« Prev 1 Next » Reply Share Thread Facebook Twitter Tumblr LinkedIn MySpace Email Go to Previous Thread Next Thread Please make a selection first Author Topic: ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? (Read 413 times) ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 10, 2009 0:01:58 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top A commotion was brewing between two young women in a clothing store and after the volume reached an all-time high, the two were asked to leave the store and to take their quarreling out into the plaza of the outdoor mall. One woman looked like she was straight out of an action film. Tan, fit, trim, and probably had headshots with her if one asked for one. Of course, why look at her head when people were more likely to notice her knockers? It was as though all the fat in her body was focused in one area and the other woman, the one who looked more average and wore large aviator sunglasses on her face, made sure to point that out. “OHO. You really think you hot stuff huh, Miss Breast Cansah! Ja, I be confident too if I had sacks of fat cooshuning my chest! Maybe joo sving zem at me ven joo attack!” [FEMALE STUDENT]: “You mean these? These have been known to take down men, that's for sure, and I'll have you know, I have military training, so watch it!” “AHA. AHAHAHAHAHAHA. HAHAHA! HA HA HA AH HA! AAAAAAAAAAHHHH... Oh, zat's fahnni! Tell me anuzah vun! Maybe joo run avay from circus too! Freak show!” [FEMALE STUDENT]: “OH THAT DOES IT.” The busty woman opened with an ax kick aimed for the other woman's face and the ax kick, being one of the slowest attacks to set up, was quickly countered by Dagny backing up and caught the kick with both of her arms. The average woman then pushed the busty woman into falling onto her rump. The busty woman then got back onto her feet and tried to launch a straight punch with her right. Dagny, who had plenty of time to anticipate this attack, parried the arm off to the side with her left and countered with a right uppercut to the busty woman's chin, using her arm as a shield to the busty woman's follow-up strike with her left. With Dagny closing in too close for the busty woman to deal with, the busty woman soon found herself being shoved back onto the pavement. Dagny backpedaled away from the damage and adjusted the tokidoki bag on her back. She didn't really see herself falling over and getting it dirty any time too soon. The busty woman got up again the cycle continued for a couple more minutes, a la “Tubthumping”, until Dagny finally took her out with a folding signboard to the head. The busty woman wasn't unconscious or terribly hurt, but at this point, she didn't feel like getting up again and thank goodness since Dagny was getting worried that she might attract more attention than necessary. As the busty woman groaned on the ground, Dagny fished a couple dollar bills out of the other woman's wallet. “You right, Miss Breast Cansah! Money do talk! It say 'Bye bye'!” Dagny howled with laughter after that and ran away from the scene of the crime. When she made it to one of the outdoor mall's decorative fountains, she sat on the rim and counted all the money she nabbed. $50. Not much. She whistled and wondered why she robbed that woman (student?) when she had plenty of money of her own. Just to be mean? Just to try out something she always wanted to do; To beat up someone with bigger boobs and better than her? Or just 'cause she felt like it? Yeah, 'sounds more appealing and less deranged. The busty woman had it coming anyways for all the rude things she said in that store. Dagny robbed a woman with big jugs and “military training” 'cause she felt like it. It made her feel in charge. Scamming is more her thing, but why not try brute force? One thing for sure, while it was fun talking in a fake accent... “Good golly, that fake accent was hard to maintain... What was that, German-Chinglish? Sheesh~ Now what should I do with this chump change...” Feed it into a change machine and throw it all into the fountain? Why not... Back to Top   Tiao Lei Shen Mentor The Tiger of Hircine Shut up [send pm] Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,824 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 10, 2009 0:58:51 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "Shi shi..." Tiao nodded his head slightly, giving an informal bow to the owner of the store. He was an elderly chinese man who ran what Tiao assumed to be a collectibles store. Signs, artwork, and things like swords and knives were sold here. None of it really interested him, but he was able to find his dragon-tiger patches here, and they were very fairly priced. So fair, in fact, that Tiao would pay almost double for them out of sympathy for the old man. Stepping back out into the open outdoor mall, Tiao's day of serene peace would suddenly change. It wasn't every day that you saw a catfight between two attractive girls. It was even more rare for that catfight to be a decent fight in itself. Both of the girls were more impressive than some males that have challenged Tiao in the past, particularly the winner. Tiao idly watched with on hand in his pocket as the other held the paper sack by his side. Come the end of the fight, Tiao Lei Shen would snicker with a smile and a shake of his head. It seemed that victory wasn't enough of reward for the girl. She removed the other's wallet and took her spoils of war. The girl was an adequate fighter as well as obviously not a stranger to petty theft. It wasn't rare for Tiao to get a vibe on somebody, but for some reason this one was stronger than most... Maybe she'd be good potential for Xiao Long... Figuring it was best to find out more, Tiao began makin the semi-circle walk around the fountain, where the girl took a seat at the other side. Takin a seat to her right about a foot away, Tiao would keep his left hand in his pocket, bringing his right forearm to rest against his knees as the bag of patches dangled. Keeping his gaze off in the distance, Tiao took a deep inhalation, mostly to get the girls attention before turning to look at her with a charismatic smile. "It's funny, you don't come accross the mugging type." Back to Top   ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 10, 2009 1:39:52 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Why is that voice so famili—HO'SHIT. Dagny made a “WTF” face and froze as she pocketed the dollar bills when she realized who was talking to her. Tiao Lei Shen. What the hell was he doing down here in San Diego!? Shouldn't he be up in San Francisco? Does he know that Valencia is missing? Was he looking for her? Does he recognize her? IS HE STALKING HER?! Man oh man oh man. Yeah, she misses Tiao alright, but seriously... Dude. That's just crazy. Dagny's pale gray eyes were wide with shock behind those aviator sunglasses of hers. Now, if you make a “WTF” face long enough at a person, you may come off as rude... Or crazy.... So Dagny had to think fast before any more questions were asked. Um... Uh... Eh... “COMMENT ES-TU VENU!? Je ne comprends pas, monsieur! Je suis touriste! AU REVOIR, BON VOYAGE, ADIEU, AUF WIEDERSEHEN—NO, I MEAN—ADIOS!! DAMMIT!! FUCK!!” The Vietnamese woman shoved the bills into her pocket as she blurted her goodbyes in French, German, and Spanish + a DAMMITFUCK, then jumped to her feet to make a run for it. She didn't know how long it'll take until Tiao catches up if he pursues her, but she needed to get away. And an excuse. Oh. Huh. That's a nice excuse. No wait, after suspiciously running away, that kinda renders that excuse pointless. Hm. Dagny, looks like you have a problem on your hands. She spotted a stray lamppost and a light bulb went on in her head. Without a second's delay, she commenced climbing it to reach the second floor. Once she was at her destination, she couldn't help but feel relieved that she still still had her m4d climbing s|<!llz. She expressed such relief with a triumphant laugh. “HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... 'TIS ME, CARMEN SANDIEGO!! I GET AWAY AGAIN!!” Oh come on, Valencia, of all times you compare yourself to Carmen Sandiego, it has to be while you're in San Diego instead of, oh I dunno, while you're making a more grander escape. How cheesy can you get? And seriously, don't you remember how athletic Tiao is? He'll probably be on his way up aaaaaannyyy second now... Back to Top   Tiao Lei Shen Mentor The Tiger of Hircine Shut up [send pm] Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,824 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 10, 2009 2:01:18 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Tiao's smile faltered just slightly as she did nothing but stare at him. Maybe he wasn't as charismatic as he was in the past, or as much as he thought he was. The smile would completely fade, however, once she started speaking, blurting out three different languages plus a bonus english curse as Tiao looked directly back at her with that same "WTF" look on his face as she had just given him moments ago. "Wait a second!" Tiao was caught off guard a second time as she jumped to her feet, beginning to run away. It was extremely rare for Tiao to be surprised and caught off guard, yet this girl had done it twice in under a minute. There was definately something peculiar about her, which would only influence his decision to pursue. Rounding the corner Tiao came to a halt, cursing under his breath as he believe to have lost sight of her. Movement in the sky caught his eye, however, bringing Tiao to look up. It wasn't everyday you saw a catfight, or get spoken to in three languages in one sentence, but it CERTAINLY wasn't everyday that a girl climbed a post to get away from so-far-friendly conversation. What a peculiar girl... As things became more complicated, Tiao Lei Shen would only become more determined. Things that are easy are hardly ever worth doing, and with all the hard work Tiao would have to put into just talking to this girl, he couldn't imagine what her efforts could contribute to his goal. Tiao burst into a run again, turning the corner once more. Leaping off his front foot, Tiao would bound off a garbage can, landing on the railing of stairs. Tiao would run up the railing about three steps til he felt his balance beginning to falter. From there, he'd jump straight up, able to reach the safety rail of the floor above, to which he'd pull himself up with both hands (one still holding the paper bag). Tiao would land about six feet away from the girl, where he would smile once again, adrenaline still running even as he talked casually. Preparing to burst into a sprint should she decide to run away again. "Now, in my experience, people don't usually run unless they have something to hide. Who exactly are you?" Back to Top   ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 10, 2009 2:25:59 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top And of course, Tiao managed to make it to the second floor, not too far away from Dagny. Her smile completely vanished as he spoke to her as casually as he did when they were at the fountain. In her mind, she was cursing his athleticism. No wonder he was a Pillar at Hircine High and no wonder he's still alive after everything that happened to him. It was moments like these that Dagny cursed Darwin and natural selection (not saying that she wished his death, but the odds of her physically surpassing him were slim). She wiped away a bead of sweat on her brow. She was obviously less calm than Tiao in this situation. Okay, this excuse can only work so well, but she might as well try, right? “Didn't you see me... 'Mug' someone? Yeah, you're a witness. I have every right to run away from you, see, 'cause only stupid people wait for witnesses to turn them in to the authorities. Don't wanna tangle with mall cops. Their segways can get pretty fast. Does that make sense now? Will that make you leave me alone?” And if THAT won't get you to leave me alone, what will!? Dagny made a li'l shoo shoo gesture with one of her hands and she slowly backed away from Tiao, itching to make a run for it if he made any sudden moves. She had to pause and let a family go around her as they exited a Build-a-Bear Workshop. Best not run into them should she start running again. Oh Tiao, don't make me resort to other means of getting you off my tail... Back to Top   Tiao Lei Shen Mentor The Tiger of Hircine Shut up [send pm] Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,824 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 10, 2009 21:51:00 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "That would make plenty sense, if there wasn't a handful of other people still leering at you as you took your break at the fountain." Tiao Lei Shen found the situation no less confusing given her explanation. Given his upbringing and current business venture, Tiao Lei Shen always excelled at deciphering lies. Even ignoring her story with loopholes, or her usage of several different languages (with a varied level of fluency at that), Tiao didn't have to do anything but look at her to know that she was hiding something. Tiao only wished her eyes weren't shielded behind the glasses, as there was some truth to them being the gateway to the soul. The more time Tiao had to examine what the hell was going on, the more intriguing it became. It was a fact that she didn't seem to get in a hurry to get away until Tiao approached. Now, langauge both verbal and bodily screamed for her urge to escape him. You know what they say about wanting what you can't have? Yeah, well, the moment she faltered, letting the family go by, Tiao Lei Shen would take the moment to take a few more steps forward, closin the distance to only a few feet as she was pinned between him and the family. "I'm not here to turn you in," Tiao paused, rasing his hands up in the air in a mockery, plastering another sheepish smile on his face. "Why don't you just stay put for a moment? I can't be that bad to talk to." Back to Top   ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 11, 2009 2:51:02 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top See, Valencia?! Tolja that excuse was stupid! Dammit, why is it that every time you get spontaneous, someone notices you?! And when you do nothing, you still get noticed? Dadgummit, this doesn't make any sense at all! By the time the family walked around Dagny, Tiao closed the gap by a few feet. She mouthed a “SHIT” and subtly took a few steps back in the general direction the family was headed. He stopped and held up his hands to reassure that he wasn't going to turn her in. The “WTF” face returned, but to a lesser degree... To a “Are you kidding me?” degree. Dagny didn't know whether or not to take him seriously since he clearly didn't take her seriously. At least, that's how she perceived things. Either blame her sensitivity or the fact that she's a girl—I mean, a young woman. A young woman who clearly didn't want to stay in Tiao's presence for too long for a laundry list of reasons. He couldn't see it, but she was squinting at him incredulously behind her sunglasses as she responded. “What do you want? I'm sure there are other multi-lingual muggers out there you can talk to if you look hard enough. They just... Hide really well. Yeah.” D'OH! Does that mean that you suck at hiding?! Way to sound stupid again, Valencia! Dagny put her hands on her hips and haughtily raised her chin at an angle in attempt to emanate confidence when she was far from confident in her ability to lie at this point. She never was good at lying—Most of the time she was just surrounded by suckers. Suckers like the li'l gullible children inside the Build-a-Bear Workshop who believed that friends could be conveniently put together piece by piece and that every word they say are the product of their own design. Wait, was that a bad simile? Crap, I'm so not thinking straight right now. Back to Top   Tiao Lei Shen Mentor The Tiger of Hircine Shut up [send pm] Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,824 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 11, 2009 16:54:20 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top With the accents removed from her multi-lingual speech, Tiao inadvertently narrowed his eyes, finding the sound of the voice begginging to irk him. It wasn't that her voice was one of the screeching high pitched valley girl voices that hurt his ears or anything, just...something. Tiao couldn't place it, not understanding why it was bothering him. Exhaling softly, Tiao pushed it back for now, not wanting to cause a significant gap in their "conversation." Damn, this one just isn't phased by smooth talking. Her mind must be a steel trap... "For one, you can answer my question." Tiao half snapped his reply out, beginning to grow tired of his own guise. He had always prefferred the straight forward approach. Unfortunately, in his line of work business deals tended to require beating around the bush. Beginning to grow unsure of what exactly he did want from this mugger, he was tired of the tactic that didn't even seem to be working. Regardless of how Valencia would answer him, most likely with a name he wouldn't even recognize, Tiao would shove his hands into his pockets, his eyes lowering into the impatient stare she would be more used to from the ex-pillar. "Enough games. Why are you so elusive of me? You're a terrible liar, so don't bullshit me. Be honest with me and I promise to leave you alone." Back to Top   ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 11, 2009 18:20:42 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Now why don't you look at that. Looks like your tomfoolery yielded results after all. Maybe not the best results since it appears that Tiao has lost his patience with her, but at least they're on equal footing to some degree: No more bullshitting. Dagny stopped her grandstanding to take on a more natural and calculating posture. She brushed away some strands of hair that ended up on her face, then crossed her arms. Ladies and gents, at teeny tiny bit of Valencia was shining through. But that was it. Hopefully, it wasn't too much. Dagny sighed deeply to clear her mind of all the panic she went through, then gave her answer. “At least you picked up that I can tell the truth when asked of me. Remind me to give you a coupon to use at that one gourmet cookie shop downstairs later 'cause I don't feel like buying you a cookie myself... Why am I avoiding you? The reason is... I know where you came from. I know your past. See... I... I'm a fortune teller.” OH MY GOD VALENCIA YOU'RE SUCH A FUCKING FRAUD WHY GODDAMMIT WHY MUST YOU DO THIS TO YOURSELF!? Let's give her credit where credit is due. She didn't lie one bit. She is indeed a “fortune teller”, but no one said she was a good one. Think of her as a fortune teller who... “Cheats”. Fancy wordplay and astute observations are the main tools of her con artist trade; Stay around her long enough and she'll figure you out. After all, she is bad at lying... Gotta work off of solid, concrete proof and not pull stuff out of the air while piecing together an individual's past (in this case, she already knows Tiao's past—at least his past at Hircine High). As for “predicting” the future, instead of tampering with the forces of the divine (she's mildly superstitious, so she wouldn't dare mess with the higher forces that govern this universe), she mostly tells people what they want to hear so they can shape their own destinies. Kinda like the placebo effect. It doesn't always work, but it definitely works on people who believe hard enough in what she tells them. “Look, I even know who you are. You... You give off a tiger-ish vibe. Strong dude. Something about foundations... Pillar of strength? Perhaps. You definitely take the initiative and you definitely disprove what people say about tigers being unable to climb trees 'cause lemme tell ya, you gave me a scare when you got up here... Ahem. You don't take orders anymore and if you do, I think there's something wrong with your life. Are you... Tiao Lei Shen?” Dagny stopped an held up a hand as if to cancel whatever reaction she might've garnered from Tiao and continued her “reading” as she stared intensely at the floor to her right. “Believe me when I say this, my luck around tigers haven't always been the best. One even tried to eat me. (Literally.) Ever since, I've been very careful around tigers. Especially tigers that don't look like 'tigers'. It's a... Fortune telling thing. Don't take it too personally—I just know how to pick my battles and you clearly showed me that I can't outperform you in terms of strength and agility. Eh... I overreacted. Yeah. Wouldn't you freak out if your 'bad luck sign' showed up the very moment after you mug someone?” Way to come up with an excuse rather than an answer, Dagny, and if Tiao ever figures out who you are, you have a lot of explaining to do. I don't think people appreciate it when their love interests compare them to “bad luck signs”. Back to Top   Tiao Lei Shen Mentor The Tiger of Hircine Shut up [send pm] Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,824 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 12, 2009 23:15:35 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top "A fortune teller...?" Tiao Lei Shen's aggravation would turn into disbelief, one eyebrow crooking up as he snickered. He didn't hide his skepticism on the ridiculous topic. Back in San Fransisco he remembered having a very brief conversation with a girl who didn't falter in her beliefs of being a modern day witch. Wiccan bullshit is what it was, pretending that tree-hugging served a supernatural purpose. The mockery didn't last however, the smirk fading as both his eyebrows dropped with a furrow. Tiao was no longer able to sniff out the lies, simply for the reason she wasn't telling them. Half-truths were a powerful thing, able to conceal the situation from what it really was, all the while not being dishonest. It worked both mind and body, and when the mind was letting the body refrain from all out deception, it reacted much more naturally. What this "fortune teller' had to say wasn't wrong. Tiao began to open his mouth for a reply when she cut him off again, unable to control his natural curiousity as he longed for what came next. While the information had been correct, the Tiger of Hircine still wasn't swallowing the back story. Instead, Tiao's mind geared into overtime as he worked out different theories in his head. Cons like magic didn't really exist. There had to be another reason for her to know this information...a spy of some sort perhaps? Someone who had been hired to tail him for a number of reasons that he had simply been lucky enough to catch sight of himself? Tiao Lei Shen had pieces of the puzzle, but he didn't have the reference image. Instead, he worked on instant (and most likely the wrong) reflexes, covering the shortened distance with one long stride as his right hand shot out, gripping tightly against the teller's throat. Tiao would push her back into the railing, leaning her back to remove her leverage as he brought his face closer to hers. "If you're already aware of 'being unable to outperform me in terms of strength and agility', I highly reccommend you tell me your name, and how you really know me." Back to Top   ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 13, 2009 0:46:54 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Did he buy it...? Tiao clearly didn't buy the fortune telling shtick, but he did appear very intrigued by Dagny's explanation. Disbelief, but interest—A sign of skepticism. Everyone should have a healthy amount of skepticism about them to prevent themselves from being fooled by the likes of swindlers and con artists. Systematic doubt is a fine trait to have, sure, but to this young woman, skepticism was the last thing she needed today. Especially from Tiao. Before she could react, his vice-like grip was on her throat and if it weren't for state building codes (railings must be higher than one's hips; ideally up to one's lower chest), her upper body would've been tilted backwards over the railing. Dagny's last resort was to scream, holler, and draw as much attention as possible to the young man accosting her and with the two being right in front of the Build-a-Bear workshop, it'd be quite a site. That plan was abandoned when she thought about this very grip being the one that killed the “Sabretooth” tiger of a man that threatened to kill (and possibly eat) her when she was in San Francisco. Dagny would probably die before she could cry for help. She was frightened and terrified that the guy she developed feelings for may kill her here and there, but after a few moments passed, she calmed down. Nothing good ever came from her freaking out. A state of tranquility didn't guarantee anything either, but the odds of survival were always much higher for those in control. She closed her eyes softly with a sense of conviction and gave her answer. “Dagny Uy Phong. And as I've told you, I'm a fortune teller. I've seen your past with my very eyes. If you insist that I lack mystical prowess, you can always believe me when I say that your reputation precedes you and I'd be a fool to not recognize you... Publications. Friends in San Francisco. Take your pick. In the end, I advise against you doing harm to me. It will hurt you more than it will hurt me and I've been hurt many times before. Take my word for it, would you kindly.” ...In terms of Dagny's fortune telling, Dagny put Tiao in a position similar to Oedipus—He fought his fate, but ultimately fulfilled a prophesy in which he kills his father and weds his mother, bringing disaster to his city and family. In terms of answering Tiao, not a single lie passed through Dagny's lips and if his grip acted as a lie-detector, the results would be clear. Not a shred of dishonesty and she still insisted on keeping her identity as Valencia unknown. In a weird way, Dagny putting her life in Tiao's hands was very similar to when she put her life in Keith's. While Keith was sexually abusing her, Valencia just closed her eyes and spoke through her conviction rather than her mind. She didn't know if it was because he drugged her or because she truly believed, but it saved her somehow. In hindsight, this certitude saved her from Zeniro's rage too. Dagny, or Valencia, didn't believe in god. She just believed in higher forces that compelled the actions of all. There was no good or evil. Just actions and consequences and true to her personal mission, Dagny had to possess resolve in the face of an unknown future. « Last Edit: Jun 13, 2009 0:48:37 GMT -6 by ๖ۣValencia Tiao » Back to Top   Tiao Lei Shen Mentor The Tiger of Hircine Shut up [send pm] Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,824 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 13, 2009 1:13:25 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Despite all his efforts to fight his instincts, Tiao Lei Shen at heart was not a subtle man. With an unhealthy mix of anger and arrogance, Tiao didn't hesitate to create a scene. In their current position, it was bound to gain at least some notice by some families. If you calculate the probability of one of those families feelings obligated enough to tell someone about it, Tiao guessed he had a few minutes until any rent-a-cops would arrive, as if he cared to begin with. "I said no more games," Tiao Lei Shen insisted, giving a short squeeze upon her throat before letting up back up to his original hold. "We both know you have no mysitcal prowess." This would only be the third time Tiao would have made physical contact with Valencia, despite their long history. Tiao Lei Shen would have torn a man's throat out for even looking at Valencia the wrong way. That alone, would make the current situation quite ironic. The last time Tiao had seen Valencia healthy was after killing the "Sabertooth" that threatened her life. Also ironically, was that had been Tiao's first step into the realm of illegal dealings. To this day, he was still forced to look over his shoulder in anticipation for the day the organ traffickers plan repercussions. Tiao honestly had no idea how much of what he was being told was truth or not. That nostalgic feeling that Tiao should know something wasn't letting up for all the prodding he gave, nor all the information she spilled. Without any bigger hints to let him know what he should be looking for exactly, Tiao had no choice but to continue to prod. Whether it would be anymore than he had or not, he wouldn't be able to tell until he tried. However, there was something that just wouldn't let him let go, mentally and physically. "I may have a reputation, but I didn't know I've become a celebrity. I'm going to need more than that Dagny. Names. Who are your friends, what publications, where's this network of information coming from that coincidentally led you to me?" Back to Top   ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 13, 2009 3:44:46 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Persistence, thy name is Tiao Lei Shen. At least Dagny was still alive. Nowhere near her objective of losing Tiao, but things could've been much worse. She tried to gulp when the ex-Pillar tightened his grip and had difficulty doing so until his grip loosened it to the grip he had before. Even then it wasn't easy. If only the two knew what the exposure to the organ traffickers did to their lives. Tiao has a gang whereas Valencia had to become Dagny. Who knows what will happen if Dagny's gangster of a mentor finds out that she crossed paths with a gang he might be competing against? Dagny didn't know any of that. She wanted to hide her identity from Tiao so the both of them wouldn't get hurt. She knows how gangs work. She hasn't forgotten that one time where a rival gang jumped her on her way home from school, just to get at her ex. It would complicate things for Tiao to know who Dagny is, but life never was a cake walk. Dagny was feeling just as impatient as Tiao was at the moment, especially after hearing a specific n-word. “While I firmly believe in higher forces at work to result in this 'coincidental' meeting, I didn't say you had to believe in what I'm capable of. Take as you will, but the universe runs off of equivalent exchange and I already put my life in your very hands. What can I gain but a few more moments of survival when tigers have a reputation for being indiscriminant in their destruction? I'm not telling you any more until you've paid your dues.” More doublespeak. One of the base concepts of the Network disguised as the concept of karma: If you want information or services, it'll come with a price tag. Whether she's Dagny or Valencia, she is still a businesswoman and it irked her that she was cutting costs for the sake of survival rather than making gains or breaking even. Tiao beating her to a pulp won't yield anything since she has quite a reputation of staying quiet no matter what happens to her. While her voice was calm earlier, now it was chilly and somewhat distant. One can say that the only thing keeping Tiao from recognizing Valencia at this point were the aviator sunglasses on her face reflecting the image of his rage. She brought one of her hands up to her sunglasses and lowered them just barely enough to present a glimpse of her pale gray eyes. They looked of death and a tinge of disappointment as they stared into Tiao's. “My price is a meager one. Release me.” And with that, she adjusted her sunglasses so they'd cover her eyes again. Talk about "prophesy". It's all about reading between the lines for Dagny. She gave all the answers she could in that one moment. Tiao may recognize her as Valencia, but he may not regard her as Valencia. She is Dagny now. And so, a bajillion more questions arise and there's no telling whether or not Dagny is willing to answer them. Back to Top   Tiao Lei Shen Mentor The Tiger of Hircine Shut up [send pm] Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,824 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 13, 2009 17:32:57 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top As she talked, Tiao Lei Shen's mind would split two ways. The first half would work its best to listen as actively as he could, all the way trying to fit pieces together himself. Who would know enough about him, as well as have either the interest or the big mouth to talk about him? Someone related to the Avci fit the bill for the first, perhaps Ruth for the latter, though one of Gilsin's men fit the bill for both. "And your price would be...?" Tiao Lei Shen would speak a bit more neutrally given her compliance, trailing off as she began to make a slow, deliberate movement towards her own eyes. There were many unforgetable traits of Valencia Donahue, but there was one that was utterly unmistakable. Tiao Lei Shen's grip would melt away as his hand went limp back towards his side, taking a step back with wide eyes as he released her on reaction, not even processing the fact she asked him to. "Val..." Tiao would whisper under his breath, his voice barely more audible than a thought. "You, you're... I didn't mean to...I didn't know..." Valencia's former words of hurting himself more than he would her would come to fruition as a flood of emotion and regret made its way upon his face. Tiao, in complete contrast to prior engagements between the two, would avert his eyes from hers. He wished he had sunglasses at this point to. With her eyes shielded from him, he was an open book, but he wouldn't be able to read any traces of emotion in her eyes, as if it had ever been easy in the past. "You...dissapeared." Tiao Lei Shen would state, though the concern on his face would infer more than enough questions. In all reality, Valencia's sudden and unexplained departure from the hospital broke his heart, though he'd never admit it. It had been the last tie cut, leaving him no reason to stay in San Fransisco. Now, face to face, he had so many questions, yet no breath to speak them. « Last Edit: Jun 13, 2009 17:33:56 GMT -6 by Tiao Lei Shen » Back to Top   ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 14, 2009 4:59:36 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top “It could've been worse.” Dagny was only upset at Tiao because she had to reveal herself much sooner than she thought she would. She held no personal ill-will towards him. He truly didn't know that she was Valencia and if she kept her identity unknown to him any longer, Dagny's “prophecy” really would've led to tragic results. It made her wonder if all this could've been avoided if she just kept her cool at the fountain... Or if hiding her identity would just prolong the inevitable. Who knows. She felt bad that she had to hurt him this way of all ways. The two of them could've lived totally new lives, but things didn't work out the way it should. After the shock, Dagny looked on at Tiao with concern, unsure if making physical contact would remedy anything. Like the ex-Pillar, she too didn't know where to start. An awkward silence filled the air, save for your typical mall sounds that the two couldn't hear. Dagny mustered whatever strength she had to get her words out. “Valencia had to disappear. It wasn't safe for her to stay in San Francisco, especially after the high-profile accident. For all we know... She's dead, but not at the hands of those who threaten her the most. At least we hope so.” Again with the doublespeak. Referring to Valencia as a separate entity didn't make things easier to understand. However, it did shed some light on the matter if you read between the lines. It's what she's all about, after all. “As I've told you, I'm Dagny Uy Phong the fortune teller. Under the condition that you let Valencia rest in the afterlife and don't let anyone know that I can 'channel spirits'... I'll channel her somewhere in private so you may speak with her and have your questions answered.” Dagny sighed and looked over the railing. “For now, I've told you enough. I'm very tired and there's only so much for me to give without receiving...” Like... Why are you here, Tiao? « Last Edit: Jun 14, 2009 5:00:16 GMT -6 by ๖ۣValencia Tiao » Back to Top   Tiao Lei Shen Mentor The Tiger of Hircine Shut up [send pm] Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,824 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 14, 2009 16:05:42 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top There was little that could be worse in the eyes of Tiao Lei Shen than harming the one person in the world he told himself he never would. There were people he didn't wish harm upon, like his mother or Darren, but that didn't mean he hadn't wished it upon them at one point (or having already attacked the latter in the past). By forcing Valencia to reveal herself, Tiao Lei Shen had done the worst possible thing for her. Unlike Valencia, who had dissapeared off the face of the planet, Tiao Lei Shen was still very much around. With the killing of Garrett Avci, Tiao Lei Shen had placed himself on top of the list of the traffickers. It wasn't unlikely that they knew where Tiao was, and eventually, they'd find Val too. Unless Tiao found them first, that is. "I...see." Tiao Lei Shen slowly brought his eyes back to her face, refraining from apologizing again for appearance's sake, but his expression telling otherwise. "Of course. It's best not to disturb the departed." With the intitial shock wavering, Tiao felt his angst beginning to rise once more, and it showed in his last statement. Valencia had just up and left. Tiao Lei Shen understood completely, better than most. Despite knowing better, Tiao Lei Shen felt it as a personal attack. Tiao contained both a brain and a heart. However, there was a reason he became infamous for his flaring passion in all things. In a battle between logos and pathos, the latter would always drive his motivations. "Give and take, right? There's a number of reasons for my relocation. Some more prominent than others. I'm here on business now." « Last Edit: Jun 14, 2009 16:06:14 GMT -6 by Tiao Lei Shen » Back to Top   ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 15, 2009 4:46:42 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top “Business...” Dagny said this to herself as if to derive further meaning from that single word. What business does he have here? Tiao was well off in San Francisco and if she recalled correctly, he even had a nice home in the suburbs, according to sources. He was practically neighbors with one of the more prominent organ traffickers (Jabez Joaquin, “The Jabberwocky”), but it wasn't as though the two knew that for sure. Tiao might've guessed it though. She held drew a hand to her face in thought and ran through the possibilities. A business trip? Too temporary for a term like “relocate”. A vendetta? Something along those lines...? Illegal? Close enough. She's a “fortune teller”, not a psychic. She can't read what she can't observe and the mind is one of them without its corresponding subconscious actions. While she can't read Tiao's mind, she could read the waver in his voice as he recuperated. She really hurt him. Tiao feels the most pain when he inflicts it on those he cares for. Dagny feels the most pain when she's unable to aid someone she cares for. Quite a dilemma. Her eyes wandered in search of an answer and it drifted over to the bag containing Tiao's patches. Is that his lunch? Or is it... Business...? Is he a delivery boy? A drug runner? “Does it... Have to do with that bag in your hand? Or am I jumping to conclusions? I... Promised you a cookie and I have a reputation for being true to my word. Let's discuss this away from prying ears.” She didn't forget after all and yet she's still willing to give (a coupon, but give her some credit; she's moderately charitable). Dagny took a few steps towards the stairs Tiao climbed the railing of earlier and tilted her head towards his direction, inviting him to follow. Food for thought never hurts. The best thing about cookies is they can be snacks on the go. Back to Top   Tiao Lei Shen Mentor The Tiger of Hircine Shut up [send pm] Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,824 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 15, 2009 15:44:31 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Tiao Lei Shen's eyes drifted down towards the bag of patches in his hand. He was glad Valencia continued talking, for his thoughts faltered for the moment. Tiao Lei Shen wasn't sure how much he should tell her about what was really going on. She was probably the second highest on Tiao's list of who to trust, however small that list may be. Despite that, would word still get out somehow? That aside, who knows how Valencia would take the information. With her dissapearance, it completely revamped Tiao's thoughts on what Valencia thought of him. Who knew how this information could further tarnish it. Holding off on an immediate reply, Tiao nodded his head and began to follow at Val's side. Following Tiao's strict diet and training regiment, Tiao didn't eat cookies, nor had he ever remembered doing so. He avoided sweets, carbonation, drugs, alcohol, and everything inbetween. In chinese culture, however, it was considered very rude to refuse a complimentary offer of any kind, especially to someone whom you shared a close relationship with. Now, Val might not have seen it the same, but subconciously raised so, Tiao would follow without paying it another mind, despite having no intentions to eat the sweets. "It's relevant, yes." Tiao Lei Shen would decide to finally answer, pulling out one of the patches and handing it to her to examine, hoping to put some of her worries at ease, leaving any follow up question on the patches to be left to her discretion. "I've taken over a club in San Diego. Down in Chinatown." Tiao Lei Shen would make eye contact again, telling Valencia part of what he had been doing. Half-truths. They weren't done yet. Back to Top   ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 17, 2009 4:30:20 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Ah... That narrows things down. The two descended the stairs and continued on their way. When Tiao handed Dagny one of the patches, the gears were turning in her head. The patch made her think of few things. Notorious prison inmates are known to be resourceful enough to hide drugs in not so obvious places, like within postcards. Was there something she was missing by looking at these patches? How is this business? Gangs have also been known to have a thing for identity. As an ex gang member, or an “honorary” member of many gangs (Network members who get around tend to get that inferred title if their clients often include gangs), she knows what an insignia is when she sees it. The band of Genaht, the ring of the Legion, the elephant of the Forty Thieves, the key for the Keys of the City... The list goes on. Tiao then added that he took over a club and it's not uncommon nowadays for gangs to settle on a base of operations—Territory. Dagny wasn't aware that there was a China Town in San Diego, but she doesn't doubt there being an Asian American community around where gangs can be started up. She didn't know what to say next just yet. There was a lot on her mind and she wanted to maximize what she was receiving, even though she isn't the sort to ask for too much. A lot of the time she doesn't need people to tell her what kind of information she's dredging. In a way, I'm not surprised that Tiao turned out like this. Especially after I learned about him being in Paragon and lashing out from that frightening Davis fellow. Is... Tiao the leader of this gang? I don't see him as the sort to be taking orders unless something happened, as I've described him earlier. As for why he's here... Well, he did kill someone and I don't doubt the possibility that he's probably hiding out here for the same reasons as mine. Big coincidence though. When they finally got to the gourmet cookie shop, Dagny handed the patch back to Tiao. She then pulled out her tokidoki wallet and fished out a coupon (initially meant for Tiao) to help her decide what to buy to make the most of the deal. Old habits die hard. “What kind of cookie would you like? I'm gonna have a big snickerdoodle and a bag of nibblers. That way, if you or I are still hungry, we can share.” Oh yeah. Dagny wasn't aware of Tiao's dislike of sugar. It might've been mentioned in passing by her lesbian friends when she was still in San Francisco (something about shunning nonbelievers of “Candy Mountain”), but it likely escaped her memory while she was appeasing her insatiable appetite. Probably the only way to get her to miss details is to discuss them with her over a hefty meal. Fortunately, Dagny can now afford bigger meals and it's gonna take much more than cookies to escape her scrutiny. Heck, as she waited for Tiao's reply, she was leaning against the counter's glass to inspect every single cookie on display, seemingly sizing them up in case she changes her mind and wants one covered in a huge, glob-like dollop of frosting that is probably bigger than the cookie itself. Tiao is probably getting diabetes just watching Dagny considering the purchase and she isn't even eating anything yet. Thanks to Dagny having this habit of talking seemingly to no one in particular, the cashier and nearby customers paid no mind to what she had to say to Tiao. “What is this club of yours called? I may feel inclined to check it out sometime. I'm not quite sure why you'd want to take over a club though, especially at your age; Still in school I believe. I hope this isn't a rude question to ask, but what school are you going to at the moment, anyways?” « Last Edit: Jun 17, 2009 4:34:00 GMT -6 by ๖ۣValencia Tiao » Back to Top   Tiao Lei Shen Mentor The Tiger of Hircine Shut up [send pm] Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,824 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 17, 2009 14:46:50 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top In a lot of ways, Valencia's silence always spoke volumes louder than her words. She was an inquisitive girl by nature, constantly thinking, constantly analyzing. The fact that she hadn't immediately replied meant that she either didn't buy Tiao's story, or that she was delving deeper into it. By the lengths of her silence he figured it was the latter, trying to analyze the depths of Tiao's current "business." Tiao figured himself a smart person, much smarter than most. However, Valencia wasn't anywhere near part of that most, and as such wouldn't be surprised if she deducted his entire life from Hircine to the present from a few simple sentences. "I, eh, I've already eaten. Thank you for the offer but I'm okay." Looking at the sweets in front of him now, Tiao began to feel slightly sick to his stomach. When the body wasn't used to something, like sweets or lactose, it made him slightly nauseous just to look at it. Not quite visibly sick, but more than enough to turn down the same foods Valencia was eyeing. Tiao's eyes drifted from the sweets to Valencia herself, bringing a slight droop to his eyes and shoulders that may only be visible by her peripheals or not at all, depending on her focus. "Club Rebellion." Tiao replied first, pausing a moment before continuing. "I don't care much about the club life, honestly, its more of an investment. The earlier I get into it, the larger the profit marigin, in theory. Unless 'Dagny' has aged considerably since we last met, I don't think there's much of an age gap between us two business owners. Speaking of which...fortune telling? Are you serious?" Back to Top   ๖ۣValencia Tiao Hero Miss Fortune Now what? [send pm] Joined: June 2009 Posts: 7,082 ENGLISH, MOTHERF%#&ER, DO YOU SPEAK IT!? « Jun 18, 2009 20:46:43 GMT -6 » Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top “Ssshhhhh...” Dagny hushed Tiao softly as she made her purchase; A big snickerdoodle, a bag of nibblers, and the diabetes-upon-ingestion-monstrosity-of-sugar she was eyeing earlier. While Tiao now knows who Dagny is and was willing to poke at the actress behind the role, so to speak, Dagny was still being in-character. As mentioned while they were upstairs, she was willing to “channel” Valencia for Tiao, but only in private. It'll lessen confusion. She gladly used the coupon (that Tiao gave her “permission” to use) and put the $50 she stole into the tips jar after receiving her fresh cookies. She immediately munched on her snickerdoodle, as opposed to the 97%-frosting-covered cookie (thank god), and committed the name of the club to her memory. Him getting a head start in the business made sense. No different from the members of the Network applying the skills they learned in high school to other things. It made her think about what kind of Network existed in San Diego... There'll always be a Network, but how sophisticated will this one be? Are the schools around here well-funded? Perhaps, since San Diego is a major city. Then again, perhaps not since California is behind on education compared to the other states and San Diego isn't that far from the border—Not to come off as racist, but a school infested with gangs and violence, like Paragon in San Francisco, is more likely to have an underdeveloped Network. Like a country at constant war, there's no time to work on social advances. She was too busy snacking and thinking to herself to notice Tiao looking at her and with her trying out a less invisible life, she didn't mind being watched. Dagny began walking away from the store and headed to a bench out of the way to sit down and keep eating. She was already halfway done with her snickerdoodle and finished a few bites before answering the gang leader. “What can I say? By technicality, you're a minor and I'm an adult... Unless you didn't have your birthday this year yet. But of course, age shouldn't be a restriction to one's capabilities. I've been foretelling things for years and I've worked with fortune tellers plenty of times on my travels. I figured I had enough experience to give the craft a try so long as I'm careful.” After finishing that statement, she continued to scarf the cookie, savoring each bite and grinning to herself, knowing that she has a whole bag of nibblers to herself once this snickerdoodle was gone. Back to Top   Reply Share Thread Facebook Twitter Tumblr LinkedIn MySpace Email Go to Previous Thread Next Thread Please make a selection first