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irisvtmondragon · 10 days ago

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It's peak! 1000%

The Seething Heat of Summer's End, Marley

Minific of the modern nightlife AU for my ulfenkarn npcs and characters enjoy

"…You listening, little miss 'owner?"

The grating voice cut into her thoughts once again. Carmilla let the heartbeat of club music return to her awareness as she met the gaze of the broad figure looming over her bar at her. Stefan Tanaka, the current flunkey, here to shake her down for her 'business reports.' No amount of fitting on his dress shirt and slacks could conceal his awful attitude.

"Yes, and I assure you, I'll get you what you want when my bartender returns from her break. "

Try as he might to intimidate her, she had seen his fights on TV. He was plenty built, but in her opinion he lacked the edge to be anything special. his presence here was enough to prove that. El could run circles around him.

A snort cut into her patience. Stefan leaned himself in closer. The stench of expensive musky cologne rankled her nose. " It's been an hour. Maybe you need to hire an actual bartender and not your personal eye candy." His voice seethed out. His impatience was clear as day.

The jab against El brought a simmer of anger, but one she didn't let show. Rolling her eyes, she playfully pulled out her phone and made a show of opening it. She could feel him leering as she made her way to the edge of the bar, into the back room. Past the doors she let her swaying stride falter, allowing her body to fall into the nearby wall. With a frustrated groan, she began scrolling through her contacts. Her heart froze as she landed on El, one of the only ones with pictures on the list. Her face twisted into a frown as she thought to their last argument, and the knowledge she was spending time with…

She Scrolled past El's Smiling face. Painted nails clicked a few more Entries down to another name. Her lips curled up in a grin…

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…Marley almost didn't notice the ring of her phone; over the glittering laughter of the girl before her on the park bench. She didn't think her joke was nearly that funny, or even well said. Annika laid a hand playfully on her bare shoulder. Marley did her best to force a smile, past the tickling discomfort in her spine. Noticing this shift, Annika's hand quickly raised from her shoulder as if shocked.

*I'm not that obvious am I?

"You've uh….got a call!" Annika's voice brought her thoughts back to the ringing phone in her pocket. Marley flashed a grateful smile to her as she flipped open the phone. Her small frown as she read the contact ID was involuntary; but it said enough to Annika.

"…yeah?" The hesitation in her voice was clear to both listeners. she thought for a moment if she needed to get up, to keep this voice as far from Annika as possible. No. She had to be truthful and open to her.

"Marley~, There's a big mean man causing trouble at the club…" Her saccharine tone already made her want to reconsider her decision to stay seated. "…He looks tough and El's not here right now, do you think your up for it?"

Was this bait?

Annika watched in silence, fidgeting with her sleeve. the seconds of silence from Marley a clear sign to both that she hasn't entirely let go their last argument. She couldn't find any reason to deny her however.

"…Yeah I'll be down there in about 5 minutes." Marley felt the coldness in her answer as a stab in own heart. Regardless of what happened, she would never wish Carmilla harm.

"Y-yeah… I'll keep him busy till then" A silent curse crossed Marley's teeth as she heard Carmilla falter.

She closed the phone, giving a gentle assuring smile to Annika. " One last Job for the night, Carmilla's place do you…" Marley scanned Annika's face for signs of displeasure. "Want to come with?"

"Yeah! lets go say hi to Miss Carmilla!" Annika's subtle smile told her all she needed to know. She fought the desire to sigh in relief. Annika's grasp on reality held strong; and the last think she would want is pass her own resentments onto her. She rose to her feet. Brushing off her torn jeans. the summer dry flowers crunched beneath her…

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The excited heartbeat of loud music was audible long before the two crossed the threshold. The bouncers at the entrance knowing well to allow Marley, and company, to cut in line when she approached. Bracing herself for the wall of light and noise, she quickly spotted Carmilla, and likely her current source of irritation at the elevated bar across the club. With a mutual nod, Annika found her way to some familiar faces. Somewhere safe from what was about to happen.

Marley seemed well known enough to today's club goers. All of them parted as she made her hastened pace past the dance floor to the bar. Whatever Carmilla and the broad shouldered man were arguing about, she couldn't hear past the din. Big. Carmilla wasn't kidding. while she couldn't read enough of his stance, his build was obviously one of a fighter's. His body language gave plenty of his Rising anger. Marley could tell plenty his patience was about to hit a breaking point.

As if on cue to her read, the man grabbed at the club owner's wrist. Marley's next few steps were practically glides across the rest of the dance floor. Her own hand quickly found his offending wrist. the expression flashed back at her was a mixture of anger and surprise, but Marley gladly returned the anger.

"That's Enough…" she didn't need to force the menacing growl in her voice for this one. Words would only do so much now. She knew the look in his eyes. This would be settled in Violence.

The argument would find its end in split seconds; as the Fighter focused his ire entirely on Marley. His Elbow sliced for her head. With a twist, Marley angled her head free of the elbow, before returning her own blows, a jab to the cheek, and a cross…

…The cross would find his guard, and his other hand would find Marley's wrist. The tingle in her spine screamed for escape, warning her of what was to come. With a measured, but no less hasty maneuver, she pressed her other palm against his cheek, and pushed. The Fighter's Neck turned with the push. The painful distraction was enough to loosen his grip. Marley wasted no time pulling her entire body down, breaking the hold and getting her distance.

Shit. She just gave away her weakness in grappling and the fight had just started. The elbow and grab were hardly enough to get a read on the guy. If her counterattack didn't give up her style, her stance would certainly. Left fist to her cheek, and her right arm flowing freely at her side. her cowboy boots rose and fell to a gentle rhythm on her toes. Southpaw Philly Shell Stance, American Boxing.

The Fighter raised a curious eyebrow. Finally getting a chance to look at the newcomer up and down he gave her a grin. He took a second to lower his guard, his hand finding glass. Despite the ease he tried to present, Marley was well aware of his planted feet, and his elbows ready to push off of the counter. She would not lower her guard.

Marley could see Carmilla trying to use the scene to slip out. good. A confident voice focused her attention to the fighter. "You aren't the Bartender. Trust me sweetheart this isn't any of your business. If little owner here would just give me what I'm here for!" With a flick of the wrist the glass in hand speared towards the wall in front of Carmilla, shattering with a bang and a chandelier crackle to the floor. Carmilla froze, instinctively backing away from the sudden violence. the few patrons who remained as the initial argument escalated certainly made their space to this.

No room for being defensive right now! With a twist on her toes she angled her approach. the Bar stools to his side narrowed her available angles, but it would have to do. like the unfurling of cloth, her fist shot out in a blink. His gaze only just returned enough to widen, surprised at her speed, as the flicker jab broke across his cheek. Teeth gritted in fury, The response was nearly reflex. before Marley could follow up, a shin tempered to iron slammed into her Right thigh. Pain shot through to the bone. Momentum lost, she had no choice but to back out of range.

The Fighter's Eyes flicked to either side and with a violent motion to each side, swept the glasses and bottles off the bar top. Enough of them broke upon the hard floor, the intention of the action clear enough to most of the club now watching in silence. either side of him was now covered in a patch of sugar and alcohol glazed razors. His narrowed stare at Marley made his intentions clear "I'm not playing your game, Boxer girl. Walk away already."

A few bounces on her rear leg, and winces that followed told her everything she needed to know. Bruised. Only one way in and he had already hassled her approach, and slowed her down. He was intent of tormenting Carmilla in peace. Naturally she would not be allowing this. Marley's gaze flickered to Carmilla still cowering against the wall. A momentary meeting of eyes. In a split second, A plea for help was heard; a Promise to stay was sworn.

If there was only one way in… She gritted her teeth through the pain as she made her advance. a slight raise of her elbow got him to raise his hands to his face, the intended response. …And if he has no intentions of backing down… her jab turned into a languid wave, covering his eyes and concealing her next attack. …Then I'll just have to hurt him. Her torso turned into a whip, ending in her fist crashing against the fighters stomach. She heard the rattle and creak as his body followed through into the bar counter. a sharp inhale told her plenty of how much that hurt.

Marley's retreat was hampered by the pain in her legs, narrowed by the cutting boundary. She could not escape the kick lashing out at her in time. Shin met shin, and Marley's was conditioned into a weapon the same way his was. It was her turn to bite down a cry between gritted teeth.

"That hurt! but you Shoulda used those long fucking legs for something more useful while you could!" The Fighter holds his arms to his face in a mocking sway. A mock of a boxing guard. He gladly took Marley's hesitation to throw a few more glasses behind himself. She could see Carmilla flinching with every crash.

Fine. We'll just have play for keeps She wanted to scream with the pain of exerting both her bruised leg; But where would she go but forward? Launching herself into another advance, she knew her course. If I can't outrange or win the trade I'll just have to hurt him more. Confident he could match her speed now, another kick lashed out. His aim clean for her already wounded thigh. Marley was ready to block this time. Thought the power of the kick still coursed through her whole body, she continued the charge. Her body twisted under his punch, like cloth in the wind. Her body's was ready to twist back, bringing her entire weight into his stomach again…

…She wasn't ready for his elbow to follow into her forehead. This time the curse left her mouth audibly as she stumbled back. If the grin she could see out one eye told her anything he was happy with the damage he dealt. Shit, here he comes.

His body leaned over, arms out for the charge. He's confident he can end this on the ground. There was no time to deny it entirely. Arms to her chest, She had no choice but to take the charge. The inevitability of momentum took hold as body met body. With all her will she forced her eyes open through the crash against the flooring. Her foot found the fighter's chest as her moved in to press his offensive, keeping him at bay by inches.

It was good enough for him. Blow after blow rained down on Marley. It took everything to keep twisting and deflecting as best she could. It took even more to keep from losing her nerve every time the bastard swung on her bruised thigh. She could hear him muttering about how easy it would have been to just walk away.

Just a bit more. He'll give up an opening and I'll slip out. Her teeth felt fit to crack with how hard she clenched them. A clinging red mist bloomed across her cheek. A grim reminder that she was the one on the floor being beaten. The one who was bleeding.

Stop wasting time. The intrusive thought made her nearly take blow to the nose. You know how to end this. Bleed him. Before she noticed; In between the pain, the frustration, the blood….

…God the blood….

Her gritted teethed turned to a vicious grin. There. In the spare moments between his blows, as he contemplated attacking her leg again, a fist shot out. It slashed against his eye socket. At once, they were both misted with his blood too.

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Stefan Tanaka was pretty good at following orders. Especially easy ones. Be a Problem to the nasty little bitch who owned the hole in the wall nightclub till she gave up the reports. It wasn't supposed to be a hassle to get the reports. She insisted on this song and dance every time the they expected results. Let her be difficult for an hour, get our reports, go home. Instead she had to start playing games. Instead this gangly amateur decided to play hero. Instead that whore drew blood.

In the confusion, His eyes were closes as he winced and whined. The Boxer in the stupid cowboy boots got back to her feet at some point. Her guard was down. she could barely stay still. Long, blood matted hair sticking to her face She barely knew where she was. This is what he thought as he moved to end this. One more take down. One wannabe hero crushed into the ground.

Just when he braced for impact; her Wiry body slipped aside, darting and eellike. Out of sight, past his bloodied eye. His instincts screamed at him. Against the pain and the wetness sticking his eyelid shut; they screamed at him to keep his eye open and follow her. He assured himself all was well. That she couldn't hope to do any damage in this state.

A sickening thump. A boot toe striking the tender, precise mechanisms of the inside of a knee. The scream left his lips, before his senses registered what had happened. He Shifted his weight to his other leg. Nerves howling at him to just take the knee. Twisting about, he tried to get his sights back on her.

Stefan's mind reeled at the sudden shift in her approach. She seemed pretty hard-set on her purist boxing approach. a Flutter of brown hair led him a chase, refusing to enter more than just the edge of his vision. What changed? Was she just fucking with me the entire time? The sheer precision of that kick left him without a clear easy answer. His frustration got the better of his caution "Don't think for a seco-"

Stefan finally caught sight of her. out of his good eye. Now that he got a good look at that sick little grin, he couldn't say he was a fan. Shifting to meet her face to face, He quickly realized his mistake. the boot sole found the front of his already wounded knee. Blinded and rage filled as he was; his slim moments to perceive the kick did not afford him a response. He wasn't afforded a reaction other than a howl either. The body's pain response took control of his legs; forcing him to fall to his knee.

This bitch. this nobody. this woman… The insults speeding through his mind became more profane by the second. He refused to be taken out by someone like this. She got her hits in, but I was winning! I can't lose to someone who pulls some bullshit out their ass! A flutter of oak hair pulled him from his seething, of pain and anger. The 'Boxer' was standing over him. her stupid boots clicking in his sight against the ground.

"What's the matter, too late to use those long fucking legs for anything useful?" The taunt echoed back at him, dripping with acid and venom. Enough of this! His hands lashed out to grab at anything they could get a grip on. Get her on the ground, tear that smile off her face with my bare hands! The plan was soon forgotten. How could he think of anything else, after the cowboy boot was firmly planted clean onto his sternum. The mean little twist as it left would have told him 'something came loose.' Stefan was being far too distracted being unable to catch his breath.

He force his gaze up. To see the smile that promised so much humiliation, and vengeance. With the hand not clutching his chest, he brought up an open hand. A surrender. no more! I'll leave! Just get away from me! His quivering expression told plenty of his surrender. The woman took a step back. For a moment, it seems as if his pleas were recognized. The grin faded into…. Pity? Dissapointment?

Stefan's relief turned to terror as her stance shifted, and her boot sped for his head.

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The Blood beating in Marley's ears didn't stop till his face was grinded into the glass splattered floor. The gritted grin didn't fade till the raucous club music bass returned to her mind. Short of the forgotten music, the club felt deadly silent.

What did I just do? Her gaze felt upon Carmilla cowering behind the counter. Cowering from her. why did I let it go that far? The steps Marley took back from the bar seemed the only sane choice. Guilt pinned itself to her face. Did she- Her eyes scanned the crowd of shocked, silent patrons. Till she found her. Swaddled in frills and lace, like something precious. Like something she should never touch. Annika stared at her in wide eyed shock.

That was enough for Marley's reeling mind. Stumbling off the dance floor, she broke into a sprint. The crowd was all too eager to give her the space. Few paid much attention to the tears welling in the monster's eyes. The exit, and the street were quickly absorbed in her gait.

#iristxt #Read it you all before we like eat your lungs

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