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

[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."

[gunslingerpose]

"I'm sure he'll be real flattered when I show up with chocolates and a dozen roses," Nick snorted. "Think that'll win him over?"

Or did he prefer something a little more 'creepy stalker in the streets' like?

[spin_kick_snap]

"Maybe," Kathy said, pretending to give it a bit of thought. "He strikes me as the chocolates and roses type." He emphatically did not. "Though you may have some trouble with his girlfriend. She seems like the kind of girl who fights dirty, too, so you might want to be careful."

[gunslingerpose]

Elsa was indeed fierce. Nick wouldn't stand a chance.

"Oh, yeah? Well, I'm willing to negotiate. I mean, I'm not the sort of guy who takes issue with sharing," he replied, reaching for the popcorn. "See? Sharing."

[spin_kick_snap]

"How kind of you to share my popcorn," Kathy said, giving him a smirk that was far too amused for her own good. "But I'm not sure that's gonna get you anywhere with Barry's girlfriend. She's a princess. I'm not so sure how keen on sharing she's going to be."

[gunslingerpose]

Nick was tempted for a moment to take a bit of icing from his cupcake on the tip of his finger to boop onto her nose.

Tempted...

It would also be like sharing!

Instead, he just paused with his handful of popcorn halfway to his mouth, and then stared at her for a moment.

"... Literally? How the fuck did he manage that?"

[spin_kick_snap]

And, thus, he was spared the antics of watching Kathy try to lick it off. Which, depending on on how Nick saw her, was either a loss or a boon for him.

"Literally," she sighed. Because what little girl hadn't wanted to be a princess? And then to go and meet someone who was? It was a real mix of starry-eyed envy, to say the least. "But hey now! Don't sound so surprised! He's really smart and really nice, when he's not being an idiot and a jerk."

[gunslingerpose]

Okay, Kathy. Nick was smirking at you, now.

"That's a really fantastic personal endorsement you're giving him, there."

Just saying.

[spin_kick_snap]

"I'm just being honest!" Kathy defended. "He can be an idiot and a jerk, but usually he's a freaking genius and very kind. Besides--are you going to tell me that you don't get all the chicks back home?"

And--no offense meant, Nick--but Kathy wasn't sure she'd describe you as a genius or terribly kind.

[gunslingerpose]

And he'd thank Kathy not to.

"What, like, literal princesses?" Nikolai was raising an eyebrow at her over the top of his goggles. "That'd be the day."

[spin_kick_snap]

"You'd have to start hitting on my classmates for literal princesses," Kathy told him, not even bothering to hide the expression that that idea caused. "But what about Hollywood starlets?"

[gunslingerpose]

Huh. What was that expression supposed to mean? Aside from the obvious, Nick supposed. He was a little old to be hitting on high school girls.

"... Only a few."

Very few. Hollywood everything else, sure, but starlets?

[spin_kick_snap]

A little too old to be hitting on Kathy's classmates. Hitting on Kathy, however, was completely acceptable. Even preferable!

"And are you gonna tell me that you're always Mr. Nice Guy?" she asked, reaching for a soda.

[gunslingerpose]

Okay, no, Nikolai actually had to choke back a laugh at that.

"Are you kidding?" He snorted. "I can't even pretend I'm that."

Really, couldn't picture it at all.

[spin_kick_snap]

"And yet you get plenty of chicks," Kathy said. "Barry's probably nicer than you and that's why he gets a princess. See? Logic."

[gunslingerpose]

"That's... sound enough logic, I suppose," Nikolai decided, shaking his head and clearly amused. "So, I'll have to get better at pretending, huh?"

Yeah, that would happen.

[spin_kick_snap]

"I don't think so," Kathy said, shaking her head. "Pretending to be nice if you're really not isn't going to be good for anyone. At least, if you don't plan to keep it up much past snagging your princess."

Which was probably a more serious answer than his question had been intended to elicit.

"Too bad there's no pretending to be a princess," she said, settling back against the blanket. "I'm pretty sure most little girls spend a lot of time wishing to be one. Going to school with an honest to goodness princess can give your ego a bruising, even if she doesn't mean to."

But who could compete with a princess? Especially a princess with ice powers?

[gunslingerpose]

Yeah, Nick hadn't really anticipated such a serious answer, so he actually took a moment to mull over her statement in turn. The best he had when he replied was a shrug.

"I think for a lot of people, the trick is finding somebody who'll treat you like a princess regardless. I guess most people don't actually go to school with one, though."