The Logic in Car Jacking

Who: Eris and Max
Where: Lonely Stretch of Road
When: Wee Hours of the morning

After her talk with Eric, Eris decided to go forward with her idea of stealing a car. It had been years since she'd done it, but it was a little like riding a bike--you never really forgot how, and once you got moving on it, it was easy. So eventually she got herself a vehicle, one she'd chosen at total random. Then it was off, and out of this god forsaken city.

She was on the road that led to Bedlam when trouble hit. Of course, right when she was hitting the outskirts of town, just when she'd have been able to get herself free. Only it didn't happen. Because as she was driving, there was a sudden give, and the car spun a little out of control, stopping abruptly half in the ditch. It wasn't too bad, however, as she got out, a little jostled around but nothing too bad.

The tire had blown. She sighed, and quietly counted to ten, trying not to scream to the heavens in frustration. Fucking tire. Really? Apparently so. That wasn't the worst part, however. No, the insult to injury came when she got the trunk open, and saw that the spare was flat as well.

Then, just to piss on her parade even more, thunder rolled overhead, and with a streak of lightning across the sky, it opened up and started pouring. Then Eris hauled off and screamed her voice hoarse at the world in general. This, accompanied by taking the tire iron and smashing the car with every ounce of strength she could muster.

Max liked to think that his late night strolls were perfectly normal. Plenty of people took walks at random hours and there had been plenty of people out a few hours ago... At least at the Boardwalk there'd been, which is where Max was coming from after checking on his sister. Okay, that had been a few hours ago. Max was just taking the long way back home.

He'd scrubbed his hands in the river which was something most people would frown on but he certainly didn't want to be stopped by some well-meaning officer of the peace with incriminating evidence. The body was propped up where it could be found in no time. He just wasn't in the mood for hide and seek. And tired of walking, he picked up his own car -- the taxi driver bundled up and unconscious in the trunk, not in the mood to take another life that night -- and that was probably a blessing for the woman who was doing something to her car as his headlights light up the few yards of blacktop in front of him.

Max couldn't recognize the woman but he was a gentleman and it was his duty to help the lady with the tire iron. Grabbing a newspaper from the passenger seat, Max left the car running and hurried over. "Car trouble, ma'am?" he said loudly to be heard over the rain and the beating of iron upon metal.

Swinging the tire iron into the windshield and hearing the satisfying shattering of glass, she took a second, breathing heavily as she leveled her gaze on Max. She sort of vaguely recognized him, that itch in the back of her mind. Babylon. She'd seen him at Babylon before. And, that context in place, she clicked it in, like her memory did sometimes. Not everything in her head was fucked. Just all the shit she wished wasn't. She'd totally give up the memory of knowing this guy was a DiGiovanni enforcer type. Someone who'd winked at her whenever he was in the same room, though hadn't ever actually tried anything on with her. "Just a little." she answered him, reaching up to swipe her hair out of her eyes, the rain still pouring down. She was already soaked to the bone.

Eris Stockard. Wasn’t she supposed to be dead? And how badly he’d wanted to make that kill too. Whoever was sent to do that job clearly fucked it up. O’Malleys... couldn’t do anything right. Covering his surprise he just smiled at her and gestured to his car. “Come on! I’ll drive you where you need to go.” She’d recognize him, which complicated things but he’d worked something out if she had questions. Just his luck. Eris fucking Stockard. He’d made up such wonderful plans too. “No use for it now.” Especially with the now busted windshield.

Leaning her back against the trashed car, she eyed him. "You happen to be leaving the city? That's where I need to be." she said. She rather doubted it. Mob guys didn't skip town when they were that high up. She didn't know exactly what his rank was, but he wouldn't have been allowed in on some of the meetings he'd been in on if he was some peon. "No use for what?"

Incorrigible wench. "No, but I can take you to the bus station if that's what you're looking for," he offered, smiling at her despite getting drenched in this downpour. Fucking ridiculous. "And no use changing that flat there with your windshield like that. Can't drive in this weather looking through shattered glass." He gestured his free hand to their surroundings. "It's hellish out here. At least let me take you somewhere before you catch your death." Heh. Death. He was such a comedian.

Eris gave him a vicious sort of smile. "Oh, sweetheart, Death can't catch me, proved that more than once." she said, swinging the iron again to smash the driver's side window, then she dropped it and started past him towards the car. Yeah, it might be asking for trouble. Yeah, this guy might actually try to kill her. She was aware of that. She just couldn't be bothered to care at the moment, either, and she was feeling a little petulant. Like the world wasn't done kicking her in her nonexistent balls yet, so it wouldn't be done with her that easily.

Sighing a long suffering sigh, Max followed her back to the car and got in. If it had been his car, he would have worried about the seats being ruined. Tossing the paper in the back he looked over at the drenched woman. "Sorry I don't have anything dry..." A quick peek in the back just to make sure. Nope. Nothing. "So bus depot? Nighthawks? Your place? Where do you need dropped off?" He peered at her, a curious sort of expression on his face. There was a red band around her neck that at first he thought was a ribbon before his eyes adjusted and he realized it was some kind of scarring. Must've been from that death that never took. You didn't really come back from that sort of thing. Sloppy way for her to be taken out if that was what had done it. Sloppy and incompetent.

"Don't care." Eris said, totally honest at that point. She tugged her fingers through her hair, getting it back away from her face to drip down her back instead. "Wherever." She leaned back in the seat, not really giving a damn if she was wet, either. She watched him watching her, with that curiosity in place. "What? You got questions, just ask. It generally wields better results than staring."

“Just wondering where that necklace came from,” he said. She asked, she knew he’d been looking. Was there any point in avoiding it? That was the problem with some people, Max mused as he put the car into drive and headed down the road back into the city. People tried too hard not to offend or not to get caught being not polite. Max figured he’d observed Eris enough to know that she’d probably be more pissed off with him fumbling some excuse than just honesty. At least, that’s what he assumed. With the whole bitchy, teenage harrumph, he could be completely wrong.

"Death came for me, and missed." Eris said. "But left me a present." she added. Which was about as eloquent as she was going to get there, even if it was the truth. Someone had tried to strangle the life out of her, and instead had left her crippled. A pale shadow, a reflection of a reflection. And she so couldn't be bothered to care about that at the moment, either. About anything, really. Though there was a long moment where she wondered if she could take him, steal this car and continue her journey. Probably not without a weapon and she didn't have one. Damn.

He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, smirking slightly. “Death certainly has terrible aim then.” Lame joke but he didn’t particularly care. He was a comedian after all. Running his hand through his wet hair to get it out of his eyes, he made a left towards the bus depot. It would be a little longer but the guy in the trunk should stay unconscious until he got rid of her. Stopping at a bridge and tossing her over crossed his mind but it was raining and he was already all wet. He didn’t want to get sick now. He had Arienne to look after and he needed to be healthy. “So do you mind me asking why you’re leaving town?” That was a curiosity. No one left Eidolon City that wasn’t in the military. It should’ve been odd but Max didn’t think it was. The only way you get out is by killing yourself or being killed. Should he suggest that to her? That might be considered cruel in some circles. Max didn’t want to be cruel. At least for the moment.

"It's less Death's got shitty aim and more I'm harder to get rid of than that. As for why I'm leaving the city? I'm done with it." Eris said. "This entire city and everyone in it, I am officially fucking done with. So, I thought I'd go find somewhere new. See what I can get up to there." Which was a lie, really. She felt a whole lot like leaving the city was like dying, but she didn't share that.

“By yourself?” Max asked, sounding skeptical at the idea. Eris Stockard may have been what some would call a successful businesswoman at some point but he doubted she’d survive on her own somewhere else. Woman was twitchy. There was just the slightest off-ness. Probably due to him finding her beating up that car.

She didn't appreciate his tone, and leveled a Look on him. "And why would that be a problem?" she snapped. "I built up my entire empire all on my own, thanks, I don't need someone following in my wake, trying to ride my coat tails." Not that anyone would. Though, no. Actually her girls would. If she tried to scare up support in this city she could find it and she knew that. She just didn't want any of them.

If the look was meant to phase him, it didn’t and Max looked back at her calmly. He was always calm. Cool like a cucumber, even if cucumbers weren’t very good, he was cool like one. How were cucumbers supposed to be ‘cool’ anyway? Pausing in his thought pattern, he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel and considered what she’d said. “Well, you’d be in a different place where no one would know you. By yourself. It’s not very safe to be by yourself these days. Not that new starts are all bad, but it would be pretty useless if someone jumped you and then poof! All done. No new start.”

"You really think I'd be that easy to jump?" she asked. "Or that for some reason the skills I had before where I did build myself up from nothing would be gone? Not very bright, are you." she said, shaking her head. "Or maybe you're just one of those idiots who thinks women aren't capable."

“Oh, I know plenty of capable women, but you also don’t see many women beating up their cars and looking like their world’s are ending and trying to get out of the city. You got into a car with me after all and while I’m a nice guy, there are some who aren’t. So you’re desperate enough to do whatever it is to get to your goal.” He didn’t care if she thought he was stupid, she just seemed to be talking game.

"Sweetheart, don't even try the 'nice guy' thing. I remember you. I know otherwise." she said. Which was true, in this case. But she also didn't seem concerned, because she wasn't. Not because of overconfidence, either. More she just couldn't be bothered to give a shit right then and there. "I can handle myself. I have always been able to handle myself. I just want out, and this stupid fucking city seems to be trying to keep me."

“What? I can’t be a nice guy? That seems like an awfully boring existence, being ‘bad’ all the time. No variety. Can’t really interact with people if all you do is glower and threaten to bust kneecaps.” He wasn’t surprised that she remembered him, but she also didn’t know even half of it, or even understood exactly how lucky she was he’d already taken a life that night. “Any specific place you looking to go? I heard Hollywoodland is the place to be for the ladies. Make it big. Name in lights.”

Eris looked over. "What are you talking about, a serial's villain?" she asked. "Real bad people aren't bad all the time. They don't just glower and bark and hit." she said, wondering if that was merely how he imagined the rest of the world viewed things, even if it was off. Or, she supposed, off for someone like her, who had been pretty goddamn bad in her own right before everything went off the rails. "If they were like that all the time, they'd be short lived, and get taken out because they couldn't play nice with the other children long enough to get anything done. And Hollywood I'm fairly certain wouldn't be into my pretty necklace." she said, gesturing at her scar. She frowned slightly as she heard a thump that sounded like it came from the back seat, but she was sure there wasn't anyone there.

Max heard the thump but didn’t acknowledge it, but he did see her frown. Hmmm. “You could wear a choker. Could be your trademark. Black ribbon with a pretty cameo pendant.” Maybe Arienne would like something like that. “You don’t have to act. You could sing. Or you could model. They have all sorts of things out there. I thought about going once but I like it here too much. We’ve got real character in this city. I like the lack of names in lights. Puts you on an even level with everyone.” He was dimly aware that he probably didn’t make much sense but he was a little more occupied drumming up the 1812 overture on the steering wheel in time with the rain pattering on the car.

"I can sing." Eris said, sort of more to herself than to him. "I don't really need fame and fortune, though. Did that. Honestly? It got kind of boring." Or it had in retrospect. She had no desire to live the kind of life she had before, and she saw how empty it was from this side of the looking glass. "And this city does have character." she agreed. "It's just one I'm over and done with. You can have it." she added with a shrug.

He smirked, amused by her sentiments. “Well, half of the character the city has is because of all the people in it. You’re one of them and you’re one of the more defining characteristics.” He looked at her out of the corner of his eye. “What would Eidolon City be without Eris Stockard? A damn boring place, that’s what. Even if you’re not doing anything, you’re a name permanently etched into every block.” It was oddly encouraging for him but he was playing a part here. Maybe someday she’d come to power again and then he could take her out. He was still sore over not being able to get to her first but ah well. The time would come.

"Well I'll give you it'll be less entertaining." Eris muttered, then she heard a sharp thump from somewhere back there, and she fully turned to look. Yeah. That was someone in the trunk. It had to be. Or, that was what she assumed--and it wasn't as if she'd never ridden in a car that had someone in the trunk before. Sure, it had been a long time and the last person who'd been in a trunk in her immediate experience was herself, but that was hardly the point. "Stop the goddamn car." she snapped--though she sounded more annoyed than anything else.

Max inwardly winced at the sharp thump. Hadn’t he hit the man harder than that? He shouldn’t be up yet. He saw her turn around and knew that he couldn’t just pass it off as a figment of her imagination. If he didn’t stop, he wouldn’t put it past her to grab the wheel and force them off the road. “I’m not going to kill him if that’s what you’re worried about,” he said calmly. “I’m not even going to rough him up. It was raining. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to walk in the rain so I borrowed a car. He was just happened to be in it at the time.” He’d already sated that need but he pulled the car to the side of the road anyway and looked at her, curious as to what she was going to do.

Eris stared at him from where she was half turned in the seat. "Sounds perfectly reasonable." she said, just as calmly. "Like I'm sure you'll find this reasonable as well. Get out. I know this may seem an odd option, but it's that or I find out how far my stiletto will fit down your ear canal." she said, getting pretty oldschool Eris on him. Eris before she had her own empire, who made good on threats which made people back the fuck off. There was a reason people hadn't messed with her. It was because she had the capability to be just as ruthless as the boys in this town. That and she did know one thing about the psychos in Eidolon City. Cowering or showing any sorts of weaknesses was just blood in the water to the sharks. And she wasn't fucking prey. "I'm thinking it won't be a good look for you. Won't go with those pretty blues of yours, but hey, I'm willing to test the theory." She even smiled far too sweetly at him.

He stared at her, aghast and offended that she thought so poorly of him. That fake death thing must have knocked a few screws loose if she couldn’t understand perfect logic. “I was being nice to him. I could have just pulled him out and left him standing in the rain which, if you don’t remember, is really cold. I gave him a lift! Also, I don’t think leaving this car to you is a very safe option. You messed up the last one pretty good.” He didn’t doubt the stiletto but he also pretty clearly wasn’t that afraid of her. Sighing, he peered out the windshield. The one time he tried to be nice and look what it got him. Deplorable manners. Now he was in a mood again. “Can’t I just ride in the backseat? I’ll take him out of the trunk.” He thought that was a perfectly reasonable request. Covered in blood he didn’t mind. Walking in the rain and getting soaked to the bone? That he did mind.

"You think you're cute with the innocent act, don't you." Eris asked flatly, rolling her eyes. "And I'll be just fine with this car, it doesn't have a flat. Therefore it has not offended me and needed a good beating. Your concern is noted. The only way you're staying in this vehicle is if you are in the trunk. I'm not heartless, after all. If you're afraid you'll melt out there, fine. You can stay in the car. Just in the trunk. Without the owner, he's riding shotgun."

“I am innocent,” Max said seriously. “And being cute just happens to be beyond my control.” He was not acting that way on purpose. Okay, maybe a little, but it was that or he would’ve head butted her by now. Or something. He wasn’t sure what he would’ve done but it would’ve shut her up. “How do I know you won’t do something to the car with me in the trunk? Can’t you just let me off-- oh nevermind.” Eris was just rude and he didn’t trust her one bit. She’d probably light the car on fire with him in it. “Fine. Have the car. If I catch pneumonia, I’m sending the hospital bill to you.” And then he’d tell his sister about it and they could plan something. Maybe. Or maybe that was just whiny of him. “Do you want to let him out or shall I?”

"Up to you. You'd get a free ride in the trunk." Eris said in that match to his own 'reasonable' tone. "I won't do anything to the car with you in it. I'll even let you back out." she added. Because she really wasn't planning on murdering anyone even if this guy probably deserved it. The last one had too, and that hadn't made her life any better. So, she'd not do that this time either. She'd...get the owner out, probably let him drive home and she'd let them both out somewhere that was Else. "And I should probably do it, you already stole his car and locked him in a trunk, and while perfectly reasonable, of course, I'm fairly certain he won't see it that way."

He’d just go find another free ride. To suffer the indignity of riding in a trunk. He was much too tall to fit in the trunk. That was just ridiculous. “I think I’ll walk.” It probably smelled in there. Forgoing the wet newspaper, he took the keys out of the ignition and handed them over to the woman with a roll of his eyes. “Hope your happy.” He went to open the door and halfway out he paused and turned back. “You know, you don’t seem much like someone who really wants to leave. Imagine all the fun you could have again if you were spunky all the time.” Tipping his hat to her, he smiled. “Have a good evening, Miss Stockard.”

Eris smirked at him, actually amused at the moment, which was hard to achieve. "Oh, suck it up, cupcake." she said, reaching out to take the keys and pinch his cheek. "You're a big bad shadow over this city. I'm positive you've got a better constitution than to really be felled by a little rain." she told him. She nodded to him either way. "Have a good evening yourself, Mr. Falconeri." she said in return, tone amused if perfectly polite.

Big bad shadow. He liked that. He’d have to share that with Arienne. Breaking character for just a moment, he winked. “You know it.” With that farewell, Max got out of the car and looked up at the sky then at his surroundings. Better get walking. There should be a payphone somewhere...