==> From Community Center: Main Room

Luke was careful to avoid as much of the rain as possible, darting from the doorway to the covered area where he picked up a scraper and dragged a bin over a bit closer to where he planned on working. There was a large spraypainted tag announcing 'JAZZY' in neon red and green lettering.

Luke sighed before getting to work, kneeling down at the base of the wall and working on scraping off the paint. He worked as methodically as possible, trying to scrape off as big a section as he could with a single stroke. He glanced over at Marko and the others, hoping that they were going to join in on the miserable work. He was a little worried about Dan and he silently hoped that the guy did his best to avoid Marko for the remainder of the day's work. It was obvious that he had been chosen as the day's whipping boy.

From Community Center: Main Room

Running out behind Luke, Erica took up a scraper and started on a separate section. She had never cleaned graffiti off a wall before, but Luke seemed to know what he was doing, so she emulated him. Meanwhile Tony had come out to oversee their work, as if he couldn't just come out at the end and see the result. The guy must be bored, or just a jerk.

Luke seemed to be doing a good job, but Erica had to go slow. She lacked the strength to do it the way he was. So, instead she scrapped away smaller sections, one at a time to make progress.

"I thought this was a new community center. How do you think it got tagged so quickly?"

Dan looks around for a suitable tool to start working on the graffiti. He hopes the artist gets caught, so he can experience the joy of this community centre.

He sighs as he sees Tony Marko on his way out to supervise, he was hoping for a few minutes not being under the thumb. Seeing Luke start removing the "Y", he tries to scrape at the "A" to see if he can get the graffiti to say "JIZZ" for a couple of seconds, but it looks like the  tag will be a messy splat before long.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:41, Mon 13 Feb 2023.

Luke shrugged at Erica's question. "Blank canvas just waiting for some street artist to get to work on it? I mean the place looks like a cinderblock prison from the outside. I'm not surprised some kids decided to decorate it as soon as the construction crews left."

Erica shrugged. "Why do we have to scrape it. Wouldn't it be easier to just paint over it? Or is this just to make our lives miserable?"

"I have no idea. I just figured it was better to do as we're told than to question our asshole overseer." Luke smirked as he quietly insulted Marko, his voice hopefully low enough so as not to be heard by the man.

"Watch it Luke." Tony came around the corner, eyes narrowed 'For that comment you can clean up the trash out here in the rain. Same as you Erica and Dan. Thank Luke for getting you all in trouble. Again." The large man doesn't bat a eye. He pulls out a cigarrate and lights it up, watching them do their work.

The storm begins to brew and the wind picks up. Tony grumbles and leans against one of the columns. It starts to get a bit cold.

"Are you kidding me?" Erica shot at Tony. "You're going to make us all work in the rain? Isn't that against the law or something? All over a comment? Oh. My. God!" She finished her scraping, then stomped out into the rain to start picking up trash.

Luke shot Tony an angry look, but kept his mouth shut as he pulled up his jumpsuit as high as he could before stepping out into the cold rain with the others.

He moved between his two compatriots, muttering an apologetic "Sorry" as he picked up a large oily rag and stuffed it into a plastic trash bag.

In reply to Luke Andrews (msg # 10):

"It's not your fault. You just made a comment. It's all on him."

The man let out one heck of a laugh "It was his fault. Apparently he can't keep his mouth shut and his opinions to himself, dragging you down with him. You want to blame me? No. Blame him. I do my job and I won't let anyone get in the way. And who are you going to tell? My boss? He'd agree. Cops? They will tell you to wanker off. You do the crime, and you will pay for it." He inhales the cig 'I don't appreciate being called a asshole overseer. So don't you dare tell me how to do my job or what I am doing is wrong. Do your work and don't say another word. Any of you." Well he is a overseer.

Luke commented to Erica, a mischievous smile playing about his lips. ”Tony here is king of the castle. He rules this glorious empire, wielding supreme power over his subjects. He thinks he’s untouchable. For now he may be, But we always have the future to look forward to.”

"That will be another 6 months added to it. Keep going deadbeat." The man looks over at Luke "I suggest you shut your mouth." No emotion.

Dan takes advantage of Tony venting his wrath on someone else, and walks over to grab a bag to stuff trash into. He then starts by picking up some chewing gum.

Erica's blood was boiling at the situation, but she was no hero, and she damn sure didn't want extra chores or her own sentence extended. There was no way that what Tony was doing was right, or even ethical. But there was nothing she could do about it. The rain was already miserable enough and she couldn't do anything to intervene without making the situation worse for herself and maybe for Luke also. What she could do was to keep her head down and continue with her chore.

Luke turned and smiled a friendly grin at Tony as if he had just been told he won the lottery. There was no way in hell he was going to show the man exactly how irritated he was with his tyrannical behavior.

(First post)

Imogen hurried out.

Late on my first day!

She hadn't believed they'd be outside in weather like this. Not in overalls that didn't seem at all waterproof. Nodding to the others, she picked up a scraper and began helping with the graffiti.

Dan looks up from the rubbish he's collecting, and checks out the new arrival. He smiles and nods for a second, before looking down at the ground to avoid Tony Marko's gaze.

Picking up beer can with two fingers, wishing she rubber gloves, Erica's eyes drifted over to the new female rushing out to assist with the cleanup. She held the eye contact just long enough for the other woman to notice her then went back to the wet mess.

--->From Jenessa's Room

Jenessa stepped outside as she shuddered at the cold wind, looking around to see graffiti on walls and trash scattered all over the ground with several people picking up trash as the rain started to fall.  She looked around and found a man smoking a cigarette, a nasty habit, overseeing what the others were doing, she figured that was Mr Marko.  Taking a deep breath she approached the unpleasant looking man.

"Hello Mr Marko?" She questioned carefully, her voice very soft and hesitant, "I am Jenessa Soft.  Um... I just finished checking in and was told to report in to you." 

"You want another 6 months Luke? It seems you do with the way you look at me. I strongly suggest you do the work to my satifaction and not give me that pathetic smile." Tony commented and looked over as Jenessa and Imogen wanders out, but Jenessa walks up to him "Go to the locker room and change your clothing. Then come back here and scraped up the grafiti." He crosses his arms after he tosses the butt to the ground and smashes it against it. Oddly he picks it up and tosses it into the trash. Scraping and trash. Good.

The storm comes down harder and faster but the man doesn't seem bother by it beneath the canopy. His eyes watch as Luke gets soaked to the bone and Erica helps him.

"No Sir, Mr. Marko Sir. I do not want another six months. Don't you worry Mr. Marko Sir, I will complete my tasks to your impeccable specifications." Luke replied, with a tone that seemed to be sincere. His smile was now replaced with a look of grim determination - or hatred - it was difficult to tell.

Dan was trying to pick stuff up, but now everything was slippery from the rain. His overalls were getting soaked, and if this went on he'd end up with wet underwear from rain trickling down the overalls. He was struggling to keep quiet.

Jenessa nodded in understanding as she moved away from Tony, unnerved by how aggressive the man was with the other residents.  She was lead to believe this would be a cake walk, but maybe it was compared to prison.

--> Locker Room
This message was last edited by the player at 21:41, Tue 07 Mar 2023.

Dan starts to complain out loud.
"This rain is running right down the back of my jumpsuit, and if there's one thing I hate, it's a damp crack! I can feel it running in my shorts!"