MURDERAN: THE STORY OF A ONE-ARMED MAN AND HOW HE TOUCHED PEOPLES' LIVES
Who: Ladd Russo, J.J, Moses, Alexander Wolfgang, Firo Prochainezo, Zack Fair, Allen Walker, Miles Edgeworth, Jonathan Teatime
What: Ladd's Fun Murder Spree Adventure!
Where: All around Nautilus!
When: Late Saturday afternoon into the night.
Warnings: Character death. Copious violence. Probably language especially considering we have an Alex.
Notes ( Read more... )
What: Ladd's Fun Murder Spree Adventure!
Where: All around Nautilus!
When: Late Saturday afternoon into the night.
Warnings: Character death. Copious violence. Probably language especially considering we have an Alex.
Notes ( Read more... )
It was hard to discount something like that, especially when it wasn't completely hallucinated. Czeslaw had been right; the affects produced by the city only served to stimulate the things Firo tried to keep pushed into one little corner of his being, letting it flood forth like an overfilled cup. No one should have to have that much knowledge, that many memories crammed into their head, especially if it wasn't his own. It was a scary thing, and to almost lose himself to it then was just as scary to realize.
Maiza wasn't here to confide in. Czes was here now, but for as helpful as he'd seemed to be, Firo knew there was still this invisible barrier that the boy kept behind. Ennis had been the only one that seemed to be able to really bridge it, but she wasn't here either. That thought always came up, always made him feel alone.
But he knew he wasn't, really. Claire was here. Czes too, now- and Firo would be meeting with him in a day or so. And then there were a lot of other people he'd come to meet here in Nautilus. Things weren't so bad, just a little different. He'd been through worse, and so long as he was alive and breathing, there were things he could do, people to meet, places to see.
Thus it was with a genuine smile on his face that the young Camorrista made his way along, just leaving the Manhattan area of the Eastern District, on his way towards the North. The bar there had become one of his usual haunts, although still nothing like the Alveare. Yet another thing to simply deal with. Firo shrugged to himself, whistling tunelessly as he went.
Reply
Really, that kind of idea was a joke; he was just terrible at making things. Not as bad as Graham, but not a whole lot better. But it sure sounded appealing when he was trying to distract himself from the 'dead space' like this in between kills. Filling his head with fluffy ideas wasn't too bad.
A bit of surprise was visible on his face when he rounded a corner and then saw the guy he recognized as Firo across the street. Ladd had a shotgun cocked over one shoulder as easily as if it were a bouquet of flowers; an alien-looking metal hand rested with swagger on his hip. His carriage was so casual, but his image was immediately threatening.
"Heeeey, hey, hey! Firo! That you?!"
His shouting immediately removed any kind of secrecy he might have been trying to keep, anyway...
Reply
Firo hadn't ever met the guy in person before, but he was well acquainted with voice and looks by their conversations over the network. The boy grinned, seeming to pay no heed to the shotgun Ladd carried as he tipped his hat in acknowledgment. Wasn't like he was unaccustomed to conversing with such people anyway.
"Ladd, right? How ya doin'?"
Reply
"Heh! I've seen you around, but never actually met you! Those little movies just aren't the same as seein' someone in real life, right? I'm doing fine! It's a nice night for gettin' things done. I'm gonna make the most of it. That what you're doin', too?"
Reply
"-good t'here you're doin' all right though. Things were kinda crazy the past week an' I really haven't kept track of things then." It was a difficult thing when you were being distracted by voices in your head.
Thinking for a moment, Firo nodded. "Guess you could say that. Days're too nice to be spendin' indoors all the time, an' I think I've been doin' enough'a that this week anyway." He grinned at Ladd. "So what'cha got planned? Runnin' around with that, I gotta wonder," he noted, nodding towards the shotgun that the man so casually toted.
Reply
He remained quiet and simply listened, uncharacteristically, until Firo brought up the topic of his gun. At that, Ladd drew the weapon up again with a bit of an eerie grin and slapped the barrel against his steely left palm with a ringing noise.
"Oh, this? It's my favorite. What, don't you bring anything to protect yourself with? There are all kinds of freaks out there waitin' to pounce, you know." Was he being purposefully ironic? It was hard to tell.
Reply
He chuckled, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. "A'course not, never wandered around unarmed in New York, so why do that around here?" He tilted his head. "That's just a whole lot more obvious, but I guess that way yer already warnin' people not to mess with you." That guileless grin of his resurfaced.
"Too true, too true!" More so than he might even realize.
Reply
But he was armed. Killing people with no chance of himself getting injured - that was fun. That said, Ladd did enjoy a challenge, and even moreso, he knew that from this kid, he could probably expect a good down-and-dirty fight. After all, the two of them were cut from the same cloth; he'd never considered men of the camorra to be any less battleworthy than those of the mafia like himself, and Firo really didn't look or act like a typical goon.
"You know, for a gang member, you seem pretty laid-back... Most other guys I meet are always dancin' around and actin' all tough. I wonder why you're different, huh?" It was an easily-asked question, but he watched Firo keenly out of the corner of his eye. This would be an interesting answer.
Reply
As the boy saw it, he really had no reason to be concerned about Ladd. Maybe he was too trusting to some degree, but most mafia members that he was acquainted with never bothered you unless there was a specific problem, and then everyone usually knew what that problem was. So far as Firo was aware, there was nothing between him and Ladd, and he took the conversation he'd had with the man on the whole Valentine's matter back then at face value.
"There really any reason to put on an act?" he asked, tilting his head. "You don't get much point across by just lookin' the part, right? Anyway, the Camorra don't do that sorta thing- I seen a lotta those other guys walkin' around, actin' like bullies from school tryin' to shake a kid down for their lunch money."
Reply
Ladd snickered to himself, as if he actually did find it literally funny. Then, not missing a beat, he said "By the way, since I'm the only Russo guy here, that makes me a free agent. My Uncle can't do a thing about what I do in Nautilus."
And, just as easily, he flipped the shotgun around, moving to prod the muzzle at Firo's chest. "And I really wanna see what face you'll make when I kill you, Firo Prochainezo!"
Reply
Firo had no time to comment on Ladd's little note on being a free agent- it seemed like a random addendum at the time anyway. But then he had cold metal resting against his chest.
What? Really? The boy blinked, his mood just as casually derailed. A part of him chided, ...you should have saw that coming.
The look of blank surprise that had been on his face shifted to one of mild annoyance. He lifted a hand to try grasping the shotgun, shift it away from him.
"'ey, that ain't funny, Ladd." A joke? Was he joking around? No, this guy didn't seem the type to joke.
Reply
At Firo's resisting, Ladd only pushed back against his suit harder, looking unfazed. At least he was making an attempt. If this could be called an attempt... and here he was thinking he had a fight. For a gang member, this guy was really trusting. It wasn't as if the Russo family was well-known for being tolerant and kind. Ladd could appreciate a guy with a lot of trust.
But not that much.
"I just said it was funny, right? I wanna laugh! Here's your joke, kid!" And he did laugh, pulling the trigger without any hesitations.
Reply
...he would have to admit that instances like these were ones he regretted. He frowned as Ladd kept the shotgun pressed firmly against him. Damn, he's really gonna do it-
The fist at his side clenched. Ladd wanted to see the look on his face, but perhaps it wouldn't be one he'd quite expect. Firo looked at the mad Russo perhaps defiantly, brow furrowed, a slight hint of disappointment in his eyes. His other hand twitched, as though he had debated on making some attempt, but he knew he was too late.
Ladd gave no warning when he pulled the trigger, and Firo felt the shot explode into him. He felt hot, and then cold, like he'd been iced over. Numbness from shock, a thankful thing because he was sure that had to hurt like hell. It wasn't the first time he'd gotten shot, but point blank with a shotgun wasn't a way he'd ever have cared to go.
Blood splattered on the ground behind him, oozed at the gaping wound and soaked into his suit. His body hit the ground moments after, lifeless, still, framed by the slowly growing pool of crimson.
Reply
"Firo, huh? Not much of a reaction at all! Even 'til the end, you had that face on... You're an interesting kid. Maybe we'll talk some more when you come back."
Once he'd said that, he chuckled derisively - at himself or at the body - and turned on his heel. Success was always so good. Even then, the guy hadn't been the least bit afraid when he died... so he couldn't help but feel just a little bit let down.
But the night was still young. Humming to himself, Ladd skipped off in another direction, looking for his next victim, and completely unaware of Firo's blood seeping out of his clothes and away from his hand to go back to its source.
Reply
Leave a comment