4th of July Blast! (Today Only!)

[Mr. Seran]

So The day is the 4th of July, Independence Day, where the people of the United States of America staked claim to our right of "Life Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness".

A day of Fireworks, of parties, and of thrills. This event is solely a one day period, the requirements shall be higher than normal, and so will the rewards if you do prove to stand up for the challenge.

Requirements:

• 4000 Words
  
• The Mention of Red, White, and Blue.
  
• A tax on something
  
• Redcoats
  
• "LIBERTY!!!!"
  
• An adventure of some kind (keep it interesting nobody wants to read about a party where everyone sits around talking about their feelings)
  
• Single Post Thread (post it below this)

Rewards:

• Patriotic Pendant
  • +5 Constitution
    
  • During July +15 Charisma
  
  
• + $1000
  
• Fireworks - Distract a foe for 2 posts
  

[Jayr Byrne]

That Glorious Red, White, and Blue

The day itself was to begin just as every other day before it had begun, a shimmering glare peering in through the corner of Jayr’s window, its open face looking out partially over the sea while the other was left in a shadow taking towards the desert. With a faint smile the true Jayr would shine through, something of a little girl that still bore some naïve and childish tendencies. Showing such as she wiggled her toes playfully in the tangled sheets making her smile briefly to the effect of tangling herself even deeper into their coils, a soft giggle would emit as the velvet sheets tucked in beneath her legs. It wasn’t uncommon for her to feel at ease when all alone. Socially she felt better when left to herself only because of the simple fact that she knew there was no one to let down, no ambitions to meat but her own everything was just simple. A low grunt bubbling up in her chest as the girl would lean up taking her eyes but a moment to realize the time. 4:30 am. Never a good sign to see that you were waking up but a good two hours from when you last slept.

For the next few hours the sheets were a mess as the tossing and turning ensued, repeatedly Jayr would flail in her groove trying to regain that soughtful position she’d lingered in the night before finding sleep that would take her in moments leaving her to the last restful lullaby that she’d so yearned for. Of course like all else it had eluded her until an hour had passed, now came the difficult part; subjugate oneself to longer hours of painful torture or get out of bed and prepare for the day. Lingering for a tie which seemed as though it’d been hours turning out to only be short minutes Jayr decided the later was suitable. Wearing the sheets like a cloth Jayr would trek the early morning frost feeling the twinge and sting of the morning air nip at her skin. What little warmth she’d managed to cling to in her midnight sauntering was now being stolen from her in the form of tearing sweats. At her neck it was the worst feeling the itch and bittersweet taste roll down her skin.

Peeling away from the windows side a clasp would be noted, Jayr sealing the door away and marching towards her shower. For one that would be her escape, her doorway to an awakened dream and into a life of dawn. The cracking of tiles against her smooth feet, the sounds were but a breath of noise as the bare weight bounced across the room to a glass screen door closing it quickly and pulling at a wall of knobs and hammers and with a wising whoosh the water would trickle down as if it were rain. The quick shudder as the cold water descended first and Jayr would flinch away feeling her skin pop up to the touch taking to the retreat by tossing aside her nighttime apparel which draped to the floor right outside the glassy chamber. It was a quickly motion as the flick of her wrist bound her hair into a hive above her head another hand working whimsically with the other seeking out the other container dispensing an aura of honey dew. The liquid permeated through her hands working into a frothy foam that she’d work through the bindings of thread. Her favorite part of it all was the massaging motion against her scalp feeling the fingers work in a rhythm like the beat of her favorite song alternating between harsh and calm, from rough to smooth and sultry.

Her hips would sway casually from side to side as she felt the rhythm beat in her head, today may have been the fourth of July but to her it was just the same as any other up until the fireworks, so as she continued on the beat of T-Pain and Taio Cruz she’d find herself in a smoky sauna of relief. As her hands moved down from her scalp plastering more towards the center of her body Jayr would find herself swaying more, the beat of her hips taking on a scandalous form and with that a darker more livid smile would appear all the more clear. Just to be clear she wasn’t always the good girl in most situations, sometimes she could be very bad. Hands touching her hips she’d quickly snap out of the misty fantasy grinning with a dark witted humor finding herself brought to a shade of red before bathing herself in little more than silence for the remainder of the shower. Emerging forthwith from the excitable fantasy Jayr would wrap a towel around her waist and another about her head spiraling up that hair of hers into the very same hive it’d once been draped up into.

With a slender smile the girl would emerge with not much else to do other than take to her room and quickly scan the bottom layer of her floor eying up a cute red top matched with a pair of blue jeans, that’s right she was going red, white and blue folks now all she needed was something in white. Pursing her lips tenderly Jayr would place a finger towards her lips pressing it till they emerged out white, not quite what she was referring to but if she was so desperate for such a color she could just stand outside and freeze to death of course coastline air was always coldest this time of day, she was sure that by afternoon she’d be thankful she could rest away from the heat and manage to survive quite a bit longer than usual. With her shirt and jeans on Jayr returned to the bathroom and took a serious look in the mirror slow and drawn out as her expression darkened taking to be hyper-critical about all her features. Eying at the gloss she’d layer her lips with a deep mohagoney and would kiss the mirror leaving her mark, vain yes but it was much more akin to an OCD factoid. Her hands would play around with her hair holding it up in a few different positions as she pressed it about peevishly taking a serious focus to recognize which would fit the best, though most people hardly took the time to appreciate such facets it was indeed important to her. With a keen eye she’d hold her hair up in a pony tail taking a liking to it seeing as she felt very lazy today, however she couldn’t find a clip. Looking about with an irritated glance she’d find no mercy here understanding that rather there was only pain.

The hurried thrusts of shelves thrusted sharply against the cabinets and Jayr would find herself to be unamused by the simply fact that there was truly nothing noteworthy of this day other than the fact that it was truly beginning to strike her last nerve. Pensively slamming the last of the drawers Jayr would huff quickly blowing a sharp gust of wind into her forehead which would slenderly arch her hair over her eyes much like bangs would normally be. As she moved a hand to part her hair behind her ears something would stand out against the backdrop, something that was little more than just a simple trinket, no this time it was a bow. Rushing across the room hands would close in around the bow forcing Jayr to become overcome by giddy excitement and make fast to tug up her hair once more placing it into a pony tail understanding that now the outfit was complete. A deep sigh was to follow and her features would reject the happy giddy side and return with nothing more than a peevish monotonous scowl. So now all that could be said about anything with her is that Jayr needed to be kept at work, doing something is what she did and when she did it she was amused but if people took her work and treated her like a placemat that’s when she became angry.

It wasn’t long of course before breakfast, and of course like every day before this one Alexi was the first to wake up, like a spring chicken he rose to the morning air like it was his drug no matter how hard Jayr would attempt to raise to the challenge she’d always find herself short of him like the man was a mechanical monster. Early to rise, late to sleep, always a wonder how he survived on such low tolerances.

“G’d morning deary.” His chipper expression only bolstered by his attire, USA flag oven mitts with an American flag draped over his chest like a tunic, to set it all off the very tong he used to flip the sheet of bacon was colored Red, White, and Blue. Across the front of his shirt it’d been inscribed LIBERTY! He certainly made it a point nowadays to not be labeled as a foreigner despite his all too obvious Russian accent not to mention being an entire head taller than most folks.

“You think you may be going a bit….. Over board?” Jayr would reply peevishly picking at her plate with a fork managing to nibble at the eggs and picking at the center of the pancakes like a child would concerned that the edges weren’t as fluffy as they could or should have been.

“Absolutely not Jayr, do you have any idea what the American’s have been through.”

“Certainly not as much as the British, or even the Russians for that matter.”

“This may be true but….” Freezing quickly Alexi would get silent going back to work on his bacon before averting the topic completely for his own safety. Perhaps he was still under the belief that there were bugs in his house and at any given moment the CIA would come bursting through his house saying that he was some Redcoat coming to alter their way of life. “MmmMmm Bacon.”

Jayr would smile girlishly as she nudged her step-father with a bit of respect as though she was saying that she understood what he meant by going all out like this. Sure Jayr hadn’t exactly been American either, they’d all been immigrants and wasn’t that what this country was founded on, immigrants. She’d smile at the thought; oddly enough this resembled all too well her understanding of the Pillars in her school, or at least a few situations for the most part. The uncertain inconsistencies and acting harshly towards the few people who fell below the level of being strong or weak. If only they’d had something in the nature of following a code of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Maybe if she’d made a point to do something like that things would essentially turn out alright. Sighing she’d palm the corners of her face only to look up to a very curious and yet very confused looking Alexi who tucked a hand towards her cheek forcing the girl to rise with the tender grip.

“You alright?”

“Yeah, I’m just a litte… bored? I need something to do.”

“That’s great because I have just the thing.”

Jayr looked up as the bearded man smiled; it was always the smile like that which made her nerves tense up. Coiling up into a retreat Jayr would edge her way back from the chair from which she’d sat hoping that in the refuge of her room there’d be safety to be had rather than endure the wrath of Alexi Stukov.

“I need you to run down to the store before the fireworks start and pick me up a large….package.”

Jayr nervously smiled thinking to turn away before the large grip of her burly Step-Father caught her up in the quick retreat making the plan to escape utterly useless because it wasn’t quite the fact that he was rough with her but more so that fact that he had a way of making a harsh and determined grip seem inescapable and yet calming. Biting at her lips Jayr would go with the flow finding that it truly was his way, always. He’d lead her however not far from the kitchen which was a surprise, the secret layer from which she dreaded turned out to merely be her laundry room with a few boxes set aside in the pantry. From one Alexi would draw a card with a labeled address and a list of miscellaneous supplies she’d imagined. Why? Because she simply could not read Russian. If either of them had any reason to fear being deported it’d be of what was written on this list, labeled front to back without the notice of labels would be what she imagined to be an internal plot to bring about the doom to mankind. However childish her fantasies were she’d run with them. Being pushed out of the house all too quickly to protest Jayr would skip out down the street paying more mind to the scroll then to where he feet stepped.

A line she’d read over once and twice seemed to detail the waving on a flag that was not our own, or so she could deciefer from her broken Russian. Another line dictated the explosion and rain of fire unto a land that was decimated earlier beforehand. Biting her lip Jayr’s pace would hasten taking quickly to the side streets and alleyways of the early morn making sure that every shadow and lingering breath that was made in her wake was not one out to find the very secrets of her patronage. This was to turn out to be a war. And if so had she chosen the side that was to be an aggressor or rather the very opposite kind that was defending its very own way of life. Nervously she’d found her way into the shop the trail taking a much shorter time than once she’d originally managed. With a deep breath and a dark chill running up her side Jayr would eye ball the place finding that it was little out of place. Okay perhaps very out of place. For one all the windows were closed, its murky shades covered in veils looking much like torn bed sheets.

Certainly even the dark aura it presented hiding in the shadows of the buildings and coastline peaks gave it the appearance of a haunted villa.
Pacing her way closer Jayr would knock at the front door hoping the one who’d answer was not a spectral being with the sole intent to decapitate her and use her flesh as more lining to her house. A time would pass, her curious features peering in through the neighboring windows and Jayr would notice nocturnal eyes flashing back at her. With a gasp she’d retract placing a hand over her mouth to prevent the scream that’d no doubt be following it. However it was cut short by the one to answer the door. An Igor looking fellow, his orange looking eyes and pale features most noteworthy above all, atop of that were his clothing, smock brown and tattered. The visage gave him the stereotypical dark housekeeper whom slaughtered his victims.

“You must be the daughter Byrne, please do come in.”

“That’s quite alright I think I’ll stay here.”

“Though the register is inside you’ll find things go much quicker this way.”

“Oh…. Alright then let’s make this quick.”

With cautious steps Jayr would step into the foray eying up the walls from within, a deep strobe of sorts would coat the walls lighting it with a luminescent glare. Her breathing heightened and breath would pitch nervously. She wasn’t exactly the type to be afraid, surprised was a better word for such things as she waited on pins and needles expecting something sharp and furious to abstract her attention and direct eyes forward with a lament sense of fear. For now however she was struck by little more than the pixie man who strode in little hops and gimps reminding her of Yoda which would turn her caution into something a little more aimed at a directive stride ready for the cave of fears to emerge with an understanding and pride at the fact that she’d better herself. Even in dark times like these.

*ring*

The clinking of the register would direct her eyes upward to scan that frivolous face that looked back at her through large peering globs, the dark man Igor worked his serrated fingers to type in the price of it all.

“That’ll be $56.99, Plus tax.” His ashen voice calling out with a slight wheeze as he’d finished. His hunched body taking comfortably to lean over the register much like a cane.

“Alright.” The slow smile returning with a bit of caution as Jayr reached for her purse taking out a group of twenties matched with ones hoping that paying in cash would be best in a quaint place like this. Her nervous and untrustworthy eying of the fellow was made certain as his grasp over the cash would be swift and needy grasping her hand. Retracting quickly Jayr would bolt taking with her the box of material running headlong out the door with reckless abandon for her own façade. Not looking back Jayr would meet the other end of the street and down the halls of a dark ally. Heavy breaths would follow as she was sure she’d gotten out of there alive and not to mention safely which was above all things most important to her. A closed off and yet restrained giggle as she heard the closing march of someone on her trail. Jerking her head back with a fretful face Jayr would notice the large arms of Igor, the man’s heavy wheezing taking to approach her with vigor. The catch in her throat would be sharp, inhaling fire into her lungs her breath would be caught short, making off into a sprint as the girl bolted past the houses and back alleys finding only more and more as though the entire place made up was nothing but a maze. All the while the heavy labored thump of wheezing breath sounded as though it was at her heels nipping at the chance to take her life away.

By the end of the halls she’d found herself far enough so that the labored breath as a ways away and the safety around her however brief was helpful. Jayr would curl herself up behind a dumpster, finding that it was pinned between a car and a dumpster she’d hide there collecting her breath just above the heavy scent of deathly rats and splattered fruits left in the gutters to rot.

*thump thump thump*

*heeve heeve heeve*

She heard the bellowing of his breath before the stench of him masked over the rotting around her, inhaling quickly with a sharp breath Jayr would make herself to be invisible if even just for a moment, would the time she bought be enough to rid her of the stalking monster that followed her steps from across town. Although she’d ran for the trek to home was certainly not this far. Scratching would come from behind the bin and the breathing would stop. Had he gone? Jayr thought to herself curiously figuring the man with such breathing difficulties couldn’t possibly linger that long without the need to take in air. Her head would come over the bin coming eye to eye with Igor. The short man glared at her back, a hungry scowl in his throat and a shriek in hers as Jayr would toss back the bin knocking him over completely. The small girl bolting as fast as she could for the coast finding no more heavy breathing at her flank. That was it finally as she’d hit the coat she was home free. Heavy breaths would follow as she pressed past the pain, the thrumming of her chest beating back hard finding that very same fire again even painfully so. Just a little further, she’d press herself taking in the deep breaths and long strides until she was at the door pounding away with the box in her opposite hand.

Alexi would answer looking as frantically as she did, though surprise lit his features as it seemed he was half expecting to see someone much different, maybe an INS agent or something he undoubtedly feared at one point or another.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s a creepy man stalking me!”

Alexi’s eyes would tinker up seeing that Igor was slowly taking his pace up behind her and stopping respectably at the door, his hands folding and his back straightening out as he presented himself respectably.

“Sorry to cause such a panic Mam, but you forgot to pay your taxes.”

[Cain]

"... Ugh..."

Cain groaned softly as he opened his eyes, the sharp rays of morning peering through the gaps of the curtains and, much to his misfortune, stabbing into his eyes, causing him to raise his right hand to shelter his eyes. It was just annoying. Another groaned escaped his lips as that right hand changed task then to wiping his eyes clear, his other hand pressing down against the soft bed as he pushed himself up to a sitting position. Then, he would let his right hand drop dead upon his lap, his eyes lazily looking up as he let out a soft cough, feeling a certain dryness in his mouth. Then, the feeling of the cold morning breeze seeped into the room, embracing Cain, the Junior shivering in reaction.

Then, he heard a soft moan to his side and allowed himself to see the source of the sound, although he naturally already knew who it was. There lay on the other side of the bed the still body of her girlfriend, who was fast asleep, her right hand placed on the inflated stomach of hers. Yes, she was pregnant. And if Cain was not right, she was due to give birth in less than a month. At this moment, it could be any time now. And Cain would finally reach the next chapter of his.

Fatherhood.

He sighed at that thought, his body tensing up a bit. Until now, despite all his self-assurances and talks, he still was not ready. Despite how many times he told himself he was, inside, he knew he was still not ready for such a responsibility. It was still too early. Cain had not a single idea of how to take care of a child, much less take care of himself and Zen alongside that. He raised his right hand, scratching the back of his head in frustration as he placed his feet on the cold floor, before pushing himself up fully on his feet. He was shirtless then, clad only in a pair of white jogging pants. He gave himself a soft slap then, just to make sure that he was really awake, before proceeding to leave the room.

First thing's first...

He was hungry.

Closing the door behind him, he dragged himself across the small apartment into the space that was supposed to be their kitchen, a yawn escaping his lips on the way. For some reason, he felt especially lethargic that day. His body felt unusually heavy, his joints feeling 'rusty', if that was the right term for it. He opened the fringe, finding it more effort than it usually was. Man, what did he do last night to put so much trouble on his body? He let out a grunt, his eyes then rolling over to scan the contents of his refrigerator. Well... There wasn't anything.

Hiei cursed, before proceeding then to pour himself a glass of cool water, before walking over to the living room. Just as he did, however, something caught the corner of his eye. He lowered the now half-full glass of water, looking through the window from his fifth floor apartment. On the other side of the street were a couple of men on the roof, holding what seemed to be sort of rocket. Rocket? Cain squinted his eyes. Nah, those weren't rockets. Those were fireworks.

At that, Cain chuckled, unable to believe how forgetful he was. Today was the 4th of July. Independence Day. A day of a grand nation-wide celebration. He looked over at the door to his room. Yeah, today was to be spent celebrating with her, he decided. With that decided, Cain finished up the remaining water in the glass then. At that moment, however, he heard a familiar tone coming from his bag, which lay on the safe in front of him.

A text message? Cain stared at it for a moment, before cursing. Great. A job. He let out a soft sigh, before proceeding to retrieve his cell phone from his bag, opening the message as soon as he did so.

"Abel. Got another task for you."

With a soft grumble, Cain then proceeded to dial his contact's number, placing the phone upon his ears. It was a recorded message. An effective way of passing the details to the employee, for it prevented him from asking any questions and thus decrease the chances of a betrayal from the employees. The less they knew, the better, after all.

"Abel. I need you to do a little... Tax-collecting for me. There's this Russian weapon smuggler that has not paid me his 'taxes' for doing business in my playground. I want you to teach him a lesson or two. Don't kill him. I still want my money. He'll be at the docks in two hours, to handle his new shipments. Take care of him."

And the following beep signaled the end of the message. Cain pulled the mobile phone away from his face, staring at it for a moment before letting out a soft grunt. Ah, hell. Never a peaceful holiday, eh?

[Jack]

OOC: Work in progress

The planning

4th of july again huh? Jack sat in his living room as he stared at his invitation, it was forwarded on by those who were in control of his mail and such. So it had already been a full year since his last get together? He had one day to get ready and then three days to get to New York, Laughing he would pull his phone out telling Phoenix that he wouldn’t be here for the next week as he had some Business to take care of in New York. Getting up he moved to his room, finding his computer he quickly looked up the mobile number of his contacts in new York, typing the number into his phone he waited patiently as he heard the much expected voice of Dominic Kenshaw Hello, Dominic Kenshaw here from New York transports how can I help you today?, Jack held back his laughter as he heard Dominic his once upon a time mentor and friend take up this crappy proper desk job. “Hey Dom, it’s Jack. long time no talk, I just received my invite in the mail.. I’m coming back for a few days but uhh I need you to help me organize a transport from California to New York.” There was silence across the line as Jack’s words sunk into Dominic’s head. When Jack had given up convinced that he had gotten the number wrong the booming voice of Dom’s was heard blaring back into his ear. I’ll be damned, my boy’s coming home! I’ll see what I can do call back tonight, I should have something for you. Relief filled Jack as he replied instantly satisfied that Dom would find him an adequate transport “Thanks Dom you’re a huge life saver”.

He hung up the phone, calling a few of his old boys in New York informing them that the old racer was coming home. His first in line of contact was Nomad, the person who he left in charge of his Urban Angel’s garage, as of yet there wasn’t any new Urban Angels so for now the Urban Angels was a one man team. Having found no one worthy of the title of being an Urban Angel. This was more than some petty street crew to Jack, this is the very thing that defined him as a human being the thing that made him different. Next was Conrad, when ever Jack needed a part imported, Conrad was his go to man. With connections all over the world specifically in Japan and Europe Jack was able to get those expensive exotic parts are a highly reduced price. Jack would need two new sets of tires for his GTR. After Conrad came the rest of his boys a few old Head Hunters would diffidently be in the race he just wanted to let them know that they were going to lose. A few laughs and emotional words were exchanged before Jack hung up finished for now with his phone.

Moving about his room, he began packing his clothes, he’d need a few outfits, something to travel in for the next three days there and back along with a racing uniform, a suit for the party and something fashionable for the after party. He got his tailored black, blue pin stripe suit out of his closet laying it down on his bed he placed it carefully on his bed. Next came two pairs of shorts, some tracksuit pants, t shirts, shoes and anything else he’d need on the long two day drive to New York (three days with breaks). Jack sighed, grabbing his usual clothes he placed them on the bed before exiting the room and searching the house for a suitcase. By lunch time he was ready to depart, picking up his phone he dialled the number of Dominic in New York this time his personal number. Hey Jack, I got in contract to an old friend of mine, he’s a nice guy who’s heading back to New York and he doesn’t mind giving you a ride. Reasonable price too here’s his number *number given* anyway Jacky boy I got to get back to work but I’ll see you when you get down here. Jack wrote down the number on a note pad nodding as Dom spoke. “Cheers mate I’ll see you in a few days” Jack would hang up before turning around, moving to his laptop. He



The drive to New York


The reunion


The pre drinks

The race

The party

The after party

The return home

[Mr. Seran]

Locked Rewards will be distributed this afternoon.

Total Completion:
Jayr Byrne - Full rewards (listed above)
Kevala Katashi - Partial Rewards due to timing
(Pendant's power reduced to +3 Con, +10 Cha during July

---

Partial Completion:
Cain Aurelius - Partial Rewards due to effort
+$500
Item:

American Flag
Item allows for the user to be extremely patriotic through whatever crises' and strive to become more powerful when the chips are down.
+2 Strength