Baltimore, Late Monday Night

[gunslingerpose]

So it was the ass end of a long weekend, which Nikolai figured was going to be as good a time as any to hit up Baltimore to do his part to keep whatever peace there was to keep. And he'd done pretty well along his usual beat as Gorgon, catching a couple of break-and-enters. Hell, apparently he was starting to get a bit of a rep around the areas he frequented most, because one dumbass purse-snatcher outside of a bar actually pulled up short, gasped as he realized who had just stepped out onto the sidewalk in front of him, and then babbled an apology before shoving the purse at Nick and running off in the other direction.

Yeah, he was feeling pretty damn okay near the end of his beat, up a few tiers and burning off some excess energy by doing crazy parkour across the rooftops while he kept an eye on what was going on in alleyways below. He was no Banzai, no, at least not riding tier three the way he was, but what he lacked in crazy gymnastics, he made up for in strength and speed and, apparently, the ability to clear an entire rooftop in a single leap.

Sometimes he hated his powers, having to hide his eyes all the time, not being able to look at people without worrying about hurting them with his uncontrollable energy-vampire bullshit. And some days, like today, he wouldn't trade being Gorgon for anything.

[OOC: Open to anyone out in Baltimore that late at night!]

Comments

[spin_kick_snap]

"I have been told I have a very good singing voice I'll have you know," Banzai said, though she wasn't about to insist. "But it's a regular movie date! I even have popcorn and sodas. Though there's not enough butter and salt for proper movie popcorn, sorry. You'll have to make due with Smartfood."

[gunslingerpose]

"I should probably watch my butter and grease anyway," Gorgon decided, sauntering over to investigate the cupcake. "So, I'm supposed to make a wish? If there's just one candle, that means I can get through the night without any old people jokes, right?"

Old people jokes were birthday tradition, dammit.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Do you want to skip the birthday song or the old people jokes?" Banzai asked, giving Gorgon a smirk. "I don't think I can promise both."

[gunslingerpose]

"I can't plead 'birthday boy' and ask for both? I already got the singing, you know, on Saturday. There was a three-part frigging harmony, after you and Sparky left."

Sparky. Torch. Whichever.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Human Torch," Banzai corrected, making a face at Gorgon. She knew full well he could remember Johnny's name if he wanted. "And, what? All this isn't enough for you? What more could someone ask for? A night in front of the big screen, with snacks and everything!"

[gunslingerpose]

And see, that's why he didn't remember Torch's name! He didn't want to!

"The screen does have a certain sort of charm to it..." Being a whitewashed wall, and all. "You pulled all of this together, for me? Really?"

Just shut up and blow out your cupcake, Nick.

[spin_kick_snap]

"No, actually, I really like ancient Westerns," Banzai drawled. "Then I saw you were in the neighborhood and figured I'd extend the invitation. Just to be friendly."

She nudged him with her shoulder. "Of course it's for you. It doesn't seem right that the only people to acknowledge your birthday were a couple of guys you were taking down."

[gunslingerpose]

"Maybe they weren't," Gorgon sniffed. "Maybe I had a huge party back on the island. With... cake and... fuck. Streamers?"

A beat.

"Okay, I worked that day, and this is fucking fantastic." And yeah, now he was actually taking a second to finally blow out the birthday candle. Make a wish, because shut up, he could make one if he wanted to. And then smirk her way. "You know, most people would have settled for a card?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"Well, they don't make birthday cards for fellow superheroes," Banzai said, shrugging. "And since you have your whole urban cowboy thing going on, I thought this was a fitting idea. And it wasn't all that hard to set up, so I figures, why not?"

This had nothing to do with a incredibly stupid crush she had on him. Nope. Not at all. Because that would be incredibly stupid.

[gunslingerpose]

Oh, Kathy. You could do so much better than Nikolai.

"I like it," he decided, plucking the cupcake from her hand and nodding toward the couch. "Like the theaters, but with fewer snot-nosed kids kicking the backs of the seats." He paused for a moment. "Maybe a couple more rats, though."

Alleyways. They were good for that.

[spin_kick_snap]

So true. And she even had two interested parties back on the island, either of which would be much better for her! But as much as she liked Anders and Johnny both, as handsome and charming as they both were...her naughty thoughts went toward Nick long before they went to either of them. (Though, to be fair, as a teenager, she had plenty of naughty thoughts to spare.)

"Didn't see any when I was setting up," she offered, taking a seat on the couch. "No dumpster or trash cans in here to attract them in droves. That being said...there's a reason this couch is covered by three brand new sheets and a plastic tarp beneath them and everything came in a sealed container. I'm pragmatic in my fits of whimsy."

[gunslingerpose]

It probably helped, at least somewhat, that the be-all and end-all of Kathy's sexual experience started and stopped with 'that time she seduced and tried to kill the private dick,' huh?

"That's the sort of pragmatism I can appreciate," Gorgon chuckled, smirking as the plastic tarp crinkled when he sat down. That was how he knew he wasn't going to get up again with something on his ass. "I, uh... Thanks, Banzai."

Seriously. He'd gotten what was left of a cake he'd barely noticed existed while working on Saturday. Hannibal had wished him a Happy Birthday, and most of the day had been spent ducking phone calls. This was pretty much the best part of the occasion so far.

[spin_kick_snap]

Hey now! She also had the time she'd attempted to seduce and murder him as a carnie, multiple kisses with Anders, and even a kiss with Johnny! Considering she'd celebrated her 'Sweet Sixteen and Never Been Kissed,' she was doing a great job of obtaining sexual experience!

Three hundred percent increase in less than a year! That was some overachieving right there!

"You're welcome," she said, beaming at him with a thousand kilowatt smile. "I'm glad you like it. I hope the movie choice isn't too obvious, but it was the title I recognized in the Redbox, so..."

[gunslingerpose]

Okay, but replace 'sexual experience' with 'sex...'

"Hey, it's hard to go wrong with Eastwood," Gorgon replied, grinning right back. There was something appealing about that smile of hers, that made him want to encourage her to wear it more often. "He's a hell of a guy, you know. Not a single person in Hollywood who doesn't respect the man, and for damn good reason."

A beat.

"And this is one of my favorites. So what if it makes me predictable?"

Shamelessly so.

[spin_kick_snap]

...Shut up.

"No complaints here," Banzai said, pausing a moment to hum a few bars. "That predictability made it possible for this to happen. Otherwise, we probably would have ended up watching some cheesy arthouse flick or a..."

She paused and looked around. "Oh my gosh, this would make an amazing spot to watch a horror movie marathon! Super creepy!"

[gunslingerpose]

It was a good thing Gorgon didn't spook easily. He gave the alley around them a thoughtful looking at, and then nodded his approval.

"Yeah, some kind of urban horror would make people piss their pants down this way," he decided. "That'd be more my speed than the arthouse crap. I have to watch enough of that back home, shit."

Ugh, opening night gala bullshit.

"I guess I'll have to strike a gunslinger pose more often, hm?"

It saved him from the arthouse flicks. Totally worth it.

[spin_kick_snap]

"I don't know how you survive," Banzai said with a sad shake of her head. "All those weeks at Cannes and Sundance, forced to watch indie flicks surrounded by a ton of gorgeous people, your only pay being fawned over by staff and up and coming actors--and however much you make as an agent. Truly, how do you cope?"

[gunslingerpose]

Oh god, Gorgon almost laughed aloud at that.

"I don't know what you think I do for a living as an agent, Banzai, but it's a lot more 'sitting at a desk arguing about contract conditions with divas and studio execs over a phone' and a lot less 'having my ass fondled by lusty starlets' than I think you're picturing."

... Sure, there had been parties, and yes, he'd even been to Sundance once for the networking, but the real fun stuff went to people who had been doing this shit for a few years longer than him. Ones who, say, hadn't just skipped the state a year and a half ago, and would have more time to dedicate to their career than he would if he kept up heroing in LA once he went back. Nikolai was lucky that so much of his job was done over the phone, or he'd be fucked otherwise.

[spin_kick_snap]

"Pffft, what's the fun of being a Hollywood agent if you're not getting your--your bottom fondled by lusty startlets?" Banzai asked. "You're shattering my image of Hollywood, Gorgon. I hope you're happy with yourself."

She handed him the remote. "For whenever you're ready to do the honors," she said, totally not hoping that this would result in a movie date like her last one, really.

Or that he'd decide to keep talking rather than turning the movie on.

[gunslingerpose]

Gorgon took the remote, but just held on to it for a moment, shaking his head and laughing.

"That's right. Hollywood is broken, and everything you knew is a lie. But at least I know it's nothing wrong with me. I have a damn fine ass."

He was so modest. The very image of modesty. Truly.

[spin_kick_snap]

How was she supposed to even respond to that? Agree? Because it was true! Try and pretend like she hadn't even noticed? Ignore it? Ask if she could find out for herself?

...Okay that last one was both the best and worst idea ever and maybe he wouldn't notice her blushing. She'd say it was the reflection of the screen or something! Sure.

"Glad to hear your ego is doing okay," she said, because it seemed the only safe path through their conversation. "Good lord, I should probably just be glad your meeting with Barry didn't turn into a twerk-off or something."

Look at her! Playing it cool!

[gunslingerpose]

Nikolai was actually kind of impressed. He really couldn't tell whether she was blushing or not, not in the dark with his shades on. He was going to assume that she was, because she really was the type, but she wasn't flapping her arms around or anything, so she was getting bonus points for composure.

"I don't twerk," he intoned. "I'd be up for a curse-off, though. Does that kid always swear like that?"

[spin_kick_snap]

"All the time," Kathy sighed. "...You know? I'm not even sure who'd win that one."

She and Elsa could give it a miss, maybe watch more Bollywood, while the guys got progressively filthier.

[gunslingerpose]

"He's got a hell of a mouth on him," Nick replied, sounding appreciative of that salty vocabulary. "He's a kid after my own heart, you know."

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy rolled her eyes, grabbing a handful of popcorn and tossing each kernel into the air to catch. "I'll tell him to expect a love letter any day now," she said. "You can deliver it to his secret lab. Just follow the blue streak of curses."