“Hey you built it yourself and it’s successful that’s all that matters.” Natalia said before finishing her drink off, and pouring herself another. She thought to when she first started her circus thinking how hard it was in the beginning. A lot of people didn’t appreciate her showing her uncaged lion off. “I’m not in the city that much anymore, but I’ll make sure to check it out next time.”

“Took twice as long as it was supposed to,” she mumbled, more to herself than Natalia.  It was still a sore spot for the human, but for once, Lupe refused to stew in her anger and resentment.  That was for any other time than now.  One corner of Lupe’s lips quirked up.  “Let my server know when you do, I’ll make sure you’re well taken care of.”

Jett let her pay for the tickets even though technically he should’ve paid. But he decided to let up on the whole gentleman thing just a bit. “I think that’s the second time I’ve seen you smile.” He said as they walked through the the entrance hall to the museum. “So is there art in particular that you want to look at first?” He’d been here so many times he knew every piece, and was more than capable of being a personal tour guide.

“Feel privileged, I have cousins who have seen it less often,” Lupe replied deadpan, though clearly there was at least some humor behind the statement.  The chef wasn’t above making fun of herself or her nature, even if the delivery could be questionable.  “You’re the expert, Jett.  Why don’t you start with the worst, my keep expectations low.”

His grip on the knife tightened more and more by the second. As he listened to her rant about the wings, and Jett might have woke up this morning more timid than bold. But deep down inside he was still chaos, and fighting his very nature right now was almost impossible for him. “Fine then turn around I’ll give what you want” he sneered. Waiting for her back to be facing him before he pulled his hand back and sent the knife flying. Over her shoulder it went spinning to through the air till it struck the wall with a loud thwack. “Just fold the wings and they’ll be gone Guadalupe. Have you ever heard of out of sight out of mind. They’re only going to exist for a couple of more hours probably. And who’s to say that they won’t grow back. Are you to keep cutting them off all day love? ”

Relief flooded her body as Jett seemed to give in to her request, a sigh parting her lips.  There was the inevitable brace for pain, regardless of just how much alcohol she’d already consumed.  It didn’t numb all of the pain, just dimmed it.  But it didn’t come, the solid sound of the knife hitting the wall fueling her anger once more.  And if there was an emotion Lupe always had a well of, it was fury.  Growling, she turned back to the man with a snarl on red painted lips.  “Then I’ll keep cutting them off all day!” she roared, fighting against the tears that tried to well in the corners of her eyes.  Whether it was from the anger tight in her chest or from this sudden surge of self-hatred, even she didn’t know for sure.

Jett definitely didn’t have the balls to do what she was asking him to do. At least not in the state that he was in, but even if he was his normal self. He still wouldn’t do it because why did she want them gone so badly? Whatever this was its obviously the work of a Meta playing games with everyone. It would be over eventually why couldn’t she just live with the wings for a couple of days? It was probably for the best that he wasn’t himself right now. Because the old Jett would’ve gotten frustrated by now and thrown the knife across the room. Instead he reached out and took the knife from her with a shaky hand. “Love I know waking up like this must have shocked you somehow. But there’s no need for this I’m not going to hurt you, or let you hurt yourself. Have you tried folding them away?

“Have I tried folding them away?” she hissed, taking another swig out of the half empty bottle in her hand.  “Just because you hide something doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist anymore.  And that’s what I need, Jett, for them not to fucking exist.  I was not built for this shit.  You not helping me hurts more than you sawing into these monstrosities and getting them gone.  So find your balls and get to it.”

“Well then let the celebrations commence and congratulations to a successful business.” Natalia said raising the glass of champagne before taking a sip of the drink. “My name is Natalia by the way, so what kind of business do you run?”

Originally posted by noblcedits

“Guadalupe Perez,” she offered without extending her hand.  Introductions were generally awkward enough without some kind of weird, forced handshake.  “And a restaurant.  Besos, in Wayland Hills.  It’s small, only twelve tables, but it’s mine.”

After her years of dedication to H.A.M.E.R., Lupe was promoted to First Lieutenant beneath David Linden.  With him continuing to act the double agent, she calls the shots when he is not at base.

“Well now that you mention it you do seem to be in an better mood than most people here. It’s been a long night for me but I’m always down for a celebration. My name is Nick what are we celebrating? He asked waving over the bartender to bring more glasses.

Lupe took the moment to survey the bar, recognizing that his statement seemed to be true.  For the most part it seemed to be populated with blue collar workers tying one on before going home, anything to get through the daily grind of their lives.  “My place made the Best in Pansaw list.  Not something that happens every day.”

She really ought to pay attention to her surroundings more often, she thought to herself. she suppressed the “eep” of surprised that nearly emitted from her mouth. The woman who now sat next to her seemed to let off an aura similar to that of a pissed off…. tigress. She brought her own glass to her lips and frowned against its lip. “What has you in such stellar mood?” She said slightly bitingly, probably not her best idea as her gaze hovered over her research.

How dare this stranger call her a half wit. It was uncalled for and completely off base. It had been a long week of deep and difficult problem solving. She was allowed her half thoughts and afforded the courtesy of not being verbally assault for being less than sociable. “At least i have a reason to be angry.” She said, slightly simmering.

Originally posted by playbucky

@guadalupexperez

One brow rose at the question, the response a bit candid.  “The entirety of my life’s experiences.”  In truth, this was Lupe at her most neutral.  Not quite in a bad mood, but not in a good one either.  She was ... even.  Though a derisive snort escaped at the woman’s snap back, the chef shaking her head and rolling her eyes as she took a sip of her beer.  “If you think this is me angry, come libro, then you are not as smart as your books and papers would make you seem.”

This had to be another trick of her mind, Kara decided. She’d been seeing weird things all day long. Dancing fairies, talking animals, swirling colors – she’d seen it all. She swore she’d somehow ingested a hallucinogen or something that’d been affecting her all day. Either way, it’d been impossible for her to get anything done at work and she found herself needing a drink. She thought she’d been in the clear with her wild imagination when she spied a woman with bloody wings drinking at the bar looking distraught. The hydrokinetic couldn’t help walking over. “Great. Now I’m seeing beaten up angels drowning their sorrows in booze,” she muttered before she reached Lupe and took an empty seat next to her. “Excuse me, do you need some help? Assuming you’re even real?” 

“Don’t call me.  A fucking angel.  Blasphemy.”  The words were slurred and in stark contrast to the wings that were currently shooting out of her back.  “But I’m real.  And still not drunk enough for this shit.”  Lupe waved down the bartender with a wave that should not have gone so wide.  Any bartender worth their salt should have cut her off by now, but they were in her neighborhood.  She was known.  “You willing to cut these fuckers off of me?  That’s the only ‘help’ I need right now.”

“No not really other than the artwork I felt like it was only right that I start here. Just so you can see the difference between what society considers real art and not real.” Jett didn’t have anything against the museum or the artists. Who were presented here personally but he had seem some pretty good art get rejected. Just because it wasn’t what was hot at the particular moment, just too much, or the critics favorite excuse the art isn’t refine enough. There were some pieces in here worth his time but most of it was what would you see in any traditional art museum. He made sure to get the door for her when they reached the entrance. Jett wasn’t trying to annoy her being a gentleman no matter what was how he was raised.

“Society rarely gets shit right,” she offered with a bit of a shrug, trying not to roll her eyes as Jett opened the door for her and instead moving into the museum proper to purchase their tickets.  Contrary to what one might expect of the chef, she actually gave the person behind the admissions desk a smile.  “Two please,” Lupe requested, even thanking the girl once the transaction was complete.  She’d worked her way up from the bottom, knew how some people could treat ‘mere employees.’  It pulled out a less surly side from Lupe, though only momentarily.

Inside the HAMER base, Liam stretched carefully before laying into the heavy bag in the training room.  It was one of the few times that his size came in handy, that and working on the fishing boat.  He wasn’t a violent person by nature preferring to talk his way out of problems if he could, but that wouldn’t help him when it came to furthering the group’s goals.  Thankfully he had David and Lupe to train him how to fight.  He’d been warming up for about twenty minutes or so when he saw Lupe walk into the training area.  “You ready to head out tonight?”

@guadalupexperez​

It would be a lie to say that Lupe wasn’t nervous for the evening’s planned activities, though like almost all of her other emotions, she refused to show it.  Instead she checked and double checked that all of her usual weapons and gadgets were precisely where they should be, lest they run into unexpected trouble.  She’d never admit it out loud, but if something happened to Liam tonight then she would blame herself.  Once convinced she was as prepared as she could be, she sought out her fellow Runner, watching him work the heavy bag for a few moments before entering the gym proper.  “As ready as I’m going to be.  Ground rules - I’m the lead, and you follow any orders I give you even if they go against everything your brain is telling you in the moment.  I can watch out for myself; but you’re not getting hurt on my watch.  Comprende, perrito?”

Even though Jett was going out of his way to avoid people. Until he figured out exactly what was making feel all wrong. He couldn’t help but let his curiosity get the better of him. When Guadalupe of all people texted him that she wanted him to come over immediately. He knew that whatever it was it had to be important to get her to ask him for help. However not even he could predict what he walked in on. Jett froze when he saw the wings coming out of her back.

Those had to be new right there was no way for her to hide them. But where did they come from? Once her favor registered in his head all the questions went away. She just couldn’t be serious but he could see that she was. “Come on now there’s no need to be so hasty. They might just go away on their own no need to hurt yourself Guadalupe. He couldn’t hide the nervousness in his voice at all. Which he hated nervous wasn’t his thing. Jett didn’t get nervous over anything he should teasing her right now, and giving her his devilish smirk. Not standing there with his hands held up as if too soothe her looking like a deer in headlights.

“I have two very good reasons to be fucking hasty right now.  I don’t care if they might go away on their own, I need them gone.  Now.  Not a week from now, not two days from now, right fucking now.”  If she hadn’t been so fraught and half drunk, she would likely have noticed the change in Jett’s demeanor.  But that wasn’t her current priority.  How could she even show up to H.A.M.E.R. like this?  “Do I even look like I’m fucking around about this?  You’re one of the few people I know who might have the balls to do it, so do it,” Lupe commanded, flipping the knife in her hand so she could offer it to the man handle-first.

It must’ve been national criminal day or something because Nick got absolutely swarmed throughout the day, and half the night with calls. C.A.R.M.A didn’t even assign him a particular area just told him to go. Where he was needed and that was pretty much everywhere. He swear his wings haven’t felt this strained in a while. They were so tired he found himself actually driving his car instead of flying tonight. The calls weren’t all that bad he didn’t have to deal with any powerful metas or anything. But a bunch thugs, robbers and pranksters only one actually presented him a challenge.

A cryokinetic Meta it took some time but eventually Nick took him down. After that he called it a night and decided to go out for so much needed drinking. Even though he preferred to drink alone Nick didn’t feel dealing with the bar fight. That would come along with that for some odd reason without fail. Whenever he drunk alone someone just felt the need to antagonize him. So when the woman kicked the barstool towards him he just sat down. The bartender gave his usual drink, and Nick turned to the woman. “Long night or is this a celebration?”

An amused sound escaped Lupe’s throat at the question about it being a long night.  Long nights were generally reserved for H.A.M.E.R., not drinking.  Even as excited as she was about the award, she still had to open the restaurant at zero dark thirty.  The reward was in the night off from her usual proclivities, not the alcohol.  “A celebration,” she answered, draining the remnants of her champagne glass before pouring another.  “Can’t you tell by my bubbly mood?”  Where typically sarcasm would have dripped from her tone, it was more neutral than anything, though one corner of her mouth quirked at the question.

Atticus did not do “fancy”. He was more the “drink a beer and have a slice of pizza in two day old sweatpants” type of person, but he was halfway through the semester and he figured why not. He zipped around a few bars, peering in the windows to see what was crowded and what wasn't, before settling at a dive and, after taking out his ID with a bit of an eyeroll at the comment of how young he was, and the extra scrutiny. He was ready to settle on his normal Malibu Sunset - fruity gets the job done, he believes - when he felt a stool push out into the side of his thigh. Atticus looked down at it, then to the shoe, then to the owner of it all with a slight quirk of an eyebrow. “Do I have to pay for it?” he asked, pulling the stool out farther and taking a seat on it. “I’m a college student, frugal is my favorite word in the dictionary.” 

“No, you don’t.”  If Lupe hadn’t been in such a good mood, she might have called the stranger a fetus - especially once he admitted to being a college student.  Fuck knew he looked young enough.  But she’d been there once, drinking Natty Light in some dingy apartment with her classmates, everyone chipping in their pocket change in hopes of being able to afford another case.  Thankfully success had been her friend even after her original restaurant had been destroyed in the War, and well, she was in a good mood.  “Well my word of the day is celebration.  You can keep being frugal, I’ll pay.”  And at that she poured a second glass of champagne and pushed it across the bar towards the kid.

Okay so maybe the whole isolated living thing was finally starting to get to Natalia just a little bit. Because she really didn’t have a valid reason for being in the city tonight. She’d just got done with her show and it was pretty early showing. So the night was still pretty young, and she didn’t feel like resting or being alone. So here she was bar hopping in Pansaw till she found a crowd that she liked.

Natalia was on her fifth bar and the crowd was lively but not too rowdy. Plus her feet needed the rest it’d been a while since she did anything like this. Natalia approached the bar to order a drink. When a woman kicked a barstool towards her and told her to sit. Her first thought when she glanced at the woman was that. The stranger was drop dead gorgeous and the second was why not? The whole reason for coming out tonight was that. She wanted some company so without hesitation. Natalia took a seat “I hope you’re sharing what’s in the bottle. You look like you have good taste, and what’s the occasion?”

“That good taste, shockingly enough,” the chef mused with what could almost be mistaken for a chuckle.  Without another word, Lupe poured a second glass of champagne for her companion, pushing it towards the blonde.  “The ‘Best of Pansaw’ was published today, and it looks like I came up smelling like roses.”  She took a pause to take another sip from her glass - her second for the evening.  Typically she was a hard liquor kind of girl, which made the bubbly liquid seem to hit her strangely.  “Thought I might celebrate for a night.”