As your wings discard their feathers on the ground

[anjelsword]

Fritz has finally been cornered in the lobby of the Conrad. Gail is frowning at her. Fritz is scowling back. This is not a conversation the younger angel wants to have, but Gail isn't letting her get away from it again.

The red-haired woman reaches out to touch Fritz's arm and Fritz yanks back.

"Maria," Gail says. "Can't we just talk?"

"Why the

Comments

[designed2kill]

As it would happen, Luka is also in the alleys. She's not looking for money today, she's looking for a fight. There's not very many people who want to spar with her at the Estates, and she's got to stay in practice somehow. What better way than to get in fights in random alleyways

[anjelsword]

As soon as the ropes and weapon disappear, she slams backward, cracking her head against her captor's nose. He staggers, and Aniki knocks him down with an elbow to his windpipe.

It's a favored move of hers.

She turns on the two still standing. The leader is still clinging to his hostage, even though he doesn't have a knife any longer. "Now. Let her go, while you've still the chance."

Feel free to attack, Luka. Aniki would welcome a diversion.

[designed2kill]

The second Aniki starts moving, Luka springs into action. She's not really trained to fight hand to hand against someone who has a hostage, so she opts to start with the other guy first. Five quick steps, then lead off with an explosive punch to the jaw with her left hand, immediately follow up by swinging her right leg up and around for a kick to the liver. The man stumbles backwards. Luka closes the distance again, grabbing the man's wrist with one hand and the waistband of his pants with the other, and executes a hip throw. With her opponent on the ground, she swiftly knocks him out with a blow to the head.

She may not have given the guy much of a chance to fight back. Oh well.

[anjelsword]

Aniki doesn't waste time when Mr. Hostage-Taker looks away--she's on him, crushing his nose up and back and ripping the woman rather savagely from his grip. Aniki'll apologize for bruises later, if she sticks around. The man shrieks and puts his hands to his face, coughing red spittle as blood surges down his throat. Twist-kick to the stomach, a trick Aniki learned from a Shang warrior, and she glances back long enough to confirm that her new friend is going after the CLF, not helping them.

She crouches next to the downed leader, winding one hand roughly into his hair. "Now," she whispers. "What do you say to that nice lady and to me?"

It's soft, almost gentle, and he gurgles in response, struggling and gripping her wrist with bloodied fingers. She slams the back of his head against the brick wall of the apartments flanking the alley and leans in closer. "What?"

"Please--"

"Wrong." Crack. Aniki gives him a little shake to wake him up again, aware of the hostage's steady retreat down the alley. "Be a good lad and say you're sorry

[designed2kill]

Luka finishes with her guy just in time to catch the end of Aniki's show. She watches, impressed. Aniki dragged things out a little longer than she would have, towards the end, but there's no doubt in her mind that Aniki's good. As good as some of her trainers back at the Laboratory, probably.

"That was good fight," she tells Aniki.

[anjelsword]

Aniki eyes her, smiling just a little. "And so it was. Thank you for helping."

Granted, she could have found her own way out of it, but it's nice not to have to. Having someone to watch your back in case of the unexpected is handy and pleasant too. "What's your name?"

[designed2kill]

"You don't need to thank me, I needed the practice," Luka demurs, uncomfortable with the thanks. And only Luka would consider beating up random people in the street to be practice.

"I'm Luka Petrovic," she says. "What's your name?"

[anjelsword]

"Aniki Forfrysning." She can't help liking the girl, both for her skill and her frankness. She reaches out to ruffle the girl's hair, hesitating a moment before doing so. She remember's Arlin's reaction, the first time she touched him, and she doesn't want Luka to feel uncomfortable.

[designed2kill]

It is a good thing Aniki hesitated a moment before trying to ruffle Luka's hair--it gives her the opportunity to step back, out of Aniki's reach. She doesn't like being touched. She will tolerated Anka touching her, because Anka is her sister. Aniki is not her sister, and therefore has no touching rights. If Aniki had not given her the opportunity to escape, she would have likely reacted violently, which would have been unfortunate.

[anjelsword]

Aniki sighs.

People in Chicago are so antisocial. "I'm not going to hurt you, lass."

This place makes her feel fucking lonely. Even Beka let Aniki ruffle her hair on occasion.

[designed2kill]

"You're not?" Luka sounds wary. "What were you going to do?" She might actually be open to this physical contact thing if Aniki explains what she's doing beforehand.

[anjelsword]

Her face softens into a smile. Somehow she's not surprised at the question. Luka seems a bit... off.

"I was going to mess your hair about a bit. It means I like you."

[designed2kill]

Luka considers this for a bit. "Well, you seem like a nice person, so I guess you can if you want to."

She thinks she likes Aniki too, but it's too early to tell at this point. She steps back into hair-mussing range so Aniki can get at it easier.