Back to the Street (Spencer Pierce, Melissa Clark)

[Brandon Napier]

If it seemed as though Bam was sneaking around a little... It's because he was... He didn't like wandering around the city at night, let alone during the day when it was obvious that he wasn't supposed to be there... Bam looked around before keeping his head down again and pushing through the slight crowd that was there.

Bam had no idea if there were other Rebellion members around... Or all he knew, the place could be swarming with them... Though, Bam thought that it would be slightly obvious if there were others around the place... And it then wouldn't be such an odd sight... A Rebellion member not being chased by SMILE, that is...It would be funny, though...

Knocking into someone, Bam growled a little as he stumbled backwards and the red haired boy looked up from the ground.

"Watch it." He snarled, his hands coming out of his blue jacket's pockets and one resting on the handle of his ray gun almost automatically. The other hand got ready in case he needed to shove the other person out of the way. For all Bam knew, SMILE could be coming down the road, trundling down, wanting to capture anyone breaking the rules...

And, of course, Bam was breaking the rules...

[Melissa Clark]

What was Melissa Clark doing out in the dark, on her own? Taking a walk, nothing sinister in that. Some times she just felt like taking a walk in the cold air. Get some cool air in her lungs. Though, that might have been somewhat contradictory with the cigarette she had hanging from her lips, glowing in the dark. Probably the only thing you could see on Melissa if you weren't standing up in her face.

Which happened to be the case after a few moments. Star gazing while walking was never a smart move, but she hadn't expected to find anyone walking in the opposite direction. She found she was handling it alright, a wary side step and she'd be on her merry way. But Melissa was hard headed, and with this apparent stranger grumbling a 'watch it' she stopped her walk, bit her cancer stick and crossed her arms. "You mi-" That voice was familiar. After several seconds of racing through the thoughts that registered that voice, Melissa got it. "Brandon!" She cried, throwing her arms around her friend. Hell, if this wasn't Bam, she was going to come off a little odd.

[Spencer Pierce]

Spencer, standing idly in front of one of the restaurants lining the street, shoved a hand into his coat to fish out a half-empty pack of cigarettes and black lighter. Prior to stepping out of the restaurant he'd politely given thanks to the waitress when she commented on the german shepard sitting just outside. Kilo, his loyal friend, was now staring up at him expectantly. He smiled down at her as he finished lighting the cigarette, tucked them back inside his coat, and pulled a brown paper sack that was wilting from grease.

"Did you think I would forget?" Spencer asked, the ends of his lips pulled into a gentle gesture. He dug into the bag, his cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, and retrieved a half-eaten philly cheese steak. Spencer held it out for her to take and she happily took it from his hands, tail wagging. He squinted, taking a long drag from the menthol ecstasy, and looked out into the street which was nearly empty save for what seemed like a couple - maybe friends greeting each other affectionately.

The smile dropped from his lips briefly until he felt Kilo lapping at his unoccupied, dangling hand. He knelt down, running his fingers through her thick neck fur. "I'll find you something else later. Promise." Spencer rose and leaned against the wall that belonged to the restaurant, taking another draw from the cigarette. He continued watching the two with some interest though quickly diverted his eyes. He didn't particularly feel like bringing any trouble to him. Things were still only beginning to come clear to him. Something around here wasn't right - for instance - the way almost everyone smiled. That was certainly odd.

[Brandon Napier]

When the person hugged him, Bam froze for a second before registering that the blond hair was Melissa's, and he hugged her back. He hated that she'd used his full first name, though didn't say anything for a moment or so before he whispered in her ear: "It's Bam..."

... Bam then decided to yell... Loudly.

"Sweets!" He shouted, being as loud as he could, and hugged her as tightly as he could. He had meant to yell in her ear, but whether he'd managed it or not was a completely different question... Then Bam noticed someone watching them and his hand dropped to his gun again. If the guy was a Citizen, then it was a 50/50 chance of Melissa and Bam getting away... Most Citizens, as Bam had found out, would rather tell SMILE about a Rebellion member than just let them be.

Keeping his gaze on the man, Bam mumbled in Melissa's ear softly: "We're bein' watched..." And pulled away from the hug. His head tilted back a tiny bit and he remained watching the man as he looked away. Bam's hand gripped the handle of his yellow ray gun a little and he waiting for what Melissa may do... At least she was warned, though... Just in case...

[Melissa Clark]

"Quit with the ear play, Bam! First you're shouting, then you're whispering, anyone would think you've got a fetish for ear damage." Melissa flicked Bam's forehead, as his words registered. "Eh? We are?" She glanced over the road. Melissa only really saw the dog. The woman had a soft spot for domestic pets, therefore the man stood next to the dog pretty much stood in her blind spot. "N'awww! Look at the pooch!" Before either Bam or the canine had a chance to react, Melissa bolted over the road towards the dog. Cigarette left somewhere in the cloud she would have left had she been a cartoon.

Crouching down by the dog, Melissa waved Brandon over as she let the pooch sniff her palm. She'd been tearing into some chicken earlier, and wouldn't be shocked if the animal reacted to the scent of meat on her flesh. Only as she calmed down, did she notice that the German Shephard was not alone. Looking up at the male that accompanied the dog, she brought herself into a standing position and thrust her hand out for a shake. "Nice dog!" She complimented. Hell, if this person was a SMILE, they shouldn't have had trouble with Melissa. Grinning her head off as she was. And if they were a rebel, no problem there. If they were a citizen and decided to cause trouble, eh, no worries for Melissa and Brandon. They could take a single citizen, no worries.

Turning, Melissa called Bam over once more.

[Spencer Pierce]

Spencer was acutely aware that he'd been caught. Out of the peripheral of his vision he could see the boy cuffing at something in his pocket, his head cocked towards the sky in a display of intimidation. Kilo, too, noticed the hostility and had moved to stand against Spencer's leg. He wasn't entirely sure what he'd done to deserve such a gesture, but instead simply kicked up a leg and propped it against the wall, continuing to finish his smoke. No smoke entered his lungs and an awful taste was hitting the roof of his mouth. Undeniably, he'd smoked it to the filter.

Spencer grimaced and flicked the cigarette as far as he could into the street, ignoring the new attention he was receiving as much as possible. He reached once more into his coat, pulled out the pack, stuck another cigarette in his mouth, and lit it. His head slacked back against the wall as he inhaled, welcoming the cold sensation that hit his throat and the smoke that filled his lungs. Spencer heard rapid foot steps approaching and opened his eyes to see that a blonde was just kneeling to pet Kilo.

"Thank you," he replied smiling thinly. He wasn't sure what to expect of this, particularly because the boy she'd been talking to was highly aggressive and here she was bolting across the street to pet Kilo. Curiosity was beginning to creep into his thoughts. He didn't know how to ask this question though, because just as obvious as it should have been, it was also weird and probably didn't have any importance anyhow. Spencer decided to keep it to himself for now, hoping perhaps someone might mention it so he wouldn't have to.

Kilo was now starting to sniff at the girl's hand. She clearly had smelt something delicious on them but refrained from licking them when she noticed there were no traces of it left but the scent. Kilo's tail wagged briefly before she took seat once again beside her master, warily watching for the other stranger to approach.

[Brandon Napier]

Bam wasn't sure whether or not he should really follow Melissa, but did so anyway, deciding that if he were a citizen, then the man would have told on them already.

Planting a grin across his lips as a SMILE van sped past, Bam crossed the road at a jog and his hand dropped from his holstered ray gun. He heard the thanks she got from the man after she complimented his dog, and he looked at the guy before looking at the dog. He then shook his head at Melissa and looked at the man. He didn't say anything, though, not knowing what to say but his hand rested on the handle of his gun, again, and he looked up and down the road, just in case SMILE were to come along again.

Bam then registered that the guy was smoking and bit his bottom lip softly. What Bam wouldn't give for a cigarette... 'No, Bam, wait until you get back. It won't be that long...' He thought to himself and shoved the hand not on his gun into his pocket. He then looked back at the guy and watched him, only then registering that he wasn't smiling. Hm... Funny, he wasn't a Rebellion member, so why wasn't he smiling?

Now curious, Bam watched the other man, not realising that he was basically staring... Oh well...

[Melissa Clark]

Melissa smiled when Bam joined them. She didn't say anything to her friend and simply went back to stroking the dog. Melissa was a child on the inside, and had a great desire to pet any furry creature she saw. From rat to giraffe. Shifting to sit on the floor near the pooch, Melissa began rooting through her pockets for something for the pet to either eat or play with. A few moments came and went before she pulled out a tennis ball. Why did Melissa have a tennis ball? She didn't know, but she was a scavenger. And enjoyed hoarding things and holding them dear to her. She often had knick knacks in her pockets. Today just happened to be ball day.

"Smile you guys! There are vans everywhere!" She sang from the floor, scratching the domestic animal behind the ear. "What's the pooch's name? Also, what's your name? I'm Melissa!~" She chirped merrily, playing the ball around the paws of the dog as, just like she'd mentioned, SMILE vans chugged along. With large, sluggish henchmen glaring out of the windows from behind the glass. Striking fear into the hearts of those that smiled and torturing those that didn't. A little way down the street, someone got dragged into a van, and the van drove away. As if nothing had happened. Melissa wanted to help them, but they were already gone.

[Spencer Pierce]

Spencer began to notice quite a few things now that he was standing there for quite a while. White vans, for one, which harbored angry looking men searching for something - but what? Two, the fact that nearly everyone smiled. And three, that one of those vans had taken some helpless person from the street. What in the heavens was going on? Spencer's eyes narrowed as he watched the van speed away, a questioning look appearing across his face. He just now caught what Melissa had said moments ago. A sinking feeling formed in the pit of his stomach.

Spencer glanced at the boy who joined them. The light near the restaurant illuminated their faces and now, with a lopsided smile, Spencer noticed that his hair was a rather appealing pink. Kilo was graciously lapping up the girl's attention and proceeded to nudge the tennis ball with her nose. Nudged it enough that it rolled out from between her paws and into the deserted street. Before Spencer could protest, Kilo raced onto the blacktop and skidded to a halt when she'd gathered the ball into her mouth.

He dropped his cigarette, remembering how fast those vans were coming through just moments beforehand and he couldn't risk losing his dog. Index and thumb placed to the corners of his mouth, Spencer whistled for her to come back, hoping desperately that she'd come back in time before another car came by. To his relief, Kilo came scampering back and placed the ball between his feet. Spencer leaned down, picked up the ball and handed it back to Melissa as he wiped a bead of sweat that was forming on his brow with the other arm. "That was nice of you, really, but we ought to be going now."

Spencer wasn't positive what to do now, but as he began walking away, patting at his leg for Kilo to follow, those questions seemed to resurface out of nowhere. Curiosity was getting the best of him now and this time he just couldn't resist. "Why.." he began, turning his head enough to look out of the corner of his eye. "Why must I smile?"

[Brandon Napier]

Bam eyed the van that took the person with obvious dislike and obvious disgust before he watched the dog, then the man, then the dog again as the man whistled. He began talking and Bam raised an eyebrow. The man began to leave, and Bam very almost began moving, but then the man asked questions and a smirk spread itself on to Bam's face. This guy hasn't been here very long, has he?

Stretching his arms above his head, Bam's lips pulled into a somewhat manic grin and he put his hands on his hips somewhat femininely.

"Because otherwise you'll die." He told the man bluntly and put his weight onto one leg. His grin turned into a smirk once more and he shrugged. "It's that 'takin' over the world' crap..." He looked down at Melissa, then at the man. Then it occurred to him that they hadn't actually gotten to the world, yet... SMILE had only just gotten a little control over England...

Okay... So it was that 'take over one country' crap... Whatever, it was still crap...

Manic grin reappearing in time for one of the SMILE vans to pass by, Bam waited to see if Melissa wanted to do anything else and shifted his weight again before flicking his red hair out of his eyes and looking up and down the road, making sure that he was aware of whether or not SMILE would be coming along any time soon... Best to be aware that you'd have to leg it, if you were going to have to...

[Melissa Clark]

Melissa grabbed Bam's hand and yanked herself into standing. She knew the sensation of watching a beloved pet run into the road, and never come running back. So she was glad for the stranger when he didn't lose his pet. Everyone needed something to hold onto. Bouncing the ball on the pavement floor, a soft 'thup, thup, thup' sounded. The restaurant's fine food flooded her nostrils with mouth watering yumminess, but Melissa paid no attention to this. Something in the atmosphere said it wasn't a time for eating. Especially with that one dangerous question in the air.

While Brandon answered, Melissa mulled it over, a stretched grin cracking the dry skin on her lips. Painful, no salty foods for her. "Yeah! SMILE want people to smile, so the country looks really happy. But really, what happens is, if you don't smile, they take you off in them there vans and they uhm..They shoot spikes and stuff into you!" She called, rather bravely. Letting go of Bam's palm, she rushed after the stranger and the dog. "You gotsa smile! But not really all the time. See, we don't." Melissa pointed at Bam, the boy changed from frowning to grinning more than a woman changed clothes before a night out with a boyfriend. "Just SMILE when the vans and SMILE operatives are around, and you won't get killed. Kay?" Melissa gabbled, bouncing the tennis ball at her side. The thup, thup, thup, in time with the pulse that sounded dully in her ears.

[Spencer Pierce]

Because otherwise you'll die.. That was certainly something for someone to say. If you didn't smile you would surely die a painful, excruciating death. Mulling this over more times than he wished, Spencer continued to stay planted in that one particular spot. His eyes dropped to the ground as he contemplated what these strangers were telling him. This 'SMILE' organization they spoke of seemed rather appalling to him and it puzzled him even more why news of it hadn't stretched farther than this part of the country. These poor people were being ravaged upon with nothing they could do about it.

Spencer turned slowly on his heel, eyeing the two in consideration. Kilo simply sat there scratching her ear with her tongue lolling from her slathering jowls. "I haven't been here long as you've probably already figured out on account of my question," he said softly, concern teeming on the edge of his voice. "But I'm wary of traveling once more, and have come here to find a permanent home." Spencer shrugged and looked away, shaking his head and stuffing his hands in the pocket of his coat. "I have no choice but to stay."


(ooc:) IT'S SO SMALL.

[Brandon Napier]

((That's what she said..))

Bam bounded after Melissa, suddenly seemingly full of life, and nodded along with the guy's words. Though, he thought, it wasn't bad that SMILE were allowing people into the country... Considering the amount of people that they killed each day, then at least there wasn't a chance of over crowding...

A huge, Cheshire Cat-like grin spread across Bam's lips and he dived forward and hugged the guy tightly.

"Don't worry, so long as you actually pretend t'be cheerful, you'll be okay." He said and pulled away before bouncing on the spot. Now, Bam was hyper, and now, Bam wanted to blow shit up. This would be so easy to do, and yet, he felt as though he should stay here, with Melissa and this guy who still hadn't told them his name, just to explain the oh-so wonderful life of England under the control of SMILE...

Oh, there's a point... "You still ain't told us your name." Bam pointed out, crossing his arms now and shifting to put his weight onto one leg, again.

[Melissa Clark]

((Hahahahaa, Bam, the grammar nazi used the wrong your.))

Melissa nodded at Bam's point, agreeing completely. Whoever this person was, he didn't seem so open and willing to share information. Melissa couldn't blame him, a lot of people didn't want to share their personal info with strangers they met on the street. But she wasn't going to push it out of him. She wasn't that much like SMILE. Bam might though, Brandon could probably do a lot worse. Like get this guy's bank details within an hour of torture. But then, Brandon had his nice days too.

Having had enough thinking of the bright haired boy, Melissa piped up. "If you've got no where to stay we could help you find somewhere! We're helpful like that," she grinned, genuinely feeling chipper. As in, not smiling because a van trundled by, with angry figures slouching behind the windows, carrying guns that looked too small for the large men. "Quit with the formality though, we're quite informal." She promised, nodding her blonde head.

Teeth bared and showing, Melissa patted the stranger's dog's head with her palm. Then, as she stretched, Melissa noticed that this guy wasn't much of a smiler himself. Her grin dropped. "Smile more, we don't want you slaughtered now. Well, we don't wantcha slaughtered at all." Melissa's smile returned, eyes glinting in the night light.

[Spencer Pierce]

Spencer looked almost shocked when Bam hugged him, standing there rather rigidly with his hands still in his pockets, but he couldn't help but to laugh at the boy's enthusiasm. Then came the inevitable question that he'd been putting off since it was asked. Normally, Spencer wouldn't give anyone such information - in fact, the last time he had actually answered that particular question for anyone was in Tuscany. For a moment longer he hesitated, a small smile playing on his lips. "Spencer," he said, then gesturing to the german shepard who now seemed to have lie down for a little nap, "That's Kilo."

It'd been quite a while since he actually came close to a real conversation and so he didn't know how to be informal. It was really a part of his nature now which fit well with his humble temper. Spencer realized it would take time to get comfortable with interacting again but the thought of it warmed him to the core, and so as he approached slowly up to the pair, he extended a hand to Melissa and then to Bam. "So!" he exclaimed, reaching once again into his pocket to grab those godforsaken cigarettes, "What brought you two out here on a foggy night like this"

Spencer hadn't quite figured out their ages yet but suspected the two of them were younger. Melissa's gentle features and flowing blonde hair couldn't have deemed her much older than a year prior to a teenager. The boy on the other hand, though he was tall, sported the likelihood and spirit of a rather ill-minded child. He would find somewhere to stay later, he gathered, and remain in the company of these for a while, if not only to satisfy that hunger for human connection. Usually his eyes would have betrayed himself for looking at a woman, but Spencer could hardly peel his eyes off Bam which was completely absurd to say the least. So he preoccupied himself with lighting up the cigarette he took from the pack moments ago. If he kept this going he'd have to buy more within another thirty minutes and the alcoholic in him probably wouldn't last more than an hour before he trotted off to some dimly lit bar.

[Brandon Napier]

"Wahey! A name!" Bam almost cheered then bit his knuckles to not laugh. "Sorry..." He mumbled and looked at Kilo. A moment later, Bam was pulling faces at the dog and ignoring the two humans. He didn't even notice the other guy's question and, instead, stuck his tongue out at the animal before registering that something had been asked and Bam shrugged, continuing to pull faces before, halfway through pulling a face, looking at Melissa, then at Spencer, then back at the dog. The five foot seven sixteen year old then put his hands behind his back and began rocking on the balls of his feet, mumbling another apology as he did so...

Immature? Yes. Very. Then Bam saw the guy light up another cigarette and wondered what was making him want to smoke so much. He was completely oblivious to the fact that Spencer maybe trying to distract himself and Bam bit his bottom lip, then pulled a face. The more the temptation for a cigarette was there, the more Bam wanted to go blow some SMILE members up... Ahhh, the joys of being a sixteen year old pyromaniac.

[Melissa Clark]

"Boredom," Melissa answered, before looking to Bam with a cocked head. She noticed Spencer staring at her friend and chose to say nothing, for the time being. Instead she rubbed the back of her head and laughed quietly at herself and Brandon. The situation could get awkward. "I imagine the lust to blow things up was Bam's calling, but hey, who knows with him. He isn't even listening." She sang, looking down at Kilo. She'd never heard of such a name for a canine. Or any animal really.

Though she didn't know what Spencer was thinking about, age wise, she was twenty years old. Hands in her pockets, she rocked on her heels. "Right-o..Shall we find you somewhere to kip before Bamela sets fire to something?" She laughed, shaking her head a little.

The weather was beginning to chill, with the darkness. But it wasn't anything too bad, at least not for her. She appreciated the odd coolness. A few seconds passed before she noticed the continued staring at Brandon. Melissa nudged her buddy in the ribs lightly in a 'he liiikes you' kind of way. True or not, she enjoyed being annoying.

[Spencer Pierce]

Though he didn't really notice, he continued to steal glances toward the boy with pink hair. Spencer, unconsciously of course, noted each contour of his face, the color of his eyes, and the slight innocence shadowed by his reckless tendencies. Only when the voice of Melissa and other noises surrounding broke through did he snap back to reality, bringing his lips to a half-hearted grin, smoke passing through his lips and streaming into his nostrils.

"I'm not the violent type, but I wouldn't mind coming along to watch." Spencer was trying his damnedest to lure his eyes away from Bam, but hardly succeeded despite his efforts, and in turn, shoved the pack of cigarettes toward him. "You could of just asked." If explosions and the likes of SMILE hadn't caught up with him, what harm would sharing a smoke or two do to him? If he took one or not was another matter, but Spencer had seen the obvious signs of a desperate smoker; the biting of knuckles and lip, and the antsy way he rolled back and forth on his heels. That or he was just mistaken and was rather bored standing here listening to him and her talk.

Spencer patted Kilo's head and stuffed the pack back into his coats' pockets. "Right then. I doubt I'll sleep tonight, so I'll hold off on finding somewhere until tomorrow." He actually had plans to sleep under the stars tonight, somewhere a little ways from the town. He didn't need the comforts of blankets and pillows - he'd learn to respect that sometimes those commodities were lifted and found himself letting that fill his everyday life; living simple, that is. To no exception would he let a bath slip, though. Spencer really was the kind that kept himself as kempt and immaculate as possible, his messy looking just-rolled-out-of-the-bed hair the only thing betraying that fact.

[Brandon Napier]

Bam heard her words and pouted, crossing his arms over his chest as he did, then giggled softly at Melissa's nudging him in the ribs... Mainly because it tickled... And he winked at Melissa subtly. No, he wasn't taking this seriously. He then heard Spencer's words and grinned almost innocently before he held the cigarette box out to Bam and Bam pursed his lips then fluttered his eyelashes and took one, digging around in his pocket for his lighter.

Lighting the cigarette a moment later, Bam's grin widened.

"Thank you, Darlin'." He said and chuckled before taking a puff. He then stretched, again, and yawned softly, the smoke curling up towards the sky, to freedom. He then heard Spencer's words about doubting he'd sleep tonight and, almost automatically, his mind went to dirty thoughts... It really wasn't his fault, he just thought dirty thoughts far too often... Mostly when someone said something that could cause said thoughts... Like not sleeping that night...

I'm sorry, but someone says that and you are going to think something bad... Or at least, Bam is...

Looking at Melissa, Bam ran a hand through his red hair and took another puff on the cigarette, he then blew out the smoke and put his empty hand on his hip softly. He probably looked really girly standing like this, but oh well...

"So," He began, taking another puff before continuing to talk. "now what?" He asked, ignoring the smoke leaving his mouth and looking at Melissa for an answer before looking at Spencer. Really, it would help... Knowing something, I mean... It always seemed like a good idea... Not hanging around on street corners, that is... Someone once mistook Bam for being a male prostitute at the beginning of all this... That had not been fun... Trying to explain that he wasn't a male prossie, but just lost, that is... That guy's reaction had been hilarious, though...

[Melissa Clark]

Melisssa watched the staring from Spencer to Brandon, she also watched Bam's behaviour. She rolled her eyes softly with a smile, a real one. The situation was fast becoming a two person job. "Now what, eh? Well.." Melissa held onto the ball in her hand, and making sure Kilo wasn't going to chase it, threw it as hard and as far as she could behind her. "Oh, I must go and get that.." She grinned cheekily at Bam, bid him a quick goodbye hug, and bolted after the ball.

It should be stated that Melissa was never a good runner, and looked like a duck waddling away as she ran. She paid no attention to this though, and had no real intention of running after the ball. Instead, once around a corner, Melissa slowed to a walk and began to walk back to Rebel Head Quarters. Finding that it was late and she wanted to get some sleep.

((OOC: >.> Melissa left the thread!))