2007-11-13: Caffeine Jolt

Starring:

Eric_icon.gif Mikhail_icon.gif

Summary: Coffee can kill you. So can an SUV if you're not careful.

Date It Happened: November 13th, 2007

Caffeine Jolt


Greenwich Village

Walking off classes has become a routine sort of thing. Spending time browsing other areas also occupies his attention as well. The art student weaves past other people moving or loitering in certain spots along the sidewalks, stopping every so often to look into a storefront window. He fixes the fedora absently after staring into the glass, checking his reflection before backing up and away again. Yes, he still looks pretty slick today. More artsy than gansta, maybe. It isn't intentional, but he fits in just fine with the area.

—-

Walking the other direction down the sidewalk is a different young man. Different but similar in that they are both students. The young man Eric Lancaster is deep in conversation on his phone, grumbling slightly and softly into the receiver. He's dressed casually, but his manner and his look is all business today. "…look. I know what it'll cost. Just get it all sent alright." Pause. "Good." Pause. "Thats fine. Thanks for your support." And with that and a sigh he flicks closed the cellphone. The cell was of course in his pocket, the young man talking on a high tech bluetooth earpiece.

However, as he passes Mikhail he blinks slightly in recognition and slows his steps. A smile comes to his face before he raises his hand to get the other guys attention a smile coming to his face easily enough. "Hey Mikhail!" He calls.

—-

Someone's calling him. Unless someone else shares Mikhail's name, which is something not too uncommon. Sort of. He slows to a stop, a little confusion adding to his stoic expression. Well, the voice sounds familiar. Blue gray eyes glance over a shoulder before they lit up, a hand rising to wave at the taller student. "Oh, hey Eri. Been a while. Again," Miki chuckles, the soft smile breaking up the set neutrality. There is a pause as the artist looks Eric up and down. That suit fits his friend well. "Wow. Looking sharp and expensive. Important business stuff going on?" His tone sounds amused, but he does ask this out of curiosity. He has no idea how that world works. In fact, he'd probably be bored and distracted easily if he shared the same major.

Thankfully he has art to do that as it is.

—-

Eric smirks slightly and shakes his head. "…well yeah, I've been a bit busy lately. Alright…" He grins and slides his hands into his pockets. "…a lot busy. I'm back now though." He shrugs slightly before he nods. "…well not really all that important. Had to get some things moved to a friend of mine's place. She can yell at me about it all later." He sounds cheerful about it. "Thankfully most of the major business stuff I've got over. There was a merger overseas, that's where I've been. Hows life been in the big city for you though?" He asks, just as curiously as he falls into step next to Mikhail.

—-

"Daaaang," Mikhail slurs, smirking back as he raises his arms in a mock-surrender pose. "A bit busy, pfft. Man, you really know how to juggle everything." Fingers flex around the bands of cloth forming the ends of his fingerless gloves, diving back into his jacket pockets for warmth.

The walking isn't anything special. Keeping pace with each other works well. The artist tilts his head upward, shrugging. "City's been the same. Got to visit friends, go to other places. Work on art pieces in between everything else," he says calmly. It's vague and yet it sums it up. He'll leave out details of his first 'rumble' at the Brawling HQ in the Bronx area because it didn't end very well. For him. "Right now, I'm just looking around. Taking my time and procrastinating some more."

—-

"I've been taught juggling from a very young age," Eric replies with a slight sigh as he walks along beside his fellow student. "God I wish I could procrastinate a bit more. I think it would be good for me if I did." He grins slightly towards Mik for a moment before running a hand threw his hair. "No time for it though!" He adds, no lack of cheer in his voice. "At least it keeps me busy right?" He asks easily enough before he glances around. "…I should stop and get some coffee. Its getting colder by the day out here."

—-

Mikhail attempts a pout, but it looks silly. Instead, he blows at some of his bleached bangs, that particular section fluttering back down in front of his gaze. Well, there has to be some responsible people out there, and Eric is among those ranks. Good for him. At least he's keeping positive? "Yeah, you're almost finished with everything anyway, or so I've heard. And you have a confirmed job placement, so that's not too much to worry about." His voice doesn't sound as cheery, but it sounds a little more 'alive' than it was earlier. At the mention of coffee, Miki sticks out his tongue again out of habit. But what Eric says is true. "Meh. Can't hurt to get something warm," he adds, trying to figure out what he can get that doesn't include coffee-related things in it.

—-

Eric laughs and shakes his head at the attempted pout. Of course he's keeping positive though, if he wasn't he would have gone insane by now. Between the virus, Elena, and Gene. He has lots to be down about. He shakes his head slightly. "…hell, I have a job right now if you want to get down to it." He says with a smile before he glances curiously at Mikhail. "What? No place wants a damn good artist?" He asks before he follows it with a laugh as he notes Mikhail's reaction. "…you can have some hot tea or something."

—-

Another shrug. "Not really sure. It seems like people need one, but it's like they can't make up their minds about it," he replies nonchalantly. "On the artist side, they're always critiquing and interpreting everything differently. Of course, that depends if there's even a message behind the piece, in my case." His eyebrows raise, changing his expression slightly. Optimism does good in times like this, especially when Mikhail knows about Elena's virus thing too. He hasn't spoken to Gene much, but their relationship is mutual to some degree. He seriously cannot up the level, however.

Besides, he needs to offset the happy with his deadpan-ness.

Back to the coffee/other thing. "…I guess I can," he says with a simple nod.

—-

"Well if you need something quick then I can see what my departments need," Eric replies just as nonchanlantly. "I mean if I'm giving Elena's little brother a job there might be something for you as well. If you don't mind working for a friend." Its just a light offer though before he shakes his head. Yes, the virus has him more worried than he's letting on, but Eric is always good a dissembling. As they walk, the glances around and gestures to a Starbucks that they seem to be passing. "…here we go…"

It's New York, so the sound of squeeling tires on the road behind the pair doesn't even get so much as a glance.

—-

Working for a friend doesn't sound too bad of an idea to him. It's mainly help. Contribute talents that others don't have to expand and make things much better for everyone! Mikhail smiles, nodding after thinking about it. "I don't see anything wrong with it," he answers. "It's like helping a brother out, yeah?" Except with cash involved. Yes.

The Starbucks is in sight, and the artist doesn't jump for joy about it. "Woo. Awesome." At the squealing, he isn't even sure if he should even bother to look.

…Well, maybe just a quick look.

—-

Laughing, Eric nods slightly. "Well some people have problems with it is all, but good! If you don't get anything quick enough I'll swing something I'm sure." He says with a grin. See. Now this is something he can help with. Thats what he really wants to do. Help. He can't help Gene, he can't help Elena and it drives him mad. "…you don't have to sound so happy about it." He adds with a smirk at Mik's less than enthused endorsement of Starbucks.

…however, its a good thing that Mik at least does look.

As he looks he sees an SUV. It's swerving, its driving erratically. It's what's causing all the problems. Then when the driver suddenly brings the thing to a stop…or…tries to…the brakes give out entirely. Instead of stopping, the big vehicle hops a curb, runs down a hot dog vendor and a fire hydrant and careens right towards the walking pair of students.

—-

"…!" Crap. For a nice, peaceful walk to the local Starbucks, things sure do take a sharp turn. Mikhail's eyes grow wide, a look he rarely sports, quickly backing up and reaching for Eric's arm. Scratch that - it's more of a hurried grab and tug. His mind suddenly blanks out as the SUV draws nearer, a few words barely processing fast enough to get a warning out.

"E-Eri car! Eri car car CAR ERIC!! BIG CAR!!" He shoves at the taller student. "MOVE!"

—-

"…Mik— what's…car?" Eric blinks as he turns to glance over his shoulder. "CAR!" He's close enough to see the screaching and terrified driver, read the fact that its a Land Rover, and even tell that the damn thing needs new tires. All this is processed in his mind in moments. "Car." He agrees before he's moving as well, grabbing Mikhail and flinging him in the opposite direction from himself, using the shove to increase his own momentum as the car barrels towards them both.

It passes through the space they both just occupied a moment ago, separating the two students and crashing into the front of the coffee shop with a crunch of metal and shattering glass. People scream and dust and debris billow out obscuring the street and Eric from view.

—-

Good thing Eric is able to do that. Mikhail flies well, rolling onto the sidewalk just as the car crashes. The landing was rough, but he stopped from going any further. As the chaos continues, the artist coughs, scrambling to get back on his feet and look for his friend.

Blue gray eyes dart around, distracted by the scene, his level of calm quickly diminishing as his sense of balance is regained. "Eric!" His voice is hoarse as he dashes back over toward the wreck, not knowing what to do. Other people are already dialing numbers into their cell phones. Working around the car doesn't seem like an alternative.

—-

There isn't a fire yet at least. There is the smell of gas of course, but hopefully the leak isn't all that bad. The cars wheels are still spinning, but it isn't going anywhere. Just making noise and smoking. The driver too smashed up against the airbags and the people are calling emergencies. Thankfully there doesn't seem to be that many people hurt by the car, it didn't go too far into the building.

"…o…over here!" There is a weak call to Mik's shout, coming from the other side of the car. He might be in pain, he might just be choking on the dust, hard to tell. "I'm…I'm alright!"

—-

Mikhail gasps, stumbling over some of the debris as he tries to get in closer. Oh thank God, he thinks, now realizing how bad the situation really was now that he sees the details. He's only heard of things being this bad from his father's work experiences. Living it and hearing it are completely different. He tries again, trying to pick at the mess. "A-are you sure? Just, just keep saying something, there should be an ambu, am-" He looks back over at the others in the area. "Hey! Check if everyone's all right! The driver, anyone else in the area!" He curses under his breath, drawing back a hand after it gets cut on a rough protruding piece of metal.

—-

And now Mik gets the full experience. Something he could have lived without, but there wasn't all that much choice in the matter. "Yeah…yeah I'm alright…are you on the other side of this mess? You alright?" The businessman's voice has a calm edge to it even as he glances around at the damage and the chaos. His suit is ruined, he's got a bit of a but on his leg, a second one on his arm, but otherwise he's unharmed in the least. A sigh of relief as he stands and glances around, reaching out to help people up.

Mikhail's words seem to charge the sudden onlookers as men and women rush forwards to try to get to the driver, to pull both friends and strangers out of the way of others and away from the car.

—-

Just hearing Eric respond normally (or as normally as he possibly can) lessens the level of stress. "Oh good, good. Things are…" Mikhail pauses, looking back over toward the others before glancing back. "…Most of them are all right, I think." He watches as the young businessman makes his way out, looking a little worn, but well. He quirks an eyebrow at this as his expression turns slightly incredulous, thinking that the damage should have been terrible. "…What…how…man, how…?"

—-

Coughing slightly, and the only real damage to him a bloody nose and a tired and sore looking expression Eric isn't about to tell his friend. In public, that he minorly shadowslipped out of the way of getting run flat over by the SUV. "…just…lucky I guess." He says with a slight grin towards Mikhail as he reaches out a hand to catch himself as he staggers against a wall. He frowns down at the suit though and shakes his head. "…you have any idea how hard blood is to get out of good clothes?"

—-

Lucky. It will have to serve as the answer for now. Although shaken, Mikhail manages to nod back without looking too worried. He doesn't seem very apathetic either, at least. Hands go up when Eric uses the wall as support, a weak attempt at trying to help. He's not even sure how to go about the man's joking statement. The artist tries to laugh, but he stops to look at the cut going across his right hand. "…"

—-

When one has nearly died from gunshot wounds, he's just now glad when he can walk away from things like this. Eric knows it could have been a lot worse. He's always wondering if it was entirely an accident, but hey…accidents do happen. One can't be paranoid all the time. He shakes his head to clear it a little bit before he just smiles towards Mikhail. "…are you alright yourself?" He asks, taking the offer of a shoulder to lean on should Mikhail actually offer a hand. "…looks like we both got lucky."

—-

Fingers flex idly, the splash of darkening red still glistening from its opening. "Y….yeah, I'll be fine," he says softly, flicking his gaze back at Eric. Nodding, the artist does his best to keep the taller student upright. Since he's not badly hurt or anything, it's the least he can do. "Might wanna get all of that checked, anyway," he adds after a moment, looking down at the floor.

—-

"Alright," Eric replies. "You better." He adds with a smirk before he grumbles. To himself. It really does hurt, even if they aren't that bad. Actually, not that bad makes it hurt worse really. He shakes his head to try to clear it. "…I should sit down or something, wait for the ambulance…shouldn't I?" He grins once again, already starting to feel just a bit lightheaded. "…well. At least we didn't have a boring time getting coffee."

—-

Mikhail chuckles, giving half of a smile as bleached bangs obscure his vision. "Actually, that would be a better choice," the artist nods. It's logical. Walking away from the wreckage will only bring up questions, but staying will probably do the same. And concern about other people's health holds priority over his, but at the same time, it just seems to wear him out. Worrying about them. Like this.

…It's better not to think about it right now.

"Yeah. You got that right," he says, turning his head to look back at the coffee shop.

—-

Eric sinks down on the sidewalk, leaning his back against the wall behind him and letting his head rest back against it. "…yeah, I don't think I could walk away from this right now. I'm a bit dizzy. Maybe shock or something. Elena would know," He smirks. "She would be yelling at me after she realized I was ok wouldn't she?" He asks as he tilts his eyes up towards Mikhail with a grin on his face.

"Yeah…I'm just gonna sit, wait…hope everyone is ok. I'm glad your ok though, cause we are friends and I hate to see my friends get hurt." Oh yeah. He's mildly babbling right now isn't he?

—-

Making sure he doesn't fall over while sitting goes smooth enough. Mikhail stays quiet, listening to Eric prattle on. Well, he does have to wonder about his mental health after all of this, but he seems coherent. Sort of. With his left hand, the art student just gently pats the businessman on the shoulder. "…The image is…so clear," he muses, thinking about the Elena scenario.

He meets Eric's near-delirious gaze, however, falling back into a neutral sort of look. "…Thanks for your concern." He would've felt worse than he does now, that's for sure. "Same here."

Sirens slowly fade in as the ambulances and police vehicles make their way toward the scene, the streets gradually returning to a state of known order as onlookers watch and wait…

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