✾ 『 action post 』

[neverplays]

may;
i don't give a damn about my bad reputation [eddie blake & mindy macready ]
but there's nothing more sadistic than an infant waving his pistol in my face [ allison cameron & mindy macready ]
doing what they do best [ brian moser & mindy macready ]
the thunder of stampeding rhinos, elephants and tacky tigers [ claire bennet & mindy macready ]

june

Comments

☞ but there's nothing more sadistic than an infant waving his pistol in my face

[as_damaged]

She's beginning to regret slipping out on her own.

Evenings like this, Cameron usually finds someone to walk her home; or perhaps more appropriately, she's often escorted, whether or not she wants to be. Truth be told she doesn't really mind, in general. It's nice not to be alone; and though she's much better at taking care of herself these days, there's still safety in numbers.

But with the reports of violence thinning out as the night wore on, and the endless proclamations of the uncursed Citizenry that they'd fight for justice and the safety of their fellows, she's become perhaps too bold. It's not a long walk, and she's armed; how bad could it really be?

Bad enough that even though the street is deserted and fairly well-lit, she can't shake the feeling she's being watched. Cameron walks steadily, looking calmer than she feels, everything she's ever learned about self-defense running through her mind. It's not enough, though; or perhaps it's the City working against her, dulling her perception just a little. Her attacker is on her before she knows it, a little flash of light in his hand telling her he's armed as his other arm folds around her throat, stopping her in her tracks.

"Don't think about screaming," he mutters darkly, and she nods. She's weighing her options; wondering if she can get to her gun before he realizes what she's trying, wondering if she has the guts to go through with it anyway. People aren't sheep, even if this one is equally inclined to hurt her.

☞ but there's nothing more sadistic than an infant waving his pistol in my face

[neverplays]

For Mindy's first curse, this one seemed tailored just for her. Masses of ruffians attacking innocents in the City? Robbers, muggers, and murderers incited to rampage the streets? This was Mindy's calling card, all right. One look across the network, another peek through the a window in the apartment to spy the trouble outside, and she was off the next minute suiting up in the costume she had arrived in. She had no weapons except for the gun Eddie gave her, but she was Hit-Girl, she didn't need a weapon to kick ass.

But the gun finds it's place when Mindy's patrol through the City brings her to intercept a scene seconds from folding into a bloody meeting. She's cloaked herself behind the shadow of a elm tree, one of those greeneries planted awkwardly to make the urban jungle look less metal and brick. Mindy doesn't know that Cameron carries a gun with her, only observing them through monochrome colors. Good and Bad. Victim and Bad Guy. It doesn't take her long to deliberate on her next move, snapping out the gun for a shot to the mugger's head. She's a damn good shot, the bullet sweeping through and making perfect mark.

A bunch of idiots, these criminals.

☞ but there's nothing more sadistic than an infant waving his pistol in my face

[as_damaged]

Cameron screams, the mugger's knife hitting the ground with a ring that likely goes unnoticed in the wake of her terror. The sound of a gunshot is unmistakable; and even if this one was obviously not meant for her, it's all too close and too real. There's only so much she can deal with. Thank God it's clean shot, and there's nothing worse than a few stray drops of blood on her. Thank God it's dark enough that she can't see what's on the ground too clearly. Even after everything-- the sheep this month, the monster last year, the curse last March she tries never to think of-- she's not desensitized to the dangers of the City.

She stumbles back a few paces instinctively as the body falls to the ground, whipping around to face the direction the gunshot seems to have come from, clutching her purse in shock and in case the newcomer proves not to be a savior, but a bigger predator.

☞ but there's nothing more sadistic than an infant waving his pistol in my face

[neverplays]

Outfitted in cape and mask, there's anonymity there that offers as much of a shadow as the elm's bulk. She steps out in full confidence, gun slipped back in its holster, aiming instead an easy smile at the frightened doctor. The disparity between societal expectation and reality, the child killing the armed robber, doesn't even cross Mindy's mind. It hardly ever has, this role having been cemented as reality through the years.

She exits the eclipse of the shadow and continues walking toward Cameron, stopping just close enough to allow her a cushion of comfort. A panicked person is an irrational person, and Mindy knows she needs space to shake off her nerves. Hopefully, the voice of a young girl wouldn't be too alarming.

"You okay?"

☞ but there's nothing more sadistic than an infant waving his pistol in my face

[as_damaged]

A child-- or what looks to be a child, one can never be so certain here-- is almost as horrifying to see as the mugger, though for different reasons. Less of an immediate threat, apparently, though obviously no less dangerous in the potential sense. Not quite trusting her voice yet, Cameron nods.

The City is no place for children. It's bad enough for adults, violent and dangerous and eternally uncertain. She's always worried, privately, about how it might warp the lives of young people unfortunate enough to end up here. It isn't that she's unaware that some are warped to begin with; it's a matter of principle, one more thing to resent the so-called deities for.

This little girl is a murderer.

"I didn't even see him until he was..." She winces visibly, swallows hard, her tone low and trembling with incredulity. Cameron isn't accustomed to this sort of fray. A bit of shock seems forgivable.

☞ but there's nothing more sadistic than an infant waving his pistol in my face

[neverplays]

You mean, a thirty year old vampire in the body of a child?

Here? Maybe. Truthfully? No.

She doesn't fault Cameron for her nerves, but she's not the type to waste time stalling. Those few seconds were ample enough time and space for anyone, and Mindy steps off to the side-- ready to once again dash out of the scene. Her attacker was dead, the woman was saved, and her job was done. Simple and clean. Of course the lines don't lie so neatly for the Doctor, but that's nothing of Mindy's concern. In fact, it doesn't even cross her mind.

"Well, next time you know better, Doc."

Oh, she knows who you are, Cameron. Then again, the hospital staff aren't invisible about their positions. Information easily accessed. However, Mindy won't give much of a chance for equal investigation of her identity, having once again stepped backwards into a shroud of shadow. The only clear detail is the gleam of her knife slipped into her belt.

"Keep your eyes open and don't be stupid." she adds, nothing but cockiness infiltrating her voice.

☞ but there's nothing more sadistic than an infant waving his pistol in my face

[as_damaged]

There's a part of her that can't help but flare in anger at that, partly because she knows she was stupid to be out here in the first place. Still. She might have made it, if this girl hadn't interfered. Cameron hates being the damsel in distress. It isn't any easier when her savior's half her size.

The rest of her, true to form, is worried for the girl's sake. This is no place for a child, no kind of behavior for someone so young. "Thank you," she says quietly, taking a slanting step forward-- towards the girl, away from the dead body. Cameron can't even look at the dead man, though she doesn't doubt his image will haunt her anyway.

Then, before the girl can go-- making a perhaps obvious appeal to childish ego-- she asks one of the more important questions on her mind.

"Who are you?"

☞ but there's nothing more sadistic than an infant waving his pistol in my face

[neverplays]

Mindy never deals in pleasantries and subtlety, unless it befits the situation. This isn't one of those situations, and the anger that flares within Cameron is just the reaction she would expect from her comment. She's coarse and direct, and well, Mindy knows not everyone can handle that. Not that she considers Cameron a damsel in distress-- that's a consideration of her own creation.

"Me?"

This is one of her favorite lines. Movie magic, lights and camera, and attention moments with a grin in half exposure in the pale gleam of the moon. The wind (or so she imagines) whips her hair in that snapshot ideal, billowing out as she speaks.

"I'm Hit-Girl."

☞ but there's nothing more sadistic than an infant waving his pistol in my face

[as_damaged]

A fake name is really what she expected, and so she's not surprised. The pattern is fairly obvious. Though it helps that Cameron's met her share of superheroes here already. Treated some, even. It's better than nothing, as far as clues go to finding out who this girl really is and who the hell is taking care of the poor thing.

"Thank you, Hit-Girl," she repeats, with a half-step back to indicate that she's about ready to be on her way. Under the circumstances trying to follow the child home seems like a Bad Idea, and Cameron's clever enough to notice that, though she'll certainly be keeping her eyes open from here on out.