Assemble

Eve:<(Investigate?)>

Cameron:<(What exactly?)>

Eve:<(Anything related to the dominoes.)>

*Cameron puts his coat on, covering his wings*

Loren: "You two are in university? My, you both still look like you should be in high school."

===================================

This takes her across the street to the next alley. Behind her she can hear sirens.

*They look at each other, & shrug.*

T"It's been a year or so since we graduated, hasn't it?"
=============================
*She glances back.*

Taiyo: "You're only a year older than me."

Loren: "You graduated early then. Good for you."

===================================

She can partially the sirens of emergency vehicles that are outside the building she had passed.

===================================

They're standing in a fucking stairwell.

T"I guess I was kind of early. Well...thank you."

A"Um...I wasn't, I'm...actually a few years older than you, Taiyo...."
=============================
*Luna disregards them.*

*They slowly head up the stairwell*

Jin found it hard not to bound right up the stairs, feeling nervous and jittery about the whole idea. She went along with them.

Loren stops outside of the university near the dorms.

Loren: "The dorms still look the same as they did when I enrolled here."

===================================

So Luna is off in search of mystery or something.

===================================

The door leads to a large dressing room. There's a few people here and there, mostly women changing. They have yet to be noticed.

T"I guess they don't have much money for renovations. Thank you very much for dropping us off."

A"Yes, thank you."

*Eve stops time then looks around for a place to hide*

Jin gave Cameron a look like, 'don't you go staring at these women', and stayed behind Eve.

Loren: "You're welcome. Have a good night."

Taiyo reluctantly lets go of Aroma's hand.

Taiyo: "See you tomorrow."

Once they're presumably indoors, Loren drives off to drop off Ven.

===================================

There are racks with different costumes that'd make poor hiding spots, make-up counters, a broom closet, and a bathroom.

*They go hide to the broom closet. once everyone's inside, Eve unfreezes time*

A"Okay...I'll see you then. It was nice to meet you--um--Ms. Loren."

T"Yes, and thank you for the ride."

*Once they're at her place, Ven opens up the door.*

V"Thank you for taking me home."

Loren: "You're welcome, Ven. Have a good night."

Taiyo: "Bye. See you tomorrow."

When Ven is inside, Loren drives off.

Loren: "Big plans tomorrow?"

Taiyo: "Yep. We're going swimming and we're having a sleepover. Umm...if that's all right since we figured it'd be better to have it at home."

Loren: "It's all right. A little more warning would have been nice, but it won't be a problem."

Taiyo: "Thanks, mom."

===================================

They see a sliver of light coming from a hole big enough to see through, but small enough to not be too noticible in the wall. Should anyone look through it they can see a guy getting a blowjob from a dark skinned redhead.

*Eve looks though then immediately averts her eyes*

Cameron:<(What?)>

Eve:<(You don't want to know.)>

Cameron:<(So when do we move out?)>

<(When it's clear.)>

*While Aroma is brushing her teeth & getting ready for bed, Thiera logs on to her fruity super hero blog on her laptop, & creates a new post, including a clip of the broadcast. She calls it "What's In A Name?"*

I just wanted to make an update regarding a news report that I saw earlier. I want to show that I am willing to listen to my critics, and keep an open line of communication with them.

*Clip.*

First, I must confess confusion at what is so 'controversial' about this page. So, if any readers can shed some light on that, it would be greatly appreciated.

As for my name, when I came up with the name for this blog, I was simply playing on my plant powers and the phrase 'word on the grapevine.' I've never actually given any thought as to what to say if I was asked for an identifier. As those who followed this story might know, I was attacked by the suspects when I approached them to ask questions, because they recognized me from my mask. To control my exposure to that kind of retaliation, I choose to remain anonymous. While I consider myself very hard to attack, I have friends and family to worry about.

Though it was never intended to refer to me individually, if this is what the city chooses to call me, I see no problem with it. Grapes are delicious.

Also included in this story were several opinions about the methods of costumed crime fighters. I personally have mixed feelings about this issue. Obviously, I believe in the ideal, or else I wouldn't have donned the mask. But I was cautious in emulating this path, as I would urge others considering it to be. It is fraught with danger, and occupies a razor's line between good & evil. For instance, I do not believe in using the word 'justice' to justify killing criminals simply because it is inconvenient to attempt to deal with them peacefully.

A plant grows from under the dirt, but towards the light. Too much or too little of either element, and it will wither away. That's why I believe that no one person should be judge, jury, and executioner. At the same time, we must acknowledge that there is a very problem with this city, one which the police cannot handle alone. Especially when criminal conspirators cling to them like a parasitic fungus. The correct path of justice lies with the collective will of the people, which can compromise between extreme viewpoints, and in inquiry to purge the corrupt elements from our justice system. We can, as the one man said, take back this city.

Finally, if I could speak to the Tyrrano Boys that I arrested today, I would ask them what they believe Raptor has given them. When it comes down to it, Raptor can't protect his organization. Not from the Russians, not from the Black Mask, and not from vengeance in general. Do they expect that their enemies will always protect them? Those who are still human enough to have second thoughts about joining that evil gang should turn to the right side of history, and work with investigators to bring them down. If you fear the agents of the mafia and the black mask, you can do so anonymously, as I do.

But no one can run from justice forever.

*Aroma emerges in a pink nightgown & frowns.*

A"You're not going to pull another all-nighter, are you?"

T"No, I was just finishing up. No need to worry about me."

*Thiera smiles & clicks "send" before she logs off & closes her laptop. Aroma turns off the lights as they both get under their respective covers.*

Fifteen minutes pass with no sign of the room emptying out. At best they no longer have to hear or see the adultery in the next room.

===================================

Watcher: "Isn't she an ideal one? Maybe you could learn a thing or two from her, Sage. She probably also doesn't stink places up with cigarette smoke."

Watcher waves a hand in front of her face, dispelling a cloud of smoke.

Inquiry: "Idealists. We're all fighting a battle we can't possibly hope to win and she speaks as if a few kind words will solve everything. This city will always house and protect the evil and corrupt. Peacekeeper knew that and look where it got him."

Watcher: "I'd rather not. He was a bucket full of crazy. All your former cohorts are fairly unstable."

And you're not exactly all there yourself.

*Then they continue to wait, eve looks more annoyed by the minute*

They are in the closet for forty-five minutes except Cameron who has been in it for years before it's clear. Their bad plan becoming worse as time goes on.

*Eve looks at the others*

<(What should we do?)>

Cameron:<(You could freeze time again and we could find a new hiding place.)>

"I don't know, not my plan," Jin whispered back, arms folded.

Unless you're Cameron, they've been in the closet for almost an hour and somebody comes in and opens the closet door.

Person: "What the hell?"

*Eve freezes time around the guy*

<Shit!>

*Cameron looks around to see if it's clear*

It is, but for how long is anybody's guess. Probably not very.