Neon (1x1 WilyRily & Niksis)

[WilyRiley]

The street lights had buzzed to life, bathing the streets in a myriad of pale yellows. The streets had cleared out, only a few stragglers still milled about the sidewalks, most likely heading home for evening. It was still an hour before curfew, after which you would need proper clearance to be wandering about. The rules were strict, but most of the populous fell in line with the rules. The belief was that the rules protected them, kept them safe...kept them happy.

Beneath the streets however, a whole new city was springing to life. The basement of The Junebug, which by day was a quaint diner, had a very different underbelly. Here you could find homemade booze, drugs, and every other vice under the sun. The biggest draw however was the jukebox. Jack would never say how he managed to get his hands on it, but most of the seedy patrons didn't seem to care.

This night was no different. It was fairly busy, most of those who came in would leave shortly after, pocketing whatever contraband they had purchased and heading home. Most used the back alleys and cover of darkness to make the trek to and from, but the more paranoid would traverse the cities sewer system. To be caught out past curfew by a Peacekeeper was bad enough, to do so with something naughty tucked away in your pockets was a million times worse.

Dylan had decided to stick to the streets, seeing as how it was still early she wouldn't need to worry about the Keepers until she was on her way back home. Long dark red hair bounced behind her, pulled up in a high pony tail on the back of her head, swaying back and forth to the sound of her sneakers on the pavement. There was a soft chill in the air and she couldn't help but think back to when she had decided to leave her jacket at home, picturing it just lying on her bed...mocking her.

With a heavy sigh she crossed her arms, the palms of her hands moving to try and warm her bare arms. It was summer, but it had been a fairly overcast day, causing the temperature to dip as the sun made it departure. The white tank top and green cargo shorts were doing little to protect her. Even the ripped up stockings clinging to her legs offered little relief. Still, she trekked on.

This wasn't about booze, or drugs, or even the soothing melodies of the jukebox...this was about a boy. Jack Kerry was what one would easily label a 'bad boy'. A very vocal member of the underground, willing to do anything and everything in order to 'stick it to the man'. To some he was an immature idealist, and to others he was a shining beacon of hope. To Dylan, he was an attractive guy who made her laugh. Granted they did believe a lot of the same things, she was hoping that maybe tonight could be about something other than rising up against the system and making a change.

 

[Niksis]

So far, tonight had proved to be just another one in a long series of cold and boring nights. The city of New England had seen relative peace after the government had enacted a series of, at the time, controversial rules. And as much as some might disagree with them, they had shown results. Crime had gone down to as close to zero percent as you can ever get. All thanks to the Peacekeepers and the Judges enforcing these rules. Rules that they were drilled into knowing by heart and enforce.

Some parts of the great Institution of Law, the Institution charged with overseeing these rules knew that places like The Junebug existed. However the people who frequented these sort of places had kept their anti-government attitudes secret, so they didn't interrupt the peace. A necessary evil, some of the higher ups had decided. An evil that had to exist to keep the peace.

Peacekeepers like Jonas patrolled the street every night, checking ID's and making sure that everyone could sleep tightly, knowing that Jonas and his kind was keeping them safe at night. They usually moved in pairs, however a recent uprising in the factory district had robbed Jonas of his partner. Not that he minded much, he liked the quiet of the night. And unlike many of his fellow Peacekeepers, Jonas was less... strict than some of the others. While he had to enforce the law, he had been known by some to be more lenient of people who had "forgotten" their Curfew clearance. A minor offense in his mind, not something worth prison time.

Luckily for him, the Peacekeeper uniform was made of much finer material than normally used, they were, after all, representing the Institution of Law and thus, needed to carry themselves as such. Wearing a fine ornate vest underneath a thick woolen coat, complete with the hat marking him as a Peacekeeper, Jonas continued down the street. That was when he saw her, a young civilian who seemed cold and in a hurry. He checked his pocket watch before putting it back away, "Still a few hours to curfew." he said to himself quietly before a smile formed on his lips.

"Excuse me miss!" He called out to the young woman wearing nothing but a white tank top and a pair of green shorts. As much as some people hated Jonas and his ilk, they were of the belief that they were helping society, that the Peacekeepers were here to help the people of New England. As such, Jonas began to walk towards Dylan with a slight quickening of his steps. "I'm sorry miss. Hold up!" he called again as he slowly moved closer. He had no intention of scaring her off, he simply wished to borrow her his coat and escort her to wherever she was going, a chivalrous act for sure, one that often got misinterpreted as an attempt for a Peacekeeper to arrest a civilian.

All the while, Jack Kerry, the young rebel and heart breaker was already well on his way at spouting his rhetoric, making sure everyone knew just how bad 'The Man' was and how much better New England would be without them. Only stopping to smile and flirt with the odd woman walking past him. If Jack was anything, it was charismatic. And as much as some of the guests didn't fully agree with Jack, they couldn't help but listen to his words. If anything, he was passionate about his beliefs.

 

[WilyRiley]

"I'm sorry miss. Hold up!"

Dylan hadn't heard the first call out, being lost in her own thought, but the second ripped through her like a bullet. Turning to see where the voice was coming from she froze in place, not expecting to see a Peacekeeper heading in her direction. Quickly she looked down at her watch, terrified that somehow she had lost track of time. There was some relief when her eyes settled on the hands of her timepiece, it was confirmation that she wasn't somewhere she shouldn't be...but didn't really explain the man moving towards her.

Jack on the other hand was a little more fast acting, carefully watching the scene unfold from the corner of his eye as he continued to speak. That strong voice rung out clearly as his hands moved in flurries, making his words seem to hold more meaning and power than they actually did. Truthfully Dylan was always impressed with him in public. Everything move he made, every word he spoke, seemed to come out with such ease. The redhead was more known for sticking her foot in her mouth and getting in trouble more than inspiring those around her.

The gab between her and the Peacekeeper was closing, and poor Dylan felt as though she was stuck in the cement she was standing atop of. Most of her run ins with the law had gone relatively well, but there were always those out there who would abuse the system...and that seemed to be happening more and more frequently. Especially to her friends and acquaintances in the underground. "Shit..."

Of course Jack was still watching, waiting patently. Out of all the things running through his mind, none of them added up to actual concern for Dylan. All the man could was a possible opportunity arising. One wrong move, one raised hand or lewd gesture and he could prove his point...and the redhead had always been excellent bait for him to go fishing with. Not to mention...she was definitely nice to have around when he needed to...relieve some tension.

"I'm sorry, have I done something wrong?" Dylan had finally worked up the nerve to speak, calling out in front of her towards the man heading in her direction. It was hard to not notice that he was attractive, and the fact that he was easy on the eyes made her almost dislike him more for what he was.

 

[Niksis]

As he closed the distance between himself and Dylan, the smile on Jonas' lips grew at her question. He knew people were on edge and wary of Peacekeepers. Deep down he knew, that if he had not worn the trappings of a Peacekeeper, she would have reacted differently. A shame that the inhabitants of New England viewed the Peacekeepers as the bad guy, when their only goal in life was to protect people. Regardless, Jonas did not let it get to him, he was used to the distrust people showed him and his kind. And instead, he parted his lips again to speak. And while a far cry from as charismatic as Jack The Preacher, as the Peacekeepers had gone to calling him, Jonas spoke with confidence and had a soft tone to him. "Not at all miss. I simply saw you were cold and wanted to help." he explained as he was in the motions of taking off his thick woolen coat and holding it out to Dylan. "Tell me, where are you headed?" he finished as his smile grew even more, showing those pearly whites and a slight gleam in his deep blue eyes reflecting the light from one of the nearby lamps.

He was conscious about the knowledge that Jack was standing at the corner, just waiting, hoping and praying that the filthy peacekeeper would step out of bounds. Would do just something wrong that he could use to spout his dislike towards 'The Man'. Not that it really changed anything in how Jonas acted and spoke, should anything come of it, he would be in the right if he arrested Jack. But, well, he'd rather now. Besides, his attention was drawn by someone else, someone he'd much rather spend his time on, this young girl before him. "Names Jonas, by the way. Yours?" Jonas said with that soft, confident tone. And it made him a far less effective Peacekeeper than the rest, where they were rough and abusive, he was kind and respectful. Of course, that is until you broke the laws he had been taught to enforce.

 

[WilyRiley]

Dylan's jaw dropped a little as she was offered the Peacekeepers coat, as it was something she would have never seen coming. It made her a little uncomfortable, and it would be obvious that she wasn't sure how to react to such an offer. All she could manage to do was shake her head to decline his offer, feeling she would rather be cold than take him up oh his kind...yet strange invitation. Jack of course was steaming at this point, narrowing his eyes as if trying to figure it all out. As if there was some kind of equation that needed to be calculated.

"I'm meeting a friend." It was the only response she could think of that wouldn't potentially get her in trouble,and it wasn't far from the truth. Jack and here weren't official by any means, seeing as how Jack was more in a relationship with himself and his beliefs. It was something she had hoped would change, but as the weeks went on she doubted it ever would. As the Peacekeeper smiled at her she couldn't help but offer a smile in return, seeing as how it felt genuine and seemed to make her feel more comfortable in an awkward situation.

It was then that he offered his name. At first all the red head could do was raise an eyebrow at him, now finding this situation more interesting than awkward. If nothing else, it would make for one hell of a story. Jack on the other hand was at the end of his rope. Pulling his jacket up around his collar he started moving towards the pair, determined to break up whatever it was that was happening.

"I don't see why you would need to know my name..." Just as another work was about to fall from her lips a cry rang out from down the street.

"Hey!! Leave her alone already!" Jack was closing in at this point, and Dylan's eyes widened as she saw him coming. The few people remaining on the street were watching now, curious what had the man in such a heated state, especially since he had been spreading his beliefs in a passionate but calm way only moments before.

"And that would be my friend..." Dylan shook her head, almost in embarrassment. This was not what she had planned for the night. Not to mention she wasn't thrilled that the Peacekeeper now knew she was associated with someone who seemed to be in constant conflict with the law. It made it a lot harder to stay under the radar. Of course things were growing more and more tense in the city, eventually things would be coming to a head, and everyone would picking a side. Tonight though...Dylan didn't want to be reminded of that.

"I think if you go two blocks east you'll find what you're looking for." Jack had nearly reached them now, and was of course referring to a well known brothel run from one of the bakeries not to far from here. The girls were a little frightening, but they always seemed to be busy nonetheless. "Or is it better when they don't have a choice?"

 

[Niksis]

As the red head refused his offer of warmth, Jonas simply smiled. It was a genuine smile, it had been nothing but a kind gesture, though he understood why anyone would think it a trap, or something far less inappropriate. So instead of pressing the issue, Jonas just nodded and put the coat back on again. "As you wish." he said in that soft almost caring tone. And when she told him her business, he simply nodded again, still smiling. "Have a good evening, miss." Jonas said when she refused giving him her name. He half expected her to think he was either trying to arrest her, or was a creep. It was not unheard of for Peacekeepers to use their status and power to take advantage of young women. And instead of risking another incident, Jonas decided it was best to just leave.

"Hey!! Leave her alone already!" was shouted behind him, which caused the Peacekeeper to glance behind him. "And that would be my friend..." the red head had said, which caused the Peacekeeper to chuckle lightly. "Well well, if it isn't The Preacher. Tell me Jack, have you told your lady friend here how you cried like a little baby the last time we came to visit?" Jonas jabbed back. Neither Jack nor Dylan had broken any laws and while Jonas did not appreciate Jack's comment about the brothel, he figured it would be better to jab back. And often, nothing hurts more than the truth.

Satisfied with himself, Jonas glanced to Dylan and smiled "Have a pleasant evening, miss." he said, gave her a friendly wink and then adjusted his hat before moving on his route. He didn't want to be bogged down in an argument with Jack, not now and especially not with so many onlookers, instead he hoped his little insult had shut Jack up.

 

[WilyRiley]

Jonas had certainly succeeded in shutting Jack up, obviously upset that the comment was made in front of his lady friend. It was enough to get him to drop the subject, and his attack. Snarling at the Peacekeeper as he began to walk away, effectively removing himself from the conversation. Quickly he pulled his arm up, wrapping it about Dylan's shoulders and pulling her small frame into his own. "C'mon, let go get a drink."

All the redhead could do was nod, giving one last glance back towards the man who had offered her his jacket. There were certainly mixed emotions swirling around, although her core beliefs would remain unshaken. With a sigh she turned to follow her companions step, continuing down the street and heading towards The Junebug.

The entrance was somewhat hidden if you didn't know what you were looking for, mainly because it looked like an entryway that had never been used. The large metal door was rusted, and seemed as though it may very well be rotted in place. There was even a large padlock fastened to a latch to give the added effect that this door was not an access point to anything worth while. Those who frequented places such as these knew better though, and after a quick pull the door opened up to a downward staircase which lead to the basement of the diner.

Everyone in the establishment knew Jack, and most knew Dylan if only by sight. The redhead followed her companion as he made his rounds and said 'hello' to the patrons. Thankfully there weren't any real long drawn out conversations and the pair found themselves seated at the bar only about ten minutes after they had arrived. Nothing had really been said between them, Jack still licking his wounds from the earlier blow by the Peacekeeper. Finally he was able to break the silence between them though, ripping Dylan from her own confusing thoughts and bringing her back to the reality that surrounded them.

"You should have just walked away from him."

The redhead shifted a little on the stool she was perched upon, not sure how he could possibly be trying to blame her for anything that had happened. Before she was able to respond though two glasses of clear liquid were placed in front of the pair. It was known as 'Vile', and it was strong stuff. Definitely strong enough to make your troubles melt away, at least for a night.

"You should have just stayed out of it." The words were somewhat cold, and followed by her taking a sip of the strong clear liquid. Instantly after it was swallowed she made a face, sticking out her tongue as her body shuddered in response to the liquor. Initially she hadn't even wanted to drink, but now it seemed as though it might be necessary to calm the tension. "I can take care of myself."

Jack chuckled at the last comment, shaking his head and taking his own long pull from his glass. "Maybe you can. Pretty soon it's going to get out of control though. They have too much power...and it wont be long before they start using it. Do you know what's going to happen to girl's like you when everything shifts?"

Dylan rolled her eyes, having heard this spiel before. Of course the thought was a little daunting, but she wasn't about to believe that she wold just roll over and give in should anything that extreme happen. Jack had been claiming that the 'shift' was coming for three years, and still nothing had really changed.

"Can't we just...not do this? Why can't we just have a normal fucking conversation?"

Dylan took another drink, the more she let pass between her lips the less disgusting it tasted. Even with just a few drinks gone, she was starting to feel the effects. There was no regulation for making bootleg booze, so those who produced it were held to no standard as far as how strong or safe something could be. The same went for the drugs, but the redhead rarely participated in things like that. Actually hadn't touched them in years.

"We could always just avoid conversation all together..." A hand slipped beneath the bar, resting on Dylan's. Jacks fingers toying with the ripped fabric of her tights, teasing what exposed skin he could reach. "I like it more when you're all worked up and..."

Dylan cut him off by smacking his hand away, obviously not in the mood for whatever her counterpart had in mind. Thankfully Jack didn't push it any further, accepting his fate for the time being. The pair just sat in silence, drinking and marinating in their own thoughts which were becoming more and more fuzzy as the liquid disappeared from the glasses. At some point Jack moved from the bar, the alcohol making him feel more social and flirtatious. The redhead didn't mind his absence, her own buzz keeping her happily entertained all on her own.

A few hours passed, and somehow Dylan had managed to polish off three glasses of Vile. Jack had already left with some blonde groupie, which stung a bit, but also offered some relief. The basement was still occupied, the party still going. It wasn't uncommon for those who managed to get incredibly messes up to spend the day sleeping it off in the same place they had passed out. Of course they were charged a nice little fine from the owner in the morning. The redhead drunkenly decided that she could probably make the trek home, it wasn't incredibly far and she knew the routes that were less occupied by law enforcement.

With a bit of a stumble she pulled herself off the stool, making sure to leave a decent amount of credits on the bar for the drinks she had consumed. A few moments later she found herself greeting the fresh air of the world above. The night was still chilled, but she barely felt it now. The liquor having given her a imaginary jacket. Taking a deep breath she started trudging through the alleyway, trying her best to walk as normally as possible. This had been a terrible night, and despite the fact that she was pleasantly plastered, she just wanted to go home and curl up in bed.

 

[Niksis]

Having said his peace, the Peacekeeper continued on his route. Curfew was a few hours off still so he had time to spent before the hard part of his work began. Before curfew, there really wasn't much for the Peacekeepers to do, those who wanted to break the law, did so underground and those who walked the streets were law abiding citizen, most of them anyway. So instead of worrying himself all too much about Jack and his verbal jab earlier, Jonas moved on his way. Though for whatever reason, he couldn't seem to get the picture of the young girl out of his mind. Though he did not let that deter him form his job as he continued his route, greeting every civilian who crossed his path.

Of course, not everything was peaceful and idyllic in New England. The odd troublemaker occasionally walked it's streets. Gang members and other rabble bend on bringing this peaceful and perfect city to it's knees. Men like Jack, though he was mostly talk and not action. Though most troublemakers not on drugs would quickly disband their separate ways once a Peacekeeper moved in their direction. They didn't look like much, the Peacekeepers. But in an effort to keep the city under control. And to combat the ever growing resistance movement, each Peacekeeper was vigorously trained in many forms of martial arts and gunfighting. While not superhuman by any means, each Peacekeeper was hardened to be a killing machine in his own right, and Jonas was no different. Of course, there was always the odd drunk who wanted to test the rumor of the Peacekeeper being unbeatable. And more often than not, the rumor had proven true. Not afraid to break arms and legs, each attempt of insurection was met with lethal force. As much as they wanted to keep the peace, they wanted to show their dominance towards the civillians. Granted, it had been because of reasons just like this, that people hated them like they did.

The night was still young, at least for Jonas. He was one of those lucky enough to be on the night shift. And it was this shift that saw the most action. A combination of the curfew mixed with some peoples tendency to consume vast quantities of liquids like Vile and other brands of homebrew. the Peacekeepers kept finding distilleries and they kept shutting them down. However just like cockroaches, they kept showing up again and again. At this point, it had become rutine to just shut one down. And while some people were arrested for it occasionally, most of the brewers in New England had gotten smarter and smarter. So while they kept shutting down distilleries left and right, arrests were getting rarer and rarer.

News wouldn't reach Jonas until early in the morning though, but Jack had been pulled in by another group of Peacekeepers later that night due to being under the influence of illegal substances, here included homebrewed alcohol. And while consuming things like Vile was not illegal, brewing it was, so they could not arrest Jack on that ground, but decided to take him in for a nights rests regardless, knowing that the streets of New England would be a better place for everyone, if the charismatic rebel was taken off, if only for a few hours.

As if a stroke of fate guided him, Jonas turned a corner only to see that same young red head from earlier, only this time alone, and seemingly having slight issues with keeping upright and walking straight. Knowing that she was an associate of Jacks, perhaps even one of his many hanger-ons, Jonas assumed that it was the effects of alcohol. Unlike the last time, not wanting to cause a scene, Jonas was content with just watching her from afar. Silently ensuring that she would return home, safe from the distance he would watch her. And considering that curfew was only ten or fifteen minutes away, well, she had to hurry unless she wanted to sleep the buzz off in the same cell that Jack was in.

 

[WilyRiley]

Dylan was not aware of the time, truthfully she wasn't aware of much at all. The redhead had been stumbling home while curing Jack under her breath. In being so wrapped up in her own drunken stupor she hadn't noticed anyone around. Certainly not the Peacekeeper, and definitely not the man waiting in the dark alley she was approaching.

"Hey there!" The words snaked out like a hiss between his missing two front teeth, and he even seemed to coil around her like a snake. The move wasn't necessarily threatening, which was intentional as to not cause a scene and make it appear as though the pair were familiar in case anyone happened to be watching. "You are going to give me every credit you have on you. You are not going to speak, try to run, or scream. Understand?"

The redhead looked confused for a moment, the situation taking longer than usual to process in her brain. The only thing she could really think of was how horrible the man next to her smelled. It wasn't that of poverty, it was more like decay. It was a common smell among certain drug users, as some of the more heinous things roaming the streets seemed to rot a person from the inside out.

A few moments passed, and despite the fact that the unkempt man was growing a bit impatient, he was keeping his cool the best he could. It was in that moment that it clicked, and the drunken girl recoiled a bit, shrugging her shoulders in an attempt to get the man off of her. All she could hear was Jack mocking her, telling her over and over again that she wasn't capable of taking care of herself.

It was then that Dylan did something unexpected, turning on the balls of her feet she clasped the mans right hand, using his weight to balance her as she pulled away from him. Quickly she maneuvered herself behind him, kicking in the back of his left knee so that his body dropped just enough so that she could push him into the wall of the brick building that sat silently along the sidewalk. The sound of his head cracking against the hard surface echoed a little on the quiet street as his body fell into a limp ball beneath her feet.

Of course the exertion had left Dylan a little off balance as well, stumbling a few feet backwards until finally falling to her ass on the pavement as well. For a moment she felt nauseous, dropping her head between her knees and taking a deep breath she attempted to make the world stop spinning. For a moment she felt bad about what she had done, hoping that she hadn't actually caused substantial damage to the forceful drug user.

"Son of a bitch..." The words were whispered to the sidewalk beneath her, closing her eyes as the spinning grew more intense and then subsided again. "You're not going to puke...you're not going to puke...."

 

[Niksis]

"I bet you're going to puke." the voice came from behind the red head. Jonas had watched the whole thing from a distance though had chosen not to intervene. Mostly because he would have been unable to do anything, considering how swiftly Dylan had diffused the situation, but also because he really didn't want to. She had wanted to spend time with the likes of Jack and had associated herself with him and his types, so he figured it would be good for her sort to be shown just why the Peacekeeper are around. For situations just like these. Granted, he didn't get to do much, aside from hurrying over to the scene as soon as he could. All too late, of course.

Jonas was not entirely without compassion though, sure she should learn her lesson. The streets are dangerous, even with Peacekeeper presence, more so these dark alleys that people like Dylan and Jack chose to use. They weren't frequently patrolled by Peacekeeper, the whole reason why they were being used in the first place. As such, he walked past where Dylan was sitting and went to check on the addict she had knocked out cold. "He'll live. He's going to hate himself for a few days, but he'll live." Jonas said over to Dylan, as if he could read her mind.

He waited patiently for her to having caught herself before he held out a small flask of water. "Where's your date? He left with someone else, didn't he?" Jonas said with a smirk on his lips. He knew Jack, or knew of people like Jack. So it would not surprise him if he had ditched her for someone with larger tits, or a more willingness to please him. She hadn't exactly run into Jack's arms that one time where they met before. So clearly, at least in his mind, it wasn't anything serious. Though having caught himself making such a rude comment, Jonas smiled again "Sorry, uncalled for. Here, let me help you." he offered then, holding out a hand she could take if she needed help to stand.

Regardless if she took it or not, Jonas would comment "Curfews on now. I would suggest you hurry home unless you'll want to spend the night at the Institute." it hadn't been a treat, though coming from the likes of him, it would most likely be interpreted as one. No, this one time, he simply wanted to inform her of the situation she was in. A situation she had most likely put herself in, knowingly or not. And while he was not a cruel man, neither was he going to break the laws he had promised to enforce. "I'll have to take this guy to the station, so I'm afraid I can't arrest you for breaking curfew." he said with a wink and then as he walked over to the unconscious man. It was the best he could offer the red head without breaking the law.

 

[WilyRiley]

Dylan heard the voice and raised her eyes to the man in front of her, which she instantly recognized. Blinking a few times she tried to piece everything that was swimming through her head together. Part of her was scared because she was drunk, part of her was worried because of the fact that she had thrown a man into the wall, and another part of her was mad that Jonas was once again appearing in her life. Saying nothing she she leaned back a little, letting her palms hit the pavement behind her back and rolling her head back. Letting out a sigh of relief as the Peacekeeper informed her that the man was going to live, as death was something she certainly didn't want to be responsible for. Even though the drugs were probably going to take him out sooner rather than later.

"Where's your date? He left with someone else, didn't he?"

Turning her head she glared at him. Obviously annoyed that he was poking at somewhat fresh wound. Still, she was ultimately the reason she was alone. Had she just been able to nod and smile and put up with his bullshit, she would probably be curled up naked next to him right now. As she thought about it, she wasn't even sure if that was somewhere she wanted to be. Either way, she remained silent, not sure what to say or how badly it would coe out with how inebriated he was.

The apology was welcomed, as was the hand that was held out in front of her. Taking she quickly pulled herself upright, which was easy enough given her smaller frame compared to Jonas. Once on her feet she moved to brush off her ass, bits of grit and gravel getting pushed back onto the sidewalk from which they came. The mention of curfew made her wince though, especially since she had planned to be anywhere but the street at the moment the clock struck midnight and she turned into the proverbial pumpkin.

"I'll have to take this guy to the station, so I'm afraid I can't arrest you for breaking curfew."

"I don't need you to do me any favors ya know? I've spent the night in the drunk tank before." Why it came out of her mouth, she wasn't entirely sure. Dylan was always one to let her mouth get her in trouble, but being drunk the little control she usually had was nonexistent. "And...for the record...I turned Jack down. Yes, it's true...he may have left with somebody else...but it was only because I turned him down."

The words were a little slurred, and her hands moved elaborately as she tried to convey the importance of certain words. Making sure it was clear that SHE had turned HIM down and so on. Dylan still couldn't tell why she was so irritated, or why she was taking it out on a Peacekeeper of all people, but she was feeling this ball of pent up frustration in her stomach that needed to come out.

"Oh, and one more thing! You may appear charming and nice and attractive with all your 'here's mt jacket' and 'let me help you up' and 'I wont take you to a holding cell' but I don't buy it!" Every time she spoke for him she would lower his voice, mocking as best she could the voice of what a big strong male would sound like. Oh, and she knew she needed to stop talking, but despite the fact that her brain was screaming at her to cease and desist...she couldn't. "You're probably the worst of all! Pretending you're not what you actually are, that you're not a part of something dark and evil. EVIL I SAY!"

 

[Niksis]

"I don't need you to do me any favors ya know? I've spent the night in the drunk tank before."

She had started, which caused the larger Peacekeeper to smile a bit. 'What a weird way to show ones gratitude' he thought to himself as he considered what he had just offered. She had broken one of the most strictest of laws. Bringing her in now would not be because of the alcohol. It would be because of the curfew. And that, did not sent you to the drunk tank. Breaking curfew was one of the worst offences you could do, aside from drug fabrication and murder. While most people who broke curfew was only arrested for a week or two, repeat offenders were never seen or heard from again. Of course, he did not expect Dylan to be a repeat offender, but still, such a record would not look good for you. "And...for the record...I turned Jack down. Yes, it's true...he may have left with somebody else...but it was only because I turned him down." was how she ended, which only caused a chuckle to leave the Peacekeeper.

"You do realize that you wouldn't be going to the Drunk Tank, right?" Jonas countered, she probably did but had most likely forgotten in her tipsy haze. No, if he brought her in, like she most likely wanted jugdging from her words, it would be far worse. However he had been ready to leave it there and move on. It was the alcohol speaking at this point, surely. However the second she began imitating him, thus knowingly or not insulting him, Jonas turned a serious expression as he walked over to where Dylan was standing and waving her hands.

With a perhaps too tight grip at her upper arm, he spoke. This time, while before he had spoke in a soft, caring tone, he was speaking in a strong and powerful one. Clear sign of the authority that he held and the confidence he had in himself. "You are under arrest for breaking Curfew. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the presence of a Judge. You will not have access to a attorney, neither will one be granted to you. Should you be found guilty of breaking Curfew knowingly and without proper authorization you will be subject to up to two weeks of isolation inside the Institute of Law. Do you understand what I have just told you?" he finished. His words came easy, as if they had been drilled into him and he was a machine repeating them.

Using his other arm to move both hers to her back. He had been so close to letting her go, almost ready to overlook her lawbreaking. But her own mouth, as she kept telling herself she did, got her in trouble again. Once he had cuffed her wrists behind her back, he began rummaging through her pockets and any crevasses he would find, caring little for personal space or her modesty, he was looking for her ID, any official document that would exempt her from the curfew as well as frisk her for any hidden weapons or other illegal objects.

 

[WilyRiley]

When Jonas grabbed her arm she looked up at him in shock, it wasn't so much fear as it was discomfort. The grip was strong, enough to where she could feel her own pulse thudding beneath the skin at his grip.

"You are under arrest for breaking Curfew. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the presence of a Judge. You will not have access to a attorney, neither will one be granted to you. Should you be found guilty of breaking Curfew knowingly and without proper authorization you will be subject to up to two weeks of isolation inside the Institute of Law. Do you understand what I have told you?"

"Oh you've got to be fucking kidding me...."

The redhead went limp enough to where she could be maneuvered around, unfortunately knowing how this would all unravel. There was no blushing at his groping hands, which were searching for anything incriminating they could find. Of course there wasn't much on her. In her front pocket there were a few peppermint candies that she had taken from the bar along with a few wrappers of the ones she had already eaten. The only other thing on her was her ID card, tucked away in her back pocket.

"You could at least buy me dinner first..." The redhead chuckled a little to herself, the words falling from her lips just as his hand started to slide around towards the back of her body.

Dylan shifted uncomfortably, her shoulders tensing from having both her hands shoved up behind her back. As soon as Jonas took a look at her ID it was anyone's guess as to how this encounter would unfold. Of course he wouldn't know her...but he would certainly be aware of her last name.

Crassus Technologies was one of the leading forces in the business world, who also happened to dip their hands in politics whenever possible. They had a way of avoiding trouble, and would often work in tandem with the government when it came to passing laws, seeing as how they were the leading supplier in armament and weaponry. Chances were if the Peacekeeper currently frisking her was wearing any type of body armor...it was Crassus.

Of course being part of the family didn't specifically grant her any kind of immunity, her ID read just like any other normal citizens, but chances were her visit to the clink would work out a little differently than most.

 

[Niksis]

He looked through the ID and seemed to double check it. Just to make sure he read the name right. "Alright, Miss... Crassus..." the Peacekeeper sighed. He knew that if he took her in, the name alone would get her out even before she stepped inside the Institute of Law. However he half expected that having the Crassus name associated with Jack and his rumored underground movement would most likely not look very good. "Please confirm to me that you have heard and understood what I just told you and that you are aware of the rights given to you based on the law you have broken." It was a standardized thing, much like the rest of the Government, the Peacekeepers were fond of their procedures and processes. And he had to have the victim confirm that they had understood their rights before he could bring them in.

Should she refuse to answer, Jonas would have to give her restrained wrists a gentle lift, just to put a bit more pressure on her shoulders. It was perhaps borderline assault, but it often got people speaking. Of course, if she did acknowledge her situation, he would simply continue. However knowing her last name had complicated the situation somewhat. It was not unheard of that Peacekeepers got relocated or fired if they put their noses too far up Crassus Industries. And harassing his presumed daughter would probably not go very well. But at the same time, failure to bring her in would mean he neglected his duties, yet another thing that got Peacekeepers relocated and re-educated. Now was the time that he regretted taking an interest in this young woman, she sure was cute and pleasing to the eye. But this was not worth it.

Allowing another sigh to leave the larger Peacekeeper, Jonas placed a hand on her lower back where the handcuffs were and guided her on. The trip back to his vehicle would take a good ten minutes. Ten minutes where he would have to escort a retrained civilian through a territory known for not being very fond of Peacekeepers. "Should have just smiled and said thank you." he said quietly as he led her on, down a few alleys and streets. Constantly on the lookout for opportunistic idealists who wanted to play at Knight in Shining Armor.

The trip was grueling for the otherwise near fearless Peacekeeper. He didn't like the situation he had put himself in, however eventually the duo reached his vehicle parked in an alley. Gently, he guided her into the backseat before setting off towards the Institute. "You will most likely be bailed out, knowing your last name. But I don't think your father will like the connection between his company and Jack." Jonas said as he moved to the steering wheel and set off. The trip back was short, since after the curfew everyone had gone inside there was very little traffic aside from Peacekeepers on patrole.

 

[WilyRiley]

The second he said her last name she sighed. mainly because of the way it was said. It was the recognition of who she was that always made her want to crawl in a whole. The irony being that her family was heavily responsible for all of the things that she despised. Of course having witnessed some of her fathers business dealings from the inside...her reasons were a bit more sound and justified than most normal civilians.

At first she didn't answer his question, not because she was intentionally trying to be rude at this point, but because she was lost in thought. When more pressure was applied she let out a shrill little yip, the pain reminding her where she was and what was going on almost immediately. All she could get out was a quick little yes before letting out another uncomfortable groan.

"Should have just smiled and said thank you."

The pair was moving down the sidewalk now, Dylan doing a decent job of keeping up with Jonas' longer stride. His comment of course made her laugh, shaking her head as though it was the most ridiculous thing she had heard in weeks.

"Hate to disappoint you, but I'm not that kind of girl."

It wasn't too much longer of a walk before they arrived at the Peacekeepers vehicle. Dylan carefully slid in, making sure not sit incorrectly and cause herself any unnecessary discomfort. The seats were a little chilly, having remained untouched most of the night. The black leather licked at the skin that was exposed through her ripped tights, causing her to take a sharp inhale when first coming into contact with seat.

"You will most likely be bailed out, knowing your last name. But I don't think your father will like the connection between his company and Jack."

"My father doesn't like a lot of things that I do." It was said idly, Dylan looking out the window and wishing that she was anywhere else in the world right now. "Not that I see how my arrest has anything to do with Jack."

With a frustrated sigh she leaned back in the seat, crossing her legs. At this point she looked a little more disheveled then when the pair had initially crossed paths. The long red hair which had been pulled up in a ponytail was starting to fall from it's perch. Small strands of hair had come loose framing her face. Green eyes were glossy and somewhat detached, darting from the window to the rear-view mirror, attempting to keep an eye on everything around her.

"You really didn't have to handcuff me you know. I may talk a lot of shit, but I wouldn't have attacked you or anything. I'm not -that- fucking stupid." Shifting a little she sat up again, finding it impossible to get comfortable with her hands behind her back. Which she knew was purposeful, the ride to jail was never supposed to a relaxed pleasure cruise. "My nose itches..."

 

[Niksis]

Jonas looked up in the rear view mirror and chuckled a little to himself "You always talk this much?" it was an actual question. Most people who had been in the back of his vehicle had either been quiet as the grave or have called foul on what he had done. Of course, if you were to believe any criminal, they were innocent. Dylan Crassus on the other hand, she took the whole thing rather well. And something told Jonas that this had probably not been the first time she was escorted to the Institute and neither did he expect it to be her last. She had seemed like the sort who went in and out all the time, often caught in minor dealings and judging from the way she let her mouth go, he assumed that was probably the cause of most of her trips to the Institute.

He drove for a little while longer, turning down this street and that before he spoke "Look, I'm sorry about the handcuffs. Just doing my job." he tried to reason with her. He had liked her, probably still did without knowing it. She was pleasant to the eyes and had a fiery personality, he liked this. And it was this that conflicted him. Should he let her go just because she was cute? Or should he bring her in for something he was ready to let drop not long ago.

It confused him and frustrated him. And the trip back would be a very long one if they kept silent, or if she kept complaining. So instead, he figured I'd do some idly chatter. Just to rid himself of the silence and make the trip shorter. "What were you doing out so late anyway?" he asked, though he half expected her to not answer. It wasn't like she was about to tell him she had been spending the evening with known anti-government people in a secret basement selling drugs and drinking illegal substances, right?

Eventually they would find themselves outside the large, black building that served as both the police station, prison and court house. It was more efficient to have it all in the same building. Stepping out of the vehicle Jonas moved to open the door to the back seat, then gently tried to help her out, knowing that the trip had most likely been uncomfortable. He still didn't like hurting her, but had a job to do. As such, once she had exited the vehicle, Jonas helped guide her to the large building where, once inside, he would undo the cuffs with an apologetic smile. "Take her to processing. Curfew." Jonas said to one of the guards inside who swiftly moved to grab the red heads arm and guided her inside while Jonas had to go inform his boss that he had arrested Jack Crassus' daughter for breaking curfew... 'And to think this started out like such a good night too....' Jonas thought to himself, mentally preparing himself for the verbal asskicking he was about to get.

 

[WilyRiley]

"What were you doing out so late anyway?"

Dylan raised an eyebrow, as it was a rather bold question...seeing as how they both knew that it was nothing legal. As talkative as she was, she knew to keep her mouth shut in that regard. Not that it would necessarily change the fact that she wouldn't be spending too much time in jail, but it would certainly add to the paperwork when she first arrived.

"I sleepwalk."

It was a little bit of a smartass answer, but she followed the comment with a nice enough smile to prove that she wasn't trying to be a complete bitch. All she was really trying to do was avoid the question without managing to somehow incriminate herself any further.

The rest of the ride was fairly quiet, a few random comments made here and there but no real actual conversation took place. Even so it wasn't long before they had arrived at their destination. The redhead stretched out as best she could as soon as she was out of the car, of course it was a little more difficult to do with her hands behind her back, but it felt good nonetheless.

"Take her to processing. Curfew."

"Goodbye lover."

Dylan giggled a little as she threw her final little barb in Jonas' direction, a new officer taking her into custody and carting her off to booking. It was true that this wasn't her first trip 'downtown' and it probably wouldn't be her last. Thankfully the booze was starting to wear off a little, which would make this whole process a little easier to deal with.

Fingerprints were taken, along with a photograph, and within five minutes she was placed in a holding cell while the necessary phone calls were made. Dylan just paced her cell, listening to some of the screaming and complaining from other prisoners around her. There was a bit of guilt there. The simple fact that just because of her name she wasn't causing a scene as well. Still, she wouldn't trade it for the world right now.

"Ms. Crassus, we'll have you out of here in about 15 minutes. Please just bear with us."

It was a round young woman, bright blonde hair and puffed up cheeks. It was somewhat charming the way she waddled when she walked, but she was positive that she had a desk job here. There was no way this woman was actually allowed to handle the prison populous. One unruly criminal and she would drop dead of a heart attack. All she could do was nod and offer a half smile in return for the information, still rubbing her wrists from where the handcuffs had been removed.

"Did you need anything? We have all the usual vending machine goodies."

"Um...no. I think I'll be okay."

It was odd, the way she was just hanging around, looking at the redhead as though she held some kind of golden ticket...or big juicy sandwich.

"Jonas just takes his job very seriously, I hope you and your family wont hold it against him."

Suddenly it all clicked together in her head, and she nodded as though she had just now reached the same page in the textbook and could follow along. The blonde had a crush, and there really wasn't a need to question why, Jonas was an attractive guy after all.

"Oh no, don't worry about that. You'll still be seeing him around here. What's you name?"

The blonde blushed bright red, knowing that her secret was out. Dylan had figured out, with her own womanly recognition of the telltale signs, that she was a little smitten with her coworker.

"Faye Dunning, ma'am."

"Please don't call me ma'am...I'm only 22 for crying out loud. It's nice to meet you though Faye. I wish you luck with...well...you know."

Dylan smiled, and officer Dunning quickly returned the gesture. Nodding and bushing she made her way back down the hallway, a new little pep in her step as though she had been given a boost of confidence. It was cute, and possibly a little sad. There was no way to know if the redhead had just sent her off to possibly face rejection. Still, she felt that she might have done a good thing...maybe.

 

[Niksis]

He hadn't known his superior had such a colorful vocabulary. And certainly didn't know half of the words used, though Jonas suspected that they were mostly made up on the spot anyway. He had understood, from what few actual words he had heard between the cursing and sighing, that bringing Ms. Crassus in was the worst mistake he could have done. Apparently, though it was impossible for Jonas to know, the Peacekeepers and Crassus Industries were currently renegotiating the contract, dealings which may now be complicated due to the potential for 'harassment claims' coming from the Crassus'. Jonas knew he was in trouble, but also knew he was in the right. A real pickle if ever there was one.

Of course, Dylan was most likely faring far better right now, he thought to himself. Her daddy would show up any minute, throw around some big words and important names and then she would be out and about. For a system so built on fairness and equality, there sure was some corrupt individuals in the mix. It made Jonas sick to the core. He was a firm believer in the System. He genuinely thought it worked, that it had improved things. What it really had done, was split the groups further between rich people and poor people. But being naive like he was, Jonas was certain he was doing the right thing. "I'm sorry, sir. I promise it won't happen again." he said, which only caused his superior to shout even more. "Why on earth would you promise to not do your job?!" he shouted, which caused Jonas to cringe some more. There really wasn't a right answer to be given, was there?

The whole thing lasted for, well, realisticly five minutes. Though if you asked Jonas, he'd say an hour. It sure felt like that anyway. And when he finally went to check up on his catch, Dylan. She had already been processed and released. With all the paperwork done before the Peacekeepers even managed to lock the door to her holding cell. It made him sick again, the corruption was clear for all to see. And it was everywhere. For a second, but only for that second, he could see the appeal of people like Jack, wanting to 'Stick it to the Man'. But he quickly dismissed the thought, surely New England would be a worse place without the Peacekeepers, right?

But for whatever reason, he just couldn't get his mind off of the red head that had ruined his night. He wasn't angry with her, or blamed her. Far from it. He couldn't tell why he thought of her, he just did. It didn't help that her name was one of the most influential and important in the city. Not a name you easily forget. A name that was attached to a face and personality that you'd never forget. It just wasn't a fair combination.

"Evening Faye" he said as the blonde secretary walked up to him. She seemed slightly giddy, confident even. Not something she usually carried herself with. "Don't worry about Ms. Crassus, Jonas. You couldn't have known." she said, trying to comfort him, not that he really needed it, but he accepted it none the less. "Thank you for the comfort, think I'll head home for the night." he finished before he stepped out of the room. Faye had never really caught his attention, she wasn't his type. While he'd never admit it, the feisty and fiery women were his type. He loved being challenged, another mark against him in trying to forget Dylan.

Laying in bed and trying to let sleeps warm embrace take him, he couldn't get the picture of the young, red haired girl with a witty tongue and a fiery personality out of his minds eye. He was thinking about how to spend more time with her, which wasn't going to easy considering he had just arrested her. But that's where it struck him. One of her jabs, he could use that to his advantage. 'At least buy me dinner first....' she had said, and he was going to hold her up on that. He wanted, no, he needed to know more about this girl who would haunt his thoughts at night, who would keep the otherwise peaceful and respectful Peacekeeper awake.

 

[WilyRiley]

Morning had come and gone, Dylan having well overslept in her drunken stupor. Of course her thoughts before bed hadn't wandered, seeing as how as soon as she hit her mattress she had passed out. Last night had been a mess, and she was sure that there were about sixteen messages from her mother on her answering machine. Not that any of it mattered, the redhead had no intention of changing who she was, not that she could if she wanted to.

Everything felt as though it was sticking to her, the sheets and pillows, along with her clothing from the previous day. To day she felt gross was a bit of an understatement. Before doing anything else she made her way into the bathroom, turning on the light and taking a look in the mirror. Everything was a mess. Her hair was now a lopsided messy ponytail, and the light amount of mascara and eyeliner she had been wearing was now melting down her face. Luckily she had slept long enough to where her eyes weren't puffy with hangover goodness.

Stripping down she turned on the water, making sure it was hot enough to where the bathroom started to steam. It was only when she was underneath the stream that her mind finally wandered to what had happened the night before. Of course she wasn't proud of the way she had acted...but it certainly wasn't out of character. Oh and Jonas...the Peacekeeper. Thinking of him filled her with a strange mixture of curiosity and annoyance.

After about half an hour of steaming in the shower and washing off she hopped from oval tub and onto the bathroom floor, that long red hair dripping heavily around her feet. A big black robe was pulled from a hangar on the back of the door and wrapped around her frame, fastened tightly with belt around her waist.

About an hour later she was finally dried and dressed, having taken some time to just lounge about and watch TV. Being who she was there was no need to work, and her apartment was one that most people could only dream of owning. A large and opulent penthouse with windows that stretched out over the city, rising from the floor to ceiling. Dylan never considered herself spoiled however, seeing as how she never actively bragged about who she was or tried to rub it in any ones face.

Today she opted for a pair of tight black jeans, hugging her frame comfortably and tucked into a pair of warn brown boots at her feet. Her upper half was layered, a black tank top covered with a loose fitting sweater which hung down and off her body with an almost lazy drape of fabric. This time she ditched the ponytail, letting her long red hair fall free, bangs framing her delicate features.

The weather was a bit questionable, another overcast day, which was the main reason she had opted for the pants and sweater. It was a specific craving that had her leaving the comforts of home, and that was lunch at her favorite spot. It wasn't a restaurant she was headed to, but a hotdog vendor with a crazy mustache and funny accent that she was after.

It wasn't too long of a walk, and as soon as the metal vending cart was in sight her footsteps quickened, mouth watering.

"Dylan!! I was wondering when you were going to show up! Little late in the day, eh?"

The man eyed her knowingly. It wasn't hard to guess why a beautiful young girl might be having a late start to her day. His name was Stephan, and he was middle aged and stocky with a personality to match his stature. Before she could even say her first word he was fixing up her usual fare.

"Yeah well...last night got a little out of hand. I needed to sleep off my shame." Dylan stuck out her tongue teasingly, reaching out for the food as soon as it had been prepared and taking a large bite. With her mouth still somewhat full she continued to speak. "How's Bianca? Still at training?"

Stephan's daughter had recently enrolled in Peacekeeper academy, and although she felt that decision was a little more than stupid, she still cared about their well being. After all, they had been friends once upon a time. Bianca was the main reason she was eating her hotdog right in this very moment, so she couldn't very well hate her.

"Oh she loves it! You know her, always striving for excellence in everything she does. I imagine she's giving those boys a run for their money."

"Oh no doubt. I owe her a thank you for last night. Had it not been for her I think I may have very well gotten mugged last night." It was then she realized she probably would have been fine, seeing as Jonas had been close by, unbeknownst to her. Stephan was obviously not taking that news well, a concerned look of shock spreading across his face. "Don't give me that look. I'm fine! See!! Tip-top shape!"

 

[Niksis]

Stephan shook his head and a small disapproving frown formed on his lips. "You need to be careful out here at night, Dylan. It just ain't safe." he said, though knowing Dylan and her tendencies, he might as well talk to a door. It had roughly the same effect. Not that it stopped him from trying, maybe one of these days she'd listen to him. "Oh, that reminds me." Stephan started as he reached for something inside of his cart "Bianca asked me to give this to you. Something about growing up?" The hotdog vendor held out a pamphlet, it was one of those recruitment posters that littered New England about Serving Your Government and Join the Peacekeeper Corps. It was all very nationalistic and filled with propeganda, but the pay was good and the benefits, well, it was the only job with benefits.

Though Stephan did not press the issue, joining the Peacekeepers or not, that was a decision any man, or woman, should make for themselves. He was just proud that his daughter had taken the steps of serving and he knew just how much it meant for her, Bianca that is, to be able to say she's helping. Even if there are those who hate them, there would always be people against Governments and restrictions. "Tell you what, Dylan. That Hotdog is on the House. It's a little pick-me-up from me, to you." Stephan said with a smile on his lips before he turned to one of the newcomers who had come to join in on the delicious meaty bliss that was his hotdogs.

Jonas started his day early, he always did. Despite having the early night shift he didn't like sleeping very much. To him, it felt like time was being wasted and purpose was being ignored. Though his shift wouldn't start for another many hours, he still found himself driving down to the Institute so he could train. And with the recent recruitment spree that's been going on, countless of new recruits had shown up over the past couple of weeks, recruits who needed training, practice and someone they could go to. Jonas, being one of the better shots in the Institute had been asked to be a firing range instructor. It wasn't something he particularly enjoyed, since all he really did was sit around and giving pointers. But it allowed him to meed new people constantly, which he did enjoy. Bianca had been one of those new recruits, one amongst many. Though she stood out from the rests because of her readiness and willingness to perform above and beyond. Constantly trying to outshine her classmates and always aiming to top any high scores that whatever test she is on, might have. Jonas could tell that if she kept this up, she'd be on the streets in no time.

It didn't come as much of a surprise to Jonas that he would be called into his superiors office once more, he had been without a partner for a long time, something that went against regulation. And he hadn't requested a new one, simply because he liked the peace and quiet and frankly, he didn't want to be slowed down by some rookie with a tendency for violence and abuse of authority. So when he had been told that he was getting a new partner, at that this new partner was the same bright recruit he had just mentally applauded not long before, well, it filled Jonas with a slight hint of confusion. He really didn't want a partner, but if he did want one, it had to be someone who was a Peacekeeper for the right reasons. Not just for the power and for the authority that it gave. And while he didn't know Bianca very well, yet, something told him that she had joined up for a reason bigger than just 'Glory'.

"Come on Rookie, let me show you the ropes." Jonas said as he walked past Bianca and moved towards his car. He wasn't on duty yet, but well, Jonas didn't really have a life outside of the Peacekeepers, so he was always on duty.

 

[WilyRiley]

Dylan took the pamphlet out of courtesy, but there was no way she would be joining the Peacekeepers. Honestly, she would probably rather set herself on fire, or even more terrifying join the family business. Still, she wouldn't express these feelings in front of Stephan, especially since his daughter was now one among the ranks.

The conversation ended politely, and even though the hotdog was offered to her on the house, the redhead still left 20 credits in the tip jar. Out of all the people wandering the streets right now, Dylan was probably the one in least need of a handout. Waving goodbye she swallowed the last bit of the hotdog and continued down the road. It was still early enough to where she could kill some time wandering around town.

Eventually it lead her to a small coffee shop, and after all the liquor, the thought of hot black caffeinated goodness sounded almost divine. As she walked through the door she tossed the Peacekeeper pamphlet into the garbage bin sitting outside the door on the sidewalk.

There was a decent line, which was actually welcomed as it would giver her time to look over all the crazy flavors and combinations this establishment offered. Initially she had just wanted a simple cup of coffee, but now that there seemed to be a million more options she was determined to get something sweet and foamy.

________________________________________________

"Come on Rookie, let me show you the ropes."

Bianca was excited, and doing her best to keep it hidden, wanting more than anything to appear professional. Most would say she was attractive, if not a bit cold. Dark brown hair had been cut into a short bob, and her brown eyes were almost calculating in the way in which they moved. She was tall for a girl, and built more like an athlete than possessing the curves of a woman. It was something that had always bothered her, as she was never the kind of girl that was swept off her feet.

Of course here nerves were even more on edge being around Jonas. Not only was he her superior, but he was insanely attractive. All of the girls at the precinct seemed to have some kind of attraction to him, and because of this he was the topic of many rumors. Bianca couldn't help but wonder if any of them were true.

"Yes Sir!" The rookie Peacekeeper hopped into the passenger side of the vehicle, feeling her heart pounding in chest with anticipation as her mind raced with the possibilities of what might happen tonight. "You have quite the reputation. I don't think I could have asked to be paired up any better."

 

[Niksis]

"You should try the Guinness-latte. It's really good." a voice came from behind Dylan. The queue was insane, even for a Friday afternoon. The shop had recently relaunched itself and was now rocking a poster sized menu with enough combinations to confuse and amaze even the most fanatical coffee drinker. Everything the head, or heart could think up, they had the combination. Whether it was their highly popular 'Breakfast Coffee' which consisted of coffee, egg and bacon in a cup or their 'Everything you can drink Americano' there was something for any taste. The voice from behind her came from another coffee enthusiast dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a thick, woollen sweater. He wore a black ponytail and a thick snail-like moustache over his top lip. After a few, the man would learn in again and speak, his tone warm and friendly, "Come here often? I'm Jacob by the way." the man introduced himself to the woman in front of him, holding out his hand as he did so.

Despite the length of the queue, people was in good spirits. Talking and joking all around, as if the thought of the thick black liquid awaiting inside brought them all together. Strangers was talking with each other as if they had known each other for ages. The wonders of what having a common interest could do to people.

________________________________________________

Jonas wasn't as excited about having Biance as a partner, as she was having him. Sure, she was a treat to the eye. Jonas always did have a thing for the more athletic women than the ones with curves, but still, he eagerness would most likely prove the death of all those peaceful nights he so enjoyed before. Gone were the silent patrols through the various districts. Replaced by the constant banter and talks of having a partner. But, being ever the professional, Jonas accepted it and embraced it. There was nothing he could do about it now and far be it for him to ruin this girls dreams of making it big just because he didn't like the thought of a partner.

Looking over at his far too eager partner, Jonas couldn't help but chuckle a bit "Don't believe everything you hear, rookie." he said and winked. He knew of the rumours that were circulating about him, some formed from the tongues of jealous males who didn't like the attention Jonas was pulling from the female Peacekeepers. Others formed by lustful women who perhaps wished to make their colleagues jealous by making it sound like they had been with Jonas. Truth be told though, he had only been with very few of them. He would much rather be out on the streets, making a difference than flirting with big chested secretaries. Perhaps it had been this behaviour that had earned him many of those rumours.

Regardless, he indulged Biance "I'm glad I got paired up with you as well, you show promise on the range and in the classrooms. Let's see if you can put all of that theory into use." She was good, very good in fact. He had followed her training closely as she had been one of the few who would ace most of the classes she went into. Either through sheer will or because she just was better, not that it mattered to Jonas, he only cared for the results, not the methods. Which had also been why he had acted like he did the night before. He was not big on the procedures and processes, as long as the result was the same or better. Treating civilians nicely and with respect, in his experience, worked far better than fear and threats of violence. Something he hoped he would make this young recruit see.

"So, today's schedule. We've had reports of theft down in the warehouse district that we've been asked to investigate. After that, we're headed to the housing district, apparently someone has been going around threatening people." he explained. They would have a busy day ahead of them and Jonas had every intention of having Bianca do the heavy lifting.

 

[WilyRiley]

Dylan hadn't expected the voice, but it was friendly enough to where she didn't immediately turn on the attitude. Plus, it was nice to have a suggestion thrown her way when she was still pouring over the menu with confusion. All she offered the man was a smile as a thank you, turning once again to look towards the front of the line.

"Come here often? I'm Jacob by the way."

The redhead turned once again, looking over the man who was speaking to her with mild curiosity. Truthfully she wasn't taken aback by the attention, being an attractive girl she was used to random conversations being sparked up with her in odd places. It still didn't mean that it ever became less flattering. For better or worse, Dylan was a bit naive when it came to how beautiful she was.

"First time, I'm Dylan."

The man nodded in the direction of the counter, signaling that it was her turn to order. Taking the friendly strangers suggestion she ordered her coffee, along with a coffee cake muffin. For being so small, the girl could definitely eat. Paying for her goods, and picking them up at the other end of the counter she headed towards the doors which lead to the outside patio overlooking the street. The brisk weather seemed perfect for enjoying a hot beverage and she took a seat at one of the metal tables.

"Mind if I sit?"Looking up she saw Jacob standing over her, and nodded politely, offering up the other seat at the table. Sitting down he let out a sigh, before leaning in and lowering his voice. "I want to be upfront with you, I have every intention of taking you home with me tonight."

Dylan nearly choked on the coffee she had been swallowing down, a bit shocked by his forwardness. There was a lewd smile plastered on his face, and he just oozed an odd confidence that made her a little uneasy. Suddenly he seemed more creepy than friendly, and she wasn't quite sure how to continue.

"Well...I have every intention of leaving this table and hopefully never seeing you again."

The man smirked a little, leaning back in his chair, still confident even though he had just been shot down. There was an eerie long silence between them, Jacob just sipping his coffee and looking out onto the street as though she had already gotten up to leave. Dylan sat fairly still, picking off pieces of her muffin and swallowing them down slowly. Part of her didn't want to just get up and leave, simply because she was currently in public and there were other people around, an she didn't know how crazy this guy could be.

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Bianca blushed when Jonas winked at her, despite her best effort to keep herself cool and collected. It was hard enough having this be the first day out on the streets, but now she had the added bonus of trying to pretend the attractive man next to her...wasn't attractive.

The brunette listened carefully as he went over their agenda, nodding along and storing it in her memory. It sounded somewhat exciting, but she was more looking forward to when the sun dipped below the horizon. Apparently, that was when things started to get interesting, at least that was what she had heard around the locker room.

"Thank you for the compliment. It's nice to hear, especially when some people in my life have done nothing but question my choices to join the force. I guess that's probably common for a lot of people though. There are a lot of people with a lot of pinions out there...especially when it comes to the Peacekeepers..."

Letting out a sigh she turned to look out the window. Of course she didn't mean to get heavy, or bring up a touchy subject, bu there was no denying that what she said was true. Still she felt the need to lighten the mood, but she wasn't sure what topics would deemed appropriate in this type of scenario.

"So, um...you're quite popular with the ladies around the precinct."Instantly she winced, not sure why her brain decided to change the subject with that line of questioning. Immediately she searched her brain for some way to recover from the stupid thing she had just said. "I mean...they like you. As a person friend-type person. So...a theft huh? Do we know what was stolen?"

 

[Niksis]

He had been blunt in his statement. But her refusal had not changed Jacob's mind. He was going to take her with him home tonight whether she wanted it or not. Of course, the day was still young and he had stated tonight. It gave him all the rest of the day to find the right situation or the right spot. Jacob was the sort who knew what he wanted and had a tendency to get, what he wanted. Either by their choice or his. Dylan was no different, she was nothing more than another conquest for him, willingly or otherwise. Taking another sip from his coffee he looked around. To him, Dylan seemed invisible now. It was something he tried to do to intimidate her, scare her into doing something stupid he could use. Most women would go straight home, that allowed Jacob to follow them home and eventually break in. Hoping she would be like every other woman, he remained where he sat. Patiently waiting and partly enjoying his coffee. He had just queued for a while to get it, no need to ruin it now.

It also helped to know who Dylan was, or rather, who her parents was. It would neat him a sizeable sum in ransom, he wagered. Having followed her for a few days now Jacob had begun to understand her schedule, even if it was chaotic and random at times he had still found the chance to be wherever she might have been at the time. It was then that he spoke again, in that eerily warm and welcome tone "You have a beautiful face, anyone ever told you that?" though the second he had said that, he went back to pretending like she wasn't there. Using every chance he could to throw her off balance, to shake her up and frighten her. He could work with fear. "And nose, love your nose." Jacob finished before he stood up from the chair he had been sitting in and adjusted his clothes. Then, without another word, he simply walked off, content that he might have creeped her out enough that she might do something stupid, or even better, lead him straight to where she lived.

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Jonas didn't comment on her heavy question, it wasn't that he hadn't heard it was just far too heavy for the time. She was right, though. Acceptance and respect for the Peacekeepers was falling, rapidly. And while there was still people out there who loved them and felt safe when they saw their uniforms and hats. There still were people who wanted them gone, even going as far as to openly attack Peacekeepers. Though that only happened at night. Instead he just looked over and gave her a knowing smile, luckily he had not had the same experience, being an orphan he really didn't have a choice than joining the Peacekeepers. It was that or going underground with the rest of the criminals. At least Jonas had managed to turn his life around.

A series of chuckles escaped him when he heard Bianca's statement, or was it a compliment? He couldn't tell, but her recovery of an otherwise random question amused him. And the way she stumbled over her words following was cute, attractive even. But he wanted to press the issue, tease her for her strain of thought "What about you then? You think I'm a good friend-type person?" the smirk plastered on his lips showed signs of his amusement. Jacob had not been blind to the effect he had on some of the women. Sure, he was handsome, a well trimmed body and a smile that made you week in the knees. He knew all of this, but he didn't let it get to him. So her comment had not surprised him as much as it possibly should, though now that she had brought it up, he wasn't going to let it die out. He would smile even more when he looked at her, wink and jest with her. She was, after all, his new partner.

"From what was reported, a large shipment of industrial tools and containers. As for why, I don't know." Jonas said when Bianca asked about the theft. Mostly they had been sent to investigate, not actually try and catch the thieves, that was for a more experienced pair to deal with. And with the Warehouse district being a ways off, it would leave them with a lot of time for awkward silence or further social blunders. Though eventually they arrived at the massive Warehouse. It was an entire city inside the city, warhouses in all sizes and shapes. For any and all purposes. It was a maze, and if someone wanted to disappear, the Warehouse district was the place to go, it simply was impossible to find anyone even if you wanted. "I'll let you take this one, rookie. Find out what was stolen exactly and why." he ordered, it was time to get to work.