Shadowgirls

OOC:  Tain was gracious enough to play out Tain and Dinah's first meeting with me. I'm still trying to iron out the details in how her mind works.  At any rate we were ammused so I though you guys might be to. This was done in PMS My posts are orange Tain's are blue.

Dinah frowned as she wandered through Innsmouth's downtown.  How did you find someone you've never seen? She frowned and pulled her pocket watch out. She'd been at this an hour.  Finding someone working at a burger joint who was in need of a shower and had been roughed up recently sounded easier when she'd been standing in her apartment.  She sighed and stepped into the next burger joint and decided to actually order something at this one. If she didn't get food on her stomach soon the dull throbbing behind her eyes would become a full headache.

She took her spot in line and looked over the workers behind the counter as she fidgeted with her pocket watch.

The joint itself was more or less like any other, manned by a crew of a teens that could have come from anywhere.  The kids didn't help Tain's nerves any, bad enough his ribs were still pretty bruised from his last misadventure.  The manager was being a pain in the ass like usual, so Tain had both hands full of garbage bags he had to wrestle into the bin.  Tain could only figure from mumbled comments he caught and the continues stream of dirty jobs sent his way the manager didn't care much for his temperance or his former occupation.  Tain didn't feel any over-inflated pride in being a former soldier or any particular shame, but he left the service with a few less parts then he joined with.  He tugged at the uncomfortable patch covering the spot where his left eye used to be, until his transport ran afoul of an IED.  Coupled with the band-aids and bruises on his face he supposed he was starting to look a bit like Marv from Sin City.  He smiled to himself as he had an amusing daydream of beating his manager up Sin City style on his way back into the building.  He took a quick glance up front and grimaced a bit at the long line.  Yup, no doubt about it.  Mister Jerkface was already in a full swing bad mood and looked ready to take it out on someone.  Tain could only guess who as he dodged teens dashing around making burgers at a somewhat frantic (for a minimum wage job) pace.  Tain tried to busy himself sweeping in the back for a few minutes but of course Jerkface displayed his uncanny ability to home in on Tain and make his life that much more difficult.

The manager could be clearly heard from the front of the store, albeit only half the words were intelligible.  He was shouting something about "hard to sweep with one eye" and something in a slightly lower volume that isn't clearly audible to those up front.  The frantic activity stops seemingly in shock for a few minutes until Tain bursts out the door leading to the back.  On first glance to the customers up front, he's rather intimidating with all his battle scars.  His faces looks like it could have been carved from stone as he storms towards the exit.  The manager bursts out from the back, one hand in a fist shaking at Tain and the other covering his now broken and bleeding nose.  He shouts out "You're fired!" then realizing that all eyes are on him, scurries back to his office.  Tain however doesn't flinch as he walks out the door, pausing only to drop his "Speedy Boy" hat and tie in the trash can.

Dinah took half a step back with the rest of the line as the man stormed passed. She bit her bottom lip hesitating as the door swung shut behind him. She glanced the way he came to the put upon teen that was cleaning up the blood from the managers nose.  She glanced down at the entwined wyverns on the cover of her pocket watch before sliding the thing back in the pocket it came from. She stepped out of line and out the door. She paused and looked around for the man.

She spotted him a little further down the road and began to jog to catch up with him. "Excuse me!"

Tain spins mid-stride with the start of a "WHAT!" clearly on the tip of his tongue.  His face softens and and he looks mildly confused.  "Uhm, Hiya."

Tain is not a small man.  He's not heavy or particularly muscle bound, just big despite his average height at just over six feet.  His short cut army-style hair is dark brown almost black and at odds with his somewhat scraggly goatee.  His remaining eye is hazel and nearly constantly looking over everyone and everything.  Some fine scars are visible this close around his missing eye and on his left hand.  His somewhat blocky face looks decidedly odd as he obviously wonders just what's up.

Dinah hesitated biting her bottom lip. She swallowed and straightened up her shoulders. Her own large hazel eyes met his gaze as she introduced herself.  "I'm Dinah."

Tain run's his hand over his hair and looks even more confused (if that's possible).  Slowly he realizes just whats going on and looks more then a little abashed.  He struggles a bit to get a serious face up, but he doesn't manage to hide it very well. "Ah yeah, Fides friend right.  They call me Tain.  I heard you had some issues with burglars, sorry to hear about that"

Tain keeps looking at his feet for some reason.  Mentally, he appears to be kicking himself over something.

The color faded from Dinah's cheeks.  She hadn't mentioned that in her post to the forum. She slid her hands into her pocket clutching the pocket watch nervously, maybe this hadn't been a good idea.  "Tain its nice to meet you."

Tain looks even more abashed then he did before.  "Oh I'm really sorry about that back there.  That guy deserved more then that, but sorry if I scared you.  I don't normally like hitting people unless they REALLY deserve it".

Dinah gave him an attempt at a smile. "I just wanted to…"  Make sure he was okay? She wasn't so sure now. He knew what had happened at her place. She hadn't told that to anyone on the forum, no one there should have known anything was that amiss. Dinah swallowed and finished her sentence. "I just wanted to make sure you got yourself patched up."

She turned like she was going to walk away. Over her shoulder there was a heavy set man leaning against the window of an electronics shop. He was looking bored as he watched the pair. Dinah was looking back the way she'd come thinking of the fastest route home.

Tain quickly grabbed Dinah's shoulder firmly.  Unlike before, his face is entirely unreadable and his eye somewhat unfocused.  "I appreciate the concern but something's…… off.  Something is just…. not right."

Tain lets go, but his stance is much more alert then before.  "You know about my misadventures right?"

Dinah jumped when he grabbed her shoulder. Her jaw clenched, she rolled her shoulders trying to shrug out of his grasp and grimaced when the movement caused his thumb to slide into the soft hollow spot of her shoulder.  When he let go she stepped outside of arms reach.  "Look, I'm glad you're okay but I need to go get ready for my shift."

Tain looks grim and continues searching the area with his good eye.  "Sorry again.  It's just when I get these kinda of gut feelings, it was just before some sniper took a potshot at my squad or there was some guy with a gun around a corner."

Tain looks really nervous now, starting to sweat a bit.  "The squad used to say I has half-gypsy, or psychic or something.  It's a load of bull but still I usually was right alot.  Guess I'm quick at picking up on clues or something….  Anyway thanks for the concern just be careful out there ok?"

"I will, thank you."  Dinah said as she began to walk away.  She was going to delete her link to that forum.  She pulled out her pocket watch to glance at the time.

As the brown haired woman walked away the cheap suit that had been watching them followed her.

Tain watches her for a bit before turning around and heading for his car.  He pauses as he reaches for the door and turns back towards the way Dinah left.  He immediately notices the man in the cheap suit following behind her.  He knew that man was the source of the uneasy feeling beyond a doubt.  He couldn't say why though and that always scared him.  He WAS right about his gut feelings, if anything he understated just how right he usually was.  Did she say she was robbed in her post?  Did he once again pick up on something he shouldn't have known?  He was lost in his thoughts for awhile before he realized they both were gone.  Tain was torn, part of him said to just go as he'd obviously creep-ed out yet another pretty girl.  However a small voice kept saying "What if you're right?"

Tain opened the door and grabbed his jacket.  Then he immediately set off to follow them.  It couldn't hurt to make sure she got home ok right?  Still he tried to blend in and avoid notice as he went, no sense making it any worse.

Dinah's hand twisted in the strap of her purse.  The early afternoon lunch rush had passed and though the sun burned away the shadows on the pavement there was hardly a soul out. she worried her bottom lip as her pace picked up. He knew that her place had been robbed… how could he have known that?  She dredged through her memory for what she had written in that post. Had she written anything?

She stopped on a street corner waiting for a light.  She had to get out of this damned town. She had the money she'd saved up. The apartment could burn she'd throw some clothes in a bag and go. On the first train out, to anywhere she did not care so long as it was not in this town. It was simple as that to get out of the air heavy with the smell of dead fish and salt.

All she had to do was walk away from this corpse of a town. She'd be free of the secrets that everyone knew were there but dared not disturb. Tonight she could be on a train. Not to go back to her family though… Dinah closed her eyes for a moment. No, she would go to Durango Colorado. "Tonight."

Thick fingers gripped her elbow digging in until they pinched the bone. She sucked in a startled breath and her eyes snapped open. Her hair flared out as she whipped her head to the side. A crooked grin greeted her, the teeth were nicotine stained and a few were chipped. "I'm supposed to ask real nice for that pocket watch you're carrying around."

"I'll give you the five bucks to find one at a flee market." Dinah tried to jerk her arm out of his grip.

The thug's grin showed more teeth as he swung her around to slam her back into the street lamp. "Nope, boss says that we need the one that came with the book and your friends can't get a look at it."

Dinah wheezed as she tried to force breath back into deflated lungs. The thug cracked his knuckles, he was a few steps away and taking his time to close the distance. Her hand clenched in the strap of her purse as she pulled in gasping breaths. The thug smiled. "Just give me the watch, stay away from the rif-raf, and keep your head down at that diner with the cute uniforms and nothing else will ha-"

Dinah swung her purse and let it go as it hit the thug in the face. His hands went up to smack it away but she was already running back the way she'd come to where there were witnesses and open restaurants to hide in.

Tain knew he was trouble.  Once again he was right, but that really didn't matter right now.  So as usual, he simply started into a sprint and charged in like a bull, it was after all time to kick some ass.  After the incident at Speedy Boys this was most welcome.  His left knee ached but he simply ignored it as he ran full blast into the cheap suit wearing thug.  Both men were not small so Tain bounched back almost as far as he sent the thug forward.  The impact blasted the air from his lungs bringing with it a quick and painful reminder of all those bruised ribs.  Tain tried to ignore it and get back on his feet but his past adventure with the last set of thugs simply busted him up too much.  He couldn't win this fight, but maybe he can buy some time.

"Gogogogo!"  he shouted when he finally managed to draw in enough air.  He struggled to his feet only managing to get as halfway erect.  He scanned the area desperately for anything that might equalize this fight.  His heart sank when he realized there was nothing on hand that would work for a weapon.

Dinah's flight paused as she glanced at Tain and then at the thug that was struggling to his own feet. She sprinted back suddenly thankful for all the vanity running she did to keep in her high school jeans. She grabbed Tain's collar and heaved. She wasn't strong enough to move him if he didn't want to let her. "Come on"

"Ok, ok!" Tain normally wouldn't have ran away from even a losing fight, but the lady says go so he went.  He turned around as fast as he could manage and tried to run away.  The best he could do was a half-trot half-run while shielding his damaged ribs.  His head was still swimming from the impact and he hoped whoever the thug was had it as bad or worse still.  He didn't dare look back though.

Dinah outdistanced him not realizing he'd fallen behind. Hadn't he written that he had a car? She half turned to snap out the question and grimaced. She ran back and slipped under one of his arms to help support the weight. She glanced behind them as she did and her eyes got wide. "Where's your car?"

Tain panted a bit, he was more busted up then he initially thought. "Back…at…..Speedy Boys…" he said through gritted teeth.

Dinah paused to pull a trash can down behind them trying to slow down the thung that was quickly gaining ground. "Where are your keys?"

Tain did his best to keep up.  He gained a little more speed when the searing pain in his ribs faded away.  He realized it was probably adrenaline more then anything at this point.  "Front right jean pocket.  Wallet's thin so you can't miss them."

Dinah glanced over her shoulder and then back at him she hesitated a moment her eyes darting between him and the thug behind them.  Please let me be right…  "Get to the car and meet me at Main and Broadway."

She slipped out from under his arm mid stride and turning on the ball of her foot sprinted back the way they came. The thug stumbled trying to stop and turn to grab her as she ran past. He was huffing and his face was a splotchy red. He missed grabbing her and growled as he turned to give chase.

Tain almost stopped and turned around.  He smiled a bit as he realized she seemed to be a bit tougher then he initially thought.  He made his way back to his car at more or less full tilt.  Mr Jerkface was in the parking lot talking with some woman and obviously trying to impress her despite his still bleeding nose.  Tain paid him no mind as he ran past, however Jerkface dove behind the woman when he caught a glimpse of Tain charging along.  Tain hopping into his car prayed to the gods it would work.  The little two door Cavalier was a bit on the rough side but she fired up.  He waved to Jerkface as he went screaming by, leaving him looking more then a little embarrassed while the woman walked away laughing.

"Main and Broadway" Tain kept repeating to himself.  He just hoped he didn't get pulled over.

Dinah concentrated on her breathing and the sound of her feet on the pavement. She was an endurance runner not a sprinter. She hoped she wasn't fooling herself, that he'd be there at main and broadway, she would have sprinted herself out at that intersection. She didn't look back now, just ran and prayed as she neared the corner.

Tain lost count of how many near misses he had in the distance from Speedy Boys to Main and Broadway.  He couldn't stop himself though, tough or not if Dinah got caught he didn't think she'd be able to fight her way out of it.  He roared onto Main and could see the intersection just ahead.  He pulled out and parked next to some liqueur store and tried to watch everything like a hawk.  He kept fidgeting with something under his seat, a machete to be exact.  He REALLY hoped it wouldn't come to that, but if it was needed he wanted to be sure it was on hand.

"Come on, come on!"

It was only a minute later when Dinah came into sight. She was keeping a decent distance ahead of the thug. The sidewalk ahead of her was uneven, a tree root cracking the pavement. She stumbled when her foot came down on the broken cement and fell when she over compensated for the stumble.  She scrambled to get back to her feet but she'd lost precious ground and the thug as on her heels as she looked around wildly.

Tain missed her coming around the bend, but he certainly saw her go down and the thug closing in.  He gave a brief sigh before slamming into reverse and pulling out into traffic.  Thankfully the street was mostly clear so he didn't hit anyone, not that he would have noticed.  Tain's focus was entirely on the thug and he briefly considered hitting the bastard and being done with it.  He decided it was too risky even if the low-life probably deserved it so instead he peeled his tires out and zoomed towards the pair.  He slammed the brakes and nearly skidded clean onto the sidewalk before he came to a stop.  Grimly eying the surprised thug, he reached under his seat and grabbed the machete.  It was a camping model but with some luck he could bluff the guy.  He exited the car with the machete held low and advanced towards the thug, giving him his best Brock Sampson impression.  He stopped only to briefly eyeball Dinah to make sure she looked ok.  He didn't dare help her up though, the thug only looked barely fazed at the machete, this might be tricky.

Tain smiles as wide as possible.  "Hey bud is this little job of yours REALLY worth it?  Might wanna just back up and head the other way.  Ya know I'm a vet after all, gone crazy didn't mean to do what he did.  Be out in 5 years max.  But you my friend… well…."

Tain laughs a softly and shakes his head.

The thug glanced at the girl and then the machette. He shrugged and stepped back putting his hands in his pockets. This was getting a bit above his pay grade.  "We'll be by another time to ask for that watch Miss Adom."

Dinah didn't say anything as the thug walked away. she let herself lean against the car as her hands started to shake.

Tain quickly looked around to make sure as few people as possible saw the exchange or what he had in his hand.  Leaning inside the driver door he stuffed the machete back into it's spot.  Another bullet dodged for now it seemed.  With that little bit done he leans against the car himself.

"It's ok, take a few deep breaths and let it pass.  Your hands will stop shaking in a second or two.  You got a safe place you want me to drop you off at?  I'm not about to leave you out for the wolves."

Dinah gulped a few breaths of air and clenched her hands into fists trying to stop the shaking. "Just my apartment…"

She didn't know how safe that was, "It's just a watch…"

Tain nods and looks at the sky. "Well I can drop you off there or anywhere you want if you wanna keep it secret.  I won't blame ya if you want as little to do with me after all this.  I take more then a little getting used to."

Tain smells his shirt.  "Probably doesn't help that I smell like Burgers and stale nerd huh?"

Tain smiles briefly then looks serious. "If he wanted that watch bad enough to do that in broad daylight….  You might want to get rid of it or have someone take a look at it.  Just saying, it's your watch so it's your call".

Dinah reached into her pocket and gripped the watch. He was right but she simply could think of the idea of handing it over to another person or for that matter letting it leave her person.  She turned and looked the way the thug and gone.  "I owe you a chance to take a shower at the very least."

Tain laughs.  "Hah!  It was the burgers and stale smell huh?"

He winks and smiles.  "Hop in and I'll see ya home safely.  Forgive the mess and chuck the clothes in the back.  Nothing scary I promise in that mess.  I keep the bio-hazards in the trunk."