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Post by taboo on Sept 13, 2009 16:18:45 GMT -5
[Taboo]
The cliff was a challenge- steep, isolated, basically unrewarding. Which was precisely why Taboo liked it so much. She took a deep breath, inhaling rock dust, and looked up. She smiled.
There are some advantages to having the climbing ability of a leopard and the opposable thumbs of a human at the same time. Taboo unsheathed her claws and slid her joints to feline. There was a cave about a fourth of the way up, perfect for midday lounging. It was where she'd spent the first year and a half of her imprisonment.
Flexing her muscles, Taboo leapt up and began her ascent. The feeling of power that shivered up and down her limbs made her purr; which was a relatively rare occurence. The longer she spent on her own, the more she seemed to do it.
With her tail out for balance, Taboo made it to the top easily. The cave was partially concealed by a craggy boulder and sparse bushes- a perfect lookout for anything going on below. From it, she could see about half of Freakopolis. From the top, she could see all of it- including the sky-distorting barriers at each end.
She had to get out of here! Why? Freedom for freedom's sake. Truthfully, she didn't fit anywhere else- so she wasn't going back to anybody she loved. But what she did love was wide open places like Yellowstone and the Kenyan plains.
Sighing, Taboo lay down in the mouth of the cave- studying the barriers. Looking for where the guards were posted, watching to see when they changed shifts. It was a daily ritual.
A sudden sound below averted her attention- scanning, scanning, there! Another mutant, male, tall, dark haired, walking intently. Taboo automatically unsheathed her claws and held herself ready to attack or retreat.
But then, no one ever came out here. Curiousity got the best of her. Going against instinct, she called, "What do you want?"
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Post by Sulley on Sept 13, 2009 19:44:46 GMT -5
Sulley stomped with a brooding expression and demanding gait, ignoring the heat of the sun and the strong desire he had to run a hand across the back of his neck. His eyebrows held hands, narrowing already sharp eyes. Fury tightened the muscles throughout his body, quivering as they restrained him from doing something he would regret. It would only take the smallest thing to set him off, at which point he'd most likely go haywire and kill something.
That was why he decided to check the barrier. Again. Of course he'd already inspected all four corners, but taking a moment to check again while cooling off his inner heat wouldn't hurt anything. He'd chosen to return to the Southern one because not too many mutants seemed to hang around here. Certainly not this cliff area, anyway.
Sulley really had no reason to be upset. Sure, maybe some inner bashing was called for, but he hadn't actually done what he'd thought of doing, so really he should be rejoicing. Unfortunately he couldn't help but dwell. Images he'd had of his gruesome thoughts flashed in his mind, making him growl and shut his eyes, willing them away. In the moment between closed eyes and opened eyes, Sulley tripped on a rock.
Instinctively he sharpened his back because he was falling forward and if someone were going to attack him then they'd be in for a nasty surprise, especially if they wanted to pounce. His hand's reflex wasn't as fast; Sulley managed to throw out his elbow which slowed the fall so that when his face smacked against the rocks it didn't break bone.
Accustomed to the throb of impact and the sting of broken skin, he merely grumbled and cautiously pushed himself back onto his feet. A gash along his forearm bled profusely and he touched a bleeding lip, but otherwise he'd only suffer a bit of bruising and...
Sulley hissed a curse. His shirt lay on the ground, mocking him in its shredded pieces. Of all the days he had decided not to wear the suit Madam Weaver had made for him, this had to happen. Well, that was just great.
Sulley used the strips to wrap up the cut.
With even more to be angry about, he pushed on with his trek, walking purposefully and alertly so as not to be tricked by another playful rock. That's why he didn't jump when a sudden voice called down from above.
"Why does it concern you?" The man leaned back and shadowed his eyes with his hand, peering up at the woman. The sun's glare made it hard to see. He didn't ask his question in a demanding or particularly cocky fashion; instead his tone implied that she was reminding him of something.
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Post by taboo on Sept 13, 2009 20:10:17 GMT -5
[Taboo]
Good question.
Taboo crept forward to get a better view. He was squinting and had a makeshift bandage tied around his arm. Something about him was animalistic, a sixth sense warning to stay away. Something Taboo knew and understood. More confident with that analysis of him, Taboo came out into full view, deliberating whether or not to come down and talk with him.
He continued to wait for a reply. Scanning the surrounding area, Taboo took one last look at him and made a quick descent- cat legs and claws included. Though she was accustomed to navigating rocky cliffs, it felt odd to know that someone to whom the idea would be ridiculous was watching her. Luckily she hadn't climbed up far.
One carefully timed leap from a few feet up and she landed on all fours. Quickly she obtained her human legs and stood, sheathing her claws. The man looked young, dangerous, and in charge. Taboo adjusted her posture so as not to look inferior. It was something you learned when dealing with another predator- the bigger and badder you looked, the better chance you had of keeping yourself out of trouble. Her tail flicked nervously.
He was still staring expectantly at her, so after looking him over for any obvious danger, she tried for sarcasm, "You can't trust a mutant, or hadn't you heard? We're all dishonest, filthy scum that need to be cleansed from the Earth."
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Post by Sulley on Sept 13, 2009 20:25:44 GMT -5
On the contrary, Sulley didn't approach matters such as these as predator coming across predator. He was a wolf; the alpha stood tall, chest puffed, and if an inferior dared to lift his head or voluntarily make eye contact then he would have it's throat in his jaws. Metephorically, of course.
Without any indication, sharpness coated his arms from the shoulders down. Just touch me. She'd probably loose a fingertip, if not an entire phalanges.
In any other situation with any other person the woman's arrival would have been very upsetting. Your average human would either be halfway down the cliff yelling at the top of their lungs by now, or else bent over puking and shuddering in fear. Instead Sulley was eying her body with a slight tilt in his head, his gaze calculating and appreciative, his lips twisting into something that resembled a smirk.
"I agree, you can't trust a mutant. But there's something about that fact that makes everything so much more..." he fished for the correct term while his tongue moistened his lips, "enjoyable."
Even as he said it he knew it wasn't true. Aw crap. And just when he thought he'd gotten away from it all...
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Post by taboo on Sept 13, 2009 21:08:46 GMT -5
[Taboo]
Taboo's first reaction was to blink. She got the feeling he was implying something beyond what he'd said- but she hadn't exactly spent her life studying human interactions. He seemed angry or as though he were delivering a threat.
As his gaze traveled up and down her body, she began to feel more and more like she was missing something. She returned the visual search, noticing he was well-muscled, dressed realistically, and stood in an offensive stance. All bad news if he decided that he wasn't on her side.
She couldn't afford to break eye contact to look around for somewhere safe and easily accesible, so she slowly unsheathed her claws about halfway- enough to do damage, but not easily visible.
Choosing to ignore his comment, didn't know what to say anyway, she instead asked, "What are you doing all the way out here anyway?" Her tone clearly delivered a message, I will fight you if it comes to that.
She meant it.
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Post by Sulley on Sept 13, 2009 21:20:27 GMT -5
Sulley snickered and crossed his arms over his--bare--chest. Now these were ground he could play on. He easily identified the warning behind her words. There was something about dangerous people that made it so easy for him to relate to them and understand things they might now even know about themselves. A definite air surrounded this girl, almost as if she represented the wild itself. He liked that. He could breath her scent all day.
"I'm sorry, I think I missed the part where we established a relationship that made your questions matter." Sulley didn't normally have a nasty tongue, but today seemed to be an exception. His usual level-headed comments and reactions were universes away, taking a pleasant vacation in a different dimension. His usual knack of getting along quite well with people he didn't particularly like seemed to have been knocked out of the poor bloke's head upon contact with the rocks.
"Besides," he gave her one last once-over and then stepped by, continuing on his way, "I might ask you the same question. But I didn't. Because I couldn't give two clicks. You're a mutant stuck in a cage with me, dreaming away life on a cliff. I've got better things to do than focus on people who are content to just live here." Oh, how he despised those Dreamers.
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Post by taboo on Sept 14, 2009 23:06:08 GMT -5
[Taboo]
Taboo hissed. She hated it when it happened, and she knew it was a really bad habit she needed to get rid of, but she couldn't help it. Maybe he'd think it was the wind? Not likely.
As quickly as possible she gathered her thoughts, though her insincts and emotions were screaming for her to pounce on his back and slit his throat. He seemed to dislike those who were content here, to put it mildly. Meaning he wanted out- meaning he could be an ally.
He was still walking away from her, though from the speed it seemed he was just trying to annoy her. Dang, it was working. Taboo rolled her eyes and took a deep breath before calling out.
"Alright, but as you strut away you should know at least one thing," he didn't even pause, "I'm not dreaming away life on a cliff. I've been watching the guard shifts and the changes in the barrier since I got here. I can tell you when they switch and how long it takes, who falls asleep, which ones pay the closest attention, who's got the biggest gun..."
Alright, so he probably knew she was baiting him. But heck, he was stuck in concentration camp same as she and, judging from how much of a jerk he was, probably wanted to get out just as bad. That, if nothing else, should stop him from leaving. She hoped.
But information like she had was valuable, or at least in her mind. Taboo had a theory that where the science of the barriers would never fail, the people would. People are unreliable. They get bored, lose track of time, skip shifts- a wall won't do that. As far as she was concerned, that was the weak link.
Now if only Alpha Bighead would turn around...
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Post by Sulley on Sept 16, 2009 16:05:14 GMT -5
Sulley refused to fully wrap his teeth around the bait. It's true, what she said was appealing enough to make him stop walking so he'd hear her better, but he didn't give her the decency of turning around. His pride would not allow her a triumphant moment, even though the Rebellion member within him was begging him to turn around and learn everything she knew.
He was going to get out of here.
"Is that so?" He feigned disinterest, giving her a sideways look over his shoulder. "Don't wanna burst your bubble, sweet cheeks, but it'll take more to catch my interest. What do you think I've been doing here all this time, scratching my butt?" And it was true. He too had been to the barrier countless times. He always went at least once a day to check things and observe. Of course, he was lying when he said that she didn't catch his interest.
On the contrary, hearing directly from someone who was trying to escape and also had a head on their shoulders was just what he needed right now. Fresh new meat to add to the Rebellion. And maybe, just maybe, she'd seen something he hadn't. She could be gold.
But that's how men and their egos go. They always let them get in the way and blind them, even in the face of truth.
Sulley snorted and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, shaking his head and heading on his way.
About five seconds after he turned around a large rock out of sight, he was already coming back.
"Wait, you said who's got the biggest gun?"
The bloke.
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Post by taboo on Sept 19, 2009 12:02:52 GMT -5
[Taboo]
"Yes," she answered, careful not to sound too desperate. She was a little bit surprised he'd turned- her heart had stopped when he turned around, but now it was going like a conga drum. Judging by his turnaround, he wanted out bad. Most alpha-minded people can't get over their pride that quickly. Despite what a jerk he was, Taboo found she respected him.
When he was standing within conversation distance, she raced for her next comment. She needed to make it clear she wanted in... whatever it was this guy was doing. It was clear he was doing something. After all, he hadn't been scratching his butt this whole time.
"You may not need me to help get us out," she started. Best to be honest. After a pause, she finished, "But I can help and I want OUT. Whatever you're doing, I want in."
She held his steely gaze, noticing fully for the first time that he was pretty good-looking. It'd been a while since Taboo had noticed much about anyone outside of 'are they dangerous?'. Huh. It was an odd thing to be thinking again.
Taboo blinked to refocus, then realized she'd broken eye contact with him to do so. After scolding herself, she returned to the staring contest. This is your best chance at escaping- the least you can do is stay focused.
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Post by Sulley on Sept 20, 2009 13:02:17 GMT -5
She was right, he didn't need her. But for some reason he wanted her.
"You should think before you speak." Sulley's gaze invited hers maliciously, seemingly becoming an endless pit in which she might lose herself if she looked in for too long. His menacing face communicated levels of threat and challenge. If she had any spec of hope of possibly overpowering him then she'd be sure to read all the signs he gave off. Other men would have. Did it work on women?
Maybe so. She blinked and looked away, shooting a spark of triumph through Sulley. What he couldn't understand though was why she looked again. Inside it infuriated him, and with that agitation came a wave of indescribable pleasure. He was moving closer to her subconsciously.
"I'd be lying if I said you didn't seem serious. I can't help but wonder why you want to get out. Everyone has a story, right?" If she refused to back away then he'd be close enough to nudge her with his shoulder. "So tell me."
However irregular he acted, he wasn't sure, but something told him this woman wouldn't back down. She was exotic and had a foreign yet familiar feel. Like the wild women from prison...or the caged wolves at the zoo.
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Post by taboo on Sept 20, 2009 18:56:38 GMT -5
[Taboo]
He was close now- both to letting her join and just in proximity. Her first thought was to tell him that why she wanted to escape was none of his business, or ask him why he did. But then- what was the point? It's not like it was some private secret.
She held her ground, still looking straight at him, "Freedom for freedom's sake- let's put it at that. I want out because I need to be out, and because I'm not stupid enough to think that what's going on here is alright."
It was vague, yes, sort of a bland answer, but it was spoken with conviction and it was true. Freedom was something that Taboo needed to live. She'd grown up with it, fought for it many times, stole for it, and now she was going to get it back. Otherwise, what was the point of living?
She didn't expect anything in return, no inspirational back story that would explain his power and enigma, nothing. All she expected was his help in getting out of the prison she was in.
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Post by Sulley on Sept 20, 2009 20:08:17 GMT -5
Sulley stared at the woman for a few long moments. Freedom for the sake of freedom. So that's what it was. He'd often asked himself why he wanted to get out. There wasn't a life outside this place for him; he was a convict. Inside here he was relatively safe, everyone else had just as big if not bigger problems, and together they could start another world under this fake sky. But something inside his chest, inside his heart...wouldn't allow him to rest easy knowing he was here against his will. He'd never be able to accept Freakopolis.
"I've not heard better sense in a while." He told her with a measuring expression, folding his arms over his chest. "If you follow me I'll get you out." He lowered his voice. "If you follow me." And there he was, addressing stature, plain as day. He wasn't going to have half of anything. She was either all in or all out and that was that.
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Post by taboo on Sept 21, 2009 23:01:06 GMT -5
[Taboo]
The threat behind his words was evident- when he said follow, he meant to the letter. He meant 'I am the leader'. He meant 'I control you'. Taboo didn't like it. But freedom isn't free, and the price was significantly smaller than any other offers- mostly because there were none.
Still, Taboo found herself sizing him up. Was he someone she would follow? Someone who had a head on his shoulders and a warrior disposition? She didn't really know. She didn't know anything about him. It was a risk- but she trusted herself to withstand any consequences.
His eyes were intense, confident, and rebellious. Driven. He wanted out. Maybe she would follow him. She knew one thing- if she did follow him, and he wasn't any help she'd just move on. Find her own way out. The habits of a solitary cat die hard. The silence brooded for another moment before Taboo made her decision.
"Then let's get out." She waited, thinking to herself that he would most likely continue what he had been doing before they'd ran into each other. She was just waiting around to see whether or not he'd be taking her with him.
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Post by Sulley on Sept 22, 2009 21:20:39 GMT -5
She didn't seem sure. Her words made her decision final but the way she looked at him and how she stood there now had other implications. Right off the bat, Sulley started a new relationship that might not end up the way he planned. He could easily see her betraying them all. He would either rely on her and pray she didn't, or be wary and not fully trust this new woman.
"Or maybe let's go out." He sighed, relieving stress from his shoulders--oh how this woman kept him cramped on his toes--and massaged his neck. "I'm hungry."
Suddenly it was as if checking the barriers wasn't that important. Was it? His stomach had been grumbling for the past five minutes. Plus he wanted to know more about this woman who practically just gave him her soul...metaphorically speaking, of course. Ahem.
With that, he turned and headed towards the Food tents. If she followed he would ask her name and brush impersonal topics about things, not coming across as chatty, but making an obvious effort to become familiar with her.
If she didn't...well, he'd go get food anyway.
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Post by taboo on Sept 26, 2009 11:54:46 GMT -5
[Taboo]
It was a simple decision to follow him- he was the best chance of escape that she had. And despite his confusing and generally sour disposition, he seemed intelligent. Taboo flexed her claws, rolled her shoulders back, and caught up with him.
She could tell he knew she was following, so she didn't say anything. If he felt the need for conversation, he would initiate it. Meanwhile, she was content to watch him and attempt to figure him out. Gathering information.
He walked dangerously, that was her first observation. She still didn't know what his mutation was, but she had a feeling it was a powerful one. There was something in the set of his broad shoulders and position of his jaws that was distinctly feral.
Taboo liked it.
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