Posting a little early so I can't forget with all the chaos. This week's prompt is ... roses

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Nambu was much kinder than I probably would have been, given her behavior. Why can't he use any of the others? Because he regularly uses Joe as a driver?

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msann: Ooooh, that was so intense. The Owl's in a bad spot there!

ChrisW: Thanks.

Msann, certainly intense, I wonder what has caused the situation he's found himself in? Chris, it's more about the vehicles they have, than who actually guards her.

KT- so the plot thickens...I was wondering why he could only use Joe, too! MsAnn- so nice to see the Owl in the spotlight, and in a serious role, too! Poor guy is in a bit of a predicament...he's not going to end up like Joe, is he?

Springie: Who knows? I still have to write that part. KT: Since this is probably going to be part of a larger story, I'm just going to say that the answer will be revealed sometime.

Originally posted by msannomalley KT: Since this is probably going to be part of a larger story, I'm just going to say that the answer will be revealed sometime.

Just so long as it doesn't turn out to be just a bad dream or end like The Catcher In the Rye !

This is a continuation of Prompts 165 and 167. Here are the links if you need a quick refresher: http://gatchamania.net/thread.php?threadid=4819&sid= http://gatchamania.net/thread.php?threadid=4827&sid=&page=2 ========== "Your new lawyer's one of the 'friends' I told you about! If they like what they see, you'll be outta here in no time. If you screw up, they can make sure you never see daylight again. Got it?" "Yeah," Jinpei replied, somehow maintaining the cool facade, "I got it." The visitation room looked like a smaller, cleaner version of the lunchroom. Even though they weren't visible, Jinpei knew there were guards at both the visitors' door and the inmates', ready to use stun guns in less than a heartbeat. There was a flower vase in the wall by the door the visitors used to go in and out of the room; maybe it was somebody's idea of a twisted joke -- a small splash of natural life in a plastic place. At this time, pink roses were being overwhelmed by the wall's glossy sunshine yellow. Jinpei did his best not to let anyone know that he felt as though his eyes were about to burst and ooze down his face, especially when he looked at the "new lawyer". Ms. Rechtsanwalt wore a purple pantsuit and a blood red rose in her lapel. Her brassy blond hair was tied into a tight bun on the back of her head. Jinpei had a hard time keeping eye contact -- she looked like a jaguar that hadn't eaten in three days, and he was a fat bunny in a cage that had been left open. But somehow he did, staying in character as the violent punk who viciously beat his foster mother for not allowing him to play video games while answering her questions. "Well, now, Jinpei," she said as she closed a file folder, "I can get you out of this place in no time." "Sounds good to me." "You look a bit pallid. Have you been outside at all?" "We don't get out that much." "Well, then," Ms. Rechtsanwalt said as she dropped the file into her matching briefcase and closed it, "I know you're due for exercise time in the yard as soon as we've finished here. Look for Percy -- he knows where to go to get the most sun." She gave him an uncharacteristic wink as she rose from her chair. She went straight for the visitors' door but then paused. She took the rose from her lapel and took a long smell before stuffing it into the vase with the pink roses. Something about those last few moments with Rechtsanwalt kept picking at the back of Jinpei's mind. Once he spotted Percy, a.k.a. Asmodues, on the opposite end of the playground, he realized what it was: the lawyer left behind a Devil Star rose!

EW: Keep it up, Jinpei! Sounds like you're in!

KT - I think Nambu is taking this very well, given the circumstances, and Julia finally seems to be figuring out the danger. MsAnnOMalley - I am looking forward to finding out what happened to bring him to this place! EW - I'm surprised that Jinpei received attention from that high a level... there's something about him. I wonder if his cover has been blown and they suspect who he is... or do they have something special in mind for him?

TJ -- Yes, that could be...

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Mylari -- that is so sweet! I'm afraid I was expecting her to suddenly wake up to find it was just a dream.

Awwww!

Mylari: Aw, good thing those boys remembered her birthday or there would be hell to pay!

So sweet Mylari!

KT: the lack of eye contact doesn't bode well for their relationship, but I think he gave her the mildest response he could! EW: you have me hooked! MissAnn: this is a great beginning! Happy to see the owl get some upfront time! Mylari: what a sweet piece!

Oh, Mylari, I love that! So sweet and perfect! Now Princess and Mark just need some alone time together....

Ok, this was one I had started working on a few weeks ago, but unfortunately I suffered a hard drive crash. I had some of this saved but not all of it, so I needed to re-create it. *sigh* It's kinda silly, but I had fun writing this. I might go back later, clean it up, spiff it up and add more to the story. There is a song that accompanies this prompt. (See end notes) Apologies to Dolly Parton. ******************************************************** Gatch Prompt #169 Roses Joe Asakura sat at the bar nursing his last beer of the evening. It was very late. Everyone else had cleared out, heading off for parts unknown. Their racing team had done well that day, and the rest of the Pit Crew and the team drivers had gone out for a celebratory drink. He was lost in his own thoughts as he surveyed the empties and piles of peanut shells that littered the bar. The bartender, a tall brunette with elaborate eye-makeup, had shouted out last call about 20 minutes before. "Last one's on me." she nodded to Joe as she slid the cold longneck down the length of the bar toward him. It left a long wet streak in its wake before sliding into his hand with a slap. He flashed her a bit of a smile, and tipped the bottle in her direction before taking a long pull. The barkeep finished wiping out a pilsner glass and came around the side of the bar and began turning off the neon string lights in the front windows, their colorful reflections against the glass slowly winking out. The lights in the kitchen went dark as well, the light emanating from the circular window in the swinging door extinguished. "Turn off the juke would you Cindy?" somebody called out from somewhere behind him. "My quarters aren't done yet!" a woman (presumably Cindy) cried out, and the sound of a chair scraping across the floor met his ears. There was a pause as the jukebox changed tunes. "And I like this song." she continued merrily. "It was my mother's favorite." Chuckling to himself, Joe took another swig of his beer. When he looked up the laughter froze in his throat and died. There, reflected in the cracked and cloudy mirror behind the bar, stood five women. They were of various heights and possessed of different hair colors. They were all different except for one thing. All of them were Devil Stars. Joe immediately yanked out the pistol he had been keeping tucked in the waistband of his jeans and spun around on his barstool, firing off multiple rounds as the women scattered. Unfortunately (for her), one was slightly slower than the others and Joe squeezed off a shot as she tried to dive for the floor. I used to love it when roses would come The card always read, "You're my number 1" "Sorry sweetheart, but you're the only thing at number one with a bullet today." Her head thunked against the floor, a neat gunpowder stained hole in her forehead. A thin trickle of blood ran from the wound and dripped down the side of her nose. Her vacant eyes crossed and staring up at it. A blue haired woman came rushing towards him next , going for his gun, as the jukebox droned on. The pistol went flying but he managed to grab her wrist, twisting her arm behind her and shoving her headfirst into the wall next to him. He wasted no time in pulling out his cable gun from the hidden pocket along the leg seam of his jeans. Another one, this time with white hair, immediately took her place before him and stood her ground defiantly. He could feel the anger coming off her in waves. But love never goes the way one supposes And I will forever hate roses "Aw for me?" Joe drawled lazily as he watched a pink rose bomb appear between her red gloved fingers. "You shouldn't have." He pointed the grappling end of the cable gun at her and blew a hole through her midsection as large as his fist. "Really." The force of the blow scattered blood and flesh, throwing her across the room. She crashed into one of the tables which teetered drunkenly before falling atop her, her limbs akimbo. A widening pool of crimson spreading out beneath her, as her body spasmed. Joe felt a shift in the air behind him, and spun around coming face to face with yet another Devil Star, this one with green hair. She made the mistake of reaching out for him, thinking she could toss him. But he was faster. You sent me roses, I thought it was nice. Opened the card and it read, "goodbye" "Adiós, puta!" Joe shouted as he flipped the woman in the burgundy uniform over his head, and she crashed through the front window, plate glass and wood flying everywhere. "Send my regards to Katse!" You're movin' on as this chapter closes And I will forever hate roses. He vaulted up into the rafters in order to gain a vantage point, as well as to give him a moment to breathe. His heart pounded and adrenaline raced through his veins as he tried to get his bearings. "You...will...not...escape..." a voice croaked from below him. It was the blue haired one he threw into the wall. Said hair was saturated with blood and the colored mask she wore was half torn from her face, revealing the visage of the barkeep. "You again?" he questioned, a dangerous flint in his eye as he looked down upon her. "Come back for more?" "I will not... waver from my.. mission. On..... my mother's life!" she seethed. Before the words were even completed, he launched himself into the air and with a somersault landed behind her. She gasped in surprise as she spun around to face him and lost her balance. I'll never see a rose from now on That will not remind me that you're really gone "And this time, stay dead!" he grunted as he gripped her head in his hands and twisted sharply, quickly. With a sickening crunch she collapsed to the floor, head cocked at an unnatural angle. Don't trust the rose for the danger it poses I will forever hate roses A few feet from him, a rose speared the floor. Then another. And another. Pink and red death from above. Joe twisted into a back flip, taking refuge behind the pool table. He landed awkwardly, cursing under his breath. However, his eyes were locked on the bombs. He watched, amazed as they all fizzled out and died. The fragrance of roses will last throughout time Their beauty will linger, but not in my mind Delicate, tinkling laughter echoed around him. "Stop fucking with me!" Joe shouted angrily, eyes flicking back and forth, unable to penetrate into the dark corners. "And come out and fight!" No, I'll love the daisies, the tulips, the posies But I will forever hate roses Slowly, she appeared in front of him, seemingly materializing out of nowhere. The scarlet markings of her designation stood out in contrast to the pale blue of her face, like laugh lines of blood. Ones that she had carved into her own skin. The markings of generations of mothers who sold their daughters to Galactors war machine. She laughed again, the maddening sound clouding his vision with a red mist. "You think you can take me Condor?" "When I'm done with you, you'll be pushing up daisies!" he promised with a low growl, a handful of shuriken suddenly appearing between long fingers. And I'll never see a rose from now own That will not remind me that you're really gone They stared at one another, eyes locked in a battle of wits. Neither one giving an inch. But within spilt seconds he threw his shuriken, and she her rose bomb. As soon as they left his fingers, he dove for the bar, rolling behind its battered facade and ducking his head. The bomb exploded not far from where he had been standing, leaving a large scorch mark on the worn wood plank floor. His ears rang madly, his eyes stung from heavy smoke. An eternity of moments passed. He strained through the ringing in his ears and cautiously peered around the corner of the bar. The Devil Star lay prone on her back. Her body riddled with shuriken. Oh, and don't trust the rose for the pain it imposes I will forever hate roses Now you're movin' on as this chapter closes Joe slowly stood. His pale eyes surveyed the establishment; the wrecked chairs, the bloodstained and still slightly smoking floor. Not to mention the bodies that littered it. They finally rested on a rose bomb, the stem broken and useless. Glass crunched beneath his feet as he made his way towards the back exit. At least the G2 wasn't damaged, or so he hoped. And I will forever hate roses "I hate godammned flowers." he grumbled as he dug deep in his pocket for his keys, simultaneously stepping over a body, the hand still clutching a red rose bomb. He noticed his pistol laying on the floor close to the rear wall, where it had been kicked. He picked it up and with sure fingers ejected the spent clip, and slid new one in, seating it with the heel of his hand. How was he going to explain this one to Nambu? Joe passed the jukebox and paused, turning back to look at it from the doorway. Without hesitation he aimed the pistol and fired multiple rounds into it, not stopping until the music ceased. "I hate godammed country music too." Yes, I will forever hate roses ***Endnote: Link to the song. "I Will Forever Hate Roses" by Dolly Parton. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=purJV1vAuMg

Redbird: I could so clearly picture that, and can easily imagine it happening in canon! It's not silly at all and the song choice is perfect.

wow RB, Joe can't even have a beer without getting attacked! Great job!