metalogs | [Open] A Man Around Town

Who: Mark Bryant

welcome_summer
What: Photoshoots and Karaoke and Another Mugging Attempt
When: Mid September
Where: Central City, Descendant Bar, Downtown Area
Content Warnings: N/A, Update if needed

I. Smile For The Camera | Closed to Sleeper

"Never work with cats," Mark says with a sigh as he comes back from talking to the volunteer from the shelter. "Present company excluded."

Both he and Sleeper knew that present company was perfect to photograph. The symbiote knew his best angles, where his light was, and how to make the little setting work for his best ends. But the latest cat from the shelter, an older queen with gray fur and a kinked tail, definitely didn't.

"Sorry she got scratchy," Mark says. "The lights are apparently stressing her. Not sure how to deal with it. Might just get one of the backups. What do you think, Sleeper?"

II. Sing Your Heart Out | Open

Best way to unwind from an intense project? A night at Descendant. Tonight wasn't even a Coyote Ugly night, just one where Mark could sit at the bar, enjoy his soda and plate of fries, and wait.

"I knew I should have reserved a room before swinging by."

Could you even do that online? Mark didn't know. He spent less time on the website than he should probably. Doesn't matter. Tonight is a night of rest.

"What I need is some people to share a room with. It's always so sad to go in alone.

III. It Just Keeps Happening | Open

Walking home. The most dangerous hour of the day for Mark. Literally at any hour actually. Tonight was no different. Another armload of bags, this time groceries, and there he was, grabbed and forced into an alley.

"Oh come on!" Mark says, groaning in frustration. "Can we not do this? I have ice cream man! It's going to melt! Can you have pity on my ice cream?"

And of course, the mugger looks confused. Because who reacts to a mugging like this?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Jason was parkouring on rooftops and heading towards a D'Amicos establishment to do recon when he spots Mark getting dragged into an alley. He quickly detours to follow him and then sighs when he gets to the site below him. Right. Mark's bad luck strikes again.

Taking advantage of the dark and the mugger's confusion by Mark's comment, Jason sneakily begins to climb down a fire escape. He's ready to pounce at the mugger from behind when the time is right.

Really, he should get insurance against it, but he didn't think anyone would ever give it to him. More muggers did get caught this way.

"Dude, I'm mugging you."

"Yeah, I get that," Mark said, sighing. Because he's tired. "I need to get a punch card for this stuff."

Despite his bulk, Jason barely makes a sound on the fire escape as he descends to the ground. After softly hopping off the last step of the ladder, he then yanks the mugger by the collar from behind and punches him in the face.

"That a good enough punch?" he quips.

Well hell. Mark and the mugger both yelp when the mugger is grabbed, and the guy crumbles in the Hood's grip.

Mark, meanwhile, blanches. Because, well, this could be a new threat.

"Good line. Please don't take my money."

Jason pokes the unconscious mugger with a boot to see if he's really out before looking back at Mark. He purposely leaves his hands visible and open to show he's not going to attack.

"Nah. Not interested in that. I just don't like scum," Jason replies calmly.

Seriously? Mark frowns.

"They pop up a lot in the alleys here. Trust me."

So he sighs and shakes his head. None of this was even remotely going to be easy on him.

"Thanks though."

"I know. I've seen them," Jason says. "This kind of thing happens to you a lot?"

He knows what the answer is but it's still concerning and he's curious on how Mark will respond to him as the Red Hood.

"A stupid amount," Mark admits with a sigh. Which makes him look nervous. "That's, uh, not an invitation to take my stuff. So you know. I just... I need my stuff?"

Jason snorts in mild amusement.

"If I wanted to take your shit, I would've done so by now," he says. "Gotta watch out which neighborhoods you wander into."

Oh, that's right. Okay. Mark starts to gather his things back up.

"Trust me, I am very careful. Someone suggested I'm cursed.

"Are you? Most would-be mugging victims don't react like you did," Jason says, internally amused he's talking to Mark about this again.

"Most would-be mugging victims don't need a punch card," Mark answers with a shrug. "Thank you, for the help. I'd offer you payment, but heroes don't get that, right?"

"I get my cash elsewhere anyway," Jason says, still hiding his amusement on having to hide his identity from Mark. He wonders if how Mark will react if he finds out he was rescued by a known crime lord and Society member. It's quite far from what heroes are supposed to be.

Oh. That's cool. Well, he's safe then. Hopefully. Please.

"Well, thank you for that then. Because I need to get this all home. So, uh, thanks?"

"Sure you're not gonna get mugged again on the way back?" Jason asks nonchalantly.

Oh man, Mark winces. His expression says 'no I'm not sure'.

"I don't think I've ever gotten two in one night. I should be fine."

"Famous last words," Jason says, still seemingly sounding unconcerned.

Internally, he is concerned, knowing Mark's luck so far.

"Yep," he says with a shrug. Nothing he could do about it that shrug said. So he doesn't try. Sometimes you just take what youv'e got and accept it.

"Thank you, sir."

"It's fine. Just watch yourself. Get a taser or something," Jason says as he takes out his grapple gun. He's planning to follow Mark up on the rooftops to make sure he gets home safe.

Wait, a taser? But he'd hurt someone like that. It didn't seem like a really smart idea.

"Alright, I'll think about it."

Maybe he could ask Jason. The guy was... in tune with some things.

With that, Jason fires his grapple gun to a nearby rooftop and seemingly zips off into the shadows. However, he's planning to remain the shadows instead to watch over Mark until the photographer can get home.

Alright then. All done. Mark is happy to load up his goods again and head home. And, for a good change of pace, he's even so lucky as to not get mugged again.

[Open] A Man Around Town

III

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