2020-01-22 - To the victor goes the shitty trophy.

August is a child of the 80s and 90s, of course he was going to go see Mad Max, and of course he was going to turn it into a brodate with Itzhak. His foot is just about healed up; maybe another week before he can be climbing, but he's down from a moon boot and to just wrapping it and wearing the hiking boot on that foot nice and loose. He's in his black leather jacket, green and bronze knit cap and scarf, and denim jeans, with his nails painted glossy black-green as well, like a fig eater beetle. As they settle into their seats with popcorn and a water for August, he says, "So look, if you need help getting new tools, I can help with that. I know business in this town isn't exactly booming."

Itzhak isn't about to let August out-glam him, even though that iridescent nail polish is pretty freakin' glam. His nail polish is black with holographic gold glitter. Eyeing August's black leather jacket enviously--he might be thinking of getting something similar himself, he's feeling left out--he slouches back in the seat and props a knee against the seatback in front of him. In response to August's question he grunts. "Yeah, well, think the money I won from that race is gonna go back into the garage. I had some ideas for it, but," he shrugs. Whaddayagonna do.

Now that he's recently over a really bad case of hypothermia and has been in catch-up business mode as of late, among other weirdness because this is Gray Harbor, Byron had reserved the evening for a movie and dinner date. Now, Mad Max might not be the perfect romantic date movie, but unless it's some award winning drama or classic, Byron Thorne might not sit through a romantic comedy. So Beyond Thunderdome it is!

Despite already having had dinner at that one BBQ place, Byron's carrying a container of large buttered popcorn, some drinks and two packages of M&Ms to sprinkle into the container. He's wearing a comfortable gray sweater with faint black and white stripes throughout and a pair of long cargo pants. A dark tan hued leather shearling jacket helps protect him from the cold. By now, his leather gloves are already tucked away into his pocket.

Finding a good seat to settle down, he sets the box of goodies in his lap, casting a smile over at Lilith, "Let's see how well this classic has held up." Admittedly, it's been a long while since he'd seen it. Taking one of the cups of sodas to place into her cup holder, his eyes lift to just casually view the other movie patrons, "Gotta say, it's good to have a place that actually plays older movies rather than just the latest blockbusters."

Action movies were good and Mad Max was a classic! And Kelsey was also maybe still entertaining the idea of a collection of Haunted Theaters that Jaime had put into her head. Maybe this place had one. She wasn't actively ghost hunting though! It was definitely primarily to watch the movie. So she was settled in to one of the seats near the middle-center (best view in the house - duh) waiting for the movie to begin, settling her tub of popcorn into her lap. Her attire is simple and straightforward - a pair of jeans, her hiking boots, and a thick black flannel. Though the flannel had been undone part way to reveal a white tank top underneath. It may be cold outside but with all the people in the Auditorium, it was getting a little warm.

"I'm all about some violence and ridiculous drama that's removed from my life and somewhere safe on a movie screen. And lucky you, if I want a girly movie to accidentally cry over or feel empowered by, I keep that to myself for private viewings. Like shameful porn. Same principle. Tsk." Lilith murmurs to Byron while dropping down to settle and get out of her black leather embroidered jacket. While leaned forward, she angles to drink from the straw in the cup where it is in the holder, then finally settles in to side eye the popcorn and candy for sweet and salty, crunchy and chocolately setup, "I don't know how that still looks good after everything I just ate at dinner, but I think popcorn smells do something to the brain and stomach. Total witchcraft."

Crossing one leg over the other, she looks around the theater while reaching up to pull down her dark hair in tumble and wavy tousle from a clip, absently doing some arranging afterwards with finger carding, "If I get fat, though, you'd probably do best to refer to it as... more to manhandle, mm?" She doesn't sound actually worried about it, though. Probably comes with hitting some kind of genetic lottery to make her look the way she looks, complete with irritating lack of effort.

She's put in the effort to be extra lovely, though, for date night, eye makeup smokey with a sweet and peachy flush of contrast and accent on her lips. Though her outfit is just black sweater and skinny jeans, both items are tailored in mold to her body and her feet are in high, edgy black heels with signature red bottoms to mark them designer, a few pieces of expensive jewelry dressing up the casual, "Better check your phone, too." Mostly, Lilith says that because she's double checking hers to avoid being 'that guy' that forgets, nevermind it's typically on buzz anyway.

August sees Byron come in with food for two, fully expects to possibly see Lilith as well. He gives him an up-nod and a wave. Kelsey he's not sure he recognizes, but she Glimmers, which earns her a brief look. ...ah yes, there's Lilith. He adds a smile to the greeting for her.

He glances sidelong at Itzhak. "Just saying, if money's a thing." He raises his eyebrows briefly, sips from his water. He knows about Itzhak's sister after all, so has to assume the insurance companies are fucking them as usual.

Itzhak lifts a hand in greeting to Thorne and Lilith. "Lookin' sharp," he calls to them. His phone buzzes, and he digs it out. And smirks, and texts back. He seems tired, worn to the bone in some invisible way, but August's company helps, a lot.

"Is that..." Byron starts off just as Lilith reminds him of his phone, but even when she brings it up, it's already buzzing in his pocket. It's already on vibrate, but since he's always working, he can't help but check to see who wants his attention at this very moment. His dark eyes lower to read the message sent, before he finally finishes his inquiry, "Roen and Rosencrantz?" The two R's! The movie hasn't started yet, so he taps out a quick response before setting the phone into the snack box, resting against that vat of popcorn. "Glad to see this place under new management, huh?" Hopefully, he and Lilith are seated close enough to the others that he doesn't have to shout this out and disrupt anything. "No use having it sit here under or even poorly utilized."

He flashes the pair a friendly enough smile, nodding in their direction, but slowly turning to regard Lilith, "After tonight, you know exactly what I'm gonna be doing come tomorrow. And if you suddenly ballooned overnight, I'll make sure that you're running alongside me." At probably 6am-ish.

Nevertheless, he leans in close to place a kiss at the side of Lilith's neck for that bit of joking to whisper into her ear, "I'm sure before the night's over, we'd have burned off a decent amount of calories anyway."

Lalo makes his way down the side aisle and into one of the rows, popcorn in hand and soda in...well, other hand. Going out to watch a movie, what could go wrong? He looks around absently, before he sits down and stretches out his legs in front of him, then shifts to cross one ankle over the other knee. Once he's settled in, he takes a handful of popcorn and starts to eat the kernels one by one, because it just wouldn't be a true theater experience if he didn't finish three quarters of the bag before the movie actually started.

It's the one Mad Max movie he hasn't seen. So the sailor's there, in his greatcoat and jeans....though with the former unbuttoned, he proves to be wearing a t-shirt with Snoopy in profile, wearing an aviator's helmet and scarf, with the legend FLYING ACE beneath it. Must be laundry day. Joe comes ambling in, drink in hand. Not waiting for anyone, by the way he heads for a seat. Fairly close - must be a bad day for vision, for he's got those glasses on.

"Very nice to see it under new management," August says to Byron. "Nice to have a place to come see a movie. Who cares if it's not first run or even very new? Still a nice time, and there's plenty of older films that still do great on a big screen." Seeing them silence their phones, he does the same with his.

Speaking of classic films, he recognizes Lalo from the Adventures in Grease moment they shared, though August might not be particularly recognizable to Lalo at twenty-five plus years older.

This one had gotten good reviews, not that Lyric paid much attention to that sort of thing, except one of the reviews was from a friend who recommended it. So with a soda, nachos and a box of snowcaps, she heads in to find a seat. A seat just adjacent to the one Lalo had just taken. Once there, she starts in on the nachos after depositing her drink in the built in cup holder. Crunch. Crunch

Joey is taking down time and needs... mindless, glorious, artful violence. Besides, sometimes even he gets ideas. Every kid needs heroes and all of his have been questionable. Still it was this or wanting to be the T-1000 The liklihood of becoming aggressive molten metal? Sadly low unless one's name is Lilith. Slouched in the seat with his foot propped up on the bar he waves a hand vaguely to B and Lil. Looking over Itzhak gets a nod He's buried in his phone taking care of 'his business' until the show starts killing time.

Lilith narrows her eyes a touch while looking through the low light, then makes an 'ah' of familiar and confirming needless nod to Byron's question while popping up a hand to wave over at August and Itzhak. While her lips flash with quick smile, though, she takes a beat to really try and look-look at the latter and his posture and demeanor in general before looking back Byron's way with a small groan, "You do it sooooo early. I'm still not sure how you don't blind crash into things, my eyes have trouble opening when I go on your schedule. But fair point. I'll get my money's worth."

While reaching into the popcorn and candy mix to pop some into her mouth, though, she makes a muffled noise that's almost a ticklish little giggle when Byron leans in to murmur and kiss at the side of her neck like punctuation to go with, "Mrrrr, you gave me goosebump shivers, do it again. But don't do it three times in a row or we're going to make out like teenagers during a movie. The warning preserves your dignity."

After August speaks up, though, her voice lifts to wonder, looking at Byron too, "Who took over this time?"

Itzhak adds in a mutter to August, "There's no way the building can be repaired. Would have to knock it down. Maybe that ain't such a bad idea. Rebuild it from the ground up." Then he gets a text that makes him turn red. He shoots one back, then stuffs his phone back in his pocket with a wry twist to his mouth. "...think de la Vega's gonna come, too." Joe and Joey and Lalo arrive, and there's the girl he doesn't know, and also Lyric. "Jeez, half the town's turning out. Guess we're all bored to tears."

August shrugs. "Wouldn't be the worst idea. Start over. Keep the logo and the name, though." He bobs his eyebrows. "Think of all the cool shit you could do, designing your own place."

He nudges against Itzhak. "Are you saying I'd only take you out because I'm bored, or you only agreed to come out here because you're bored? Either way you're a rude damned date." He munches on a bit of popcorn, watches Cavanaugh come in just as Itzhak mentions Ruiz showing up. "Well that should be entertaining," he murmurs.

Lalo does not, in fact, recognize August -- his eyes slide over the other man without any particular pause, except maybe an approving look at the nail polish. His attention is caught when Lyric takes the seat next to him, however, and he looks that way, eyebrows raising. "You don't believe in a buffer chair, huh?" he asks, but judging by the smile on his face and the amusement in his tone, he's joking. He cements that impression by offering her the bag of popcorn with a tilt of his head.

Itzhak nudges August back with a bony pointy elbow, making a face at him. "I see you're trying to hassle me into cheering up. Well played, but have you considered I'm always rude?" He steals some of August's popcorn even though he has his own right there.

Tossing a handful of popcorn into his mouth, Byron nods to what August says, "You can say that again. I've got nothing against anything new coming out, but where can you go to see Beyond Thunderdome on the big screen, right?" As he's discussing film with the others seated round him, that's when he spies Joey, which gets a, "Huh." Out of him. "Kelly." He then openly asides in a joking manner, "Looks like they let all kinds in here." Joseph is another somewhat familiar face, but that acquaintance was made more recently, the other man being one of his tenants.

Lilith's question, however, has him resettling back into his chair and grabbing another handful of popcorn, "Moore." He remembers having read about in the paper, "Thewlis Moore." Byron's lived in town enough to know the man somewhat. "The.. grave digger if I recall. So this is really quite a venture for him." His smile broadens now and he has to laugh, "I have a schedule to keep. If it's not early in the morning it's around this time actually."

Joey eyes Itzhak and flicks popcorn at his salty punk ass flicking him in hte ear with it. Oh this gruff mother fucker jsut eyes him casually as if to help Z emhasize the point with a look of what? I'm helping.

Lyric lifts her snowcaps in a wave to Itzhak when she notices him and August, then she opens the box and alternates a popcorn then a chocolate, just trying out the combination. "Oh sorry, were you expecting someone? I don't like to sit alone at the movies. Cause who else can I share funny things with but myself then?" Like it made all the sense in the world. "But I can move over if you want me to." She doesn't look to mind doing so if he were uncomfortable. With his offer, she takes one of his popcorns and offers over snowcaps, the box, for him to get all he wants from it.

Ruiz turns up a couple of minutes before the movie's due to start, sipping on an unsanctioned cup of coffee that was not purchased at the front. Does he give a shit? No, he does not appear to. After annoying half the people in here by shuffling along the full length of the row containing August and Itzhak, he drops into a seat beside the latter with a heavy sigh like he's just run a gauntlet. Aaaand they're suddenly somewhere else. "Oh, for fuck's sake," he grumbles.

The popcorn damn near gets thrown from Kelsey's lap as there is no movie and instead a real live fighting arena. Unbeknown to her...she's thinking exactly the same as Ruiz. "Oh fuck me. Why?!" She half whines as her eyes a adjust and she takes in the scene a bit more, drawing in a breath. This was fucking ridiculous. She had been being good even!! Why couldn't it just be Mad Max?

"Well that's patently untrue and you know it," August replies, quieting down as the movie starts. Except, then--

"Shit," he mutters. Once upon a time he'd have had to wonder what was going on. No longer. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? Hard to tell. His eyes land on those Angel Fish, and he says, "...are you fucking kidding me?"

Lilith looks like she's about to wind up to throw an M&M where Joey is, but she eats it instead and waves at him just as the trumpets start to sound. Then with a little grin aside at Byron, she settles in against his arm and pokes in more popcorn and candy to chew. Then in the middle of chewing, her jaw motion slows as the scenery setting is not at all what's expected, nor is it on screen. After working to swallow with some effort, she sits up straighter in her seat to look things over, then draws in a huge breath of air to hold before looking at Byron with her made-up eyes very wide and very 'goddamnit'.

But at least they're in balcony seating and not the arena given what just came out, right? Ehh. Then she does a double take at where the pixies are seated and says in murmur to Byron, "It's pretty bad I want to put one of those fairies in a bottle to heal with later when everything inevitably hits the fan. You guys let me play too many video games."

Joe was, like so many, fooling with his phone to pass the time while waiting for the movie to start. He's one of the furthest forward, so he looks up to be confronted with the reality of the arena, such as it is. Just blinking like an owl. Then he looks to his left - the seats next to him now occupied by something that looks distinctly like a family of raccoons. Only armed and armored, like Rocket raided a sale thrown by the Empire. "What the actual fuck?" he says, mildly, before looking forward again.

Joey looks around, eyes narrowing and he notes as his eyes adjust to the light they are... in a Colosseum. He eyes a pixie too close to his popcorn and snarls at it. "You touch my pop corn I'll eat you." That's... probably. Oh my. He rolls a look to Ruiz and squints at him, "We really need to knock this shit off on work nights." Looking back the lead brick goes to eat his popcorn waiting to see what comes of this and gives a tiny creature with its tiny hand too near his food a flick. "No touchy."

Itzhak laughs against the back of his hand when Ruiz shows up and just, as always, does what he wants. He bumps him with a shoulder when the surly cop lands in the seat next to him. "Ya just in time." ...In time for shit to get weird! Itzhak blinks, tipping his head a half-second before things shift around them. "Didja hear--" yeah, Itzhak, everybody knows. "//Oy vey izt mir," he mutters, sinking down in the seat. ...is that an original Macintosh 128k over there, waving its blocky little mouse?

"Nah, it's all good. Wasn't waiting for anyone, so feel free." Lalo does, in fact, take some snowcaps, just as the trumpets sound. He looks toward the screen...

Which is suddenly not a screen. "Uh." He looks around again, his eyes widening as he attempts to figure out if anyone else is as confused as he is, or not. Seems to be the former. He looks back to Lyric then, and says, "So. You got any clue what the hell this is?"

Great! The lights are dimming which means that the movie's about to start. Byron seems content to munch at his popcorn and candy before leaning over to take a long sip from his straw. There's a light furrow of his brow when his eyes lift to view the screen, expecting to see maybe a trailer or at least an advert for the snack bar. However, things start to shift and change and, "Son of a bitch..." Is the first thing out of Byron's mouth, letting the straw slip from his lips, his jaw tightening, mouth drawn into a tight line. A hand reaches for Lilith's now, giving hers a squeeze, but she can feel his body stiffen, looking as if he might spring out of his seat any given moment.

Like the others, Lyric knows exactly what happened but unlike them there's not immediate trepidation. Instead, she sits up on the seat a little and peers down to watch and see what was going to play out. Curiosity wins out over worry, like most of the time with her. "Sure," she tells Lalo at his question. "It's a dream thing and I'm Lyric. Nice to meet you. I got your back if you got mine?" She even tosses a grin his way.

August flinches away from the light, squinting. "FCN," he repeats. "Those are the guys who did my MRI." The ones who left him a creepy fucking note. He shudders. Well, he was going to go talk to them--maybe it's not a hot idea?

He watches the dragonfly exit. "What's that they keep saying. Sounds like Gila Monster, if you didn't know how to say it right."

"Or like they're gonna give a monster some gills." Kelsey offered up, still scowling a bit. Though her interest was piqued, looking at this so called Archivist and Psychiatrist. At least nothing was trying to eat them...yet...

Joey sighs and looks to August with a squint. He just stares and offers blindly slapping another hand reaching for his food, "Or a monster named, 'Gill'." Sure, logic. Conversing at long length with a 4 year old prepares you for life's little assumptions. He looks to Kelsey with a nod. "There ya go."

Itzhak squinches his eyes shut and lifts a hand to block out the light. "What the fuck is FCN? ...they looked at your brain?"

Lilith wets her lips with anxiety, but can't help but be drawn into watching the spectacle of it all, like it is in fact a show, just not the one she was expecting. It doesn't make her paranoia go away, though, and her fingers curl with tight clutching back on Byron's as she scoots to the edge of her seat. When the special guests are named off, though, she leans to look at them from a distance, then stares at the Archivist especially for a good long moment. Then after a little clear of her throat, noting the hat too, she slides her eyes to Byron to murmur under the crowd noise, "... that's my competition, huh. Wow. You were not kidding." Not that Lilith thought he was, but comparing a blobfish to the Archivist was too much to imagine til she sees it.

Whatever they've found themselves a part of, the group seemingly appeared mid-competition. So it's still a wonder what exactly is going on down in the pit or whatever it is, though by the looks of it, it's something close to gladiatorial if Byron had to guess. If the dragonfly's wings caught the tail end of his attention as it fluttered out, the spotlight shining on the denizens of the Veil as each are announced is what holds his attention now.

Out of the three, the Archivist is one he's met on multiple occasions. The baseball cap was an interesting touch, he supposes. Then his eyes shift to the Psychiatrist. While he may have been told tales of this one, possibly, he's never heard that name used for him. The empty seat, has him shifting, perhaps trying to determine if whoever is sitting in it was too small to be seen!

And then the spotlight is on them, blindingly so. Enough to make him narrow his eyes and turn to the side with that chant of Gill-a-monster rattling in his brain. "Competition?" Byron has to ask Lilith now, before he rolls his eyes at all of that.

"Oh, well, that's fucking great." Lalo doesn't sound happy, particularly, but he at least doesn't sound like he's about to freak out, so that's good. There's a nod at Lyric's last words, and he says, "Sounds good. Don't know how much help I'm gonna be, but it won't be 'cause I didn't try." His amusement now is a little more wry, and he looks around again, this time with a bit of different expression, especially with the mention of the dream. It's then that he sees August again, and he squints, studying the other man more intently, before his eyes widen and there's a little snort of laughter. Inexplicably, maybe. He lifts a hand to wave with a half-smile.

Ruiz clearly has no idea what the fuck is going on. He sits there slouched in his seat and sips his coffee, which is still nice and hot. Aaaaah. He's about to lean over to mutter something to August when he spots some sort of frankenstein-like creature appearing in the doorway behind Mr. Howell. He pauses, settles back in his seat, looking distinctly less amused. "Seriously?" he grumbles. "I'm never going to forgive you for this," to Itzhak.

Lyric does the beauty pageant wave when the lights hit them, but she gives a look over to Lalo for his reaction. His laugh and half smile were a little disconcertiny especially after the comment about being fucking great. She also notices August and grins his way. She sees him in a lot of her dreams. Ahem. Then the Gilligan's Island folks join and she giggles. "Oh! I get it. Gill. Gilligan!"

"They hijacked my MRI results from the place I went to get scanned. You know, after we went to the..." August's voice dies. He wonders if he should say 'Asylum', with the Psychiatrist literally right over there. It feels like he shouldn't. He's not even sure why. So, he doesn't. "After we went to that place. They made that soup Finch used, to heal herself." He cuts a look at Ruiz, snorts. "Not sure this...one of those. I think it might be something else."

He watches the 'Gill-a-monster' come in, covers his face with a hand and sighs. "Yeah. Okay."

"That's fair," Itzhak mutters to Ruiz. He got one look at the Gill-A-Monster and covered his eyes again. "This one's gonna take a lot of drinking."

Kelsey sits up a bit more with the 'gill-a-monster' is announced. "....I literally can't even..." She says to no one in particular. It was a Gill-A-Monster alright. Her brain was having trouble processing the monstrosity. "My money's on that thing in any case."

Joe just looks down into his drink, somewhat accusingly. As if he might be able to spot a floating blotter of LSD among the ice cubes. But no, this is apparently some kind of stubbornly objective reality, and he looks up again. His expression isn't so much horrified as it is one of near terminal bemusement. He's been braced for horror since he moored the Surprise, one way or another.

What he wasn't braced for is batshit surrealistic weirdness. They never simmed anything like this back in Houston.

"... oh look, honey. It's the monster from the first time we saw each other as grown ups. I think I'm nostalgic somewhere, except, it's all buried behind the fact that... I do not want one of those sequin bombs slung at me." Not women. Not bombshells. She calls them bombs, what's in that big mashup monster's hands. Lilith stares after cursing under her breath and looks aside at Byron with a small, helpless little smile despite herself. And she keeps even closer to the edge of her seat now, ready to leap up and dodge or run at a moment's notice.

If just seeing Howell's presence wasn't enough to make Byron groan in that 'I can't believe this shit' sort of way, the emergence of the Gill-A-Monster really does jog his memory. The first time he'd encountered the thing, that was the first shared Dream experience that he'd ever had. At least, from what he could remember. The familiar sight was unsettling enough, being reminded of the devastation of those Ginger bombs, one of them took his best friend, Tobin, out. This was also the event that Byron first laid eyes on Lilith since her return back to Gray Harbor.

It does't occur to him immediately and instead, he gives the area an attentive look, "Let me know if you see any signs of the freakin' Harlem Globe Trotters again." To the group, however, he will warn, "Watch out for its projectiles. Unless you want to be showered in glitter and pain."

Maybe it's not the healthiest reaction, but hey. "Lalo," Lalo says as he gestures to himself, somewhat belatedly -- hopefully Lyric will forgive him, under the circumstances. He might have said more -- or maybe not, honestly -- but whatever there might have been is lost when the actual monster comes out. "What the fuck," he murmurs, and this is perhaps a little more appropriate. The smile fades until it's completely vanished.

When that spotlight lands on Lilith and Byron, August can't help but glance back at them. His eyebrows go up. "You've done this before?" he asks, incredulous.

Byron will make sure to call out to August through the hissing and whatnot that they are getting for being WINNERS last time, but he will admit, "With a whole team!"

"It's nice to meet you, Lalo." Lyric does not volunteer for anything, she gladly remains right where she is and looks around at the others to see if one of the more powerful ones will volunteer. She even scoots backwards a little to make sure she's not more forward than anyone else up here with her.

"It was this whole thing, there were Globetrotters..." Lilith calls over to August, because surely that explanation with the wave of her hand kind of explains nothing and everything at the same time. She doesn't seem to actually like having the attention of the mixed bag crowd called over onto her, though. After working her bottom lip between her teeth, though, she leans over to murmur to Byron, "... but what if I can take it out now?" She's not hopping up as tribute or anything or some champion wanting to try her hand or anything, but she's just squirrelly enough to wonder that aside to her date and gauge his expression, "What if it just has to be done to get out of the dream this time too? The two of us maybe..."

Then she trails off, that's crazytalk, woman, right? They've seen what it can do up close.

Joey watches and looks to the people he knows. Ya know, sometimes you need to take things in to your own hands. Everyone's got their hackles up and... oh... how can Joey pass this shit up? He can't fight in his the ring, the street, his tournament... He stands up putting the popcorn down. He's had many names from Yard Boss to Lead Brick. There's that look though, he's not angry, he's hungry for this. He eyes the ring and just whistles once, shrill and sharp.

Remember what Kelsey was saying about putting her money on that guy? Well...then one of THEM...two of them is being challenged...any two. Pick a pair...well Kelsey looks around a little and...seems like she's willing to take up the offer. If no one else is.

"So how'd ya do it?" Itzhak, perfectly reasonably, asks Byron and Lilith. They're gonna have to know! He jerks his chin at the arena, a certain gleam of trouble in his eyes. Like signalling to an auctioneer, he's volunteering.

Ruiz watches, stony-faced, as the spotlight swims past. Then happens to spot Joe seated not too far off when it roves away again. He's not exactly leaping to his feet to volunteer, but there's that look about him. Part I will fuck your shit up and part.. well, pretty much with the fucking up of shit. The fact that he's carrying doesn't hurt, either.

Byron's an ever cautious sort and if he can help it, he's not the first to volunteer to jump into battle, especially if there are other ways to get out of the predicament. That said, when Lilith mentions that she might be strong enough to take it down now, just those words would most likely drag Byron into the fight. For a long moment, he just stares at her with this light shake of his head. However, to Itzhak's question, he considers, before flat out stating, "Team work. It took several of us down, but... there were a lot of us."

He then adds, "I don't know if it's any different from last time. But those Gingers are devastating."

Kelsey is relieved that it is not her! She watches Ruiz and Joey intently. Kind of concerned. "Don't die guys!" Super encouraging.

"You, too." Lalo also does not volunteer; instead, he just sits tight, looking around at those who throw their hats in the ring. His mouth twists when the Gingers start getting ready, and his gaze moves away from it and toward the challengers. There's definitely some concern in his expression as well, but for the moment, he just waits.

Itzhak is not relieved that it's not him. In fact he rises to his feet with a menacing growl. That's his man plucked from the audience and put in the path of that monster. He whistles, loud and sharp--but whatever he was trying to do must not work. He curses. "They're blockin' me! I can't shield him, god FUCKING dammit."

He's aghast, as the combatants appear down in the arena....and his use of the Gift is somehow stymied. Joe sets aside his drink, gets up out of his seat, and heads down to the edge of the arena, as close as one can get from the seating. He even reaches out, as if he might physically put a hand through the barrier.

Kelsey leans over the Balcony a bit. "Lemme try." She says to Itzhak, and summons up her own powers - focusing on the Kelly in the arena.But "I feel it too. It's like a wall. Guess they don't want us cheatin'." She offers More or less calm about the whole thing though. "We might just have to let it ride."

One minute, Ruiz is parked comfortably in a theatre seat, enjoying his coffee. The next, he's been yanked into the arena and dumped in the dirt, presumably to fight in some sort of gladiatorial match to the death. Which is really going to ruin his fucking night, because he had plans. He picks himself up slowly, one foot and then the other, takes stock for a beat or two of what he's dealing with, then strafes around as Joey barrels in. He's looking for a clean sight line, and the second he finds it, his weapon comes up and he pops off a couple of shots at the thing.

Lyric aims for a shield for Joey, he was her people! Like her big brother! But when she tries, she's unable to! She can use it, but it's like it hits something invisible as soon as she sends it to him, right at the edge of the balcony. It's then that she looks worried and she reaches for Lalo's arm. "I'm afraid they are going to get hurt..."

August licks his lips. Should he go down there? He's okay on his feet as far as running and dodging, but he's not exactly hell in a fight. But then Joey's offering himself up, and Ruiz gets picked. The part where Itzhak can't shield him is disconcerting. His mouth flattens when Kelsey confirms that. He doesn't say what he's worried about, though it's maybe obvious: will they be able to heal them, assuming they even survive?

Joey eyes Ruiz and gives him a long look. Law & Disorder are answering this challenge. With a smooth motion Joey zips his jacket closes and holds that fist out to Ruiz. "C'mon Lobo. Let's wreck some shit." A steely green glance goes to the ring and he mumbles, "Just another fucking hunter." For them? That goes back to a hunt of a different sort. A few long strides takes him in and with no preamble pulls his elbows in and charges to get close. Does he know what he's looking to do? Maybe?! This is the same guy that yells at people floating rocks calling it 'wasting time and potential theft' instead of miraculous, but there he is, a destructive force, pulling that glimmer around him as body armor. "Just like last time."

"Try to use the sequin bombs against it, if you can, because they will HURT YOU." Lilith calls out after Joey's back, then shifting her eyes to watch the Captain head down too. Then after a tiny shake of her head, she looks at Byron and explains, "... I'm only a little crazy, they're full crazy, it works out anyway. For now, at least." Words coming just a tinge placating in not the most reassuring fashion, Lilith stays in her seat and doesn't go leaping and calling NEXT on the thing, thank goodness. For now. She also doesn't look real surprised about who actually ends up out there, hand knocking back through her hair to grab, then tousle as she leans over her lap to get a better view, "Figures Kellyfists are down there. Maybe he literally can get in close and punch the thing out..."

Byron keeps to a flat tone, having stood up and out of his seat just so he can get a better look at the arena. "I mean, we had to go through a whole team of basketball players /before/ being practically crushed by that thing, so it's possible with them starting out fresh. There's only two of them though. The monster was whittling our own numbers down before we finally rid ourselves of it."

When Joey, of all people, and Ruiz are chosen to represent them, he considers all of this once more, "But... most of us were just coming into our own at that time. We didn't know that we /could/ use our powers to fight, so several were stuck throwing coconuts and other projectiles instead. So maybe, with the experience some of us have under our belts now, this could be doable."

The fist bump is returned solidly, of course, before the pair get down to business. Like he's going to leave his buddy hanging. Then shots are being fired, Joey's rushing in with a surge of something around him that distorts the light ever so slightly. And when the dust clears, the creature's actually been bloodied. Snarling, he drops back as it gets a whiff of him and turns to attack. "Kelly, get this thing off my ass," he barks at the other man, backing off into a far more defensible position while trying to get off a couple of pot shots.

"Yeah," Lalo agrees, glancing over at Lyric briefly before he looks back to the arena. The gunshot has his frown deepening, and he leans forward as though he's going to get up, but ultimately he does not do that, opting to stay seated for now though he is definitely tense.

Lyric is standing by now but she is watching the happenings down below, flinching at the gunshot but sort of keeping her cool. She grips the bannister, if there is one, on the balcony, eyes widening. "Go Joey go." Cheering him on, quietly. It's not really yelled. She looks over at August a moment then back to the group.

Joey lives and dies by street rules, but also? He's a consummate professional. He also know the old wolf is range and hears the pistol rapport. Okay so it's like that. "Behind me!" Ans with that he works on finding a way to punch the monster right in the coconuts to get their focus turned or off de la Vega. Fast and angry yells, "Wrong target, Skipper!" And goes for a one-two combo.

Lilith listens to Byron's recalling talk with a fair amount of consideration on her features as she looks down at the ring, maybe too much consideration to still be healthy level thinking. After pulling in a breath of air to hold, she rises up to stand on her heels and look down better off of the balcony too, especially once Howell is hollering for which one is going to possibly get it this time around with targeting. Hand falling from her hair, she takes to rubbing a hand in tiny, incessant circles of rub at Byron's lower back, something affectionate, sure, but it's also mostly just something to do with her hands while baring her teeth in a small and visible wince when the explosion goes off with sequins shimmer-flying.

Itzhak, leaning out precariously over the balcony edge, roars, "TAKE 'EM DOWN, BOYS!" His voice reverberates with his Song, making the balcony shiver. Then he snaps, "Fuck this," and plunges towards the back of the balcony, springing over seats to try to get the hell down there. Ruiz and Joey are having all the fun without him and he won't stand for it!

Joey runs in and like a technician hits, hits again, and moves to evade wearing down that same spot. A cut, a tear in the fabric getting ichor , on him. If he has to punch a hole into the side of his opponent and grab its heart and pull? well... he may. A statement may need to be made and that statement is, "Told you... not... to shoot at him...fucker." Skipper tries to get the mass to focus on Ruiz and the distraction is only aiding them to the purpose the thug growls, "LOOK AT ME WHEN I'M HITTING YOU!"

Ruiz isn't going to stand around like an idiot while the gillawhatsit tosses whatever the fuck that is at him. Joey says to get behind him, and he damned well does, putting on a quick burst of speed that's not too shabby for a guy his age. All that PT and gym time must be paying off. "Still up," he grunts at Joey as he zigzags back, sidearm still up and braced in both hands. Though something else is going on while he looks for a clear shot; the old wolf's on the hunt, snuffling about for something with a mind he can bend to his will. The best he can apparently do is a school of fucking angelfish. He grimaces, but you know, beggars can't be choosers, and so he commands them to surge up out of the sand and attack the gillawhatsit.

August watches, tense, wincing any time a blow comes close. And making a face when Joey Kelly takes a bath in that weird looking blood. Ugh. He launches out of his seat after Itzhak. "Hey, don't, if they don't let us use the Art through that fence, what do you think they do to add-ins?" He follows, not grabbing for him just yet, but ready to if it looks like Itzhak might in fact scale that wall.

Byron feels like a sports team owner watching his team compete from the safety of this fancy view box. The manager is somewhere down there probably. When the Ginger bomb is launched, he's holding his breath, viewing the entire scene with the intensity of someone whose team better win, because they are losing him money or something.

There's great relief washing over him when the Ginger misses its mark and he allows himself to draw in a deep breath. Lilith's comforting, yet anxious touch does little to soothe his nerves, but he gives her this look of appreciation still. "Just keep dodging, man." He's probably talking to Ruiz since he's the target of choice. When something is digging itself out from the sand, this lifts a curious brow. However, then there goes Itzhak and August, he's not sure if they both want to join the battle or if one is simply chasing after the other.

At that commotion, his gaze flickers over to Lilith, "Should we try and stop them?" He then adds, murmuring, "Or help them out?" If anything, he's giving their surroundings a careful look, just to see if anyone official is planning to do anything about the possible new contenders.

"Ask me if I care!" Itzhak yells back at August, not really thinking too clearly. He's going to scale this wall. He's going to scale the heck out of it to get into that fight.

It's an odd feeling for August, seeing Ruiz injured but not feeling it. He can't even remember the last time someone was hurt and it didn't hammer on his senses. His mind knows, though, and is more than happy to make up the details for him. He swallows, focuses on keeping Itzhak from climbing that wall. He loops an arm under and over his shoulder. "No. You have no idea what they'll do if you interfere--to you, or to them." He's not exactly a brawler, so it's less a proper deterrent and more a way to unbalance and thus slow him down among the press of spectators. "I'll throttle you back if you don't calm the hell down."

The shout of 'rules' at Ruiz's clever use of the Angelfish has August setting his teeth, but it's fuel for his argument. "See?"

This time, Ruiz's zigzagging defense isn't quite enough to stop him from taking a grazing hit to the hip. He tries to twist away, and is clipped by another gingerbomb hurled his way. "The fuck you want a piece of me so badly for?" he growls, perhaps irrationally irritated by the fact that he missed, and hit that anthropomorphic dog.. thing... it's probably best not to dwell on it. Instead, he racks the slide on his weapon, dropping another round into the chamber, and pops it back up again to fire on the gillamonster while it's distracted with the poor fish.

Joey is wiry and evasive which is great IF he is tanking. They're not listening and there is a meaty THORCH! as that heavy left fist of his seeks that wound like a battering ram forcing the injury wider. That snarl pulls a focused grunt of satisfaction from him. "You owe em money? The inspiration hits him, "It's ranged, get in here"

Right before the anthropomorphic dog's head blows up, probably having this brief moment of work reprieve for some entertainment after work, Byron's eyes narrow in on him on recognition. "That's the dog that I was telling you about. The one typing in City--" Then the poor possibly minimum wage working dog's head goes splat, "Hall...Well then." Turning to others in their box, he warns, "Be careful of stray anything."

"I'm not sure. Something might stop them or it might get worse, let's see what they do if--" Lilith snaps her eyes over to Itzhak and August after keeping her eyes riveted onto the fight, and the hand on Byron's back stops the circular rubs to curl and hold at his shirt while considering, seriously. "And sometimes there seems to be consequences for using glimmer or something, outside of an indicated-- oh wow. Wow." The brunette stops talking as she witnesses the exploding headshot of the canine-ish bystander with a few quick bats of her lashes and another 'wow' for the general braining.

"... I'm down if you're down, anyway. It almost killed Tobin." After a moment, she flat out reminds Byron, like it's all the justification in the world to go down there now, given half a chance, because it's oddly harder to watch and do nothing than it is to lash out, at least for her. She's used to being in the damn action and she can feel her body charging with kinetic 'want' to ruin and unleash power, deep down. Also she's kind of grudgy, okay.

Itzhak snarls furiously when August grabs him. But the idea that Ruiz and Joey might take the penalty for his actions gets through to him, and he gives in with all the ill-nature in his prickly little soul. "Christ! Fine. Fine but I don't have to LIKE IT!"

August weathers Itzhak's reaction. He was prepared for it, and worse, really. Ruiz is down there, after all. "You'd better not like it, I sure as fuck don't," he snaps back. A wince follows that as the fish, well, explodes. "Fucking Christ. I wonder if they can tap out."

Joey pulls his fist free, bloody to the elbow. Turning the Gillamonster turns to aim that blast at them. He falls flat on his back, rolls back to his shoulders for the kip up trying to lunge back but it moved. He wants to yell, but emotions are starting to make them sloppy. There's a pause and like a feral starving animal picks his opportunity and runs back in on it. "Don't Die. I got unresolved parking tickets."

Lyric just mutely watches, not only the dog, the combatants and the onlookers, but Itz and August too. He looked so mad! Itz that is. She sits back down and returns to watching having every intention of staying back and alive.

Ruiz is certain he's got a sight line on that stupid monster, but then Joey runs past his crosshairs at the last second, and he's forced to swing wide, sending his round astray. "Fuck this shit," he snarls under his breath, still working to keep moving and make himself as annoying as possible a target for those gingerbombs. Another round's dropped into the chamber, and he fires off a triple burst the moment he's lined up a shot.

Itzhak is freakin' furious, trapped up here while the police captain and the yard boss have all the fun without him. Lyric hasn't ever seen him so mad. Nobody here has, really, except August. Quivering with thwarted rage, he permits August to stop him from literally leaping into the crowd and attempting to brawl his way down to the sands. He grips the edge of the balcony, leaning way over, and bellows at Mr. Howell, Lovey, and the entire mishegoss of a monster. "I'll put alla youse in THE GROUND!" Empty threats, but they make him feel a little better.

While the crowd seems invested in the match, Byron keeps watch to see if any of them hooligans will jump Itzhak once the guy got to near the field of play. So far, the death of the angelfish (Ruiz got that one killed too) has grasped their full attention. For reasons, his mind goes back to the one conversation he had with the dog typist and he can't remember why the creature had said it, but the dog had 'forgiven him'. In fact, he can hear the dog's voice now saying: "I forgive you."

Alright, enough of that. Byron shakes his head and if Lilith wants to ensure Roen and Rozencrantz safety, in case they are jumped by the other animals and things, he will follow suit. "He forgave me." He murmurs.

Another ginger, another scorch mark; this one scraped along Ruiz's cheek, summoning a hiss of pain and an attempt to bat the thing away with his arm. No longer bothering to brace his gun in both hands, nor to duck and weave away, he barks something at Joey about it's fucking on to you and presses in hard. Shoot, move, shoot, move.

Joey isn't sure what he's grabbing, but brother he's pulling it like this crazy monster owes Felix money. Take note at home, kiddies, debt is bad for your health. It turns and Joey turns with it. It tries to aim again and he doesn't move eyes off the creature. "'Vega? You shoot me... I'm haunting your bitch ass, remember that." Which is Joey for I got your back, do the thing. With no more preamble he prepares for what...will suck and dedicates himself to taking as much of this thing apart as he can making an attempt to run and climb it to go for the throat. Free running: Monster edition? This miiiiight not go as planned. It's Gray Harbor. A plan never survives anyways.

August hovers by Itzhak, keeping an eye out for anyone setting their sights on him due to his rushing the edge of the balcony. Hopefully they'll mistake it as wild enthusiasm. Hopefully.

The sailor's just watching the whole thing, as close to the barrier that separates spectators from arena as he can. Not yelling threats or commenting - just staring aghast. Even though it's clearly not a hundred percent safe there. Joe's just still, but his hands are clenched into fists at his sides.

Ruiz is keeping count of how many rounds he has remaining, and it's not looking good. Four, and suddenly the creature's turning on Joey, and lighting him up with a gingerbomb. "Get up, get up, get up," he mutters between gritted teeth. He doesn't have the time to go over there and help the guy; he's busy trying to take his assailant down so they can end this. Then he sees his frien(emy) move, and flickers a grin. And fires.

Lilith looks at Byron with a hint of confusion, then wonders, "Who forgave you for what?" But then she's quick batting her lashes to see Joey the target of two of those gingers and she groans when there's direct impact on the Kelly's body and all those red sequins flying. After wetting her lips at the finish him bit, she looks aside again, then shifts weight in her heels, like she's about to start yelling at Howell to get his attention and herself tagged in. In fact, she takes the breath for it and only just stops herself when she sees... Joey moving and maybe trying some last hurrah. Murmuring instead with that breath, she says, "... he's moving. Should we taunt for tag in or something before he stops moving? Maybe they'll recognize us."

Joey runs up there and blocks as much of their attention as they can for Ruiz to get the shot. Well, on the upside he was absolutely right. This absolutely sucks and the detonation goes off and there is flesh, blood, shrapnel, and swearing peeling across the boxer as the chain of concussive blasts hit him and his body hits the ground with a bloody, meaty thud.

Then... with every effort, somehow... that arm raises up, and one middle finger stands tall and proud. OH he's GOT their attention. How is he not dead? Because fuck this guy!

Itzhak swears in Yinglish as Joey gets Gingered, "Gevalt Crist!" When the Skipper urges Gilligan to finish Joey off, Itzhak has the stupidest idea of his life and wolf-whistles at the amalgamation to get its attention. "HEY SAILOR! You want some a THIS?" And yanks his shirt up to flash the goddamn thing.

As he and Lilith descend in pursuit of Rosencrantz and Roen, Byron seems distracted, but once more he attempts to dismiss that brief conversation from his mind, "Nothing." As if forgetting the thumbs up the dog once gave him or having been forgiven for... being unable to protect his tenants from a ghostly killer?

"You went after someone who'd cheated in another game." Byron says, having just watched Joey get exploded with sharp sequins and stuff tearing into him. "Do you think that they would allow us to just tag out fresh and new? After that things been fighting in the ring this whole time?" Byron's of practical mind, when he adds in, "I wouldn't, if it were my tournament."

August watches Itzhak do...that. He looks, for a second, like he's of half a mind to follow suit. What's the worst he can do, embarrass himself? Maybe it'll keep them alive. He's not the most commanding sort, but...

He glances back at Byron. "I was wondering that. If we're allowed to tag in and out." He looks back at the thing. "They've almost--" Ah, there. August sags in relief. Except... "Uh," he watches the fish start to drag Joey off, "that might be bad for him..."

Lyric isn't flashing anyone. Not here at least. Maybe at work sometime? Ha! Watching the explosions, she gasps when Joey goes down and laments, "No Joey, nooo!" This time it is yelled out. Though he does get up again only to go back down. "Can you save him?" It's asked of anyone still in the balcony with her.

Ruiz lowers his gun slowly once it's clear that their last stand has paid off, and the creature is finally fucking down for the count. Not that that stops him from getting splattered with goo as the ginger explodes all over him; he turns his head away quickly, but not quickly enough to avoid the mess. He starts to move toward Joey, completely ignoring the raining post it notes and chanting crowd, when in a flash, he's back in his seat. With a stupid cheap-looking trophy in his lap, of all things. He scowls at it, then scowls at Itzhak too for good measure. Like, what the fuck are you doing?

"That was sidelines inter--" Lilith starts to get technical before just blowing out a puff of air over her lips and shifting her weight again on her heels, muttering to herself and Byron too, she supposes, because it's all she's got for the moment, "Right. He's a Kelly. It's fine." Then it suddenly kind of is fine? Which stuns the hell out of her when the thing drops and the crowd and all those post it notes start a cacophony of auditory and tactile confetti of celebration. Lilith doesn't quite relax, but her lips twitch with a certain amount of pride and congratulations. The wariness and waiting in her eyes, though, it stays around and just as August speaks up, she points, "... maybe there's a fish infirmary."

She doesn't really believe there is. So she tries again, "Maybe they kiss him and he feels better 'cause they're angelfish." Nope, that sounds stupid too. So eventually she goes with a muttered, "... hell." Then turning, she asks the nearest pixie or weird creature seated nearby, "What's going on now, where are they dragging him?"