ic IC: Paper Trail to the City of Sin

[Spacefurry]

Leon smirked as he watched Ivy laying it on thick. She knew what she was doing, and he had a feeling it had worked many times. Unfortunately for her Leon was an ex-con himself and Luke was, well, he fell somewhere between a cinnamon roll and a himbo. Leon smirked to himself as Luke helped her into the car.

When she lifted her sunglasses and he met those green eyes Leon felt a little tug. Internally, he curse himself. Damn green eyes…

 

Leon broke eye contact first and dropped back into the driver’s seat. 

“Buckle up. Next stop is lunch. Hope you like Mexican.”

He chanced a quick glance back at her, catching a playful grin as she met his eyes again. He turned his attention forwards again and shifted into drive.

 

“So.”

She purred, leaning forward to lean between the front seats.

“What are you two  heading to Vegas for?”

 

ooc: why not both.  

[Nerdzul]

The trio chatted amiably on the way home, with Ivy flirting playfully with one first and than the other, seemingly content in just teasing the two and sharing very little of herself.

 

Apparently she had just broken up with a boyfriend for which she had no kind words and that, as far as she was concerned was too jealous and clingy, but otherwise, they didn't have much else on her, although to Leon's expert eye it seemed like she has been glancing to rear-view mirror from time to time, giving it a worried look, like if she was worried of seeing someone appearing down the empty road. 

 

They had been riding for a while when Natalia's Nacho Nirvana appeared down the road, a family-friendly Mexican joint that despite being a roadside attraction and truck stop was much better kept compared to the dingy bar that the two had visited not long before. At that time of the day there was no other visitor, as the lack of parked vehicles outside revealed, but nonetheless, the staff was friendly and welcoming and their order quickly arrived. 

 

They have been talking about sweet nothing, when the two suddenly started to feel drowsy... 

 

OOC - Did she succeed in putting the two to sleep or did Leon notice something maybe? Or perhaps he had, but Ivy still had managed to outsmart him? Feel free to expand on the scene\maybe describe the conversation as much as you like

 

 

[Spacefurry]

Their passenger was talkative, but subtlety tight-lipped as they rode along. But then again, the boys were evasive with many details themselves.

She had mentioned dropping her in Kansas, if it wasn’t a problem. The boys reassured her it was fine and she quickly changed the subject, insisting she ‘had someone she could call’ once they got her that far.

 

Leon caught Ivy’s glances in the rear-view mirror. Whether her story about her ex was true or not, something had her worried. This had his own attention flickering to the rear-view from time to time as well, but nothing appeared before they reached the Mexican place. 

 

Natalia’s parking lot was empty as they pulled in and killed the engine. Walking in, the boys offered for them to pay for Ivy’s lunch to which she happily accepted.

Being the only seats filled, service was quick and attentive. The trio talked pop culture as they waited with the subject swing around to music when the food finally arrived.

 

“…And I’m just saying, there’s no way Brandon Urie is gonna stay away from music for long. I totally get he wants to step away for now, but he’ll be back.”

Leon said with all confidence as he cut into his chimichangas.

 

“I’m not sayin’ he won’t. I just think when he does, it’ll be as, like, a producer or something.”

Luke countered before taking a big bite of one of his burritos.

 

Their server came back around with drink refills and Ivy helped hand them to the boys as the boys continued.

 

“With his voice and talent? There’s no way he’s not gonna hit the stage when he comes back. The only real question is if they can get the original band back to gather for some kinda reunion tour.”

Leon waved his fork at his friend. It was an old ‘arguement’ they went back and forth on. Ivy could tell and chuckled at the two as they accepted the drinks.

 

Another round of refills, and the topic shifted again. Soon the trio were discussing movies, Luke and Leon each trying to sway Ivy to take their side. Action/comedy versus horror/mystery, respectively.

 

Luke yawned again.

“Stop doing that.”

Leon complained as he yawned himself.

“You’re suppose to… to take the… wheel…“

Luke’s lids were drooping and Leon’s head was feeling heavy. He reflexively looked at his drink. He hadn’t noticed anything. No taste, no residue.

He looked at Ivy and mouthed the word ‘How?’.

To her credit, he thought he saw a bit of regret in her face before his cheek hit the table. He thought he heard Luke’s chair tumble and wondered if his friend had managed to resist whatever it was. Or had he fallen victim and was now laying on the floor.

 

[Nerdzul]

When Luke next opened his eyes all he found was the blinding rays of the morning sun, he tried to move his hands to shield them, but he quickly realized that he his arms were struck, chained behind his back to a solid looking metal pole. 

 

The only thing he could see when he finally forced himself to face the sun, was the arid vegetation that hat dotted their path during the past day of navigation, the traks of the Imapala were visible on top of a small sandy hill above them.

 

As for their things they were, of course, gone. Car, money, watches, Ids, phones, bags... all lost. Although Ivy, assuming that it was her real name of course, had at least mercifully left them their underwear, she had taken care to clean them up of everything else.

 

Despite his throat being very much dry and his head slightly spinning, the young man still managed to erupt in an impressive tirade of curses (of which, the Southside born kid had a massive repertoire). One that was definitely loud enough to shake the what drowsyness was left in his similarly restrained friend, who was tightly secured against the pole, albeit with one of the bindings going around his paper arm. 

 

"You know... I kinda expected for something like this to happen... After we hit Vegas though..." He sighed, when he felt that his friend had recovered his wits. "We are speed running it..." He chuckled dryily.

 

The young man tensed his muscles and tested the bindings again, although the chains would be difficult to escape even for a fit human, they were not really meant to shackle a dragon, albeit it would take some effort to break them. "Come on..." The young man struggled for a bit, grunting as finally the metal gave away, liberating his arms... "Need help by your side?" He offered.  

 

... 

 

A few moments later, Luke was nevrvously pacing in the small depression between sandy hills that they have been uncermoniously dumped. "I'm gonna f- ing teach that venomous snake that you don't steal from a dragon..." He grumbled. "I can find our stuff in no time..." He continued, angrily, as he kept planning his revenge.

 

As his friend spoke, Leon's attention was however briefly attracted to a folded sheet of paper that had been left just a few feet from their position.

 

While blank on one side, the other revealed two rough sketches, young men with very familiar features. With a "WANTED" written above in capital letters. Below the illustration, in a smaller font it was later explained that the two dangerous criminals depicted them had just robbed the locally renowned Nacho's Nirvana's diner and that they were dangerous to be approached with care...

 

 "Great..." Luke remarked again. 

 

As the boys inspected the document something strange happened, as new words began to appear, of some kind of chemical ink.

 

"Thank you boys... I am sorry, but I needed some extra cash, I am sure you'd understand. Besides, it's funny that fate had placed the two of you on my path, you couldn't recognize me, of course, but me and my brother remember our last encounter very well... With Love..." It was signed just with a mark of a kiss. 

 

The words remained in front of them for a few minutes, but then they quickly seemed to evaporate under the sun, leaving no trace that they had ever been there.

Edited January 30 by Nerdzul

[Spacefurry]

Leon squinted against the bright sunlight. His friend’s outburst stirring him to shake off the last bits of his own drowsiness.

 

“That’s us, always gotta find trouble the fastest way possible.”

He groaned trying to work up some saliva to help the dryness in his mouth. He sighed and let the chain slip through his paper arm, giving him enough room to wiggle out of them.

 

A few moments later Leon was watching Luke pace when he spotted the paper. The two looked it over and Leon gave an exhalation of annoyance. When the extra writing appeared he was a little confused.

He glanced at his friend to see if he had any idea what it meant.

He rolled the paper up and waved it absently.

“I’d give her credit for pulling one over on both of us, if it wasn’t for the overwhelming rage I’m feeling.”

He said flatly.

“We should get moving before we stare suffering for heat stroke or something. Besides, I stole that car fair and square. Can’t let some little tart steal it from me.”

 

He lets Luke take the lead and follows.

“So, any idea who you pissed off?”

He smirked.

”Cause I never make women mad.”