goddamngrenades | RP Open Post

That he's gone so weak in so short a time is a bad sign, and Carolina's eyes narrow as he sags into him. Her eyes cast about, trying to spot something unusual, something--someone--out of place here.

Then she's half ducking and catching York up, pulling him into a fireman's carry. It means that she can't hold the cloth in place, and holding your breath is hard when attempting this, but she needs to get him offstage. Now.

Can't breathe can't hardly walk and it's moritfying as it is distressing that this is happening in the first place. Out behind where Jerry is trying and failing to shut off the smoke machine there's- someone? In a mask. That isn't a backup dancer.

Whoever was in charge of venu security is so damn FIRED.

The mask registers in the back of her mind, filed to one side as Carolina staggers off the stage with York. Getting him back, getting him clear of the smoke - and where has everyone else disappeared to? Evacuated already?

"Here," she coughs, pressing the cloth she'd been using into York's hand, hoping he can keep a grip on it. "Cover your mouth. I've got you."

And she'll keep carrying him until they hit one of the side exits - though she does stagger against the wall, trying not to fall or drop him. She couldn't completely escape whatever drug was in the smoke, and her own muscles are beginning to protest. "Water. Now!" is barked at one of the roadies, who promptly disappears to fetch.

Evacuated and scattered. Someone was mentioning technical difficulties and no one knew why he wasn't on stage yet, the opening act was probably still in the green room and all these little things were floating in the back of his mind as he tried to breathe, tried to keep his fingers around the handkerchief she'd pressed into his fingers. He manages. Somehow.

Just the one figure in a mask that seemed to be trying to follow them. It wasn't a stage hand, wasn't a dancer, and wasn't someone that should be back there.

Landing wasn't easy but it didn't need to be- he sags against the wall, sucking in clear air and trying to blink the blur from his eyes. "Not- not suppost'da-"

For the moment, under the overhang that lead down one of the exit corridors and out into a dark alley, keeping him somewhat upright was more important than immediately checking her six; Who knew what kind of injury he could do to himself by falling, hitting his head?

Only once he's breathing through the cloth, somewhat steady if slurring, does she try and steady her own breathing. Then turn slowly, at the sound of someone else's approach, already high on alert.

Masked figure gett'n real close for his sense of comfort. He shoves himself against the wall, behind Carolina- she's his bodyguard, she saved his ass, he's pretty sure she will continue to save his ass and this guy-girl-whatever could suck it. Delta was also gonna get some WORDS later. What the hell is this?

"This area is off limits," she informs the stranger calmly, aware that York has put himself out of the line of fire. He might be taller than her, but right now, the slumping helps keep him out of direct view.

She waits. But if he-she-they approach further, she'll stand her ground. But any other action, any sign of weapons being drawn, any sign of a charge, will be met by a flash of movement - Carolina, springing forwards, moves in to disarm.

They don't answer- and that's what's creepy. They don't talk they just. Linger. Lunge, even, and York is not prepared for this shit.

Carolina, however, is, and the figure struggles to bring up a- is that a tazer? That's a tazer. What the fuck.

Her hand snaps out, moves to intercept the arm trying to wrangle that tazer, even as her left foot lifts, then slams down, attempting to drive her heel down against her opponent's instep.

The other knee then ends, snapping up to collide with his middle.

She doesn't look back, doesn't look at York. Eyes forward, concentrate on your foe. Hopefully he won't get it into his head to attempt to help her or that might end badly for someone.

York knows damn well to keep out of the way- besides. Watching Carolina disarm and pretty much destroy whoever was coming for him, for them, is kind of. Hot? Really hot. Very hot. God damn. The guy loses the tazer and pretty much folds in half under the rest of the assault.

It's only the lingering daze from the gas that keeps him from applauding. Cuz. Damn.

See. Doesn't Delta always make sure to have the best available?

Only once the stranger falters, falls, does his arm get twisted around and Carolina uses his downward momentum to pin him to the ground, pulling his arm up behind him. There's enough of an impact that the mask may well fall off, but for the moment, she settles for reaching for the tazer with her left hand, only glancing up at York once she's certain her target is secure.

"..You good?"

"Yeah. I- you?" He's still muzzy and probably will be for about ten to fifteen- but she got him out of there before shit got real. That shit was starting to get real at all is disconcerting as hell.

Jesus christ.

"....gonna have to cancel the show, huh?" No way D'll let him back onstage after this security breach.

She's saved from having to reply right away by the night club's security team and the police showing up. Only once she's certain that they have him in hand does she let go, handing over the tazer before walking straight to York's side. Her? "I'm fine," especially compared to him, and instinctively, she moves an arm around his back, support and guidance for getting out of this alley.

"We'll get you checked out first," is her reply, brows furrowed. "Then we'll worry about other arrangements once we're sure whatever was in that teargas won't have any last effects."

"You or D gonna tell me what in the ever loving fuck this was about?" Because this is about the time he feels like he should be filled in. A little. A lot. Hell he doesn't even object to getting checked out- just goes where he's led. Even keeps his arm around her waist instead of trying to cop a feel.

Carolina is solid and strong and warm and he doesn't have to worry about keeping an eye out while she's around. He'll take that. "Smelled like rotten vanilla. Is that normal?"

She stops at his question, looking up at him with an unreadable expression that creeps slowly into annoyance - and not necessarily with him. Very much with the situation. "You honestly don't know." A statement, not a question, and her lips purse a moment, before she sighs and looks ahead. "Once we're secure."

Not before. Not when you don't know who's listening.

She'll lead him to where-ever he needs to go, until she makes him stand with one of the security guards outside the tour bus, personally checking the vehicle-home until she's happy with what she finds. Or doesn't find. "In," she informs him, offering her arm again, before grimacing at his question. "No. That usually indicates a custom job. Someone didn't want you dead."

"No, I do not. Enlighten me." Normally he'd press. He'd bug. He'd wheedle till he had an answer but- he trusts her. She's been nothing if not honest with him and that? Well. He can take that.

Secure. Okay.

He goes where he needs to. Gets himself checked by a medic. GOes to the tour bus and waits outside till she motions him in. THen- slides up inside, locks the doors, and grabs himself a coke from the fridge. "Alright SO they don't want me dead. What do they want, and what hasn't D told me?"

She's texting as he settles himself with a coke. Better soda than a beer, particularly as they haven't had the results of the breathalyzer test yet. Only once that's done does she sit herself on the leftside couch, opposite York.

His colour's returning. That's good. It eases some of her own worries, unhappy as she is to have missed the containers that must have held the replacement smoke. But he's alive, and safe here, and the perp is in custody. Delta is handling the particulars there.

"For the past few months, there's been an increase in threatening fan mail addressed to you." No preamble. Right to the point. "Threatening words. Escalating in content letter by letter. The record company seemed to think it par for the course in this business. Made sure to approve an increase for security, but nothing more." Her lips pursed. "Delta did not."

"I am one of the most inoffensive pop rock singers on the circuit right now. I've deliberately and blatantly taken no stance on any political or religious- anything. I have NO opinions on the record about anything!" Which is the opposite of how he actually feels but there's him and then there's work him. Work him exists to entertain people, not to use his celebrity for good. That way lies micromanaging and madness. "The hell are they threatening me for?"

"People make decisions and choose targets for a reason. Just because you can't think of one doesn't make you immune to that attention." She doesn't tend to use the word 'crazy' any more, when it comes to people like this. Reaching into her coat, she pulls out some of the folded printouts that Delta had given her this morning. Copies of the letters - that she now offers to York.

"I'm just trying to figure out what I did to set someone off. I mean- going this far? I set them off." Obsessed fan that wanted his babies- that he kind of understood. That wanted to gas and kidnap him? Kind of weird. He tugs the file close and peers down, frowning at the mess of it. None of this makes sense and- there's an awful lot of him. "This explains D's anxiety lately."

"He called me in when he felt the last few letters were cutting too close to the bone." And while she hadn't been certain he was right, she'd taken his concerns seriously. And that had worked out for the better, this time. "Now the guy's been arrested, you can rest easy."

Her voice is surprisingly gentle when she mentions this, firm but fair. Soldier to soldier, even. Even if neither are in the service now.

"You're sure it's just the one guy?" Cuz that sort of organization- it might've been a group. He doesn't know. He's not sure and not being sure is fucking with his ability to relax. He hasn't been able to let shit like this go- well. Ever. And now it's here and it can't just be DONE, can it?

Logically it's better if it's done. But he- he needs to be sure.

"We don't know." Because honesty is, in this instance, the best policy. "Which is why Delta wanted me on a long term contract, rather than one night only, if things went poorly."

And she hadn't agreed to anything. Yet.

She leans back, arms folding across her chest. "What do you want to do?"

Now he feels like a real ass for giving his last few bodyguards a hard time. They had this to worry about and he kept being a contrary asshole, and for what? Just to mess with them? For a few laughs? Christ.

Slow, deep breaths. Take this one step at a time. Ok.

"...This is the last show of the tour- it was all gonna be PR rounds and then heading back home to recharge. Might skip the PR if this is still a concern. Till we know it's just that guy? I wanna consider it a concern. I am concerned."

"Then the show goes on."

..What.

Carolina leans forwards, resting her forearms on her knees, staring directly at York. "Concerts have delays all the time. The roof is secure. We can set up there, get some cameras. The road's blocked off anyway, have those who bought tickets to the show down there. Being out on stage'll show you're not going to be deterred by this, and you'll be out of range of anything short a sniper." Beat. "And that's not their game here. They wanted you alive."

It is a concern, or Delta wouldn't have asked for her help. "We'll know by tomorrow if it's just one guy, or a network." And, after, whether they'll still want her help, need it, once it's wrapped? ..Well, that remains yet to be seen, doesn't it.

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