WELCOME BACK, I plan poorly and don't ever note where the quest is on the board. I'll be using the last post of the prior thread as the first post of this thread so people can continue voting if they haven't already. I already have the votes from the prior thread saved and tallied but if you want to re-vote, please feel free as long as you let me know you voted once already.
====
"That smell..." You begin. "You didn't bring... please tell me my apartment is demon free."
"Don't be a drama queen, course it is." He laughs as he sits up. "Honestly, a loyal friend brings you an apology gift and you can't even untwist your knickers long enough to say thank you."
"Thank you for what? The smell?" You grumble to yourself as you head for the window. "Question would at least keep it scent-free... God, I actually miss the normal break-ins."
"Come off it." John throws out.
"What'd you expect me to say? 'Oh. Hey. I was hoping to hear how the rest of your night went at Arkham.' something like that?"
"I'm chuffed you asked!" He barks, tossing the gift box to you. "It was actually a real pain in the bollocks, thanks for asking."
"A pain? You had Batman and you're supposed to be this big shot magician right?"
"Unfortunately for me, being hijacked and used as a Tulpa's johnny takes it out of a guy. I had to lug him out of there before it had a chance to affix itself to him again."
"And you didn't use a spell to just... float him or something?" You reply, picking at the tight knot of the ribbon. "You really don't have something like that?"
"First off, don't talk about my magic until you've looked in that box. Secondly, shutting down not one but TWO Tulpa's leaves a bloke a bit drained. So forgive me for not living up to your Magi stereotypes."
"Whatever." You reply. "After you forced me into a corner and got me to agree to a coma, I don't really think much of 'mages' anyway."
You pull the last loop and the knot falls apart, the ribbon hanging loosely around the box, you hear a metallic scrape and glance up to see John holding his zippo, loose cigarette dangling from his mouth. You narrow your eyes and he sneers.
"You opened the window, mate. I assumed..." He trails off as he watches you frown. "Well if you opened gifts faster than my granny maybe I wouldn't need a smoke. Not to mention all the hostility you have for a bloke who saved your life."
"You put me in a coma instead of siccing a monster on me." You reply as you pull the snug lid off slowly. "That hardly counts as... saving... my...."
The lips around the cigarette turn upwards as John raises an eyebrow.
"Maybe that covers it then?" He asks, striking the wheel and lighting the edge of his Silk Cut.
In your hands, nestled in a nest of red and yellow streamers, lies a wet lump. Pale pink flesh crisscrossed with tiny black veins. A disgusting sheen still shows on it as the light makes it glisten like defrosting meat. You toss the box out of instinct and watch as the lump, about the size of a golf ball, squelches on your floor. You look up at John in horror and see him wiggling his fingers.
"Ta-da. How's my magic now, ya git?"
>Punch John in the face.
>Hug John. (3)
>"What the fuck. What did you do? WHEN did you do this?" (3)
>"How the hell is that possible? You told me that your magic couldn't get the tumor."
>"What's the catch? I know there's a catch with this shit." (1)
>Write-In
====
Numbers next to the votes are the votes I have from previous thread, like I said, feel free to re-cast your vote if you want. Just make it known it's a vote that was already cast, I trust you.
PREVIOUS THREADS: https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Gotham%20City%20Beat%20Cop%20Quest
CURRENT POWER LIST: Check the Spoiler.
As always, thanks for following along with the story for this long. Looking forward to the next bits we are getting into, if you have any questions for me feel free to ask. See you soon.
>>6265432>"What the fuck. What did you do? WHEN did you do this?">Hug John.Well holy fuck.
>>6265432I was
>>6265004 in the last thread, so I stay by my previous vote.
Also, thank God there's a grace period for archiving a thread after it falls off the board.
>https://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2025/6230473/
SCHEDULE SHIFT:
Just got word that after this week my schedule will be shifting at work and this will, in turn, effect the quest. The days off I took before were Friday evenings, Saturday evenings, and then posting on Sunday night. This will just be bumped forward a single day. So our date to return will actually be Monday night with me taking off after Friday Night. Pretty simple I hope, I'm gonna go ahead and let tonight's update pass so people can find the thread again (I also saw some discussion about Mark's tumor and medical magic, very fun) and then update Friday night just to put myself on this new schedule.
Essentially: No update tonight, the quest schedule is a single day ahead, and I enjoyed seeing you guys react to Constantine's idea of a gift. See you soon.
>Question to pass the time: If Mark decided to join a special unit/group within the Department, which do you think he'd join? And don't say detective, that's the easy answer.
>>6265536>If Mark decided to join a special unit/group within the Department, which do you think he'd join?CSI for sure. There's very little he'd miss in the way of crucial evidence, not to mention any visions he might have in a crime scene are still admissible in court.
Hell, I think he might make everybody else in the unit jealous with how good he is at the job.
>>6265536CSI or Special Victims Unit.
His skill and natural empathy will serve him well there. Though SVU will burn him out quicker than other officers and will likely need to be rotated out for spells.
>>6265536Internal Affairs
>>6265432>>"What the fuck. What did you do? WHEN did you do this?" (3)>>"How the hell is that possible? You told me that your magic couldn't get the tumor."dude you dont just box a tumor like that
>>6265536CSI or Internal Affairs would be best, but the former plays better with our general affinity for the city and its people.
>>6265432>Hug John.>"What's the catch? I know there's a catch with this shit."Hug him, make him suffer. He's earned it.
>>6265536CSI or Internal, CSI is my bias as I watched too much CSI in the past.
>>6265536>>Question to pass the time: If Mark decided to join a special unit/group within the Department, which do you think he'd join?Anything to do with places/people. So CSI, maaybe internal. It could be that as he grows in "fame", people in department all across the city will ask for his special touch on occasion. To help with the confusing piece of evidence on the important case, to read a particulary stubborn criminal who gives nothing during interrogation.
Unrelated thought, but as Mark's abilities become more widely known/notorious, there's absolutely gonna be an assasination plot. Kill the mind reader before he can get his hands on a very important witness or even a very important place.
>>6265729The real danger will be when a big time schemer like Ra's or Talia decides to make a play for him.
>>6265769Well, thankfully his rep right now is "has very informative hinches" and not "can literally see your face and hear your voice through the memories of a dead man"
>>6265536SOD or Bomb Disposal.
As much as I'd love SWAT, he doesn't strike me as the type, and CSI is too low hanging of a choice.
>>6265439>>6265670>>6265708You stare at the mound resting on your floor for a couple more seconds. Then you move forward quickly and throw your arms out, dispelling the cloud of cigarette smoke, as you throw them around him.
"Oop-" He grunts. "Alright, a thank you would suffice."
"Holy shit." You mumble.
"Alright, enough. Really." He squirms beneath you until you let him go and he straightens his trench coat. "Officer Bleeding Heart, getting mushy all over me good jacket."
"What the fuck. What did you do? WHEN did you do this?"
"Left to do it last night, figured it would be good to knick it from you while you were sleeping. Just in case."
"In case what?"
"Ah." He grunts, lazily blowing smoke. "The important thing is here you are, lump free, my debt paid in full."
He goes to stand and you put a hand on his shoulder.
"Nah." You tut. "You need to explain. I need to know the catch. And before you open your mouth, I know there's a catch with this shit. Always is."
John groans and rolls his eyes.
"Nobody can be happy anymore. It's always about the bloody fine print with you people."
"John." You state firmly. "I need to know, I mean how can I even trust you got the right parts?"
"Christ on ice, fine!" John says, plucking the cigarette from his mouth. "This isn't my first time being a magic doctor, y'know? And I wasn't using any of that hoodoo shite Papa Midnite does either. I went to someone I know can handle this."
"You have a 'tumor guy'?"
"Tumor. Cancer. It's all the same when it kills ya." He taps his ash and you watch as it falls and then vanishes into thin air. "Bottom line is there was no fuck up. Alright?"
"How can I trust that though?"
"For crying out- Because I sold my soul for it!" He flicks his cigarette angrily. "I waltzed down into hell, got Azrael to pull it out of you, and then spent the rest of today trudging back up. No faff and no extras. It was a clean deal."
"Wh...what? Like a demon? You let a..." You stumble over your words.
"Relax. You gave nothing up in the deal, even if I offered I doubt he'd have been interested. No. Your catholic virgin soul is still white as the driven snow, for now." He taps out another cigarette roughly and rises from the chair. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've actually got two other appointments waiting for me."
"A demon. A demon took out my tumor." You mumble putting your hand on your head. Your own swirling and conflicting thoughts are brushed aside as John offers a hand.
"I always pay back my debts. This clears us. Let's shake on it and if you're lucky we'll never see each other again."
>Shake His Hand>Leave Him Hanging>Anything to say to John? (Write-In)
>>6266118>Shake His Hand>"Look, I know I've given you a lot of shit, but you delivered and then some so...thanks.">"I do have one more favor to ask though. Can I get your contact info? Ya know, in case I need an expert opinion on the supernatural in the future."
>>6266118this
>>6266122John while not getting fucked over by the life he lives is a good person
he's just such an ass tho
>>6266122Oh God no. No, we do not want to ever be in the position of having to call in Constantine.
>>6266133True, but do you want to be in that position and NOT have a way to reach him?
He's the only Warlock we know after all.
>>6266118>Shake His Hand>Pour a shot of Amaretto for the both of youNo need for asking his contact information, we still have his card we can burn.
>>6266118>Shake His Hand>"Look, I know I've given you a lot of shit, but you delivered and then some so...thanks."No contant info. He's right, if we're lucky we'll never see each other again.
>>6266158Oh, shit, right.
>>6266122Forget the part asking for his contact info. We have the card that I completely forgot about.
>>6266118>Shake his hand>"Because I sold my soul for it!" John, you selling your soul doesn't mean jack. At this point half the hell had it at one point or another, knowing him it's the third time this week he's done it.
Zatanna speaks backwards, John sells his soul.
>>6266118>"Nobody can be happy anymore. It's always about the bloody fine print with you people."AND WHO MADE IT THIS WAY, HUH?
>>6266122>>6266131>>6266158>>6266161>>6266178>>6266183>>6266174You grasp his hand firmly.
"Y'know, John. I've given you a lot of shit, but you delivered and then some so... thanks."
John seems almost surprised for a moment before his usual smirk reaffixes itself. He shakes your hand and nods.
"I thought it was just Gotham that made the Bat a real bastard. But I see now that's a him problem."
"Before you go." You trail off, releasing his hand.
You move to the freezer and withdraw a squared bottle with that familiar amber liquid rocking inside it. You hold it up to John as the bottle let's off small wisps of cold.
"One for the road? Least I can give a guy who's heading to hell."
"I've been to worse places." John murmurs as he watches you pull and fill some shot glasses.
"Salute." You say, lifting a shot glass.
"Slainte."
Clink.
The sweet liquor coats your mouth, the cold giving it a thick and syrup-like texture. You close your eyes and sigh contentedly. The weight of many restless nights taken off your shoulders. A smile starts to form and you open your eyes only to find yourself looking at an empty shot glass with a dusty yellow thumbprint on it. Just underneath of it you see a familiar card tucked beneath it. The Magician. You sigh again and smile, real classy. After you manage to nudge your tumor back into a box and wipe up all the sulfur sprinkled around you decide to get an early night.
====
The night passes quietly, for the first time in the past couple months you fall asleep quickly. The rest is deep and thankfully blank of any intrusions. You wake up feeling most of the ache of yesterday resting firmly in your calves. But it's nothing a hot shower and a hotter cup of coffee can't solve. As you shift into your car your phone buzzes with a text from Allison:
"Hey! Was wondering if you'd be interested coming by the Firehouse in the afternoon? We're doing a soup kitchen and need volunteers, if you can convince any of your buddies in blue you should. <3"
You smile and tap out a response.
>"I'm sure I could convince Hawthorne, he's a softie under it all.">"Kimble might be interested, he's big on that sort of thing.">"I'll bring Grey, he's been working pretty hard. Could use the break.">"I think it'd be fine if it was just us two, I've been feeling a bit crowded since I woke up.">Write-In
>>6266682>"I'm sure I could convince Hawthorne, he's a softie under it all."
>>6266682>"I'm sure I could convince Hawthorne, he's a softie under it all.">"Kimble might be interested, he's big on that sort of thing."No one says no to Mark’s puppy dog eyes.
>>6266682>>"I'll bring Grey, he's been working pretty hard. Could use the break."We haven't really talked to him much lately. Let's change that.
>>6266682>Invite them all, bring whoever's feeling itthough if I had to pick one
>"Kimble might be interested, he's big on that sort of thing."As thanks for helping us out and teaching us to ride a bike.
>>6266738Changing my vote to
>>6266771+1
No one says no to Mark’s puppy dog eyes.
>>6266771>>6267414>>6266726>>6266731"I'll ask the whole gang, bound to be a few of em who say yes. Especially Hawthorne, he's a big softie under it all." You type out swiftly.
"I'll believe it when I see it!" She replies.
You smile and tuck the phone away as you head in...
====
You walk through the bullpen before getting changed, no better time to catch people than first thing when the shift starts, within minutes you catch Kimble with a bagel in hand.
"Yo, Marky Mark." He says with cream cheese smeared on his face. "How're the legs feeling?"
"Been better." You repeat, feeling a strange sense of Deja Vu. "You busy after work today?"
"Hm?" He asks immediately with a harsh swallow before following it with a sudden. "Nah. No."
"You good?" You ask.
"Why're you asking? Something going on?" He breezes right past your furrowed brows.
"Allison is helping at a soup kitchen that her fire house is running tonight. I wanted to know if you'd be interested lending a hand."
Kimble raps his fingers across the golden dough in a display of antsy energy you usually don't see from him.
"Seriously, are you okay?" You ask a bit more earnestly this time.
"Hey hey relax." He says hurriedly as he steps closer to you. "Look I uh... I'd like to but y'know..."
You raise a brow as he trails off. His shoulders slump and Kimble leans in even closer.
"Alright look don't tell anyone or she'll get all pissed about it. But Mendez and I..."
"I figured."
"You figured!?"
"I wouldn't call either of you subtle. She didn't even wait for me to fully leave the garage before she went after you."
"Look it's not... I know you shouldn't shit where you eat and all-"
"Dude, it's fine. Your business, I learned my lesson about poking my nose into that stuff when Banks' Ex broke into my place. I just wanted to bring as many helping hands as I could."
"Make yourself look good for your lady too, smart man." He relaxes visibly and leans back for another bite. "I'll run it by her then, see what she thinks. We were just gonna go to a bar and catch a game so not like it was a big event."
"Just let me know." You reply.
Kimble bids you farewell with a fist bump and a reminder about your training on the back half of the shift. You step away and prowl the halls looking for your next target, making your way to his usual grounds you're surprised to see a two for one waiting for you. Grey and Hawthorne stand on opposite sides of the coffee pot, steaming cup in hand, as they chuckle with each other over something Hawthorne shows on his phone.
"Morning, slick." Hawthorne croaks before taking a molten sip. "Was just showin Grey here a picture of my boy. According to him, he looks just like I did in my twenties."
"It's uncanny." Grey affirms with a laugh. "Brings back a lot of memories, I just hope he makes better decisions than you."
"He took after his mother there, pal." Hawthorne replies, the smile on his face sitting almost naturally.
"It's hard to imagine a younger Hawthorne." You interject.
"It's usually hard to imagine a fossil with all the skin and muscle it used to have." Grey adds in.
"Fuck yourself." Hawthorne replies steadily without even looking his direction. "So Rook, you come find me just to set Grey up for that?"
"No, sir. Actually wanted to ask both of you guys, Allison's firehouse is doing a soup kitchen. Figured I could round up a few helping hands from the station."
Hawthorne grumbles but Grey smiles warmly.
"That sounds good, Mark. I'll be there." Grey replies. "If you ask me more cops should be doing this kind of thing."
"For free?" Hawthorne grunts. "Where's it gonna be?"
"Allison didn't mention actual-"
"It's gonna be near the Narrows." Grey says matter-of-factly. "And you know that, Mitch. Which is why I know you're gonna help out."
"For free?" Hawthorne repeats.
"We didn't pay." Grey says simply.
"I'll buy you a beer." You offer.
Hawthorne looks between you both and settles back into that smile.
"A beer'll buy me for an afternoon." He acquiesces. "Just send me the info."
"Great, Kimble might be coming too." You say this as you check your phone. Nearly 9. "Gotta go get into my blues, we can talk more later. I... might have some surprising news for you guys."
"Looking forward to it." Grey says, patting you on the back. Hawthorne just grunts his typical goodbye.
====
A quick jog to the locker room and even walking in you hear a familiar mumbling.
"Fuck..." It hisses. "Son of a... please."
You round the corner to find Banks, show in his lap, desperately picking at a tight knot that sits at the base of two long weathered shoestrings. You smirk a little as you see him rotate it and attack from a new angle. You clear your throat gently and Banks looks up in surprise before letting loose a breath.
"Christ, Mark. You walk like a cat, you know that?"
"I'm not the one playing with string." You reply, dialing in the code for your own locker. "You got that under control?"
"Yeah... just using my bad hand for it. Trying to get used to some of the little work."
"Bad hand?"
"Ah. Yeah, I didn't really mention it to anyone since there was nothing to do about it but; ever since Firebug I got this numbness in the tips of my fingers down there. Doctors think it might be nerve damage but they can't confirm shit."
"It's good you're trying to make it work, I'm kinda doing the same thing getting myself back up to speed after my nap. No trouble tying my shoes though, got that down in Kindergarten."
"Yeah I bet you were in AP classes too, you little show-" He cuts off his own sentence as you watch a lace free itself from the wadded knot. "Fucking finally."
He slips the boot on and begins to tie up.
"Speaking of tying knots though, you give any thought to my Bachelor Party?"
You freeze. With the insanity of the past few days you've completely forgotten.
>"I was thinking... Blue Brass. Poker and drinks with some of the guys. Spend the night shooting the shit."
>"There's a nice spot outside the city where I used to go with my grandpa and Pops. How about some camping? Get away from the city for a bit and enjoy some quiet?"
>"My dad was friends with the guy who ran Gotham Lanes, up near Otisburg, anytime I had a thing he could get us in on a day they were usually closed and we'd bowl for hours. You into bowling?"
>"Uh absolutely. It's just... a secret. Not like a 'throw a bag on your head and go to Vegas' secret but... yeah."
>"Being real with you? No. Ever since I woke up it's like more and more is landing on my plate."
>"The usual order is strip clubs and bar hopping right? Get it all out of your system."
>Write-In
>>6268266>"The usual order is strip clubs and bar hopping right? Get it all out of your system."I know with my luck something bad is gonna happen, but the other stuff is too mundane or too personal for a bachelor party and I don't have any other ideas.
>>6268266>"My dad was friends with the guy who ran Gotham Lanes, up near Otisburg, anytime I had a thing he could get us in on a day they were usually closed and we'd bowl for hours. You into bowling?">"Being real with you? No. Ever since I woke up it's like more and more is landing on my plate."
>>6268267She's gonna show up at the fucking strip club, bet.
>>6268266>"There's a nice spot outside the city where I used to go with my grandpa and Pops. How about some camping? Get away from the city for a bit and enjoy some quiet?">"Being real with you? No. Ever since I woke up it's like more and more is landing on my plate.">"Part of it's good though. Going into a coma actually benefited me in a way I didn't expect."
>>6268266>"My dad was friends with the guy who ran Gotham Lanes, up near Otisburg, anytime I had a thing he could get us in on a day they were usually closed and we'd bowl for hours. You into bowling?">>6268392I do worry that bringing up that our injuries benefitted us while his keep causing him new problems could come off badly... Remember, this guy is a potential Two-Face, too.
>>6268266>"There's a nice spot outside the city where I used to go with my grandpa and Pops. How about some camping? Get away from the city for a bit and enjoy some quiet?"Lets get /out/.
I wonder if having surgery done on you by a demon counts as a sin
>>6268589Do note that demons are only allowed to employ such devilry as The Lord Our God allows on this Earth (or at least that's what the Witchfinder General tells me). Anyways, the headache Mark is going to suffer when he steps on consecrated ground after being touched by a demon is punishment enough for something he wasn't aware of nor consented to.
>>6268589We probably ought to go to confessional sometime, yeah. Play it safe, you know?
>>6268624>"Father, what if the devil ripped out a tumor?">"Did you... ask him to?">"No.">"Oh you're fine then. Say four hail marys and enjoy the rest of your day."
>>6268689we can also confess our guilt for Caesar's dad's death...
>>6268689>"If I said a self depreciating English warlock from Birmingham did it as thanks for helping him and Batman get out of Arkham Asylum, does that increase the amount of hail marys I should do?"
>>6268697>"BIRMINGHAM?! GOD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOUL CHILD!"
IMG_4428
md5: 3e6c00b06077e8bea8552d75e0c1779c
🔍
Oh god. A thought occurred to me…
Does the GCFD have their own version of Gotti?
Also also, if we wore the Gotti suit and tried to use that Psychometry power I suggested back in the previous thread on it, what would be the different levels of success we would have to roll to learn about, say, different strains of marijuana, indoor hydroponics, and how to operate and aim an M79 grenade launcher?
>>6268268>>6268392>>6268410>>6268552"Huh? The party. Of course I've..." You trail off as Banks raises a brow. "Being real with you? No. Ever since I woke up it's like more and more is landing on my plate."
"Being in a coma'll do that to you." Banks replies, but you can see him deflate slightly.
"But I do have AN idea."
"Hit me." Banks replies, perking up slightly.
"Well, there's a nice spot outside the city where I used to go with my grandpa and Pops. How about some camping? Get away from the city for a bit and enjoy some quiet?"
"Camping? I haven't done anything like for..." He furrows his brow and shrugs. "Can't even remember."
"Think about it. When you get out there and all the bits of the city just fall away, it's pretty great. Not to mention I'd make sure we were stocked with plenty to eat and drink."
"Hm. Some time out of town might be perfect actually. The wedding, work, all this shit is just starting to make my head feel a bit... loud." He chuckles but you feel something off beneath it.
"Then we'll make plans. Grill a little. Drink a little. It'll be a good time."
"Appreciate it, man." Banks says standing up and straightening his shirt. "Something to look forward too is good, especially since.. y'know."
"I know?"
"Ah shit, you don't." He groans. "Fucking coma. Day after Halloween you know Dent went overdrive on the corruption stuff and he's been blowing up about the prison since."
"Yeah?"
"Part of his way of doing that was to 'encourage' the Commissioner to fast-track a few cases... including Gorchakov's."
"What's that mean for you? Gorchakov is all tied up in Mandragora's shit just like the Warden and he's getting stonewalled by the DA on that."
"They're splitting Gorchakov's charges. He's in on a federal case with Mandragora but they want a charge so they can dismiss him from the GCPD."
"He's still a cop!?"
"Innocent until proven guilty, man. His Union Rep isn't happy about it but he's getting the same treatment any other cop would. IA started bugging me the same day I found that out, haven't let up since. Buncha blood suckers."
"Shit. When's your meeting with em?"
Banks swallows and rubs his neck.
"Dude." You sigh. "You haven't answered em?"
"I know I'm being a pussy, I just... there's a lot of shit going on right now man. The moment I actually talk to IA, that's when it really comes down. The others find out and then..." He trails off, dropping back onto the bench. "It's like I'm trying to make myself to touch a hot stove. I know it's gonna burn the hell out of me, so I figure there's no harm in putting it off a little longer."
>"You gotta talk to them. Today, if you can. The sooner you bite the bullet, the sooner that weight is off your shoulders. Besides, I promised I'd stick around didn't I?">"Well, far be it from me to tell you what to do. As long as you still plan on doing it, you can take your time.">"Maybe you could bank on them not needing you. If someone flips, y'know?">Write-In
>>6268824>"You gotta talk to them. Today, if you can. The sooner you bite the bullet, the sooner that weight is off your shoulders. Besides, I promised I'd stick around didn't I?"Though maybe AFTER the camping trip
So he'll be available for stuff.
The issue then would be him not enjoying it
>>6268824>>"You gotta talk to them. Today, if you can. The sooner you bite the bullet, the sooner that weight is off your shoulders. Besides, I promised I'd stick around didn't I?""And honestly, this is a dirty cop that has killed other cops. When the others hear of that, they'd not give you any crap."
>>6268913+1
Bring up the Dirty Cop + Cop Killer reality of the situation with Gorchakov
Rip the fucking bandaid off so you can fuck off to camp and relax
>>6268824>The wedding, work, all this shit is just starting to make my head feel a bit... loud." He chuckles but you feel something off beneath it.Banks are you okay? Banks are you going Two Face already? Banks you're not SIM, Rogers is SIM, stop fucking talking about your head feeling "a bit loud".
>make myself to touch a hot stove. I know it's gonna burn the hell out of me, so I figure there's no harm in putting it off a little longerWe have burn creams for a reason. We have burn treatments for a reason. Some girls out there are into bacon guys. You have your friends with you to back you up on this. Fucking bite the bullet and go for it already.
>>6268913Changing my vote to add on that bit about him being a cop killer, and doing it before the trip.
>>6268824>>"You gotta talk to them. Today, if you can. The sooner you bite the bullet, the sooner that weight is off your shoulders. Besides, I promised I'd stick around didn't I?"
>>6268913>>6268921+1, even the "thin blue line" hardheads can't condone a cop-killer.
>>6268824
Actually, regarding the murder of Officer Derek Free, we should try to look into the whereabouts of lil Frankie.
We'll have a witness who can testify to what he did.
>>6268841>>6268913>>6268921>>6268989>>6269021>>6269097"You gotta talk to them." Banks sighs but you cut past it. "Today, if you can. The sooner you bite the bullet, the sooner that weight is off your shoulders. Besides, I promised I'd stick around didn't I?"
“Yeah, I know man…” He relents. “I just, I don’t know if I’m ready for all that.”
“C’mon.” You say to him, dropping onto the bench to put your own boots on. “Gordon’s come a long way in fixing the good ol boy attitude around here. You said it yourself, even the union is only helping this guy because they HAVE to. He’s dirty. More than dirty, he killed a fucking cop. Anyone with a hard on for loyalty to the shield or whatever can’t ignore that.”
Banks remains silent but you see his gears turning and his expression lighten up as he nods along with his own internal reasoning and your words fusion.
“That makes sense.” He says simply. “I feel kind of stupid for not thinking of it like that before now…”
“Don’t. You’ve been under some insane pressure, add that with taking a big leap like marriage? I wouldn’t have the energy to think about it too long either.”
“Thanks. It’s hard for me not to just… put things into black and white. Guess I assumed other people would see it the same way.”
“Yeah well, my dad always told me that when you think too much, the person in your way usually ends up being yourself. Just have some faith that the others can understand you aren’t betraying the department, you’re making it stronger and better.”
Banks smiles and stands, letting out a breath as his shoulders relax fully now.
“You’re right, Mark. Jesus, I needed someone to tell me that.”
“That’s what friends are for.” You reply simply as you lace your boots and pull the strings tight. “And now, I gotta handle some papers before checking what my torture schedule is for today.”
“PT?” Banks asks, clipping his belt and shutting the locker door. “Good luck, when I was Kimble’s rookie he made me run in shoes that were a size and a half too big until I could do a mile without tripping.”
“Why?”
“No fucking clue.” Banks chuckles as he rounds the corner, vanishing to his own shift.
====
You step into the bullpen, freshly outfitted and ready to settle in when you spot something. Reiner stands next to your desk holding a file and waiting expectantly. You hurry over and he regards you dryly.
“0910 isn’t 0900, Officer.”
“Sorry sir, I was speaking with Officer Banks regarding his Bachelor party.”
“Hm.” He huffs. “Sit down for me.”
You sink into your office chair, tension forming in your gut.
“Everything alright, sir?”
He doesn’t answer you, instead he slaps the file on your desk and puts his hands in his pockets.
“Go ahead.” He says. “Open it.”
You swallow and lean forward, peeling back the corner until the contents are fully revealed: A glossy photograph sits in the folder. It takes a moment to register but you’ve seen this before. It’s a brain scan. YOUR brain scan minus a dark mass that once was. You glance back up and see something that surprises you more, Reiner grinning.
“I got this from the hospital, they told me you needed more tests and scans. That I should ‘heavily consider’ putting you on a lengthier leave so they could run more tests or scans or whatever they do.”
“What’d you say?”
“I asked em if this scan was a mistake. A glitch. They told me no, they even ran another right before you left just to check. I told em then, as far as I’m concerned this means you have a clean bill of health and unless they can articulate a real reason beside gut feeling that I wasn’t making you do anything. Gordon backed me on that.”
“So. I’m good?”
“You’re good.” He replies simply. “Your graduation date from the TO program can be set now, it’s looking like mid to late December. Provided you and Hathorne meet metrics and you pass the written exam.”
You resist the urge to jump out of your seat. The shadow looming over your life for the past month and a half is… it’s gone. Just like that. You stare at the picture of your clear scan and just can’t help but to smile.
“But the doctors weren’t the only ones who wanted a look at you. IA might wanna speak with you regarding the partners of Gorchakov that you looked into. They want yours and Hawthorne’s notes about them and for you to be available for questions or clarification.”
“Can do. How soon do they want me?”
“Just the files for now, just be ready to cut your paperwork or PT short if they end up needing you. There’s also… there’s one more thing.” He grumbles slightly, his position shifting uncomfortably.
“Yeah?”
“ARGUS. They’ve been working with the Mayor’s office closely since the Blackgate Scandal, the Commissioner as well. The liaison for the department; Gideon I think it was. He’s been asking about you."
“About me? What about me?”
“Well, it’d be more apt to say he’s been asking FOR you. According to him, his boss is interested in speaking with you.”
“His boss?” You repeat. A slight ripple of chills go up your arm, you shake it off but can’t help but hear Gideon’s words echo in your mind regarding his boss…
“I told him you aren’t interested in moving into federal work, even if you were, that you were busy dealing with some medical issues that could leave you unfit for duty. But ever since I got that faxed in last night, it’s like they know too.”
“Jesus..” You mumble.
“Yeah. Not exactly the subtle type, these people. But the choice is still yours, I don’t mind stonewalling them. You’re not obligated to speak with anyone.”
He speaks plainly but you can sense a slight discomfort beneath his tone. Not fear… but something approaching it. Maybe just a friendly worry or maybe a worry about something unknown to yourself even. You glance back at the scan and then meet his patient eyes again.
>”Federal work seems a bit advanced for a guy who isn’t even out of his probation period yet, but it can’t hurt to make some friends up there, right? I’ll talk.”>”I’ll speak with them, if only to tell them I’m plenty happy here at the GCPD.”>”I’ll talk to em so they get off your back, sir. I’m sorry you have to deal with this kind of thing on my behalf.”>”No thanks… I spoke with Agent Gideon and he wasn’t exactly a fan of his boss. Doesn’t seem like someone I wanna meet.”>”Thank you, sir. I’d appreciate it if you kept giving them the run-around. I just want to focus on getting back into shape and doing some actual police work again.”>Write-In Camping Episode confirmed, also shout out
>>6269292 for the callbacks. Always makes me happy to see someone remembering the old plot points. Feel free to let me know how you guys are feeling at this point in the story, we are about to go into some comfy times for the most part but there's always the chance for you guys to make things more exciting. That's the best part of running quests in my opinion. Updates to come following the new schedule I mentioned earlier. See you soon.
>>6269327>”I’ll talk to em so they get off your back, sir. I’m sorry you have to deal with this kind of thing on my behalf.”If this means we get to tell Waller to eat shit to her face, all the better.
>>6269327>”I’ll talk to em so they get off your back, sir. I’m sorry you have to deal with this kind of thing on my behalf.”Waller knows about Mark. He’s as good as dead, isn’t he?
>>6269327>>”I’ll talk to em so they get off your back, sir. I’m sorry you have to deal with this kind of thing on my behalf.”"We're still all on the same side right? I'll play nice with em, even though I'm happy here. Never know when we need to pull a fed out of our back pocket."
(Technically, Mark shouldnt know of who amanda waller and her rep. And its also in the dept's best interest to not throw shit in her face.)
>>6269347+1
Keep the feds off GCPD's back
>>6269327>”I’ll speak with them, if only to tell them I’m plenty happy here at the GCPD.”I'm enjoying the quest quite a bit, and look forward to camping in tge no-doubt haunted countryside around Gotham.
>>6269345We're pretty small time for Waller to get to obsessive over us, especially when we're already sort of a government asset already and wekl-placed in a threat-rich environment.
>>6269488>We're pretty small time for Waller to get to obsessive over us>meanwhile, guy with a curvy stick who robs banks
>>6269327>>”Federal work seems a bit advanced for a guy who isn’t even out of his probation period yet, but it can’t hurt to talk with a bunch of feds on request, right?Mark wouldn't make a great glowie anyway. He can't do a regime change in south america, his powers are Gotham-based. There are only so many federal cases that can happen in one city. Well.. Maybe that number is way higher for gotham. This place got terrorists out of the ass.
Update delayed until tonight, gonna spend the 4th with the family. I'll see you later though, enjoy the day anyone celebrating.
>>6269737Happy borfdey Amirecuh. Have fun with your party, man.
>>6269737Happy Independence Day!
>>6269329>>6269345>>6269347>>6269363>>6269488"I'll talk to em so they get off your back, sir. I'm sorry you have to deal with this kind of thing on my behalf."
"No need to apologize." He replies with a raised hand. "It's my job to keep an eye out for the Officers beneath me. Not yours to protect a superior officer."
"Yes, sir. Protection is a bit of a strong word though, no? We're still all on the same side right?"
"Same team, different leagues." Reiner responds stiffly. "Federal Agencies like to poach, this is as much me looking out for the department as it is me looking out for you.”
“I don’t really understand, sir.”
“The mayor is planning on bringing a federal agency into Gotham. Giving them a center of operations and, if he gets his way, their own federal holding facility. Once that happens a lot of things are going to get fuzzy; jurisdiction, chain of command, a lot of moving parts could start knocking together. It’ll be up to the watch commanders, the captains, and Commissioner Gordon to keep things straight. But like I said, that’s a problem for us. I’ll let them know you’re open to talk, it’ll be done here.”
"Understood, how soon?"
"If not today then within the week. Until then, focus on your paperwork and your PT."
“Yes, sir.’ You say simply, your mind already digesting everything he’s told to you.
Without another word Reiner turns on his heel and marches with purpose to his office. You watch his office light click out as the door closes and you find yourself relaxing a bit from a tension you didn’t even notice creep in. You roll your shoulders, angle your chair so you can relax your sore legs, and grab your favorite pen. The next few hours of your life will be ink and stiff paper which would normally be something to dread. But for some reason now, just the scratch of pen on paper brings a grin to your face.
====
A heavy hand lands on your shoulder as you close up the folder and pin it closed with a clip.
“Marky Mark.” Kimble says dramatically. “The time has come.”
“I know.” You reply, shrugging his hand off you. “Just had to make sure I wrapped this up. We biking again today?”
“Eventually. Gonna get you to practice peddling while standing, that way we can take off the training wheels.”
“You mean take off my seat?”
Kimble shrugs with a roguish smile. You sigh theatrically and walk with him back to the basement.
“So, about that soup kitchen? I’m in.” Kimble says over his shoulder. “Also recruited another one for you.”
“Mendez is lending a hand?”
“That she is. She’s got a heart of gold under all the attitude.” Kimble pauses as he unlocks the basement door, glancing over his shoulder. “Don’t tell her I said that either.”
You both step into the room and Kimble steps into the center of the padded mat. You notice now that while yesterday it was cluttered with boxes and loose workout instruments, it is now completely cleared off.
“Before we get to work. Take a run at me.”
“What? A run?”
“Yeah, try and take me down.” Kimble replies lightheartedly. “You were a little too… wobbly to try this on day one. But the truth is that this is a physical job and some punk isn’t gonna wait until you’re 100% to try you.”
You straighten up and notice now how even as you move around Kimble mirrors your movement, keeping the distance between you, it’s already started in his head.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“I’m not gonna chin check you, boot. Relax.” Kimble replies with rolling eyes. “Most people only know how to fight when it’s easy or even. Not a lot of people know how to fight when they’re fucked. It’s an art. So go ahead, take a run at me. Try to get me down, like you did with Hawthorne.”
A few more questions bubble to mind, some reluctance, and your legs still pulse with dull aches. All distractions. But you barely hear them as you stare Kimble down. His posture is relaxed, but you can see through the act. His knees are ever so slightly bent, the muscles of his hand and arm tensed. His eyes aren’t locked on yours but rather watch you entirely. But the thing that gives him away fully is the tightness of his jaw. He’s ready.
>Get it over with, sprint at full speed and try to bowl him over. A classic.
>He’s as big as Hawthorne, you can try the same technique that toppled him at the gym. Shoot for the legs and tangle him up.
>He’s gonna be expecting some kind of trick, he’s on too high of alert. You have to take a go at him when he thinks he already won. Let him grab you then go for a dirty trick.
>Put your hand on your hip then raise it level with his chest. “Bang.”
>Write-In
Apologies for the extended break. Not to diary post too much, but essentially my job has fucked me over and waited until the 4th to inform me about it. So I spent my weekend sending out applications and getting a plan set for going forward.
I plan on continuing the quest of course but I don't know what my schedule could end up being in the future. It's also possible I manage to finish the quest before it becomes an issue, but I just want to be transparent with you guys. So that's the skinny of it, I plan on keeping the current Mon-Fri schedule though with the weekends being a break. Just wanted to thank you guys for your patience. Enjoy the early update which should have been sooner, but alas. I'll see you soon.
>>6271578>Toss what you've got in your pocket at him, then close the gap. Hopefully his eyes will follow the item and you'll catch him off guard.Oof... Sorry to hear, QM. When I lost my job because of bankruptcy last year it was because the CEO fucked up a merger.
>>6271578Fucking corporate, man. The fuck they expect us to give them "ample notice" of three goddamn months and they can't give us the courtesy of a damn week.
>>6271578>Take it slow and remember what they taught you back in college. Focus on getting a grip on the back of Kimble's neck and pull his head down, then shoot for his hips when he tries to force his head back up, hopefully getting him with a double leg takedown.This is a pretty basic set-up, but it works, hence why it's taught in a lot of schools.
I apologize if this is too specific, but you DID say Mark was on his school's wrestling team, right?
>>6271612I also remember someone's write-in for Mark Lore being that he got into school wrestling when his dad saw him trying to jump off the roof after his white trash friend showed him a few backyard wrestling videos. It was me. I wrote in that. And I'm not sorry at all.
>>6271589Kek
>>6271578>Put your hand on your hip then raise it level with his chest. “Bang.”as a gag/callback, then
>He’s gonna be expecting some kind of trick, he’s on too high of alert. You have to take a go at him when he thinks he already won. Let him grab you then go for a dirty trick.once we have his guard down.
Good luck, QM. I too know the frustration of being dicked around by management.
>>6271612Yes! I have 'Collegiate Wrestling' on his Character Sheet that I keep on hand.
>>6271612>Put your hand on your hip then raise it level with his chest. “Bang.”Then follow up with:
>>6271612+1
Fuuuuuuuuuck QM that sucks. My corporate just fried a bunch of people with no notice too, but of course the guy that’s leaving of his own accord had to give a fucking month.
Just remember not to take it personally. These people hate us, no need to tie our self-worth to their choices.
>>6271612>>6271687>>6271721>>6271784>>6271649>>6271721Locked in for hitting him with the 'Invisible Gun' gag and then going for some good old fashioned wrasslin.
>Roll 1d100 (Mid of 3 Instead of Lowest, due to Wrestling Experience)
Rolled 17 (1d100)
>>6272238C'mon Mark
465
md5: 4f0bd2dbae16085b6ff918db5580ccad
🔍
Rolled 82 (1d100)
>>6272238we do be going to hell in a cell
Rolled 42 (1d100)
>>6272238"Hey did you watch this old movie called raiders of the lost ark?"
Rolled 3 (1d100)
>>6272238
>>6272240>>6272246>>6272243ROLL: 42
DC: 50
RESULT: Fail (But that's a good thing.)
It is written.
You take a step back, your face still slightly twisted in thought. Then a memory strikes and you grin. You put your hand to your hip, making a ‘finger pistol’, you raise it until it’s level with Kimble’s chest.
“Bang.”
Kimble smirks slightly and claps dramatically.
“The old man really needs to pick up some new tricks.” He says. “But really. While that might be the right answer, it isn’t always an option. So go ahead and-”
You move before he finishes speaking, two lunging steps and your hands fire up to grapple the back of his neck. He only just avoids your hands as he takes his own step backwards, his hands up now.
“You’re fast for a guy who spent three days asleep.”
“I lost some weight.” You reply through shallow pants.
You keep low, moving side to side, in search of an opening. Kimble has more experience with grappling than Hawthorne at least, his posture is good and his hands always stay between the two of you as he mirrors your steps.
“Ticking clock, DeLucia.” Kimble says. “I got three wiseguys driving to this spot right now.”
“You didn’t mention that before.”
“Well I didn’t say you had a gun. So.” He replies steadily, his eyes locked on your hands. “Make your move.”
With a curse and a hiss you lunge low, baiting out a low counter-grapple or block, Kimble makes the move just as expected. You stop your momentum and lean back as you weave your hands through his arms and get a grip on the back of his neck. The only thing to do now is wait for him to lift his- Oh shit… You feel it before he even takes advantage. Your grip was slow, slow enough that he still has the room between you both to force his arms past your own shoulders like he’s doing a breaststroke. You feel your hands forced off his neck as his forearms force your own to spread wide. He continues the motion, sweeping his arms under yours and locking you in place with a firm grip. Chest to chest. He looks at you and says calmly.
“This is the part where I’d headbutt you if this was real.”
He releases you and takes a step back letting out a quick breath.
“Nearly had me though, that first move was slick. The second? Not so much. I’ve got nearly thirty pounds and an inch or two on you. But you still chose to come at me direct. Brave. Not smart though.”
“Didn’t really have many options, you said some wiseguys were coming. Had to try something.”
“You had options. You have stuff in your pockets right? Throw it at me. Distract me with it or chuck it right at my face and make me block. Then you’d know where my hands would be, gotta control the hands.”
“I know, I also thought about that but.. I don’t know. It felt cheap?”
“Yeah well, better to fight cheap when living’s expensive. We’re cops, not priests y’know?”
“I know but this was some sparring, if it was real-”
“Uh-huh. Bang.” Kimble cuts you off. “But if you get disarmed? If someone catches you off duty?”
You lift a foot and tap your ankle with it.
“Back-up revolver.” You state.
“Yeah? Shit… Alright yeah that’s slick. Go ahead and show it to me.”
You kneel down to pull the weapon free and while doing so you feel a light gust of wind go over your face as you glance up and see the bottom of Kimble’s boot a few inches from your nose.
“I see.” You say quietly.
“Yep.” He says, lowering his boot to the floor again. “C’mon stand up. I can’t let you walk around with your back up plan to a gun being a german suplex or a double leg takedown. I’m gonna show you some things.”
“Army tricks?”
“Something like that.” Kimble replies. “I picked up a bunch of shit over the years, so you start by telling me what you’re most worried about running into out there and I’ll check the ol’ ‘Kimble Catalog’ for a trick that could work out.”
You pause for a moment. As crazy as it sounds you never really gave any thought to the dangers of being an Officer. You always knew the risks, of course, but you never really dwelled on any of them to the point of worry. You think on it for a few seconds and decide if you had to pick it would be…
>Struggling over your firearm, after the incident at the Halloween event you’ve been keeping a closer eye on your weapon. But if someone manages to get their hands on it, you want to be able to handle that.
>Perps with knives, by their own admission GCPD standard vests aren’t particularly stab resistant. They handle slashes fine but any perp with a knife is still a threat you’d like to know how to handle safely.
>Countering grapples, what Kimble did was effective. He could have done a lot worse to you if that was a real fight. All the more reason to learn some counters yourself.
>Bad Match-Ups, Hawthorne is one of them, Kimble is another to a lesser degree. But Gotham is full of people bigger, taller, and stronger than you. You need ways to handle that disparity unarmed if it comes to it.
>Write-In
>>6272316>Struggling over your firearm, after the incident at the Halloween event you’ve been keeping a closer eye on your weapon. But if someone manages to get their hands on it, you want to be able to handle that.Note to self, get an inside waistband holster for our revolver so we're not taking a knee whenever shit gets real.
>>6272316>Bad Match-Ups, Hawthorne is one of them, Kimble is another to a lesser degree. But Gotham is full of people bigger, taller, and stronger than you. You need ways to handle that disparity unarmed if it comes to it.You never can say when you'll run int Killer Croc, Orca, a Talon, or one of Hugo Strange's Monster Men.
>>6272316>Perps with knives, by their own admission GCPD standard vests aren’t particularly stab resistant. They handle slashes fine but any perp with a knife is still a threat you’d like to know how to handle safely.Come on, Mark. Embrace the knife fighting and fencing skills Nonno always wanted to teach you but never could.
>>6272320>Killer Croc, Orca, a Talon, or one of Hugo Strange's Monster Men.I'm all for trying our luck against nutcases in fancy costumes, but against actual monsters like that? Best you can do is get the fuck out of dodge and call for backup.
>>6272321Shit, almost forgot the shitty Chinesium switchblade that inspired me to chose the Perps with knives option.
>>6272319+1 to the inside waistband holster
>>6272316>Bad Match-Ups, Hawthorne is one of them, Kimble is another to a lesser degree. But Gotham is full of people bigger, taller, and stronger than you. You need ways to handle that disparity unarmed if it comes to it.
>>6272316>>Bad Match-Ups, Hawthorne is one of them, Kimble is another to a lesser degree. But Gotham is full of people bigger, taller, and stronger than you. You need ways to handle that disparity unarmed if it comes to it.
>>6272316>>Struggling over your firearm, after the incident at the Halloween event you’ve been keeping a closer eye on your weapon. But if someone manages to get their hands on it, you want to be able to handle that.
>>6272320>>6272346>>6272379>>6272689"I'm worried about a bad match-up. City is full of guys bigger and stronger than me, if I could learn how to handle them unarmed it probably wouldn't be a bad idea."
"Smart call, believe it or not I've ran into that same problem."
You raise a brow.
"Really?"
"No bullshit, guy was a former body builder from California. Got shipped out here to be display muscle basically, at least that's what I thought... Turns out he wasn't body building for the aesthetic, he was an aspiring strongman."
"How'd you handle him?"
"Step up and let me show you." He offers with a beckoning hand.
You step across from him and strike a generic fighting stance and then wait. Kimble circles around you as he speaks.
"First thing. When you're going against someone bigger, especially built or even obese. You can't count on certain things." He slowly moves a fist towards your gut and stops a few inches short. "Gut checks aren't gonna hit the same if you're bouncing off a 6 pack or burying your hand in some guys rolls. You can strengthen your jaw too, ask Hawthorne, which means you can't even hope on a glass chin half the time.”
“That makes sense, I guess. Where do I go for then?”
“Soft spots. The sides, below the ribs for the liver. Right about here. The balls, that one’s pretty straight forward. Bridge of the nose is a classic, waters the eyes. Also right… here. Just below the ear is the where the jaw hinges, good solid whack will at least dislocate it. Learned that from the old man. But the real money is in these…”
He stops and grips your elbow while tapping the back of your knee with his foot.
"Joints, tendons, ligaments. Elbows, knees, and fingers. All things that are helped by flexibility, muscle just gets in the way at a certain point. You’ll rely on opposing force to get at these."
He demonstrates by pulling your arm out straight and then pushing your interior elbow and wrist in different directions. Your arm bends easily.
"Same principle with a kick to the back of the knee. But you don't want to kick like a strike, you need to bring your foot down and follow through. They either take a knee or get the entire leg swept. Once he's kneeling, unless you're dealing with Croc or some shit. He should be at a level that you can get a choke on him."
He moves behind you and loosely puts his arm around your neck.
"Relax for me. You feel this?" He squeezes gently, pulling back, as he puts pressure on your throat. You nod. " If it’s not a complete shit show then don't do this shit. That's how you kill people or get a complaint written up about you, you wanna squeeze here on the sides. Cut off blood, the moment they go limp you can lighten up. Move fast enough and you can cuff em before they start waking up.”
"That really works?" You ask, slightly strained.
Kimble replies with a tighter squeeze and after a few seconds you begin to see spots and lightly tap his forearm. He sets you free immediately.
"Yep, it’s not like the movies where they’ll stay that way for minutes though. Choke em like this and they’ll be out for a couple seconds, dazed for a few more. I figured that would appeal to you with your experience mainly being grappling."
"It's pretty good." You rasp slightly, clearing your throat. "But is that all it boils down to? Just hope I can get behind em?"
"Well another element is giving up the idea that it's a fair fight. I mean, look." He lowers his voice slightly. "I know we have protocol. We have the guidebooks and our patrol manual. We have all sorts of things that we need to keep in mind…”
“Yeah?” You prod, sensing a turn coming.
“But. If you’re unarmed? Throw that shit out the window.”
“What?”
“Throw it out the window.” He repeats. “When it’s really life or death. Fuck protocol. Fuck procedure. You do whatever it takes even if it means gouging eyes or biting. Don’t hold back.” He speaks with a deadly seriousness now. “One of the first scenes I saw when I joined up, I guess one of the older officers wanted to get at me. Knock me down a peg since I was an ‘army boy’ or some shit. Had me pull support on a scene where an officer had lost his pistol during a scuffle, bar brawl, routine shit. His gun goes flying and some shitheel grabs it and runs off.”
“What happened to the Officer?”
“He got beat to death. Half empty bottle from the bartop. Guy just…” He trails off before blinking. “It didn’t help with my issues adjusting to being domestic, all I’ll say. I’m only telling you because I know you’re a good cop. But you’re also a good person and that can conflict sometimes when it comes down to doing what we gotta do. Cause it isn’t ‘Us vs Them’ until it is.”
“I haven’t hesitated yet.” You state.
“And I want you to keep that streak going, so I’m gonna keep on your ass about it.” He smacks your shoulder lightly and then backs up. “So, I gave you the overview, let’s practice one thing and get it down. Hit the bikes. Then it’ll be showers and soup. Good?”
“Yes, sir.” You reply, taking your place opposit of him.
“Alright, pick your poison.”
>”I want to practice that blood choke, seems like the least amount of fuss for handling someone larger than me. Plus it has some good applications outside of being disarmed.” [Choke Artist]
>”Let’s focus on what you were saying about joints and controlling the arms and legs, if I control the arm then I control their hands and that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?” [Fulcrum]
>”How about we just run through some scenarios? You’re bigger than me so it works out fine this way, I need practical experience to figure out what works for me.” [Dirty Fighting]
>Write-In (Feel free to flex the creative muscles here, if you want to suggest the perk name/what it could generally do. Feel free!)
>>6272894>”Let’s focus on what you were saying about joints and controlling the arms and legs, if I control the arm then I control their hands and that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?” [Fulcrum]>"Hey, in the future, how about we find some gloves and headgear? A perp's liable to keep throwing hands until I can get 'em under control, so maybe trying to hit me while I'm grappling would help prepare me for that."This training method is brought to you by a mentally ill BJJ practicioner. Anyways, for now let's focus on controlling suspects and putting them in a position where they're not able to beat the shit out of us.
>>6272894>”Let’s focus on what you were saying about joints and controlling the arms and legs, if I control the arm then I control their hands and that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?” [Fulcrum]
>>6272894>>”Let’s focus on what you were saying about joints and controlling the arms and legs, if I control the arm then I control their hands and that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?” [Fulcrum]
>>6272900>>6272906>>6273009>>6273162>>6274179"How about we focus on what you were saying about joints and arm and leg control? If I control the arm then I control their hands and that's what it's all about isn't it?"
"Damn straight." Kimble replies with a grin. "Alright, first thing I'm gonna show you is a wrist lock. That's good for knives, guns, or just making someone have a really bad day. C'mere."
====
Kimble walks you through a few basic joint locks and more than a few methods for breaking out of holds by utilizing the weak points on the arm. You practice his techniques, focusing on opposing force and your own contortion to escape, and with every success he tries slightly harder to keep you contained. Following your lessons on weakening a grasp, you learn the importance of aggression in movement. Steady forces can be countered or adjusted to on the fly but sudden powerful twists and jerks can be the final thing needed to break a weakened hold or a loose grip, both on yourself and anything they may be holding.
Kimble teaches you some basic foot sweeps, hooking the ankles, and knee strikes.
"You want to go for the sides." Kimble says, kneeling down and patting the flanks of his knee cap. "You can go full Action Hero and throw a straight kick at the cap but odds are you're just gonna give him a limp the next day. Adrenaline on a bigger guy is gonna drive him like an SUV, so don't settle for just doing damage. You want to put people out of commission, good flat boot to the side of the knee can pop it right out of place. Fat chance they can walk with all that weight on a floating knee."
"What if I'm already behind them?"
"Then you use your gun." He chuckles. "Unless he's some freak who disarms you and then let's you run around and get lost. In that case, sure. Knee wants to bend, putting a foot there'll bend it. Just again, don't go for a strike, plant your foot and once you make contact you keep driving."
You practice for a few more rounds until you take a step away and guzzle from a bottle of water.
"I was thinking. In the future, how about we find some gloves and headgear? A perp's liable to keep throwing hands until I can get 'em under control, so maybe trying to hit me while I'm grappling would help prepare me for that."
"You're a glutton for punishment, Mark." Kimble quips. "But yeah, you're right. I'll gotta be careful, don't wanna rattle your guest in there."
"My gue- ah. Well uh, funny story about that actually."
Hm?" Kimble perks up, his face staying passively positive but you can see a tinge of worry.
"It's good news. The tumor it's uh... actually not a problem anymore. I had it.. removed."
"What? How the fuck?" He walks over, eyes attentive.
"Well, it's a hard pill to swallow. But, no lies, a wizard removed it."
Kimble blinks twice before resuming a stare that slowly glazes over.
"Like... a wizard? A wizard, wizard."
"Yeah. He uh... he told me he sold his soul to get a demon to remove it."
Kimble opens his mouth for a moment before closing it gently and nodding.
"Yeah, you couldn't pay me to be you man." Kimble steps forward and gives you a brief strong hug. "No offense."
"None taken." You say genuinely and thump his back once.
Kimble starts collecting a few stray things, setting them off to the side.
"I'll get cleaned up here. Kinda got carried away with the hand work so tomorrow we're jumping right to taking the seat off the bike."
"I'm not gonna be able to change your mind, am I?"
"Glad you're learning. You should get cleaned up for your lady friend, doubt she wants the workers smelling like the customers."
"Yeah well, you too. Doubt Mendez would want to be shoulder to shoulder with you while you're drenched in sweat."
Kimble makes eye contact and raises and eyebrow.
"Dude. Gross." You reply.
"I didn't say shit." Kimble replies calmly, barely suppressing a smirk. "Fuck outta here, we'll see you there."
====
You shoot a quick text to Allison to let her know that you've enlisted a small brigade to help at the soup kitchen and you may even make it early since Kimble cut time a little short.
"You're the best, Mark! I'll send you the address, feel free to come by early if you wanna help set up and meet some of the other guys from the station."
You smile at the text and tuck your phone away as you jump into a quick shower and don your civilian clothes once more. As you finish roughly rubbing a towel against your head you hear a footstep echo into the locker room.
"Ah, Kimble said you went to get ready to head out. Was worried I missed you." Grey's voice echoes, a slight rasp to it now that you didn't pick up earlier.
"Yeah, was gonna head over to Allison and help her get set up."
"Ah, gotchya. I won't bother you then." Grey says with a wave of his hand.
"Hold on, what's up?"
"Nothing nothing, just hit a bit of a snag working on the lab angle you and Hawthorne squeezed out of that kid from Blackgate."
"Oh shit, yeah. Was he..."
"Transferred, before it went down. He's serving a county over, we wanted to keep him in Jersey but out of Gotham."
"Makes sense. He got approval pretty fast.." You try not to let it, but a touch of bitterness creeps in.
"I know." Grey says simply. "Fact is he gave us something we could look into immediately and it bore fruit. It was a win."
"Where are you on it?" You ask, side-stepping any further discussion about Blackgate.
"We hit the lab and the barracks, they were keeping the labor close. We found broken bits of pallet and tire marks that indicate a large vehicle. They made enough of this stuff that they needed to haul it out on a truck.”
“Jesus Christ.” You mumble. “Nothing else past that?”
“The rest was a wash. But you can't do chemistry at that scale and not leave behind some clues, like a few samples of the chemical compounds he was working with.”
"Lab run it?"
"Artificial Neurotransmitter Serotonin. The key ingredient in Fear Toxin and that recipe is kept under lock and key by Wayne-Pharmaceuticals. Only one person in the US can make it without the ingredient list.”
"It’s creator… So, Scarecrow really is in bed with this Kal Late, then?"
"Looking that way, we haven't learned anything else past that. No word on the woman he mentioned helping the Doctor out with his chemistry and I was wondering if you could help."
"Help how? I'm out until I wrap up my PT and get approved by Reiner."
"Sure, but this doesn't require you going anywhere or doing any ‘official’ police duties..." He says as he reaches into a coat pocket.
Grey produces a small plastic evidence baggy which he lets unfurl before your eyes. Nestled in the bottom is a brass tube with a slightly stained rim.
"Lipstick?"
"Found it outside the backdoor to the lab, looks like it fell into a gutter. Thought you might be able to shake something out of it with your powers."
"Maybe, I mean. Are you sure it belonged to Crane’s mystery assistant?"
"It's a good bet. Trust me, if you smelled that barracks you'd be pretty certain no women were in there either. That and the fingerprints we managed to pull off it weren't good enough for even a partial print. Analyst says it looked like chemical burns."
"A lady with melted fingers. Sounds like it'd be her."
"My thoughts exactly."
>"Alright, I'll try and do it quick right here. But no promises."
>"This would really work better if I had more to go with, did you find anything else I could use? Or... maybe we make a quick trip to the lab. That combo could tell us a lot."
>"Sorry, Grey. I'd help but, I don't think I'm gonna get much off a tube of lipstick and nothing else. Not to mention the lab was, what, out by the Novic Tunnel wasn't it? I'd never make it back in time for the soup kitchen."
>"Sorry, Grey. I was gonna head over to Allison early to help set things up and I don't wanna keep her waiting or spend the night with a migraine. If you find more, I can help."
>"I don't know if I could pull off a lot with just a tube of lipstick but... I did find out a new way to apply my shivers. Maybe that could work? [Urban Augury] (Specify the question you ask Gotham)
>Write-In
>>6274902>"Alright, I'll try and do it quick right here. But no promises."A lipstick tube belonging to somebody with chemical burns in an environment where there was likely no female presence...
Fuck it I'm game.
>>6274902>>"Alright, I'll try and do it quick right here. But no promises."
>>6274918+1, would do Urban Augury if ai thiught we'd get more than a riddle by asking "whose is this?"
>>6274902>"Alright, I'll try and do it quick right here. But no promises."Psychometry tiem?
>>6274918+1
We won't miss Allison's event. This'll be over quick
>>6274901>Grey's voice echoes, a slight rasp to it now that you didn't pick up earlierGrey are you the one with cancer now? Grey are you going to not make it to retirement? Grey do you need us to contact John Constantine for you?
>>6275175Mark might not have, but we've seen Grey hacking up some shit all the way back when he was nabbing Pingwang from the sewers.
>>6275202No, Mark definitely saw that. We talked to Grey about that after we took his meds out of his pill bottle and claimed they were drugs so we could sneak out the shredded paper we stole from Blackgate.
>>6275218Damn. Guess that egg's on my face too.
>>6275225I fucking hate that I knew there's an egg related supervillain in the DC Universe for this comment.
I'm not even a comic book guy.
>>6275229>So like, what villain should we make next?>[coughing] Egg, man! Alright your toke.They really do be just making anything.
>>6274918>>6274938>>6275095>>6275108>>6275175"Alright, I'll try and do it quick right here. But no promises."
"Don't need any." Grey replies, tossing you the bag. You catch it gently and sigh before cracking the seal.
"It's already been combed over?"
"It's cleared, you won't contaminate anything."
You nod and fish out the brass tube, it's strangely cold against your fingertips as you look at your warped reflection in the scuffs and scratches. You close your eyes and watch those ebbing blobs of light that remain in the dark slowly morph and take shape. Vague... Nothing more than an outline and words that sound garbled and underwater. Your nostrils burn as a foul odor drifts on the breeze that shifts your hair over your shoulder, leaving behind a tingle like tiny footsteps.
You can tell there's more to this, like a fogged bathroom mirror you just need to try and focus and push through. Force the image to be clear. Make your Shivers work for you. Don't be a conduit. Be the conductor.
>Gonna need a 1d100 a piece. (AVG Roll)[Spoiler]
May do an additional update later this morning (5 hours-ish from now) if we get a good amount of rolls, otherwise I'll let it go until tonight and get in an early update at the start of my night.
Rolled 42 (1d100)
>>6275470
Rolled 73 (1d100)
>>6275470One or one-hundo? That is the question.
Rolled 12 (1d100)
>>6275470lets gooo
Rolled 92 (1d100)
>>6275470
Rolled 11 (1d100)
>>6275470
Rolled 70 (1d100)
>>6275470
Rolled 51 (1d100)
>>6275470how many rolls does one need?
Rolled 43 (1d100)
>>6275470
>>6275588About this many.
I'd tag everyone for their (You) but 4Chan Spam Cucked me.
AVG: 49
DC: 50
>>6275476>>6275478>>6275481>>6275538Be the conductor… The vision comes slowly with more focus but what you see doesn’t match the silhouettes from before. That smell, that goddamned smell, invading your nostrils and permeating your lungs. You feel your hairs stand up and this time it isn’t the work of your shivers. You feel icy spears prodding your heart from all angles, a soured fist clenches in your gut, and your eyes burn with dryness as you stare ahead wide eyed consumed by a primal fear. You feel the corners of your mouth burn with tearing as your lips part and you try to force out a scream. Your shocked eyes watch as the shadows bubble and ooze as rats begin to emerge, they circle around your feet and soon you feel their small claws gripping your stockings and moving up your leg.
“...” You try to scream, but no matter how hard you try nothing comes out.
Just as the largest rat crests your collarbone and places its cold clawed foot on your bottom lip… a new smell strikes you. The sweet aroma of honey suckle… the pressure on your lip fades away and even though you swore you just had them stretched wide your eyes begin to flutter open as new light smears your vision. Leaning above you is a grim visage, a stained sack accented by two sickly yellow eyes traced with thin veins like cracks in concrete. It should terrify you. Objectively you know this. But his face… brings you peace and a feeling of safety. No… deeper than that. This is love.
“Easy now, Queen.” He hums, holding a smoking pellet a few inches from your face as he wafts the cloud towards your nose. “Breathe it in slowly, my dear.”
You close your eyes again and inhale. The sickly sweet smoke seeming to force that other rancid acrid scent from your lungs. You open your mouth to speak, just to feel that same pang of fear again, you clamp your hand over your mouth. Scarecrow cocks his head, the loose rope securing his bag swishing against his stained labcoat.
“You don’t need to stay silent anymore.” He says softly, his bedside manner was always a strength. “The serum worked, you tried to scream your little lungs out but there was nothing. Not a peep.”
He turns from you and rummages on a surgical tray before producing a petite needle and turning to face you once more.
“An adjustment to the dosage and our dream will be reality.” He coos as he lightly strokes your cheek. “There’ll be a slight pinch.”
The needle slips into the front of your throat and for a moment it feels as if you’re choking. The walls of your throat seizing, refusing to even swallow, only for the sensation to pass after a few seconds. You feel your hand enveloped in warmth and glance down. His hand, dry and dark like abandoned leather, strokes the back of your hand gently as he leans forward again. Jaundiced eyes sparkling as he whispers.
“Go on… speak.”
You swallow harshly, butterflies dancing around as you wet your lips and let them part.
“Doctor…” You let out in breathy huff.
“Nurse.” He replies steadily, though you see the excitement in his eyes.
“Oh, Doctor Crane…” You say again, now with tears stinging your eyes.
An overwhelming joy swells in your chest, filling the space between every rib until you have the confidence to attempt a shout.
“Doctor!” You let loose.
“NURSE!” He replies, pulling you from your seat and dipping you low as he brings his face near.
You close your eyes and feel the tickle of the rope that seals his mouth just graze your lip…
Then you blink.
“Jesus Christ!” You crow, letting the tube fall to the ground where it clatters like spent brass.
“What!?” Grey says, moving quickly to your side to support you.
“Well that definitely belonged to Scarecrow’s girlfriend or nurse or… something.” You shudder violently as you can’t get the feeling of the rat or his frayed rope off of you. You can’t even decide which is worse.
“Is that all you could get? Nothing else?”
“Sorry, Grey.” You shake your head. “I tried but… I can tell you he was testing fear gas on his own assistant. Seems like he even has some sort of cure? I don’t know, I could feel her fear but she wasn’t scared of HIM. She was scared of what she could DO to him.”
“Meaning?”
“Just a feeling, but I think you might be looking at a metahuman. It felt… familiar. Like driving someone else’s car who has the same make and model you do. I can’t really explain it.”
Grey jots in a pad as he mumbles.
“Antidote. Potential Meta Human. Fear toxin confirmation.” He tucks the pad and gives you a tired smile. “I know you don’t think that helped much, Mark. But you never know what’s gonna end up being the key.”
“Yeah well…” You kneel down and pick up the lipstick to hand it back over. “That fear toxin sure is… it’s fucked.”
“You’re telling me. I’ve been on the receiving end once, only once.” He shudders. “Just caught a whiff but… eh. I’m not gonna spoil the mood. Tonight’ll be fun, getting to meet your lady friend and help out the community at the same time.”
You shake your head, dispelling some of the lingering sensations from your vision, Grey gives you a gentle tap and you flick your eyes up to him.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. It’ll be nice to finally have her meet you guys.” You say as you rise. “I’m about to head out now, help her set up. Make sure Hawthorne gets there on time?”
“I’ll do my best to get the old goat to move.” Grey chuckles. “We’ll be there.”
====
No vote for this extra update, we’ll pick up the story at the Firehouse as Mark pulls up.
>Until then; What’s your theory about Scarecrow and whoever this ‘Queen’ lady is? Where do they fit into Calc’s plan? What’s this ‘serum’ Crane developed? Is he a good kisser once you get past the rotten straw?
086402
md5: 9ae5f221397d609555522f7bd6be0cc0
🔍
>>6275615>The cure aplears to be an injection into the thyroid gland.
>>6275229Wow, Egg Fu got a glowup, huh?
>>6275615>What’s your theory about Scarecrow and whoever this ‘Queen’ lady is? Where do they fit into Calc’s plan? What’s this ‘serum’ Crane developed? Is he a good kisser once you get past the rotten straw?Not sure abiut Calculator's plan and how that ties in, but I suspect we're dealing with Abigail O'Shay, or some variation... Maybe even a Scarebeast situation if we're unlucky.
>>6275615Absolutely 0 clue what this has to do with Calc
Serum has something to do with voice? The woman was actively clamping on her mouth in fear of something, and was relieved when she could talk.
Man, gotham women are built different, there's one for every disgusting insane terrorist apparently.
>>6275764Maybe she has some kind banshee scream power? Does Black Canary have an evil opposite?
>>6275769I mean there's what, Silver Banshee? Or whatever her name is.
>>6275614Your brakes squeak gently as you park up in the gravel lot that runs along The Narrows Firehouse. Stepping out of your car you give the place more than a second glance. Run-Down would be a polite way of putting it. The bricks are chipped and marked with the remnants of graffiti from years passed, faded smears show the attempts to scrub it away. Loose stone slabs form a walkway to the front door that sits between two stained and dinged garage doors. A delightful chirp draws you from your inspection.
“Mark.” Allison calls from the cracked door of the lobby. “Come on in.”
“Hey.” You reply, pressing a light kiss to her cheek as you step passed. “Still things left for me to do?”
“Absolutely. Any good with a knife?”
“I mainly live off food trucks and delivery these days but I know my way around a kitchen.”
“Good, we need someone to prep onions and peppers. Up to it? I’ll be next to you peeling potatoes.”
“With company like that, who could say no?” You reply with a smile.
Allison links her arm around yours and leads you through the station towards the growing chatter in the garage. She points out a few academy photos where she’s covered in mud and bruises, a picture of Wayne Tower from the 80’s engulfed in flame, and a few models of old fire trucks. You can’t help but notice the sparkle in her eye as she discusses all of it, it reminds you of yourself. This is more than a job, it’s a deep passion, and this revelation only makes your grin wider as she brings you through the doorway into the garage.
A small group of men and two other women work at various stations. Some chopping ingredients, setting up propane grills, or cleaning pots.
“Cap! I got fresh blood for you.” She calls out to an older bald man who kneels by a propane tank, tapping on the meter impatiently.
“Hold your horses.” He replies calmly before reaching out and giving it a firm knock on the rim until its needle swings. “Alrighty. Now what were you hollerin about?”
She angles herself to push you forward slightly. She nudges you gently and you take the hint.
“Mark DeLucia.” You say politely, extending a hand. “Happy to be able to lend a hand.”
“Bernard Kowalski, but the crew calls me BK. Pleasure.” He says with a firm shake. “Glad to finally meet Allie’s fella after all she told us about you.”
“Oh?” You crow, giving her a look as her face starts to match the engines nearby.
“Angelo’s is a good joint. Surprised you know it, bit of a hidden gem.”
“My parents used to take me there when I was younger. Nothing beats a greasy slice.”
“Couldn’t agree more.” He says in reply, waving for you to follow as he steps away. “Over here I got a bucket of onions and another bucket of peppers. I figure if they can trust you with a gun I can trust you with a knife?”
“Yes, sir.” You reply, almost with an inherent respect.
“Good man.” He says simply before turning and walking away from you.
“He liked you.” Allison says. “That’s pretty rare.”
“Yeah? He seemed friendly enough to me.”
“He is friendly. He just… has strong opinions. Especially when it comes to.. Y’know.”
“Cops?”
She shrugs coyly.
“Dick swinging contests between GCPD and GCFD goes back to before either of us were born. More of the older crowd cares about that kind of thing.”
You hum in contemplation as you pick up a knife and heft the bucket onto a fold-out table and settle in as Allison picks up the other bucket and scoots in next to you, handing you a knife by the blade. You waste no time getting to work peeling and chopping the onions into thick pieces for the soup. Allison gets into her own rhythm of cutting long strips of pepper. Both of you blink away tears as the onion’s sting does its thing.
“How’re you feeling since you’ve been up?” She sniffles.
“Better than I thought I would. PT is going well.. I uh. I learned to ride a bike.”
“You didn’t know how to ride a bike!?” She exclaims.
“Shhhh! Relax. I’m trying to make a good impression here.”
“It’s sweet!” She whispers.
“That’s a better description than ‘stunted’ so I’ll take it.”
“How’s your head been? Still getting those headaches.”
Your mouth opens slightly as your reply catches in your throat.
>”So… remember that Wizard I mentioned? Turns out he wasn’t bullshitting about paying me back…”
>”There’s been some… developments on that. But do you mind if we talk about it when there aren’t so many strangers around?”
>”Better everyday, still need an official check up though. But I feel good.”
>Write-In
>>6275968>”So… remember that Wizard I mentioned? Turns out he wasn’t bullshitting about paying me back…”I mean, it's not like Wizards doing legit magic are unheard of here.
>>6275976One of them literally lives in the ritzy part of town, even.
>>6275968>”So… remember that Wizard I mentioned? Turns out he wasn’t bullshitting about paying me back…”
>>6275968>”So… remember that Wizard I mentioned? Turns out he wasn’t bullshitting about paying me back…”its in a box back home
>>6276164We'll just tell her that we confirmed it with an x-ray. No reason to show her our tumor in a box just yet.
>>6275968>”There’s been some… developments on that. But do you mind if we talk about it when there aren’t so many strangers around?”Wizards may not be unheard of, but they're not exactly common, either, and if the demonic part ad soul-selling comes up, we might get some weird looks.
wizards
md5: f769838f9dd2689e44f8c79d0111aecb
🔍
>>6275968>”So… remember that Wizard I mentioned? Turns out he wasn’t bullshitting about paying me back…”
>>6275968>”Do you remember of what I told you in the hospital? About a... Magical guy? Well, he did pay me back for what happened... And I'm pleased to inform you, by the studies conducted on Gotham Hospital and the Radiography my boss Reiner brought to my desk, I'm officially Cancer free"I don't get more in details about how or what Constantine do, but saying it was him could be enough, as I prefer this phrasing
>>6276472>”Better everyday, still need an official check up though. But I feel good.”Let's not talk about crazy shit like that around a bunch of people
We can explain later in private
>>6275968>>6276472+1 Just be vague
Although I don't think anyone would take the actual wizard line seriously. When actually explaining it, at leaast Mark can joke about the strak of break-ins continuing.
>>6276357>>6276164>>6276027"So..." You say, trying to keep your tone casual. "Remember that wizard I mentioned? Turns out he wasn't bullshitting about paying me back."
"Oh?" She asks with a tilt of her head.
"Yeah he uh... he managed to get the tumor out."
"What." She says flatly.
"I know. I don't really believe it either but according to my doctor and a scan my boss showed me this morning. I'm officially tumor free."
She blinks a few times and then smiles a warm genuine grin as she sets down her knife to hug you tightly. You chuckle awkwardly as a few other fire fighters nudge each other and nod in your direction.
"Glad to see you're as happy about this as I am."
"Of course!" She chirps before releasing you. "How did he do it? Was it like a poti-"
You hold up a hand and quickly glance over her shoulder. She follows your eyes and eventually meets gazes with the two Fireman now reenacting her hug between each other. Giggling like schoolgirls.
"Ignore them, Rosco and Borne are stuck in the tenth grade mentally."
"Maybe we can talk at my place then, later?"
"Your place later, huh?" She responds with a raised brow of her own. "You sure you're recovered enough for that?"
"What? No I mea- I wasn't trying to-" You stumble over some of your words until she leans in and pecks your cheek. "I meant for us to talk..."
"Mhm, we should get back to cutting these up." Her eyes flash with a spark of something you haven't seen since college and she turns around mumbling. "...cute..."
"You say something?" You prod, feeling your face cool slightly with your personal space restored.
"Just that he wants those cubed." She says without turning her head. "That's all..."
====
>>6275976>>6276472>>6276475>>6276482The prep goes by shockingly fast. You only just finish the final onion as the garage doors begin to lift and you see new faces filtering in, among the crowd you spot a few familiar ones.
"Volunteers!" Captain Kowalski hollers. "You're gonna step over to the table to the left and talk to the wonderful Mrs. Kowalski. She's gonna ask you where you wanna be stationed. Service, Cleaning, and Wipe Down. That's pouring soup into bowls, cleaning bowls, and cleaning tables respectively. Spots are limited so if you're here with friends PARTNER UP otherwise we'll split you if we run out of space."
You wave for your friends and see the small pod approach. Grey and Hawthorne lead while Mendez and Kimble follow behind.
"Glad you guys made it, thanks for tagging along Mendez."
She grunts in response and you give Kimble a questioning look.
"She's shy in public." Kimble says before catching a solid thwack to his bicep as Mendez smacks him. He doesn't react except to smile at her. "She'll warm up."
Allison jogs over with a clipboard and pen, waving to everyone as she comes to a stop.
"Oh wow, you weren't lying you brought in a whole team. All good though, because we get first dibs on picking our stations." She clicks the pen and presses it to the page glancing up at Hawthorne's large form. "Where to Mr..."
"Hawthorne." He grunts, then more gently. "You could call me Mitch, if you want."
"Alright, Mitch." She says with a smile. "Pick your poison?"
"I'll scoop."
She scribbles and looks to Grey.
"Thomas Bennett." He says before clearing his throat. "Most folk call me 'Grey'. I'll take serving too, Mitch and I actually came up in the Narrows."
"And you became cops?" Allison chuckles.
"Nobody is more surprised than me, this guy was well acquainted with cuffs before we ever went to academy." He says nodding at Hawthorne.
"Nobody wants to hear about that." Hawthorne grunts before following it up with a mumbling. "Million years ago."
"Luke Kimble, Li Mendez." Kimble offers before she prods further. "Put us down for dish duty, probably gonna get the fewest people."
"Usually." Allison confirms as she scribbles their names. "What about you, Mark?"
>"Put me down for serving. I wanna hear about Hawthorne's record.">"Kimble makes a good point, put me on for dishes.">"Put me on table cleaning duty, means I get to chat with some of the people who come through.">"You pick, I wanna work with you."
>>6276499As tempting as it is to hear about Hawthorne's record....
>"You pick, I wanna work with you."
>>6276499>"Put me on table cleaning duty, means I get to chat with some of the people who come through."I feel like she'd like to show us off to her regulars.
>>6276499>"Put me on table cleaning duty, means I get to chat with some of the people who come through."
>>6276499>"You pick, I wanna work with you."
>>6276721>>6276499>"Put me on table cleaning duty, means I get to chat with some of the people who come through."Changing to this, consider me curious. We can always get some alone time with Allison when we're not serving the public.
>>6276499>"You pick, I wanna work with you."The game is afoot!
>>6276499>"You pick, I wanna work with you."
>>6276499>>"Put me down for serving. I wanna hear about Hawthorne's record."Gotta be assault or vandalism lol.
Separating from your gf to go hear about Hawthorne is a weird thing to do, yeah. But if Mark goes with her now + takes her home, it'll be 4 straight updates of them being cute. Which is too much. Hate happy people.
>>6276511>>6276721>>6277102>>6277141"You pick." You answer, getting a small smile in response. "I wanna work with you."
"That's sweet, Mark. But you guys are volunteers, all the fire crew are 'floaters' and we'll be moving from spot to spot."
She leans in and gives you a gentle peck on the cheek.
"Good answer though."
"Thanks... Uh, if I gotta go somewhere how about table cleaning duty? It means I get to chat with some of the people who come through."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah, just get to know some of the people I'm doing the job for."
"Just so you know, he's not putting on a show for you. He really IS this much of a boyscout." Kimble interjects.
You watch as Hawthorne, Grey, and Mendez all quietly nod in agreement.
"Oh, I know." Allison says teasingly. "That's what won me over, an optimist in Gotham is a rare catch."
"Not that rare.." You mumble as you feel your cheeks heat.
"EVERYONE!" Captain Kowalski's voice booms over the low chatter. "FIVE MINUTES UNTIL WE OPEN THE LINES. GO AHEAD AND GET TO YOUR AREAS AND GET SET UP."
Allison scribbles your name down quickly and flashes you and the others a smile as she backpedals.
"I'll get this turned in, I'll make sure to check on you guys through the night. Let me know if you need anything!"
She scampers away as you say your goodbyes to your friends and follow the small group moving to slide into some old aprons and disposable gloves. After a few minutes the doors open and tables begin to fill and empty. Some people leaving before the spoon settles in the bowl while others nurse their food, maybe enjoying the warmth inside the garage. Either way, there's plenty to do and plenty more to speak with..
>Check in on the man huddled in the corner, alone.>Make conversation with a group of young men crowded around a single phone.>There's a middle aged man who seems oddly familiar, nursing a bottle of water.>A young lady stands along a side wall, her hair stringy and her lips well chewed.>Write-In (Feel free to make your own 'Gotham Slum Citizen' to speak with, I can work with it.)
>>6278731>Make conversation with a group of young men crowded around a single phone.Fucking kids better not be watching some shitass livestreamer while we got soup going.
>>6278731>There's a middle aged man who seems oddly familiar, nursing a bottle of water.
>>6278731>Check in on the man huddled in the corner, alone.Always look out for those who need help
>>6278731>Check in on the man huddled in the corner, alone.Make sure he's okay, first and foremost. We ARE Officer Friendly after all.
>>6278838>>6279039The first of the customers start drifting out. The new tables are filled by volunteers wiping down and bussing dishes away before a minute can pass, and even faster yet, their spaces are filled by new faces coming to eat. But one man you see keeps his position, in a far off corner, in a folding chair he sits huddled in an old tattered jacket a few sizes too big. Something in your gut twinges at the sight, you should check on him.
"Evening, sir." You try to say casually.
He grunts in response, lifting his head slightly, you can see clear as day the intense red that stains the whites of his left eye. A drop addict.
"Sir?" You ask again, your training creeping in a bit as you kneel to get a clear look into his eyes. Checking dilation. "Are you on something?"
He shakes his head, his hair swinging in clumps held together by grime and sweat. He swallows shakily and manages a whisper.
"Quittin." He pauses for a moment. "...tryin to."
"That's good." You say gently, settling into a seat next to him. "How're you doing it? Are you working with a facility or-"
"Cold turkey." He says through pallid lips. "Only way. All I can do."
You frown. You aren't naive, you know that some of Gotham's programs aren't available to everybody but there's plenty of free services. The only thing is those come with stricter rules.
"When was the last time you used... if you don't mind me asking."
"..this morning." He grumbles, you see his eye twitch slightly in discomfort. Or maybe muscle memory. "It'll stick this time..."
You consider asking him about his housing situation but seeing as he's already at the soup kitchen seemingly for the shelter you have a feeling you know how that would be answered. You feel a warm breath on the back of your neck. Like spring wind through uncut grass as the hairs stand up. You tamp them back down as you rub the back of your neck.
"Do you want me to get you something to eat? Some soup."
He shakes his head weakly.
"Can't hold nothin down. Just need.. Just need the space for a bit. Few hours... that's all." He sniffles.
You watch a tear fall from the corner of his red-eye followed by a few more with every blink. One of the main signs of heavy continuous use...
>"I'm really sorry sir, but this kitchen is... well a kitchen and it's packed. We need the space for people coming to eat, if you're taking a seat that's costing someone else a meal potentially.">"Sir, do you want me to get you to a hospital? Or an emergency clinic? They can watch over you until the worst of your.. symptoms pass.">"Maybe I could help you navigate some of the programs? I'm actually an Officer with GCPD so I'm sure I could try and pull something together.">"This isn't a place for you to ride out withdrawal, sir. It's a fire station trying to feed the people who actually want help. If you aren't getting a bowl you have to go.">Write-In
>>6279285>"Cold turkey, huh? I know a guy or two that've done the same with their own addictions. Maybe they can give you some help and advice with it."Hawthorne and Grey both have experience with addiction, yeah? Getting a dialogue between this guy and them could be good.
>>6279305Quitting cigs and quitting a hardcore, mind-altering narcotic are a lottle different.
>>6279285>"Maybe I could help you navigate some of the programs? I'm actually an Officer with GCPD so I'm sure I could try and pull something together.">Leave him be, check back later if he's hungry yet
>>6279285>"Hang in there. I'll get you a bucket or bag in case you get nausia. If you need an ambulance, just let me know."
>>6279351>>6279357+1 both of these, so say the programs + cop line, give him a bucket or bag plus the ambulance bit so he's aware he can get help, then let him be to check back later
>>6279285>"Maybe I could help you navigate some of the programs? I know some people that work for the city, and I can ask for some favors."I feel like telling him we're a cop will put him more on edge, maybe saying we are some social worker could let him open up
>"Is there anything you need? Could some water help you? If not then I could bring a bucket or something in case you have some nausea"
>>6279285>>"Sir, do you want me to get you to a hospital? Or an emergency clinic? They can watch over you until the worst of your.. symptoms pass.">>"Maybe I could help you navigate some of the programs? I'm actually an Officer with GCPD so I'm sure I could try and pull something together."
>>6279285>>"Sir, do you want me to get you to a hospital? Or an emergency clinic? They can watch over you until the worst of your.. symptoms pass."
>>6279363>telling him we're a cop will put him more on edgeDoes he not know this volunteer function is all cops and firefighters? Wasn't it heavily advertised that way to everybody?
>>6279384>Does he not know this volunteer function is all cops and firefighters?This thing is in the fire department and surely something they do semi-regularly, and Mark came like I civ because it's way past his shift like all the other people we invited. I doubt people would expect like 6 cops all going to give out food
>>6279363>I feel like telling him we're a cop will put him more on edgeFair, but I'm not cool with lying to some random homeless dude, and he'll likely figure it out if he hasn't already once people start talking to us.
>>6279351>>6279357>>6279362>>6279363>>6279381"Just hang in there, I can get you a bucket or something just in case. You need an ambulance?"
"No!" He says, the clearest thing he's said so far. "No... No thank you."
You settle into the seat next to him and lean on your knees as you nod.
"Alright, alright. No ambulance. But maybe I can help some other way? I could help you navigate some of those programs."
"You know how to do that?"
"Yes, sir. I'm actually an Officer with GCPD." You raise a calming hand as you see his good eye go wide. "Easy, I'm off the clock. Besides, I lean more towards the 'serve' part of policing. You need help, not a cell."
He settles slightly but you care see there's still an underlying wariness. You pull out your phone and navigate a few screens.
"I mean it, here let's take a look at where you can find a place to stay."
"You don't gotta do that for me." He grunts. "They'll reject me anyway. Won't take nobody unless they got ID. Can't get ID unless I got a residence. Can't get a residence because I ain't got ID."
"Well, maybe I could pull a few strings? See what I can do for you?"
He angles his head slightly, a thin sheet of sweat lies coats his forehead as he stares into your eyes. You can see the analysis as he tries to measure if you really are the kind of man who would do this for a stranger like him. You tuck your phone as you stand and he finally replies quietly.
"Alright... thank ye." He turns his head back to the floor and huddles tighter in his coat as a shudder rattles over him.
"I'll be right back with some water and a plan." You turn from him and step away towards the center of the garage.
You notice in the corner Captain Kowalski watches you with a sharp eye, his face impassive. But you don't focus on him for now, you know the public welfare systems but not exactly well enough to pull serious strings. You could always just call and try to throw your weight around as an Officer but that's not a guarantee. All around the garage your friends work their own positions and as you look at them you realize, maybe they have some ideas?
>Ask Kimble, veteran homelessness isn't exactly uncommon. Maybe he's had experience or knows somebody who has.>Ask Hawthorne, he came up in the Narrows and has years on the force. Surely he's interacted with the system at some point.>Ask Grey, he came up in the Narrows and has a knack for problem solving. He may also be a gentler touch than Hawthorne.>Ask Allison, these soup kitchens are a common occurrence for the GCFD. She must have had helped with something like this before.>Ask Kowalski, this is his firehouse and his event. Maybe the look he was giving you was positive? Would he work hard to put these together if he didn't care?>Call the nearest shelter yourself. What they're doing may follow the letter of the law, but not the spirit. Maybe they need a reminder.>Write-In
>>6279626>Ask Grey, he came up in the Narrows and has a knack for problem solving. He may also be a gentler touch than Hawthorne.Seems up his alley and like he'd have the best temperament.
>>6279626>Ask Grey, he came up in the Narrows and has a knack for problem solving. He may also be a gentler touch than Hawthorne.
