Starring:
Guest Starring:
Bikers (NPCed by Neil and George)
Summary: Three people make a bad decision about where to spend their evening and intrude on unwelcoming territory.
Date It Happened: January 26th, 2008
How Not to Spend Your Evening
Outskirts of Queens, NYC
This is….not the wisest place to stop and have a drink. But Fel's been out in the wilds of furthest Jersey, trying to track down just where a handful of missing women have gone. Imported, shipped in like any other commodity, hidden in shipping containers on the docks until the men who've bought them come to get them. Four women, all from Russia and eastern Europe, traced through the port authority and now out here. All of 'em gone. Fel is looking especially morose as he wanders in, sans tie and suitjacket and gun, utterly oblivious to the quality of the clientele.
Niki didn't plan to come here when she left SoHo earlier in the evening - and it's painfully obvious. The pretty blonde, sitting at a table quite near the entrance, sticks out like a sore thumb in this … not-so-fine establishment. For one, there's not a speck of leather on her, save for the brown faux snakeskin purse on the table in front of her, separating her from most of the other customers just by the sheer fact that her fashion sense isn't connected to the Harley which she clearly doesn't own. The expensive rental in the parking lot? Yeah, probably hers.
She's dressed like she just emerged from casual day at the office: dark wash denim jeans, bootcut, and modern black trenchcoat with the collar of a soft pink blouse peeking out along with a cream-coloured scarf unravelled about her neck. Niki barely glances up when Felix enters, quickly returning to a similarly morose and conflicted star-edown of her hands on the table. No drink, no company — she must not have been here long.
Bekah has had her own crappy day. How that crappy day ended up this far from her normal haunts in Manhattan is likely quite a long story. There are dark circles under her eyes, and while she's not dressed in leather, worn jeans, a t-shirt, and ski jacket at least are nothing fancy. She's not far behind Felix stepping in through the door, covering a yawn with one hand.
Fel's obvious office-worker garb gets him a whole market's full of fish eyes as he enters. It only takes him a moment to clue in….and then staunchly decide to ignore it. Just one drink. Just one. Not so smart, that. It's like a Siamese at a Rottweiler convention. Let's see how long he lasts. Niki's appearance, however, is enough to have him unable to entirely hide his double take as he peers over at her. Squints in fact, like he's suspicious of a joke. Ditto for poor Bekah.
Niki glances up for a second time when Bekah meanders in, although her gaze, this time, is a bit more lingering. The other woman may not stand out quite so much as she does today, but she stands out enough that Niki watches her and Felix now. Outsiders, all of them. There's nothing particularly curious in her gaze, however, all told; it's pretty blank. Her eyes are on cruise control as she's lost in her own world — that is, until she notices Felix's peering. After a moment of squinting back, she just averts her eyes back to the smeary table.
Bekah finishes the big yawn and pauses to look around. Oh look. Most of the crowd is big hairy men in leather jackets. And an out of place blonde. And oh, that one she recognizes. "Fancy meeting you here, Felix." She states. She may not know him well, but she does know his name at least! And she moves towards him, odd one to odd one in the room.
Fel offers a wry, somewhat sheepish smile, first to Bekah, and then a glance back to Niki. "This is weird. Seriously, are you both stalking me?" he wonders. Really not serious, even as he jams hands in his pockets.
Turning one hand over the other in a series of slow movements that nevertheless amount to fidgeting, Niki ignores the pair of odd persons out for now, clueless that one of them still glances her way. She can't quite hear them over the din of rowdy bikers. She inches a hand toward her purse, fingers crawling along the table until she tugs the very corner of a file folder out of it. She gives it a long and thoughtful stare, but winds up whisking the whole purse off the table, standing up and heading for the bar straight past Bekah and Felix.
Bekah rolls her eyes over to Felix. "Yes I got lost and decided alcohol could do anything but help this day get better, just because I was stalking you. Right. Because I've nothing better to do with my life." A bad day equals full on snark in Bekah's book. As Niki comes close she turns her gaze to the other oddball, but well, she doesn't recognize the other woman.
Fel puts out a hand to touch Niki's arm, gently, rather than try and bellow at her over the noise. There's a jukebox blaring in the corner. "Well, you have to admit, it's weird," Fel says, a bit lamely, even as he turns to follow Niki.
In the midst of walking to the bar with a purpose, the touch on her arm comes as a complete surprise. With a touch of confrontation in her poise already, expecting it to be one of the bar patrons and not the tired office worker type, Niki whirls around. "I'm sorry, what?" she asks with slightly thrown off-guard politeness, as if she thinks she didn't quite hear whatever it was Felix said (to Bekah, but it's loud in here!). While she looks expectantly at Felix, she doesn't seem particularly surprised to see him.
Bekah shrugs over to Felix. "And what in life isn't wierd." She states, sticking close to him if he's going to follow Niki. Actually, it's probably a smart move for the thin woman in the crowd of bikers. Felix is usually armed, after all.
Wouldn't you know, Fel's Sig is cased in his car. Booze and gun=bad, even for a Fed. "We have to stop meeting like this," Fel says, with a mock-impassioned voice, before eyeing Niki expectantly. "Seriously, you really think this is a coincidence?"
This is where Niki should comment on how there's no such thing as coincidence anymore, or have some comeback about Felix being her stalker (since she was here first). One, two, three, four… nope. Only now does surprise set in, a subtle flash of it in her eyes. There's a significant little delay before she answers, somewhat gauchely: "…Right. Coincidence — no, probably not."
Bekah looks between the two of them for a moment before she shakes her head. "Coincidence, fate, stalking. Who the hell really cares as long as there's alcohol." Someone really isn't in the best mood. "Which really, should be your priority."
"You have a charming practicality to you," Fel notes to Bekah, before looking between the both of them. "Seriously, if there's something you want, let me know. Or else I'll buy you both drinks and we'll call it quits?"
Niki glances from Felix to Bekah to Felix to the EXIT sign above the door. There's a moment where she transparently appears to be considering taking off, but … leaving would mean making a decision of another kind and so she goes nowhere — except to the bar. "Yeah, um… quits, sure," she says dismissively (not sarcastically, though the distinction is blurry).
"Unless you want to convince my father to be sensible? No, alcohol is all I need. Thanks." Bekah'll let him buy her a drink. Why not? It's not like he's massive and dressed in leather.
No, he's not. Happily. God only knows what Misha would do if Fel showed up in anything leather other than his shoes. "Sure," Fel says, affably, even as he turns back to the bar. The crowd is a little slow to part, but not so much so immediately provoke a response.
After glancing watchfully — almost suspiciously, but that's nothing new, at least — over her shoulder at Felix, Niki sort of … hesitates once she actually gets to the bar. Oversized purse slung over her shoulder, hands lightly touching the edge of the bar, she's in prime ready-to-order mode. Her lack of saying anything at all once she's faced with the surly, tattooed linebacker of a bartender does nothing but make him surlier.
Bekah follows behind Niki her hands tucked down in the pockets of her jeans. Once they get to the bar, she wastes no time in ordering a coke with vodka. Caffeine and alcohol, how could she go wrong. Then Niki gets a quick look. "I'm Bekah by the way. If we're going to drink the wonder of alcohol together, might as well let you know my name." Her tone shows just how very unexcited by life she is at the moment.
Felix is….sticking out like a sore thumb. Here in the mass of sweaty leatherclad bikers of both sexes, he's in a white dress shirt and gray slacks. No gun, no suitjacket, no tie. He's at the bar, eyeing Niki and Bekah with disbelief, but no real displeasure. "Vodka, neat," he says, quietly. "And the ladies will have whatever they please."
Niki looks across at Bekah with a briefly friendly smile, dampened by the other woman's aura of bitter — which delays her order all the more, but at least the bartender has the others' drinks to focus on. "…Niki," she answers after a moment. It doesn't flow easily. "Um," she glances back to the bartender. "I'll have what— " Prepared to say 'what she's having', the blonde quickly changes her mind, " —he's having."
Bekah looks over to Niki for a moment before her eyes go back to the bartender. Thankfully, none of them are asking for anything difficult and it's not long until Bekah has alcohol in her hand. "Ah. Just what today needs." Even in the wonderful place they're in. "So, um, think we'll make it out of here alive?" She asks rather sarcastically. And unfortunately probably not as quietly as she should. After all, she has to be heard over the music.
That subjects the three of them to a decidedly wolfish series of stares. Fresh meat, definitely. "I'm sure we will," Felix says, with determined serenity. The bottle that the 'tender pours out of is labelless. Hm. Wonder why? Fel eyes his glasses with uncertainty, but doesn't protest. He manages to down his without coughing, even.
And one in particular. A small group of four move from a table against the wall and saunter over to the bar where the trio is currently getting their drinks. One of them — a mountain of tattoos and hair — slides into the stool next to Bekah and leans in rather close for comfort. "What, you don't like bikers, missy?" he intones in a husky bass. The other three in his entourage surround the other group: one sits on the far stool near Felix, the other two remain standing behind them all.
"Well, I don't have a deathwish." Contrary to all appearances, attractive blonde that she is, dressed in nice clothes with a nice car outside. Niki speaks as quietly as she can while still being heard, shifting closer to Bekah to make that marginally easier. She picks up the glass that's poured for her and drinking. She's struck by its strength, closing her eyes for an instant, but she downs some of it all the same. Then it's time to put the glass down and look unsurely over at Felix. "So- -" And then they have visitors. Just as well, she didn't know what to say. Slowly, she turns around against the bar, eyeing the bikers.
Bekah takes another drink from her glass, the vodka burning a path down her throat before she looks over to the biker who speaks to her. "Missy? I don't think I've been called that since I was five." She states, rather stupidly for someone so smart. And for the one who is probably the most breakable of the lot. "No, no problems with bikers." She adds flashing him a tired smile.
You know how you can hear a subway train way off down the tunnels, before it pulls into the station? You can hear Felix's stupid comment coming way off, like that. There's a certain light that comes into his eyes, even as he opens his mouth. "It's all the leather," he explains, easily. "She's vegan."
"Then maybe you shouldn't've walked in here," remarks the alpha, eyeing Felix and his beacon of I Am Not A Biker clothing, then Bekah and her smart mouth. "Think it's better if we show you the door." The others are glaring at the trio, sizing them up. Compared to them, Niki, Bekah, and Felix look, er. Lacking.
Niki, at least, recognizes how stupid Bekah is in that instant (sorry, Bekah) and when Felix just compounds What Not to Say to Bikers, she tenses. It's not that she has any firsthand experience — that she can remember, anyway — but come on. Blue eyes roam warily, and ever-so-slightly defiantly, from one hulking biker to the other. "Maybe we can see the door from here."
Bekah looks over to the biker and snorts a laugh. "Maybe I shouldn't have, but that does not mean I'm directionally challenged. I can find the door on my own, but not before I've finished this fine drink." More sarcasm from Bekah. Really, it's the defense of one who can't fight. "Thanks for the offer of help, though. I'm sure there's someone here who doesn't know what a door looks like." Felix's vegan statement doesn't even get acknowledged.
"In fact, I -can- see it from here," Felix says, sunnily. "And I'll be happy to go, once I'm done with my next, thanks," He props himself against the bar, like he intends to take his sweet time about it.
No, that is not what Mountains asked, and he is not going to courteously stand by and wait for them to finish their drinks. He rises to his feet and moves to grab Bekah by the shoulder and the back of her shirt. "Maybe you'd be better gettin' a closer look at the door," he grunts. The other three move forward as well: two on Felix, one for Niki, all with the intent of grabbing and hauling off toward the exit.
None of these three really have the right to be so defiant, do they? They're in someone else's territory. While Niki, for one, would be just fine with getting the hell out of here because, really, she has no feelings for the joint, being grabbed and hauled out isn't how she wants to leave. The second one of them touches her, she reels her arm harshly away, sidestepping closer to Bekah. "Don't touch me," she snaps, offended, instantly trying to shove him away with her forearm.
Bekah isn't getting grabbed without putting up a fight. She's not that good at it, but she's stronger than she looks. Which isn't saying much. She twists and tries to get free from his grasp on her shirt. Really, and accidental blow falling on him is as good as it'll likely get. "Let me go. Stop being so stereotypical and oafish." She grumbles.
Another chunk of all muscle and no brain downs the rest of his beer and slams the mug down on the bar top. "Check out the mouth on this one!" he says, rising to his feet as he eyes Bekah. As if they really need two of these guys to deal with the likes of her, right?
Felix is just fast enough to escape the grab, and attempt a punch. Oh, this is going to be fun to explain on Monday, isn't it? Assuming he lives that long. "Unhand them," he says, impatiently. English a little rusty, apparently.
Niki's attempts to shun the man who grabbed for her amount to exactly what one would expect — a light shove that does absolutely nothing. So far. Glaring down the biker who has his hands on her, she gives off a healthy mixture of rebellion and fear, both borne of … you know, wanting to stay nice and safe and not mauled by bikers, she attempts to wriggle backward. Into the bar, as luck and logic would have it. "I said let go." Okay, she said 'don't touch me,' but those are semantics; this time, her voice bears the low growl of a threat. Ooo, scary blonde girl.
Bekah looks over to the new arrival and rolls her eyes. "Yes. I have a mouth. And I do know how to bite." She states, still struggling to get free from the guy holding her a.k.a. oaf. She's even get her feet into it, attempting to kick a sensitive place. Too bad she doesn't have very good aim.
Felix's punch lands, but to fairly low effect. And all it's done is serve to piss off the pair of guys on him. They both leap forward with fists of their own. The ones on Niki and Bekah do not let go at all and in fact continue to bodily haul the women toward the door. Shouts and jeers arise from the surrounding crowd. Mountains grins at the other man at the table. "Could use a lesson or two, eh?" he grunts.
The other guy heading over toward Bekah just rolls his eyes. "Hey, we get you outside, you can do something else with that mouth," he taunts back. There's not much room left to grab hold of her, though, so he moves toward Niki instead. This will probably turn out to have been a mistake, but of course he has no way of knowing yet.
One of the bikers after Fel is suddenly tripping over his own feet, which are rooted in place. IT doesn't last long, however - Fel takes a firm hit to the side of the face and staggers back a few steps, reeling, before he comes in again, fists up.
Niki is dragged along the floor, her boots scraping as she refuses to cooperate on this guy's terms. The urge to get him off of her still strong, she suddenly leans into him hard, shoving with her shoulder and … way, way more than her slight body weight, She lashes out with an arm, too, all the more to push him off toward the leatherclad cavalry that's moving in.
Bekah keeps trying to kick back at the guy behind her even as she shoots downright glares at the other man. "Yeah. Only if you want to lose something that I'm guessing you value. I'm a doctor. I do know where to bite to make sure you never use it again." Or maybe she doesn't. Whether that is a lie or just the fact that she's being dragged by much bigger men, who knows.
It's enough to send the guy reeling into the bar, though, upsetting a couple stools and glasses with a loud clatter. He remains clinging to steady himself as his buddy dodges and then moves in for another hit aimed at Felix.
Mountains is not very afraid of Bekah. Her puny flailings and attempts to cow him with talk of biting important bits do not sway. He just laughs deep in his chest — then glares at his comrade as the guy stumbles a little under Niki's surprisingly strong push. But hey, no matter; that other dude is there to help handle it. "Whassa matter, can't handle a little woman?" he barks at his friend.
The smart-ass turns again, halfway. He just cannot make up his mind which of these fools to go after first! He's just about to snap back at Bekah when Niki shoves the other guy into him, sending him abruptly toppling face-first onto the floor. To his credit, he tries to push himself back up, only to get trampled some for his trouble.
Felix flails, blindly, more than a little stunned. And gets hit again, this time - a body blow. If only Misha were here to rescue him. And then lecture him, after.
Hoping that the guy's stumble into his friend will be some kind of distraction, Niki grabs on to those brief seconds to steady herself and send a hard kick at his shin. For extra insult, her boots are pointy-toed.
Bekah really doesn't have much else to do but watch. She's not strong enough or well enough trained in fighting to get away. Although… Her speech gives her an idea and she turns to try to bite down on the hand holding her shoulder, going for the back of the hand if she can.
Once Felix is duly beaten up, the two men intent on him reach out to grab him by arms and legs, lift him, and start carrying him toward the door.
The man still holding to Niki manages to get out of the way of that killer boot and grimaces. One hand goes up to backhand her across the face. Because if she won't hold still, he will make her hold still. "Get up," he growls at the man he's just trampled and knocked over. "This one's feisty."
Mountains, meanwhile, is so intent on the others that he doesn't realize what Bekah is doing until teeth sink into the back of his hand. The man bellows out a roar of pain and soon Bekah, too, is the target of a hard backhand — though it does succeed in getting her released from his grip.
The guy on the floor finally starts to get up again, just in time for Niki's kick to catch him a glancing blow on the shoulder. "Oh, that's it!" he shouts; ignoring instructions, he lunges forward in an attempt to take out her other leg.
Felix is stunned enough not to resist. In fact, he's barely conscious - being summarily toted towardsthe door. Thank god his gun is in his car.
Niki chances a glance at the others - who aren't faring much better — and the exit which Felix is been carried to, but she can't take her eyes off these guys for long. Blonde hair flying for an instant, she ducks down, avoiding what would have been a rough accosting of her face. But in doing so, the other biker collides with her leg, and she's thrown off balance just enough in the whirlwind of arms and legs that she falls on the floor. This is … not great. Maybe she should just let them haul her out. But what might they do once they're out there? A hardened look of determination sets into Niki's face and, scrambling to sit up as fast as she can, she grabs onto the lunging biker's shirt with both hands … and tries to toss him. Enhanced Strength, huh? We'll see how right her file was.
Bekah is free. Unfortunately, this is not so much a yay. She is caught off guard by the backhand and falls hard to the floor, landing at an awkward angle on her arm. The snap it makes can't be a good thing. Really, though, at least she landed near the door, and she'll scamper out, acting on adrenaline. With that hurt arm held tight to her side, she'll fish in her coat pocket with the other, hitting a contact to call for help. Not 911, but rather Namir.
Once Felix is at the door, he's given an unceremonious toss out into the street, right after the scrambling Bekah. Plenty of jeering and even a bit of flying alcohol and … god knows what other kinds of liquid are lobbed after them.
Ha! Redemption! The guy who knocked Niki down is quickly pulling himself up as well, drawing a fist back as she grabs the front of his shirt. "Serves you right, bi—" … but then he finds himself sliding across the bar, the way that's only supposed to happen in cheesy 1980s movies, only the guy in the cheesy 1980s movie doesn't have to worry about picking shards of broken glass out of his side. Or chest. Or eye. The fact that the patch will match well with the rest of his outfit will be of cold comfort.
The second man after Niki reaches out to grab her after she's tossed his buddy, after a moment of awe at the sheer supernatural display of strength. "That's it, bitch," he snarls, moving to crack her over the back of the head with an elbow.
Whoa, so— that was easy. Niki is momentarily thrown — metaphorically speaking, unlike the biker she just sent sailing down the bar - by her own strength, eyes widening, gaping as she watches the man crash through glassware. The delay is short-lived. She registers, at some point during her fleeting, trapped-and-threatened animal glances around the bar, that she's the only "outsider" left and starts to get to her feet. But despite her best efforts, the other man's elbow comes down hard on her head before she can turn her strength on him, too — and the super strong blonde crumples back down to the floor.
And just like that, Niki soon finds herself flung outside like her friends. Acquaintances. Fellow vegans. When she wakes up, she'll smell bad, but at least she's alive and mostly intact!