wanted a serious title but i'm wondering which of them is shrek and which is donkey (we know)

[brokeassgoing]

Continued from all this beauty

[He's had a pretty hard time stumbling around after his injury...but that doesn't really stop him. Whiny as he is, Badou had too much to do. Sure, he'd stayed mostly at home these past few days, but he's been very busy. No laying around, no unconsciousness for too long.

He's been developing the film he'd taken during the last job, carefully cultivated in the darkness of his nasty little bathroom, the chemicals would sting his nose if he wasn't used to this already.

So it's no surprise he's been so focused he's forgotten to do some stuff around the place, lately. And will probably not notice a new visitor in the form of his little old man buddy, either.]

Comments

[brokeassgoing]

[he knows Klaus is A Lot...but still, he might move faster than the other two would. But he answers and there's some hope there.]

Do you have the find friends app on your phone? You need to locate Five's phone immediately.

[no jokes, nothing ha-ha, no ice breaker either. there's no time for that now. he has absolutely no idea when Five'll get to the meat of this problem so time is of the essence.]

[private_npcs]

[ Well fuck, this is exactly the kind of phone call he did not want to be taking. ]

No, Five wouldn't make it that easy to find his phone. What's going on?

[ 'Diego, could probably use his police contacts to track Five's phone.' Ben suggests, already looking worried by the direction of the conversation. ]

[brokeassgoing]

Crap...of course he wouldn't.

[he was really hoping he just, didn't have enough time to check out things like phone tracking but again. former time assassin. old man. of course!!]

The usual, your brother has decided he needs to clean something up without any help. I wouldn't worry normally but this is...

[and that makes him nervous. Five has acted like dealing with the mayor is smalltime, and okay, Badou has too, but...not quite when it comes with powers.]

Something with powers.

[private_npcs]

Well you know how he is, he's fair too paranoid to make things easy for the rest of us.

[ 'Klaus, you should really tell Diego what is going on. Five could be in trouble' Ben nags Klaus, because he knows the kind of trouble that finds Five is even worse than the shit that happens to Klaus.

To appease Ben, he starts walking downstairs to see if Diego is even in the house. For all he knows, he could be out playing Batman. Because Diego is as ridiculous as Five when it comes to putting themselves in danger. And well now Ben is reminding him that he isn't much better when looking out for himself.]

Wait what do you mean 'clean up'? What did Five tell you exactly?

[brokeassgoing]

For once his paranoia is gonna screw things up.

[speaking of screwed up. he takes a moment to figure out how to break it to him. the guilt is heavy on his shoulders...how to tell his brother you're the reason he's in danger now?]

I screwed up on a job he gave me and he's going to take care of it, in the way we both know he will. But the problem is it's bigger than he realizes and people with powers are involved. He cannot go in there alone.

[private_npcs]

[ Well neither Klaus or Ben can argue that point. Klaus frowns as he definitely knows Five definition of handling things. Oh boy, now he's vaguely remember an argument between Diego, Five and Luther a few days ago.]

Ohhhhh, were you the one Five needed help finding a few days ago?

[ Klaus likes to stay out of most his brothers bickering but that had been a pretty big argument. Luckily by the time he makes it down to the kitchen, Diego is there.]

Hey Diego, any chance your police connections could track down Five's phone?

[ Diego looks up from his plate of food with a confused expression. ]

What the hell is going on with Five now?

Oh you know, the same old, same old. I think it is related to what you guys were arguing about a few days ago?

What?! Who the hell are you talking too, Klaus?!

[brokeassgoing]

[he hesitates for a second. the guilt is rising...what if Five gets killed? What if his brothers kick his butt? So while Diego and Klaus are having this yell-conversation, he softly says into the phone:]

Yeah, that was me. He found me and I found out some stuff. He went to take care of the problem but he might bite off more than he can chew. I have the feeling he's walking into something bad...

[private_npcs]

[ Klaus opens his mouth to talk, but Diego is already up and snatching the phone out of his hand. ]

Hey! No need to get rough!

Who the hell is this and what the hell is wrong with Five?!

[ Diego demands, not even giving Klaus a chance to fill him in on anything as he doesn't trust his brother to fully convey the message properly and if Five's in trouble he wants full details. ]

It's Five's friend, Badou. So maybe be nicer to the guy. You know the old man doesn't have many friends.

[ Klaus speaks up, while Ben looks on helplessly. He's really just worried about Five now. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[ah and there's Diego now. He doesn't know the guy, but he knows the other Hargreeves gets around the grapevine of info, and with the kind of trouble he gets into, Badou knows they'd get on like a house on fire.

If the fire was the end of the world. Have to play this carefully.]

I'm Badou, one of Five's contacts. He's walking into something bad, the people involved have powers like yours. We need to find him and get him out of there, pronto.

[private_npcs]

[ And that definitely makes Diego pause as he pulls his phone out of his pocket and shoots a text to Beaman asking if he can do him another favor as he needs to find his brother now.]

Okay, how long has he been gone? And what sort of powers are talking about here?

[ Diego questions as he needs to know what Five is up against. Quickly looks over to Klaus, who is definitely looking worried. ]

Klaus, go check if Luther is home.

[ They might need his strength at this point. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[he's so relieved Diego isn't going to fight him on this he could collapse. for now he painstakingly sits up, slowly, slowly, to get ready to get out of here.]

He's been gone less than 2 hours. And I only know the powers of one of them: the guy can mimic people's faces. Only the faces, not their body shape or anything.

[private_npcs]

And you're just calling now? Did he knock you out to keep you from going after him?

[ Yeah, Diego knows his brother, so that's why he is asking for confirmation. ]

How do you know there are others with powers then?

[ A mimic doesn't sound too bad, but of course he'll feel better once he knows Five is okay. He decides to shoot Five a text and see if he responds to it. Klaus and Luther come into the kitchen and Luther has that serious look on his face, so he can only assume that Klaus filled him in. ]

So how long has Five been out on his own?

[ Luther asks as Klaus sits down at the table with a sigh. ]

A couple of hours, I texted Beaman to see if he can track Five's cell for us.

Why does he always think he has to do these sorts of things alone?

[ Luther sighs out as he leans against the counter. ]

Come on you guys, the old man is use to doing things alone. Old habits die hard.

[ Klaus offers up. He doesn't like it either, but he gets it. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[a wry, but self-deprecating smile curls across his mouth as his arm curls around his middle. Five probably would have done worse to him if Badou hadn't just seemed to let him go.]

I was sorta stabbed during the incident and he took advantage of that to put me down. Just catching my breath now.

[if they all live through this Five is going to get a piece or two of Badou's mind for that one. He gets it, he does. But still.]

I know where the aid who we checked out lives, but I don't know if he'd still be there after all this time.

[private_npcs]

[ Of course. Diego sighs because his brother can be so brutal when he's trying to protect someone. It also clues him in that Five apparently does care about this kid. So Klaus was pretty on the money there.]

Yeah that sounds like something he'd do.

What did he do?

[ Luther asks, not being privy to what Badou is saying to Diego, since he doesn't have the phone on speaker. ]

Five pretty much, sucker punched the guy to keep him from following him.

[ Both Luther and Klaus say "Ah" in unison, loud enough to he heard because yep that sounds like a Five thing to do. Finally Diego puts the phone on speaker as he goes to check his text messages. There's no response from Five, doesn't even look like he's seen the message yet. ]

Don't be too cross with the old man. It sounds like he just wanted to protect you from getting hurt worse.

[ Klaus tells Badou with a tone of sympathy, he can't help but think that his brother extending his friends group is growth for the guy. Diego's looks up from his phone. ]

Beaman says the last time Five's phone pinged was at the public library. It looks like the phone is offline now. So either he turned it off or it's been damaged.

[ Both Klaus and Luther look at each other with worried expressions. Diego smashes his fist into the table. ]

Fuck. Look man, we're going to check the library. If he's not there, then you are going to need to show us where this aid lives. So text us your address.

[brokeassgoing]

[now that-- grinds his gears. he understands, he does-- he doesn't want Five, or any of his friends hurt either. he'd do pretty much anything to keep them safe.

but it sets his teeth-- it grinds his gears. he grinds his teeth, actually, before he answers.]

Look, I understand he's trying to protect me...but it'd be nice if he let us protect him too. I don't stand for that shit. So we're gonna have to force it.

[or else. after a deep breath, he finally gets to his feet, only wobbles a little]

Sounds good. You check out the library...I'm going to check out the aid's place. I'll text you the address now and you meet me when you're done.

[private_npcs]

[ Luther picks up the phone with a frown on his face. ]

Whoa there, it doesn't sound like a good idea for you to go to the aid's place alone. How about I go pick you up and we go to the aid's place. While Diego and Klaus go check out the library.

[ He can't help but take charge of the situation because he doesn't think anyone should be handling any of this on their own. There's enough of them to partner up and Five's life may be on the line here. ]

That's our number one, taking charge of things.

[ Klaus teases even though he is clearly worried for their oldest little brother. 'I just hope, Five's okay.' Ben tells him, really wishing he could be heard right now. ]

Let's just get going here. Everyone keep your phones on, if you find anything let us know and we'll do the same.

[ Luther says, as Diego merely nods in agreement. For Five's sake he'll put his ego aside and let Luther take the lead. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[he doesn't want to work with someone else, an impulsive, ugly side of him wants to do this on his own too. he fights it. he knows, logically, it wouldn't be safe. if someone's still there Badou would be a sitting, wobbling, hurt duck.

another deep breath. because he doesn't like getting ordered around by strangers, which is essentially what Five's brothers are.]

Okay, I'll send you my address and we'll head over.

[but this is the smartest. everyone has someone watching their back. it's logical.]

Watch your backs for the other power users. 89 babies? Whatever you're calling yourselves.

[private_npcs]

[ The brothers just look a little confused by Badou's comment. Luther is just thrown when he responds. Klaus just laughs.]

Uh pretty sure folks like us don't have a name. 43 women gave birth on October 1, 1989.

We don't know actually how many of the children born of those women survived. So maybe 89 isn't that way out there as a guess? Weren't Five and Luther twins?

It doesn't matter right now. Come on Klaus, let's get out of here.

[ Diego says impatiently as he ushers Klaus toward the stairs. ]

Right, I'll get Five's friend, so we can check out the aid's place. Seriously guys call us, if anything happens.

[brokeassgoing]

No, you were born in the year-- whatever.

[why don't old people know anything??? it's sad.

Either way, Badou sends his address and sighs.]

Let's bring that little ass home.

[private_npcs]

I'm on my way.

[ Luther tells him as he hangs up the phone and hands it over to Klaus, since it is his phone. And then he's grabbing the keys to Reginald's car and heading for the door. There's no time to waste.

As he splits off from his brothers, he really hopes that they find Five at the library but he already has a bad feeling. But he can't think about that as he hurries over to the address that Klaus forwarded to him. Maybe ten minutes tops and Luther is outside Badou's building shooting him a text that he's waiting downstairs in the car. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[Badou's ready. He's got his guns, extra ammo, and he's even dressed. After tightening a fresh bandage, he notices Luther's text.

Time for the moment of truth...getting down the stairs (the elevator is Perpetually Broken) and surviving.
Give him a few moments.

Staggering and huffing about 10 minutes later, here he comes. He opens the door, slides himself in the passenger seat.]

Let's do this, then.

[private_npcs]

[ Luther can't help but noticed how winded and pale that Badou is looking. However he starts the car and pulls out. ]

You okay? [ He doesn't know the guy personally but he knows Five has hung out with him a lot. So he really doesn't want to see the guy get hurt further if they can avoid it. ]

What's the address to the place we're heading?

[brokeassgoing]

I'm good. Great, even.

[he is not, he's just this side of shaking, but he holds out his palm--]

I'll put it in your gps. Gimmie your phone.

[it'll spare him having to give directions and let him concentrate on worrying about Five.]

[private_npcs]

You don't look so good.

[ Luther can be slow, but he's not that slow and well they are about to head into something dangerous. He can't help but wonder if Five might have had a point for keeping him out. Instinctively he hands over his phone.]

So what's the deal with this aid?

[ He figures he might as well try to get the story as they head over there. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[he doesn't feel so good either, but he's not about to let that stop him either. they have something incredibly important to accomplish and Badou refuses to be down for the count.

He puts in the address with a few taps of his fingers, then sets it up on the dashboard.]

Well Five apparently had a client or contact or whatever who wanted this guy looked at and I found out a few things I shouldn't have. Politics are always complicated when it has to do with other crap too...