This ain't Indy... [Cody]

[cinder]

Jacky had left Sarah behind to stay in her dingy apartment because in all honesty, she loved it. But her brother couldn't wrap his head around the answer to why. Maybe she just liked being alone for a change to live her own way, do her own thing. Jacky couldn't help but feel "shut in" at her small apartment and informed her that he would be back to visit in a couple of days. The roar of his expensive engine shook the interior inside one of the most beautiful and slick-looking sports cars ever crafted by human hands. He truly had one of the coolest looking rides this side of the coast. But the Indy racer also knew that a petty ego couldn't help those who needed it. People had it a lot worse than he did and still Jacky couldn't seem to enjoy it after seeing all of the homeless. It was depressing.

The cool breeze blew through his spiked, blonde locks as his dark shades served to shield his eyes from harmful rays. With one hand on the steering wheel, Jacky passed under many signs and the one destination that he always wanted to check out was Jersey. That's right, where all the fun happened to be during the dead of night. It was known for its beautiful Botanical Gardens but Jacky intended to go see for himself what the busy cities had to offer him. Sarah was under the protection of their family's private special forces so there was no need to worry himself at the moment. He had heard the crime rate was decent and that many gangs terrorized innocent bystanders just because - what's new? Hell, Cali had its own crime rate as well and both Sarah and himself had witnessed some pretty gruesome stuff.

Still, Jacky was a thrill-seeker! His intentions were to just hang out at one of the clubs, spot the action and see what was going down. He had been in Cali too long and it was time to clear his head of all the bullshit that's happened to him and his sister as of late. Like any normal human being he just wanted to chill. New Jersey seemed like the perfect place to do that, despite all the myths. He had never personally seen a "Jersey Devil" or any demonic trucks on Clinton Road and it left Jacky with a sour taste. How people could believe in, and eat up, such crock. It was actually hilarious. In hours, Jacky had arrived at a local club and had finally arrived in the state of Jersey. It looked like a tough place but he wasn't there to choke down a beer or any alcoholic beverage, rather to scope out the scene here.

Stepping out, Jacky shut the door behind him after finding a good place to park up front. He shoved the doors open as he approached the entrance and placed both hands on his jacket to straighten it out a little. He had a nice racing jacket made of a fine leather and decorated accordingly. Immediately, his nostrils were filled with cigarette smoke and then the sound of loud and obnoxious music, with barflies discussing breasts, surrounded him like a bad air. He made his way over to an unoccupied stool and seated himself. Jacky turned himself around to face the people inside the club as his blue eyes peered forward. He smirked, seeing younger people. "Heh... some joint. Looks like it'll be a real blast, after all." Jacky muttered to himself. More people started to pour in and his eyes followed them.

There was an obnoxious group of guys at the pool table. Well, hogging the pool table. Jacky started to wonder if he could get away with hustling the morons for their money which he was certain they didn't work hard to earn. The thought brought a smile to his face as he began to ponder such an event actually unfolding. Maybe later...

[cody]

Cody sat at the bar of this dive. He was clad in his ever usual white t-shirt and blue jeans, finishing the look with some white Adidas sneakers and wraps across his hands. Jersey was Cody's old stomping ground and he happened to miss this place. Cody's phone suddenly started ringing, a generic rap song being the ringtone. 'Turn the beat back' Cody took out his cell phone holding it to his ear. "Hey baby bro. Yeah, Kyle. I got out for a short while, not sure how long I'll be out but I'll come by to Metro to pay you a visit. I'm in our old stomping grounds, man. Catch you later." Cody hung up the phone and slipped it back into his pocket, getting back to the beer he'd bought and really only drank very little of so far. Truth be told, it was really his only vice that he enjoyed a drink every now and then. That, and the fact he was a connoisseur of the various street food of Jersey. He wasn't quite sure what was worse for him, truthfully.

Cody's eyes seemed to focus on the newest addition to this bar, a spiky haired kid in a leather jacket. He really didn't seem the type to hang out in a place like this. Then again, neither did Cody. Truth be told, Cody was from a simpler time when thugs on the street didn't do battle with semi automatics and solved problems in close quarters. Yeah, Cody missed the days when you didn't have to worry about getting shot from afar. Cody also longed for the days where you could beat the crap out of some criminals and not get thrown into a jail cell.... unless your Guy, somehow the police 'can't find him' Ha! Bullshit, he just does half the job for them. "Saved the girl, saved the city... but I couldn't save myself." Cody thought to himself, muttering those words as they echoed through his mind. "How the hell can Mikey and Guy get praised as heroes and I get shoved in Riker's Island." Cody thought to himself again, he often felt bitter about how he had a reputation for being a violent felon while his old friends became world famous for saving a city from crime.

Cody gulped down the last of his drink as he put his cash on the counter, turning to leave before a voice behind him jeered 'Surprised you'd show your face around here, you ain't so tough when you ain't got the mayor fighting your battles for you.' He grimaced at the asshole's comment but felt when you've just punched a hole through your prison cell wall and swam to shore it's not a good idea to burst straight into a fight when you're about 45 minutes away from your old jail. Cody strolled up to this new guy, turning around and speaking in his usual bored tone "Be careful around here, these people will eat you alive. You sure as shit don't look like you're from around here, paisano. Keep your eyes open, this place is harsh." he said to the slightly younger looking guy. Cody really didn't like seeing someone end up in an environment where they might end up injured. 'Hey, I hear Jessica Haggar's getting married. It's all ov'a the papers.' the very same man yelled out. He looked like the kind of asshole Cody would savour beating. He turned around, hands clenched into fists, walking right up to the guy. He looked your typical inhabitant here, a steroid abusing asshole. "You ****ed up now." Cody said, throwing a harsh right hook into the man's face and absolutely splattering his nose, knocking him unconscious and covering his wrapped hand in blood. Without a seconds notice he felt a huge hand on his shoulder, that being of the massive bouncer to this establishment. "He had it coming, man. Leave me alone." Cody said turning to the bouncer and pulling his hand off his shoulder, making the bouncer throw a harsh punch towards the blonde brawler. Cody ducked it and swung a kick to the man's knees, sending him prone onto them and now eye level with him. "HA HA!" Cody yelled dealing out his trademark Ruffian Kick into the bouncer's face knocking him out cold as well. 'Y-you can stay. It's no trouble.' the terrified barman said to Cody as he walked back to the bar. "Thanks, you're all right, barkeep." Cody said with a smirk as he walked back to the new guy, staring directly at him. "I'm Cody Travers, you might'a heard'a me." he aid, offering out his right hand for a handshake until realizing it may not be the best idea having just covered it in blood and quickly withdrawing it.

[cinder]

Jacky seemed intent on relaxing here in an environment he was used to back home. Back in Cali. But New Jersey wasn't the same, it was a lot different and reacted a lot differently to numerous things. It wasn't the same thing at all and that was just fine with this 'new face' in town. Suddenly, a blonde man approached him out of the blue and it was like something from an after school special. Jacky could hear the thick accent from a distance mocking this blonde-haired individual who didn't seem to do anything wrong that he could tell. But like every city, in every state, there was always one place that harbored the assholes. Every club anywhere you went seemed to be that place and that was the way life was. You go to listen to okay music, relax, maybe chug some hooch, and before you know it some loser is flapping his gums about you... typical, Jacky thought to himself.

Some moron in the area was calling this guy out. Some 'Jerseyite' in the tough crowd. Jacky wasn't entirely sure what was going down or what any of it meant. Something about a mayor, some fight, something happened that he wasn't quite aware of. But the blonde barfly didn't seem to get too agitated up until the same bastard had the gall to mention some woman named Jessica. The Indy racer smirked at what was going down and assumed that a good show was about to be put on. Some of the other fellow Jerseyites joined in and seemed to be taunting this man. Jacky, for the life of him, couldn't understand why. In a blink, Jacky watched as the punk got dropped by a devastating right. It was like a sack of potatoes hitting the floor. But the fun was almost over when a jock-like bouncer appeared.

Bouncers... they always ruin the fun!, Jacky thought to himself as his eyes continued to watch these violent events unfold. There was someone about to go at this odd New Jersey local with a broken beer bottle but Jacky stretched out his boot and tripped the man up intentionally. He got to his feet, gritting his teeth, as he approached the spikey-haired Cali boy. He was far from home now and couldn't turn back. The brawler attempted to slash and swipe at him with the bottle but Jacky threw his hand up and parried the attack, sidestepping like a pro. But the drunkard thought he caught him off guard by running toward him... huge mistake! Jacky used common sense and simply crouched down, hoisting the thug up and over and chuckling as the man's back smacked against a table full of playing cards and beer bottles, sliding off eventually.

Meanwhile, this New Jersey ruffian seemed to have his hands full with a bouncer who annoyed him. Jacky leaned his back against the counter of the main bar and watched the skills of the mysterious barfly. He was good, alright. Liked violence and the rush -the thrill- of the fight! Jacky could relate. After a few moments the barkeep stammered to ensure that the brawler could stay, no questions asked. Both oceanic hues of blue focused on the men who were unlucky in meeting their demise at such a violent man's own two hands; and eventually a strong kick to the chops! But the man was finishing up as he approached Jacky who simply enjoyed watching the excitement as it happened. He simply turned a little to the right to stare at the blonde man speaking to him. Said his name was Cody. Cody Travers. Never heard of him. Perhaps that was for the better, all things considered.

"Nope," Jacky replied, straight and to the point. He didn't know a Cody Travers but something told him that he would over a period of time. He noticed the odd man going in for a handshake but drew back once he realized it was drenched in someone's crimson colors. Earlier, Cody assumed that Jacky was just an innocent bystander who couldn't fend for himself. Probably thought he was some snooty, uptight weakling. Jacky responded to his assumptions by slapping Cody on the shoulder with a smirk. He hoped he saw what had happened earlier with the drunkard and his failed attempts. "Name's Jacky. Here for some relaxation. Guess I came to the wrong place, huh?" he asked in a sarcastic tone. In reality, Jacky was looking for some excitement to add to his life as well. Needed to clear his mind of worrying about Sarah and how she was back in New York at her small apartment.

Then again, it was possible that he just worried a little too much. Out of the blue it was his curiosity that got the best of him. Jacky narrowed his brows a bit and glanced over at Cody. He wanted to find some things out. "So... Cody, is it? What was that all about? Pressed your buttons pretty hard back there..." the Indy racer asked, trying to figure out who this Cody Travers was and why he was so hated by the patrons of this club. It didn't make sense but maybe this brawler could help Jacky make sense of it after all. Hell, sparkling conversation was always fun.