I'm gonna rob some banks, only got 20 dollars in my pocket

[shippingmath]

Who: Bro, Dirk, and any heroes of Vatheon who come across them
When: Throughout the day Saturday
Where: "hero cafe" to start, then around Vatheon
Style: brackets to start
Status: First option closed for Dirk and Bro. Others are open!


[Those familiar with Dirk Strider this week might know that he isn't fond of wearing shades, but today he's wearing a hard-to-miss pair everywhere he goes. The shades mask his expression, but there's more to it than that. His movements are jerky and sudden, as though he's being pulled around by little strings. He strides through the streets of Vatheon with none of his usual casual air. He's on a mission, and he has no time for anyone who gets in his way.

That mission is taking him toward one of the banks that litter the city, then into it. As he shoves his way in through the doors, he pulls out a gun, and points it at the patrons.]

This is a heist. Put your hands up, and give over your money.

Comments

Closed to Bro

[shippingmath]

[Dirk has spent a lot of his time this week at the cafe where heroes usually congregate. Why? Well, mostly because why not. It's a good way to see who's going around protecting the city these days, and a good way to gather intel and make connections. He doesn't need to stay holed up in his room in order to work on his SFC.

Today, he's seated off in a corner, facing away from the door and apparently zoning out, paying no attention whatsoever to the people coming in and out. Sneaking up on him right now would be easy.]

[stridercentric]

[Even if Dirk had been facing the door, there's a good chance he would've missed the man entering the cafe. He's dressed in a simple white shirt and black pants, a grey baseball cap hiding locks of messy blonde hair. It's quite a difference from his usual attire; a neat black suit. The sunglasses on his face are a different style as well. While they're usually rather flashy, today he's wearing a very sleek and subtle design.

While the Puppet Master first had his doubts about working with the other villains, he did get something very worthwhile out of it. Using Medica's resources, he managed to whip up a very special invention. His latest masterpiece, he might say. He knows exactly who to use it on, too.

Silently, he strides over to Dirk's table to get behind him.]

[shippingmath]

[Dirk still isn't aware of anyone approaching him, let alone Bro. It's probably his habit of multitasking coming back to bite him in the ass. But his coffee cup is now empty, and that means it's time to throw it away and head out, so he pushes his chair back, intending to head toward the door.

Bro had better move fast if he wants to keep the element of surprise.]

[stridercentric]

[Oh no you don't.

Just as Dirk tries to get up, Bro takes his last few steps and places both hands on his shoulders to push him back down none-too-gently. He's keeping those hands there as he leans forward to hiss in Dirk's ear with a calm but threatening tone.]

If you try anything funny or make a fuss, you can say bye bye to the international conference building and anything in a two mile radius. Just in case you're unaware, I can give the command to detonate before you even lay a finger on me.

[This is a bluff. He never got around to rigging explosives with how busy he's been this past week, but hey, Dirk doesn't know that. What Dirk should know is that Bro doesn't care shit about the people in that building. If there is indeed a bomb, he'll set it off without even a hint of regret.]

[shippingmath]

[Unexpected contact from people he doesn't know is one of Dirk's greatest irritation. Normally, his reaction would be to shove the offender away and tell them to fuck off, no matter what they came for.

He would have done that, except for that voice in his ear. It's been so long since he heard it, but that voice is one he'll never forget, and not only because it sounds so much like his own. He goes stiff.

Dirk's mind is racing. Can he manage to send off a message before Bro notices? No, he doesn't have his SFC in his hand. Even if reaching for it weren't noticeable, he'd still have to log in before he could send the message.

He doesn't know what Bro's really done to that building, but he can't afford sudden movements right now. He keeps his eyes ahead as he speaks, his voice quiet but simmering with anger.]

And how, exactly, can you do that?

[stridercentric]

[Yes, good boy. Actually listening to Bro for once. It's amazing how far homidical threats can get you in terms of disciplining clones, but this is only the first step of his plan.]

Do you even have to ask? This is me you're talking to. I don't even have to press a button. I just have to think it. [His fingers squeeze into Dirk's shoulders to the point where it should get painful. It's a warning.]

Keep your hands where I can see 'm, or I just might consider the notion a bit too strongly.

[shippingmath]

[Dirk flinches when Bro's hands dig into his shoulders, but he can't pull away and he knows it. He just grits his teeth and bears it.

His hands he leaves on the table in front of him, but curled into fists. He wishes he could turn it into a fight, and he's sure Bro knows it. Why did Bro even come looking for him? Whatever the reason, he's sure that he won't like it. He does have a good idea of how- he hasn't exactly been hiding his presence in the city, and he's cursing himself for not taking more precautions now.]

Mind doing a villain spiel so I know why the hell you're bothering?

at the bank

[stayb100ponyboy]

[Equius is standing in line at the bank, patiently waiting to make a deposit that his father sent him out to do, when he recognizes his friend entering from across the lobby. Well... his sort of friend. That one very confusing guy that he talks to sometimes and that may or may not want his number. Who is walking in a very strange, unnatural way and really doesn't look like himself right now.]

Kamina?

[shippingmath]

[Dirk's expression doesn't change when he turns to look at Equius. If anything, he just looks annoyed. And his gun has followed his eyes.]

Shut the fuck up. What part of "I'm robbing you" makes you think you should talk?

[stayb100ponyboy]

[Man, so rude! Equius isn't wearing his armor right now, but he's still at that age where he thinks youth makes him invulnerable, so he clenches his fists and glowers.]

Come on, do you really have to talk to me like that? If you need some cash I've got some.

[Someone is in denial that his sort of friend might have gone villain on him.]

[shippingmath]

[The gun is trained on Equius now.]

You're hilarious. [Deadpan.]

if Dirk shoots him, please aim for the shoulder

[stayb100ponyboy]

[Equius is almost stupidly unafraid of that gun, and takes a step forward, one hand out.]

Give me the gun, Kamina. I'll go buy us some coffee and we can sort this out, but I need the gun first.

hopefully it won't get to shooting, but that'll happen if it does!

[shippingmath]

[Dirk doesn't take a step, forward or back. He just smirks.]

This is just precious. You actually think you know jack shit about me.

[fundemetal]

[The thing with having a sidekick is that you tend to keep an eye out for them. And the thing with being a a heroic force in the community is that you keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. When the two of those coincide? It's impossible not to investigate.

Especially when you just walked into the bank your sidekick is attempting to rob.

It's rare for him to be out and about without his Bronze Flame outfit on, but there's just some things you can't do in costume. Like banking. So Leo's there dressed casually, looking like your run of the mill filthy rich kid when he spots Dirk. He carefully approaches his sidekick, and does his best to act like nothing is out of the ordinary.]

'Sup, dude?

[shippingmath]

[The moment he starts moving, the gun is trained on Leo. Even this casual approach has him on edge, but he's acting like Leo's someone he's never seen before in his life.]

Negative points for listening comprehension. Hands up.

[fundemetal]

[Leo puts his hands up. It'll buy him time to come up with a plan of attack. It's obvious that whatever has gotten into Dirk has affected more than just his personality.]

Yeah, sure man. Whatever you say.

[shippingmath]

Congratulations on being completely unconcerned in this situation. I suspect you were dropped on your head as a child.

[Not much, considering he's got almost all of Dirk's attention and suspicion trained on him now.]

[fundemetal]

Probably was.

[He laughs. A little more hysterically than he normally would. For all the criminals he's fought and for all the guns he's had pointed at him, having his sidekick point one at him and looking like he would actually pull the trigger was scarier than he'd want to admit.]

How about we put the gun down and just talk like regular people?

[shippingmath]

Or you could hand over your money and not end up bleeding out.

[He certainly seems unconcerned about following through with the threat of shooting. Maybe it wouldn't be the option he'd prefer, but he isn't hesitating in pointing the gun.]

[aim_exorable]

Oh my.

[Darkleer turns about calmly from his place in front of the convenience store counter, where its cashier cowers behind it. This is what he gets for taking a break at the hospital, isn't it? He just wanted to get a granola bar. He adjusts his glasses as he looks at the gun. He doesn't seem very impressed. Then again, have one too many guns be pointed at you, and they start to lose the fear factor even when he's not wearing his armor as Big Shot.]

You may want to put that down before someone gets hurt.

[shippingmath]

Congratulations at utterly misunderstanding what a holdup is.

[This may not have been the best choice- for all he's got Bro's control to drive him to insane choices, Dirk isn't a physical fighter, and Darkleer has the advantage on him here. For that reason, he keeps a fair amount of distance between them, and his gun raised.]

[aim_exorable]

I understand completely what a holdup is. However, the fact of the matter is that if you continue down this path, then someone will get hurt.

Weapons don't always go according to plans, after all, and the person getting hurt may very well be you. Now I would advise putting the gun down.

[It's not like he wants to throw the chip display by the register, after all, but he will if he thinks it affords him a distraction.]

[shippingmath]

Just watch as I listen to your completely reasonable and unbiased advice.

[Nope, not putting that gun down. He's got to do this for Bro, after all. And who expects to have a chip display thrown at them anyway?]

[aim_exorable]

[Darkleer sighs. They never do things the easy way! He places a hand on the display while the other reaches for his pocket as if to pull out his wallet-]

[And yeah that sure is a whole chip display being thrown at Dirk. Darkleer is in its trail, hoping he doesn't get shot and that the object is enough to get the boy on the floor. If not, well- he'll figure something out.]

[shippingmath]

[Oh holy shit.

If he was any good at flashstepping this week, Dirk would do it. As it is, he has to scramble backwards, and it's fortunate for everyone that he doesn't try to shoot, because it surely would have gone wide. As it is, the display doesn't land on him, but it knocks him back- however, it doesn't knock the shades off his face.]