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She hopped off the light, landing in a neat crouch with her fingers pressed into the pavement. "He afraid of fire?" Even if he wasn't, she was in. She was in the mood for some mischief, and this indeed sounded like mischief.
"of course he is. i don't advise any major destruction, but you could totally arson the hell out of specifically his clothes or room. my plan was to expose him. record him getting botox or whatever he gets, and then flame all his expensive shit, and then i could report it and act like it was another random hit by you," he took a breath, pausing to stare up at the tall building where the mayor and her son lived.
"or something else, if you had anything in mind."
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"Sounds good to me." She looked up at the building as well, putting her hands on her hips. "How're you planning on exposing him, though? It's not like he's just gonna admit to whatever you're looking for." She twisted her lips to the side as she thought. "You think he's a player? Sleeps around and whatnot?"
"mm. not a lot of people want to sleep with him. he won't admit, but i have my ways. you won;t have to sprint this time, but follow me."
he moved at a moderately quick pace, completely silencing his steps when he reached a certain point. he leaned around a corner to reveal a poor part of town, and lo and behold, the mayor walking with her son. he flicked on his camera and pressed record.
they walked slowly, the mother having her keys pressed into her hand with the sharp part out. smart of her. her son eventually spoke up, drawling in a bored voice.
"ugh, poor people are so disgusting. do they not take care of where they live? i wish i could just…get rid of them. yes, kill off the poor. what about it, mother?"
nik made a face and shut off the camera.
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Tessa had climbed up onto a single story building, and she scowled down at the mayor's son. "Asshat. No wonder no one wants to sleep with him." She shuttered. He was just like some of her foster parents, namely the ones she had when she was six. Yes, she had no problem with messing with him. Maybe even leave her calling card to make him paranoid.
"You got what you need?" She reached into her jacket, fingering the objects strapped inside of it. "'Cause I'm ready to play with fire."
"i have what i need. he's gonna be here for a while, so we have a long time. there's a tin of gasoline over there. do what you will with it." he winked, shoving his cap back over his eyes and starting the trek to the estate apartments.
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"I don't need gasoline," she muttered to herself before picking her way over the buildings. She ran over the ragtag shingles and leaped from building to building. Her back had healed to the point that it barely bothered her.
She eventually made it to the mayor's home. Not wanting to draw too much attention to herself, she snuck to the side of the building that she knew held the kid's bedroom. Then she started to climb. She had on gloves with iron claws to help her, and her boots had retractable spikes that dug into the wall.
when she reached his room, nik was already picking the lock downstairs and swiftly made his way up to noah's room to meet her.
"real fancy. you got a job for me, or am i just standing back while you work your magic?"
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She swept her gaze over the room, making calculations and picking her targets. She pulled out a small lighter from her jacket. "Just tell me his most precious valuables and stay away from the flames."
"aye aye, captain. go for the shoes and sunglasses first." he backed up, opening the window again to perch on the sill.
"is it alright if i take a video just to keep for myself?"
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"As long as it stays with you." She winked over at him. "There's a reason I work alone."
Before he could respond, she flicked on the lighter and walked over to the closet full of shoes. It didn't look like she'd do much damage with the tiny lighter.
"i would ask about the size of that lighter, but i figure i'll be shown." he tucked one leg under him, flicking the camera on.
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"Indeed you will." She waved a hand over the small flame–her gloves now tucked in the waistband of her skinny jeans–and the fire followed the movement. The flame amplified itself and swirled around her fingers, growing bigger and hotter with each passing second. Soon enough, she flicked her fingers, and the fire shot towards the shoes like a dog eager to please its master. The expensive shoes were engulfed within milliseconds, but everything else was somehow untouched.
Tessa's eyes didn't leave the flame as she addressed Nik. "Now you know why I never leave a trace–and the unexplainable is now explained."
(not what i meant but okay i guess lmao)
he leapt down from the sill to the floor, smile wide. "i've only ever seen backstreet minor magic. you're a real cool one, y'know? if you'll excuse the connotation."
looking around the room, he pulled on a pair of gloves before yanking a business card out of his back pocket. he stuck it in the frame of the window before using the heel of his hand the bust one of the panes.
"think i should write something? a message?"
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(Sorry. I just thought simple fire amplification? She makes booms go bigger and flames more intense? Fire is a really big thing about this character…)
"Nah, you're good. I'm a street rat through and through." She flicked off the lighter and turned to the collection of sunglasses. "Scare him. Tell him he's being hunted or something, and that one mistake can ruin him. I'll leave my signature to make the threat clear." She did her trick again, melting the collection just as swiftly as the shoes.
(i know that fire is big and fire amplification is good but more,,, in her presence. like she doesnt get burned? the part about the fire controlling kinda was weird but its fine)
"got it, captain." he watched the ash until it had cooled and quickly swept some into his hand. he began to write on the wall in ash, spelling out the words toe the line. he looked in satisfaction.
"did you know i beat him up once? it was viral for a little while. 'twink reporter beats the shit out of noah wilson'. it was wild."
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She snorted and scooped up some ash as well, drawing a flame with a slitted eye in it–her symbol. "Would've loved to see that. The douchebag deserves it."
(I'll be sure to cut it back. I'll just say that she was showing off, and that fire manipulation took a toll on her.)
((okay!! thank you for working with me on this))
"i have the video, if you want it. i could send it to you or show you now."
he rolled his shoulders quickly before grabbing a pen from his pocket and clamping it between his teeth, offering his phone (with the video pulled up) to her.
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(No problem! I'm used to fantasy, that's why my magic is a little over the top)
She watched as she worked, her drawing simply muscle memory at this point. Her grin grew slowly as she watched Nik beat the shit out of Noah. "You have done the world a service, my good sir," she chirped, still watching intently. "Though I see you're more of a behind-the-scenes kind rather than the aggressive, I'll-punch-you-in-the-face-for-the-hell-of-it kind of person. If you couldn't tell, I'm the latter."
"yeah, haven't i? you're right though. i always was more of a backstage kinda guy. but boy, would we make a team."
he watched her watch, taking when she laughed as the cue to speak. "i still have a scar from where his boot hit me. don't know why anyone would wear high heels in these slums."
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She choked on her spit. "He wore heels?! He's a real rich kid douche, isn't he? I mean, I wear high heels, but that's for a specific reason."
"he wore heels. it was a bright red, 6-inch, knee-high heel. it offended me more than it hurt, to be honest." he leaned on the wall, flipping his pen between his fingers.
"reeaaaallll douche."
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She laughed. "Oh my god. Even I wouldn't wear those." She stepped back to view her masterpiece, wiping off the ash from her fingers. "Welp, I believe our work here is done. Shall I torch his bed just for added effect? Make him sleep on the floor or somethin'?"
"torch like… the frame. it's probably teak or something of the like, so it'll piss him off. other than that, we have a masterpiece on our hands." he adjusted his cap so it no longer hid his eyes, and reached out for a high five.
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She grinned and high fived him. "Hell yeah! This day is just getting better and better." She lit the lighter again and held it against the bedframe. She didn't do the manipulation anymore, as she felt her stomach twisting, so she just let her amplification do its thing. The small flame grew hotter and slightly bigger, and lit the frame in no time. Once her job was done, she flicked off the lighter and tucked it back under her jacket.
She turned back to Nick. "Anything else you had in mind? I could really go for some food right about now. That first trick ate up quite a bit of energy…"
nik lit up, gesturing with one hand as he spoke "oh, i know this great ramen place. really good prices for good food."
(timeskip to when they're there and have their food?)
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(Sure, but I won't be on for some time. Shower and then dinner)
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Tessa nodded, pulling the clawed gloves back on. "Meet up just outside the property?" she offered.
"yep!" he nodded, pulling his cap back down and pocketing all the items he pulled. he opened a window near a fire escape, quickly leaping down and making his way towards the ground.
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Tess took the more dangerous route–picking her way down the wall with her spiked boots and clawed gloves. She liked the feeling of danger and pushing her limits, and this treacherous climb was just the right dose of both. She climbed down right next to Nik on the fire escape, keeping pace with just a little difficulty–but not too much to make her stop.
