Three Thirty-Seven AM

A thin haze blotted out the light of the quarter moon high in the sky. Not that it would really make much of a difference out here, as the ambient, ever-present glow of the city lights painted the sky a dim, unnatural orange color. It was the summer, and even at this ungodly hour, the stifling humidity made it seem like it was hotter than it truly was. Nothing about the city this time of night was very inviting. While daylight saw the streets full of pedestrians going about their daily routine, the only signs of life once the sun set were the third shift workers tiredly locking the doors, and the less desirable members of society hoping to swoop down on anyone who left the safety of the well-lit streets.

Crouched low in an alleyway, a figure peered out onto the streets to make sure the coast was clear. In spite of the oppressive stickiness of the summer night, he hid himself deep inside of the confines of a black hooded sweatshirt. He recoiled back into the shadows and flattened himself against the wall as a pair of headlights slowly cast their glow over the pavement. A faint sliver of light briefly slid into the alley and illuminated something white and unnatural peeking out of the opening of the hood. Carefully, the stranger tipped his head around the corner, the darkened eye socket of a painted mask taking in the red tail lights as the passing car shrank further and further into the distance.

The figure glanced back down the street, taking a few mute seconds to look and listen for any approaching cars before hopping onto the metal trash bin behind him. He carefully traversed the flimsy plastic cover before carefully collecting himself and leaped onto the edge of a fire escape overhead. Quietly, he climbed the alternating sets of stairs, trying his best to mask his footfalls on the metal steps as he ascended towards the roof of the building. The faint city lights betrayed a pair of reflective eyes beneath the red-and-white painted mask, and a slender, black tail curved sinuously out the back of the figure's cargo pants beneath a black sport duffel.

With stealth and grace, the figure cautiously set upon the buildings roof, keeping to the shadows as he approached the wide facade of an illuminated billboard. But this wasn't just any billboard. Gears whirred and hummed as every twenty seconds, the face of the billboard rotated, flashing one of three potential advertisements. He watched a moment as the prism-shaped sections of the advertisement shifted from the grinning faces of the local news anchors to the ad for some big downtown law firm. He stooped down, pulling the duffel from his back and preparing his supplies: Heavy bolt cutters, Glue and rollers, several cans of spray paint, a very sharp folding knife, and something rolled into a large cardboard messenger tube. The figure carefully made his way to the edge of the building, giving one more glance down below. No cops. No street gangs. For the moment, he was totally alone. It was now or never. He scooped up the bolt cutters and moved towards the billboard's control box.

((Let's try something out here. I just had this image in my head for a scenario, and even if it only lasts a few rounds, I had to get it out of my head.))

(([kicks down the figurative door]))



Down in the streets below, perhaps a block or so over, a white-furred figure was making their way down the street in silence. It was a lousy season to have such long fur and hair, yet here she was, trudging along the sidewalk. Hair colored in gold and silver had been tied up into a messy sort of ponytail. Whatever she had used, it didn't seem like it was going to hold such a mass of long hair up for too long as it was starting to sag and the shorter, silver strands along her face had already joined her golden bangs in escaping. And the species of this person was difficult, if not impossible to determine. While she appeared feline in many aspects, she also had many canine characteristics as well. Whether she was more likely to purr or wag her tail when happy, it was hard to tell. It seemed plenty possible from her appearance that she was likely to do both.

For now, however, she was not happy. The day hadn't been nearly as productive as she would have liked, judging by her unsatisfied social needs and empty stomach. The summer heat had driven her to retreat into a shady park and sleep most of the sunlight hours away. As a result, she'd missed the time when most potential targets people were out and about. How was she going to score a free snack now with everyone gone home and most food places closed?

For a moment, the hybrid paused on a corner, glancing up and down the streets. At this point, anyone might suffice if she could just catch them. There was no one in sight, though. She wondered if perhaps she was wearing the wrong outfit for this part of town. Her grey eyes wandered down to her own form, taking in the neon yellow cropped tank she had on. It fit loosely enough to drift back and forth in the warm summer breeze blowing by, but the collar was cut plenty low that she felt she wasn't hiding anything important. Past the oversized openings for her arms and just peeking out the front, one could have easily spotted a grey and black-printed sports bra with some kind of open strapping detail along the front as well. The canine-feline was a bit disappointed that she hadn't been in strong enough light recently to charge up the violet stone that was often glowing dimly around her neck. And her jeans were quite worn, sporting loose threads along the bottom that trailed along the ground with each step. Perhaps to any other person, they also looked an awful lot like mens' jeans. They were just a bit too large for her and sat low on her hips. She had no form of footwear on, but did have visible claws on her feet.

A sigh escaped the figure. She was plenty content with her current look and that was the most important thing. Though being less humid and getting into someplace air conditioned would help. Or maybe there was a pool somewhere nearby...

The hybrid swished her long single-striped tail behind her and started off down another street, looking to meet either of her two potential goals now. People or pool, either would be fine. Both would be ideal!

There was a heavy clink! as the bolt cutters bit cleanly through the tired old padlock. it was off in one quick twist, and the figure carefully pulled the creaking panel cover open. With a few flicks of the switches in the box, the rotating prisms that made up the billboard's face froze on the broad, empty white expanse.

The figure scooped up a can of spray paint, idly rattling the marble inside of the paint chamber as he took another moment to visualize just how he was going to compose his piece. Satisfied that he had an idea, he clambered up the service ladder and onto the ledge of the sign. He rolled up his sleeves and began spraying onto the face. In even, controlled strokes he began to fill the empty whiteness of the sign. His black tail flicked with anxious anticipation, and every once in a while, he paused to peer down to the streets below to see if he was being watched. No headlights, no foot traffic. At least not from his vantage point. He turned back to his work and continued, brushing off the vague sensation of being watched.

The streets seemed to remain quiet and grossly humid for now. The hybrid still padded along, her tufted ears listening for sounds going on even in the alleyways she passed. Granted, her gaze was all at street level.

Some ways down the street, the bright white of a blank billboard drew her eyes upward. The hybrid paused in place, her ears perking to attention and head tilting curiously. There appeared to be someone all the way up there, plainly visible with the lights shining on their back. She stood there and merely stared for several moments, uncertain as to what they were doing, but very interested in finding out.

She began to walk again, still watching this figure up on the billboard, but now also looking over the building to find her own way up.