet but you must remember that my senses are sharper than yours." Their voice is sharp and metallic as their respirator acts as a sort of voice filter and breathing device all in one. "The doors is rigged to blow. I can smell the explosives." They don't mean to insult her but it is true, their sense of sight, smell and hearing is the sharpest amongst their team due to their alien heritage. "I can smell more explosives near the windows as well. I suggest we go in through the skylight instead."

[protgnst]

"do you always begin conversations this way?" /blazer pls pls pls

NEVER one to mince words, Mandy has come to expect–and secretly enjoy–Coupé's straightforward demeanor. It's ... refreshing, despite how harsh the lilt of her voice can get.

At present, however, she only registers the creeping sensation of dread as it slices its way down her spine. As if the former assassin herself is carving through the bullshit she suspects Mandy is about to spew. Corporate bullshit, indeed...

Clearing her throat, she straightens up within her seat and places her gloved hands atop the table. Fingers tangle together as they form a steeple—rigid and indomitable. "That's usually the way these types of conversations go." Blue eyes take in the split lip and still healing bruises from their recent fight. "You got the okay to get back on the team, but—..." She lets the word hang in the air between them. Despite Robert being the handler for the Z-team, that didn't mean he could go around Blonde Blazer's final decision. "I need to be convinced you're worth the PR nightmare."

Was she being too much of a hard-ass? Probably. Yet, Coupé had trashed the majority of the greater LA area.

Not letting her doubts overwhelm her, Mandy regards the woman across from her. "So tell me: Why do you think you should be back on the Z-team?" Prove to me you can change.

the princess bride 🦋 accepting!

[protgnst]

❛ Stop making me laugh in serious situations. People think I’m unstable. ❜ /for malevola?

SNORTING, Mal kicks her feet upwards, heels clicking as they cross at her crimson ankles; easing back in her seat, she pins Coop with a lifted brow. "Is it so bad to laugh, though?" Yellow eyes gleam with a mischievous light. "I mean, when Punch-Up went flying across the bar, he was technically taking the high road."

Fangs bare as she offers her teammate an 'apologetic' smile. "It was funny, c'mon, mate... Loosen up a little, yeah?"

stages of a relationship 🦋 accepting!

[afterdecay]

a single cough had given her away. she'd remained invisible for far longer than her lungs would allow and they betrayed her in the end, exposing her whereabouts (just lurking in the corner of the room) and leaving room for an awkward silence. she knows she was snooping; even worse, now she's an accomplice by listening in to whatever coupé and sonar were planning. truth be told, she simply found their schemes to be interesting. there's always some type of hazing or plain assholery going on around here and it amuses her enough to keep her lips shut and watch things pan out when she had only listened in while unseen to the naked eye. but since she'd been found out … ❝ so, uh … what do ya need me to do? ❞

@umbracut ➺ starter call.