video | 004 | day 54

[retrograding]

[Because the broadcast is a video, Jet Star comes on the screen with his hair somewhat tamed and his eyepatch in place. His expression is as calm as ever, and the video is steady. The only evidence that there might be something wrong is the sound of clattering and a somewhat distressed voice in the background - but Jet ignores that for the most part to address his audience.]

I have one very simple question for the people of this town today, and I like to think it isn’t an unreasonable request. Two friends of mine, Party Poison and Kobra Kid, have not been home for a while. Has anybody seen either of them? They’re rather hard to miss. Party Poison has red hair, and Kobra Kid is blonde, the former is short and the latter is tall --

[Fun Ghoul suddenly appears over Jet's shoulder, scowling at the communicator.]

One's fuckin' stupid, and the other one's twice as fuckin' stupid. Give 'em the real facts, Jet. Two days! [He holds up two fingers in front of Jet's face just in case you assholes forgot how to count.] Never gone this long without sayin' shit, ask that raccoon-eyed piece of work what she did with our boys--

[And he cuts himself off to disappear into the background again, sending something else crashing to the floor. Jet watches Ghoul stomp off with a sort of sad expression, and when he looks back at the communicator, the look sticks.]

We aren't accusing anyone of anything. But if you are out there, either of you - or if anybody knows where they might be, please let us know.

Please. Thank you. [And the feed cuts off. Jet has some calming to do, excuse him.]

Comments

[onteamdyson]

Dude, they're missing? [Don't panic. Do not panic.] Haven't seen either of them. Last time I talked to KK was a couple nights ago. He didn't say anything about taking off!

[retrograding]

I wouldn't say missing quite yet. I only know they haven't checked in, and that isn't like them. [ He's extra calm, shh, shh. ] I don't want to jump to conclusions.

[actionpants]

[afallenstar]

[ So maybe she should wait a little, because there's someone else there already, but she doesn't. It's happened to Ghoul too, people have gone missing and well...Anna knows first hand how badly that can go when it happens. No one reacts well to loss, and these guys are closer than she's ever been with someone. It stands to reason that he's going to be freaking out at this point, right?

Right. So she justifies appearing at the front door again, and this time she doesn't much care who sees, she just starts walking straight away. ]

Ghoul? Hey, are you around?

[ Crash. So that's a yes then. She sighs slightly and starts moving towards said crash. ]

It's Anna, okay? Don't...shoot me or something.

[ See look, she learned her lesson from Clint! Random appearences - bad, warning - good. ]

[tooghoulforschool]

[If it helps, Anna, he couldn't shoot you even if he wanted to. Not that he wants to. Not that he'd ever! And if he found out someone did, he'd be more than happy to break a few bones until they learned their lesson.

He's in the kitchen now, leaning against the counter with his face in his hands.]

Not a good time, Chiquita. M'not... not good to be around right now.

video;

[facilitated]

[ Oh no. That's...really not good. ]

Jet? [ She's being really careful and hesitant in this approach, frowning a little before continuing. ] You okay?

video;

[retrograding]

[ no no no he's not okay He smiles in his weary sort of way. ] I am, Laura, don't worry. Have you seen either of them?

[magnets]

[ Jesse's face is a bit squinted, mildly apologetic under that consideration. ]

Killjoys?

[retrograding]

Killjoys, yes. The other two members of our crew. [ He looks worn out already. ] Have you seen them, Jesse?

[stiling]

Haven't seen Kobra Kid in a while either. [ Or Party for that matter, but he barely knew the guy to begin with. ] Think they took off together for a while?

[ ha ha ha he can be hopeful ): ]

[retrograding]

That was my first thought. It's happened in the past. But I feel like they would have checked in. [ He's especially worried because he hasn't heard from Kobra since the Hulk. Sigh. ] Stiles, am I right?

[gleans]

They're both gone, huh?

[retrograding]

It seems that way. I haven't given up hope yet. [ A beat. He's heard about some of the interactions between Galen, Jesse, and his boys. ] I would keep my distance for a while, maybe, Galen. [ IT'S NOT A THREAT HE SWEARS ]

video:

[charring]

I'll keep my eyes open for you. I promise.

video:

[retrograding]

Thank you, Bobbi. [ Have a smile! ] I appreciate it. I can't express how much.

[plaidsamurai]

Dunno if you remember me... doesn't matter really.

I've got some talent where trackin' is involved. You got somethin' of theirs or the last place you saw 'em.

I know you all seem to like to keep things to yourselves, but if you'd like some help, I'm offerin'. I know what you're goin' through.

[retrograding]

[ He doesn't answer for a long moment, because he's weighing his options. Finally, at length: ]

I would appreciate all the help that anybody can offer, in this case. And I do remember you, Logan. [ He remembers that you offered to help before, anyway, and that's points in his book. ] I can bring you something of theirs. A shirt should do fine?

[ video ]

[noblexcompanion]

[ Worried mother hen is worried. ]

The boys are missing?!

[ video ]

[retrograding]

They seem to be. [ This mother hen is worried too. ] I had hoped they were not, but they haven't replied.

ONE HOUR LATER; action

[facilitated]

[ They tried. It's no surprise that Laura dragged Jesse into this, it's what she does at this point. Panic, go to Jesse, plead until he agrees to help. Laura very nearly did start tearing apart buildings at one point, but she's a tiny teenager and not a Hulk, so it didn't get any further than kicking the wall of a building and grittily insisting that they keep looking. It's a little past the hour when she finally calls it. Jet's going to be waiting, she needs to at least tell him that they've had no luck.

She's still frustrated and angry when she leads the way to the meeting point, all dragging feet and tense muscles as she keeps looking between buildings and around at any face that passes. It's not hard to miss Jet, and she sighs before shuffling up to him. ]

Nothing. Not a thing, no one's even seen anything in as long as you have.

[ God, she's sorry Jet. ]

ONE HOUR LATER; action

[retrograding]

[ No luck. Nothing. They're gone.

Jet's sitting on the edge of the fountain. Quiet, eyes closed. He hasn't found anything, either, no trace - he knows Ghoul is still here, he's just gotten his last fifteen minute check in from his remaining crew member. That's good. At the very least. He takes a breath, and opens his eyes to look at Laura when she comes up, but this time he can't manage a smile.

His face stays blank. ] Ditto, on my end. [ A beat. ] Thank you for looking. [ Thank you to both of them. ]

[dowhatisays]

What's a guy do to end up with a name like those?

[retrograding]

The names are chosen by the person they label.

video

[agentx13]

[ Sharon's mouth is set in a grim line. ]

I'll take a look around.

[ She wants to thank them for reporting it, but she isn't sure that won't upset them all over again, so she keeps mum on that aspect. ]

Where did you last see them?

[retrograding]

Thank you. [ His expression is a little tight, by now, but he can keep the calm. ] The last I saw of them was in our house. Ah, House Five. We are also in the process of looking, but I appreciate the help.

video;

[mentis]

[ Charles doesn't know these people. But he is still concerned, nonetheless. ] Can I enquire why you would think these boys have been taken somewhere?

video;

[tooghoulforschool]

Because they ain't fuckin' here. They ain't callin' us back. They ain't sayin' SHIT! You think this is a game? They wouldn't fuck off and not tell us.

[pursuitofcappiness]

We can look for them. What does Kobra Kid look like, besides blond and tall?

[retrograding]

I appreciate it. [ Let him think. ] He's got rather angular features. He usually wears bright colors.