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Post by othus on Apr 19, 2021 23:59:10 GMT
Rain poured on the outskirts of Tokyo, trails of destruction indicated a fight had recently happened, the outcome of it already clear.
Musashi let out a sigh of relief somewhat exhausted, she sheathed her blades and spoke to a small figure in a dark cloak.
“It was definitely worthwhile coming to Tokyo, Glad I could have your help here. what do you think? can you influence its mind to the point it can obey orders?”
The figure looked at the caged creature and smiled
“Yes, it can be done”
“Excellent, then let’s have your agents ship it to the location and move on with the plan”
Shinkyo: Musashi-Park Residence
Mai had been searching for Akane’s whereabouts for a few hours already, her dimensional jumps messed with the tracker on the virtual machine, so there was not much success.
“How is everything going?”- Soon told Mai through telepathy from outside the healing pod, Mai, who was still being healed kept working, checking the data.
“Not so good, she doesn’t stay still long enough to pinpoint a location, although she has finally settled for over two hours at this last spot...how did the calls go?”
Soon scratched her head slightly disappointed
“Arthur said he would help. Hyun told me to stay over at her place with Kaguya, what do you think?”
“The village? It’s for the best, Akane doesn’t know Hyun lives there, I will be a lot more at ease if you stay over with her. Plus, Kagura hangs around that area”- Mai replied.
“What about the bounty? have Agents replied to the request?”-She added.
“Um, the problem is, Akane is the heir, not many want to deal with what looks like an inner problem, Most agents think you might be plotting to take the spot as heiress”
“Oh fucking losers, whatever, you said most. is someone actually taking the request?”
“Yes, Ann said she would help, and Katsuo…there’s also this woman from the Yoshihara branch called Akabane, she said she would take the request without payment”
“Akabane...doesn’t ring a bell, she must not even be in the top 20...well whatever, we will take all the help we can, can we gather everyone by tomorrow?”
6AM, Shinkyo Musashi-Park Residence
Mai was walking fully bandaged on her torso. The first person to arrive at the spot was Ann, she got out of her Harley and walked towards Mai, she was sporting her usual tactical clothing and waved at the Musashi
“Hi Mai, um, how are ya feeling?”- She asked somewhat worried as she saw her bandaged, that was extremely rare.
“Eh, I’ll live. Look, before everyone else arrives, let me just give you a piece of advice: whatever is going on with Akane, she’s not the person you knew. You go easy on her, and she’s gonna take your life. All of them. Not even kidding, if you can capture her, fine, but don’t go dying for her, alright? I already feel pretty shitty from not being able to stop her myself.”
“I see...well, don’t worry about it, I’m sure there’s an explanation for all this, I’ll bring her back and then she will apologize to everyone, you’ll see!”- Ann replied with a smile.
The next person to arrive was Akabane, she was riding her iconic motorcycle and sporting a dark green coat. When she saw Mai and Ann, she scratched her head a little. man, was this reunion uncomfortable, good thing they had no idea of who she was
“Hi, Musashi, Parker…”
“So you are Akabane, well, glad you could make it. I see you already know Ann…”
Akabane waved her hands negatively, somewhat nervous as she explained
“Ah, no, not really, I have just heard of her, you know, her being the only American in the organization and being the top ranker…”
“Right...well, you know that normally, Musashi agents operate on duos, however this mission is pretty much off the books, I actually requested help from more people. I’m thinking the number is closer to a platoon of 10. Not yet sure who else is gonna make it here, but that’s the gist of it”
“Hi Akabane, looking forward to working with ya”-Ann told her as she extended a hand, Akabane took it and smiled at her
“Same here, been wanting to work alongside you for a while”
“Once everyone is here we can discuss things further, until then I’ll just head back to the inside of the house, HAKU has been doing some cleanup from yesterday’s mess but it still has a long way to go”
Mai said as she opened the door to her house and walked back towards the kitchen, that image of Akane and Soon still made her stomach turn.
“Akane…”
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Post by Vapovile on Apr 20, 2021 9:19:55 GMT
California, USA
Haruko hung up the phone and sat back in her chair, hand stroking her cheeks in thought. She had just gotten off the phone with Arthur, who had asked her to help take down Akane with several other people. She remembered Akane from their trip in the JHWAB prison, so she knew how powerful this Musashi heiress was. Looking around the house, Haruko's face then grew a smile.
"Well, I suppose Cosmina's at a friend's house for the night, and Kate's off at camp. Guess I don't have an excuse." She said to herself. Haruko had to admit that she didn't enjoy going out and finding danger as much as she had used to. Now she had other priorities to take care of...even if these kids were going to grow up soon. It only seemed yesterday when Haruko had brought them into her house, and their little rivalry caused so much friction initially. But they still worked together to help her out against that demon god.
Dressing up in a battle attire consisting of a pair of black pants with several defensive spells cast onto the durable material, a pink jacket that held all her knives and spools she'd need for a battle, and a simple white blouse. Haruko tied her hair into a pony tail and slipped on her most durable pair of shoes. "Welp, adventure awaits." She mumbled to herself, grabbing a teleport scroll and disappearing.
---
"Heeeeeey, Amelia?" Caroline's voice called across the room, her red-headed employee typing away on a laptop. "Yep?" She replied. "Did you know they actually jump out of planes for fun? Called...sky...diving? Could you research how to get me on one of those planes, please?" Caroline asked, Amelia nodding her head. "Sure, I'm sure plenty of people do it. Seems fun." Amelia absentmindedly answered. She then looked over at Caroline's phone laying on the desk, the display lit up.
"Looks like Hyun's calling. Want to take it?" Amelia asked. Caroline perked up and nodded her head. "Of course I would!" Without a word, Amelia tossed the green-cased phone at her boss, who smoothly caught it and answered.
"Why hellooooooooooooo! Got any specials today, besides your personality?" Caroline teased. She chatted with Hyun for several minutes, taking down notes of important details. When the conversation ended, Caroline let out a sigh while Amelia spun around in her chair to meet her boss's gaze. "So, what was that about" Amelia asked.
Caroline paused for a second, then continued. "One of Hyun's friends, Akane, is the heir to a big clan in Japan. Well, she suddenly went crazy and attacked her own sister, and Hyun's. So they're looking for people who can help stop her." Caroline explained. Amelia twirled a pen in her hands thoughtfully.
"So I suppose that means you want to go, and for me to help out? You're not really the strongest fighter around." Amelia explained, Caroline feigning offense. "You strike me with an flaming poker! But...you are correct. I would be much help on my own. But with the former Gateway champion, maybe we stand a chance." Caroline's face grew a smile, eyebrows raising expectantly and eyelashes fluttering. Amelia let out a sigh and closed her eyes.
"You know I signed up to be your bodyguard, not personal mercenary. So if I'm going to help out with this...you owe me big." Amelia explained, Caroline nodding her head. "Of course, I wouldn't just expect you to help out with this mission for free. Who knows, maybe the Musashi will give us a fancy dinner if we manage to do this." Caroline joked, leaping off the bed and getting dressed. Amelia stared down at her sheathe, not knowing what they were getting themselves into.
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Arriving first onto the scene, Haruko teleported into the residence and made a small curtsey bow toward Mai. "Hello, my name is Haruko Miyata. I'm a friend of Arthur Cromwell's, and went on a mission with your sister a while ago." Haruko explained. Before she could explain further, a duo appeared behind her. Amelia and Caroline glanced around to get their bearings. Caroline's eyes then found Mai and she strolled over, giving a similar gesture.
"Why hello there, lucky newlywedded bride. I don't think you've properly met my assistant before." Caroline pulled Amelia toward herself. Caroline herself wore a pair of torn jeans and a loose grey top that seemed to be made of stronger material than it first appeared. Amelia wore a simple black t-shirt and knee-length blue skirt, under which she had her usual leotard. Haruko inspected both. The green-haired woman's attire was certainly more expensive, the fabric accentuating her curves beautifully. Did she have her own seamstress?
"Amelia, this is Mai Musashi. Sister to the person we're here to help, and all around badass." Caroline flattered. Though the current state of Mai was a little more than concerning. "Mai, this is Amelia LeBlanc. My lovely personal assistant and very, very talented fire mage." She explained, stepping back. Amelia gave a small bow herself. "Erm, right. Nice to meet you. So do we know what your sister is...doing, exactly?" Amelia asked.
Haruko stared on from the side, particularly at Amelia. Had she seen her before? That shirt and skirt certainly wasn't her handiwork. But she did seem strong. Seeing that Amelia was handling the serious stuff, Caroline slid over toward Haruko.
"Soooooo...what brings a lovely woman like you to this? You don't seem armed to the teeth like everyone else." Caroline observed, twirling a knife in her fingers and motioning toward both Akabane and Ann. Haruko gave a small smirk as she folded her arms across her chest. "Oooooh? I guess I'm just better at hiding my tricks." The seamstress opened her jacket, showing off the impressive array of knives and mechanisms inside. Caroline looked on with interest.
"Oooooooooo...that's certainly a unique outfit. Where'd you get it? I could totally use one of those for my own knives." Caroline pulled two more blades from her pocket. Haruko let out a small chuckle. "I made it myself, believe it or not." The pink-haired girl held out her hand toward the snake woman before her. "Haruko Miyata, famous seamstress and all around amazing person. Nice to meet you, miss...?" Her voice trailed off.
"Oh, I like you." Caroline's face grew a smile as she accepted the handshake. "Caroline, the pleasure is all mine. I guess you could say I am a professional myself." Caroline reached into her pocket and produced a black card with gold lettering, handing it to Haruko in exchange for one of her own. Haruko briefly looked at it, and instantly knew what was going on. "...well. You're certainly bold." Haruko observed, Caroline giving a wink. "Thanks, I get that a lot."
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Post by TimePuppy on Apr 20, 2021 21:04:25 GMT
Arthur sped through the Japanese airways like a bullet. He cut through the wind on wings of white ice, the fastest transport he had. Seeing his destination, the house he'd been to only recently for a far more pleasant affair, he spun gracefully then flipped over and rocketed toward the ground, landing on the balls of his feet and ending in a crouch. He knocked on the door before inviting himself in.
"Hey hey, Mai! I made sure Soon and Kaguya were with Hyun, before speeding over- Oh, hey Ruko! Surprised you got here before me, what with your sense of direction." He chuckled while giving her a hug. "And Caroline too? Been a while, you slippery snake you. I have to admit, I didn't expect to see you coming to something like this." he hugged her as well.
"And..." He looked at the redhead next to Caroline. "Alexis? I didn't know you were friends with the Musashi. Well, someone with your skills is going to be very helpful." He nodded appreciatively before inspecting the rest of the team. There was Ann, of course. "Hey, knew you'd be here." He raised a fist to bump her. "Let's get Akane back to her senses together."
That left one last person he didn't recognize. White-haired and cutesy, but there was more behind her eyes. A warmth and a hint of sadness, glimmering deep inside them. "You I don't know. I'm Arthur. Cromwell. Friends with... Most of the people here, really. Nice to meet you." He put forward a hand to shake hers.
As he finished greeting everyone else, another face he didn't recognize walked in. A taller man, perhaps not when compared to Mai but certainly taller than the rest of the room, he had longer brown hair tied in a bun and cloaked in a samurai's kimono. "I apologize for being late, Musashi-dono. I was preparing for the mission. I am saddened by what happened, and I owe Akane-dono a great debt for introducing me to the Musashi. My blade and I will do our best to help her." He put a hand on Shi in her scabbard. "Ah, I apologize for my rudeness. Takeshi Katsuo." He bowed to the rest of the room.
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Post by HungryHunter on Apr 21, 2021 21:21:33 GMT
Jun knelt in her room, contemplating her sword. A call had just come from Gan, not ended five minutes ago. He told her that Akane was in trouble, and while he knew their past was troubled, he hoped that she could help the Musashi heir. He had sounded distraught that he couldn’t help her himself; he was trapped over in Hawaii on a mission he couldn’t leave, part of a team keeping Pele from having a meltdown and slagging the islands. So now she studied her reflection in her blade, wondering what to do. Gan had asked her to look beyond their past, but she wasn’t sure she could. Every one of her actions was another chain around her body, restricting the motions she could take. But Gan had pried some of those chains away. They could be removed. Could she cut through them herself? She stood with a sigh. She had some sins to atone for. That was going to be hard to admit.
She arrived in Japan only a half hour later, teleporting in not far from Mai’s house. She steeled her will with deep breaths, adjusting her blue dress. Her hair was decorated not just with her usual circlet but with a bouquet of flowers, small and blue, just like the ones that decorated the field where they first dueled. With a sigh, she resigned herself and walked up to the door. She knocked, waited, and when Mai opened the door, sighed again. “Hello… you.” She grumbled. She was going to save Akane, but Mai… she would have a hard time being nice to. “How did you get taller…” She grumbled. Akane better not have grown on her too.
Inside, an audible grumble came from all directions at once when Katsuo said he and his blade would help Akane. “Yeah, I guess.” A honeyed voice washed over everyone at once, without any clear origin point. A warm wind hugged Katsuo, distinctly colder breezes puffing out at everybody else. Shi didn’t want to come, but making sure Kat stayed alive was more important than screwing over a rival.
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Post by othus on Apr 21, 2021 22:38:27 GMT
"Haruko huh? Well, I'm glad you came to help, we are pretty short on hands, despite this being a clan of so called warriors"-Mai said as she leaned a bit downwards to properly look at the pink haired woman, it wasn't long before Caroline arrived at the scene with a redhead woman right behind her
"Hey cakegirl! it's good to see ya! Amelia le what? nevermind, it's good to see you both here, If you vouch for your assistant, then I suppose she's strong"- Mai told Caroline as she reached out to hug her, She then looked at Amelia and set her hand on the mage's shoulder
"Thanks for getting involved into this, and uh, I know where she is, just not what she is up to, let me just wait for everyone so I don't have to repeat myself, I kinda hate speeches and all that crap"-She told her as she looked at Arthur flying in the distance, When the mage confirmed Soon and Kaguya were safe, Mai gave Arthur a friendly hug, pressing his face against her abs.
"See, you are pretty reliable when you try!"-She pat him on the back, sending him off to say hi to the rest.
Ann smiled at Arthur and replied to the fistbump, she seemed a little down, but his words cheered her up a bit
"Yes, let's do our best!"-Ann replied to Arthur's statement, when he moved on to greet Akabane, the girl looked at him slightly dumbfounded...he was almost a splitting image of her Arthur!, was she about to cry? She quickly composed herself and greeted Arthur with a warm smile
"Yes, you seem to be the friendly type, Cromwell-San. I'm...Akabane Yoshihara, nice to meet you!"
In the meantime, Katsuo had arrived, he greeted Mai and she briefly looked at his sword. It wasn't gonna pop into the offense, was it?
"Hey katsuo, how have you been, dude? did you like the virtual machine? I swear I put quite a bit of effort into it"
When Katsuo saluted everyone else, Akabane and Ann waved back at him. The Musashi from another world was starting to get nervous, there were way too many familiar faces around! fortunately, nobody even thought of the possibility of her being Akane, and if she was this close and no one noticed, maybe she could live a bit less worried.
The last person to arrive was someone Mai did not expect. Naturally, she was not amused by her presence.
"Oh this is Ironic, just so you know, the mission is to bring Akane back, we are not here to kill her, sorry to disappoint ya. you can leave now, unless you want me to break your nose, and don't go crying to Gan about it, he should have been here"-Mai told Jun as she shooed her like she was a stray dog.
Akabane, who saw Jun for the first time was in disbelief, the Jun she knew of course tried to kill her too, but she would never be here, she walked and got between Mai and Jun, Akabane faced Musashi and nervously grabbed Mai's hand
"Mai, we need all the help we can get, whatever happened between you two, that's in the past"
Akabane turned towards Jun and held her hands gently
"Hi, I'm Akabane, I'm...very glad you came"
Mai spat on the ground and walked past them
"Whatever. Alright everyone! gather around, I'm gonna give you a briefing of sorts..."
Mai interacted with an invisible interface and set up a machine that projected a holographic image.
"So, I have been tracking Akane through her virtual machine and she has been pretty fucking busy, the first thing she did after leaving my house was traveling to the Tamiya branch HQ, Ann and I had just been there the day before, so we kinda already imagined what she did."- Mai set up a picture of a woman of pale skin and dark hair on the holo
"Turns out we were right, She went there and discharged Ainu, probably told them I made a mistake and they believed her, so we know Ainu is with Akane for whatever reason...her second move was traveling to Mikurajima,we don't know why she went there, but her stay was brief. then she moved to Tokyo, here she took a lot longer, but none of us have any idea why she stayed there for 3 hours."
Mai then swapped the image for a mark on a map
"The last place she went to is here, this is a hidden island, I checked our database, and it's under Ono-Ha jurisdiction...so, we have two problems"
"The first one, is that Akane and Ainu or even the entire Ono-Ha brach are collaborating. The second, is that this Island is home of the Kishin tribe, the Oni who live on the island are way, way too strong, using the JHWAB rank system we decided the average level of the creatures there was Tengu 1, so there's a permanent barrier on the Island, you are gonna have to convince the Ono Ha to lower it down for ya, since Akane's signal is at the heart of the island"
"Remember, nobody outside of this group really believes there's something wrong with Akane, only the people who have actually met her know she wouldn't do shit like this. I know my sister has been a pain in the ass to some of you, if not all of you, but she has also been someone you can count on. And before any of you ask why Callis isn't here, it's because I don't think he would be of help. He would probably end up getting himself killed and I don't want that on my sister's conscience."
Mai signaled them to move as she walked them to the teleport gate
"So, before you guys go, do you have any questions?"
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Post by Vapovile on Apr 23, 2021 2:28:50 GMT
Caroline gladly reciprocated Mai's hug, breaking away and letting her greet the others. Haruko rolled her eyes when Arthur stormed in and made fun of her poor sense of direction, but still hugged back. "That's why I have teleport scrolls, Frosty. Though I'm sure I still would have beaten you here, slowpoke." Haruko chuckled at her own joke for a second, while Caroline squeezed Arty back when it was her turn for a hug.
"My my, implying I am soft, Arty? That won't do at all." Caroline teased. When his attention turned to Amelia though, Caroline's face grew a bigger smile as she hid it behind her hand, Amelia frowning and taking a step toward Arthur. "That is NOT my name, sir." Amelia said sharply. "My name is Amelia LeBlanc, not Alexis Primrose. Please remember that in the future." She corrected and let him move on with his other pleasantries. Amelia let out a sigh of frustration. Why did she share a face with that girl? Surely she gave off a completely different vibe, right?
The trio listened as Mai explained the situation. Caroline took note of the tension between Mai and Jun. What was the source of conflict with that one? When Mai was finished, Amelia spoke up.
"Yeah uh, let me get this straight. So an entire branch of your organization might be collaborating with this person, and we also need them to lower a barrier? Is there uh, any way around that if they tell us to fly a kite? I can teleport if it's just a physical barrier. I just need to either see where I'm going, or have a vivid picture in my mind." Amelia explained. Caroline nodded in agreement.
"Oh! I have a question too. Do we know any of Akane's weaknesses that we can maybe use? You know, besides alcohol." Caroline stared wistfully at the wall for a moment, remembering that infamous bottle game. Haruko looked to the others, wondering what they were going to ask since Amelia had taken the obvious one she was going to ask.
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Post by TimePuppy on Apr 25, 2021 22:20:42 GMT
Embarrassingly, it turned out Alexis... Wasn't Alexis! "Oh, sorry... You just look a lot like someone I know and- Wait, you know her? Are you... uh, nevermind." He decided not to ask if they were related. Her attitude gave him this vague idea she might not be Alexis' #1 fan. "Well, glad to have you aboard regardless." He gave her the friendliest smile he could muster.
Mai soon explained what exactly their situation was. "Wait, she released Ainu?! This mission is turning nastier by the second..." He shook his head. Ainu was a pain they dealt with fairly recently, but she was back already. If she manages to find shinto to consume before they get to her this time, it's gonna be an even harder fight.
He did have an actual question though. "Amelia has a good point. Do you know how we could convince them? I know we have 3 Musashi on our side, but the rest of us would probably make them suspicious... Assuming she didn't tell them to deny anyone else entry in the first place."
Katsuo also nodded along with everyone else. "Shi and I can offer Akane-dono a good fight and I am certain with our combined might, we will be able to bring her down. But do we have any equipment to make restraining her easier? As I owe her my life, I do not want to take my daimyou's in return."
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Post by HungryHunter on Apr 26, 2021 4:17:10 GMT
“Excuse me?” Jun said, her voice deceptively calm. She was hiding unfathomable anger behind her stoic gaze. She expected insults from Mai, but this? “You bitch. Gan would give his life for Akane. Do you think it was easy for him to realize he couldn’t help her? Do you think he would call for me if he didn’t care, given everything he knows about us? I don’t expect you to apologize to me, but you will apologize to him.” Jun huffed, turning to Akabane. “Thank you for greeting me. I do not think we have met, however? I am Jun Li.” She introduced herself with a short bow, finding the handholding a little awkward, but realizing yanking her hands away would escalate tensions with somebody who was trying to be nice. As tempting as that was, she was trying to be nicer.
Shi, however, was not. “Let’s cut her arms and legs off. That’ll restrain her plenty.” She hissed. "...and you know, heal her after." She added. "We can do that."
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Post by othus on Apr 26, 2021 6:29:59 GMT
Oh crap. Akabane just realized how much of a weirdo she looked like at this moment, she let go of Jun and nodded at her greeting.
"Let's both do our best, alright?!"-She replied excitedly.
Mai shrugged off Jun's defense of Gan, She knew, she just wanted to be a contrarian. Getting called a bitch almost made her start a fight, but she held back enough, she had no time for this.
"I've known him for longer, dipshit, don't care for anything you have to say about him"
"As for the whole teleport thing, definitely don't do it, i know cause I designed that barrier model, It's the same one we use for the Musashi Castle. if it detects something appearing from anywhere that it's not the entrance, it will reroute you to outer space, as far as I know, the only thing it doesn't work against are spirits, and that's cause one infiltrated our castle some time ago"
"Worry not tho, cause I doubt they will refuse. Just tell them I sent you. If they refuse tell them Tomoe Musashi is gonna come in person to inquire why they refused"
Naturally, there was no way to get Tomoe involved right away, not when she and the noble children are fighting a war in another dimension. However, the possibility alone should make them back up.
"The entrance to the island should be no issue, just know they are gonna bullshit their way around it, if things come to the worst, there should be a control tower that can open the barrier, just get on the inside and activate it. Needless to say, if you go this route, you can expect very heavy resistence"
Kishin Island
As the group teleported they would notice the place was much like a tropical island, behind the warp gate there was only ocean, and in front of them, a large Japanese Castle with walls that blocked the entry to the island, if they looked carefully past the castle, they would notice the almost transparent barrier looming on the back. The main gate of the castle opened and three individuals wearing facemasks walked forward, the one on the left was a woman with long white hair and purple eyes. Even from a distance, she was clearly gorgeous, she was wearing an all black military outfit with combat boots and carried a rifle of sorts on her back. The person on the middle was small, looked even younger than Arthur, probably a kid around 10 years old. on the right, a slender woman wearing black pants and a purple button up shirt covered by a black jacket.
"Ah, welcome, We were expecting you"-The kid in the middle told the group with a stoic expression on his face, his red eyes had an odd depth to them, it was obvious this was no regular kid. Ann looked at them somewhat confused as she saw them remove their masks.
"You were?"-Parker replied as she looked down to meet the eyes of the kid.
"Indeed, Lady Akane mentioned you were coming. Please, come with us"
Akabane was somewhat confused by all this, in her reality the Ono-Ha didn't exist. why was that? She didn't know what to make of them
"Ah, apologies, I believe we haven't introduced ourselves, I am Yoru, elder of the Ono-ha branch, this is Sara"-He said as he pointed at the girl with purple eyes, She courteously bowed and looked at Arthur for a while, raising a brow with interest.
"This girl here is Nara, slayer of our branch"- Yoru introduced her and Nara bowed as well.
Everyone in the Musashi knew those two names, Yoru was the most influential person on the clan after Tomoe, and Nara was rank number two in the combat capability test, only second to Ann. However, Nara had a higher success percentage than any other agent in the clan. These two were definitely not good news. Akabane frowned but moved forward.
"Pleasure to meet you, Elder Yoru. I'm Akabane Yoshihara, we would like to move into the Island, we have pending busines with Musashi dono"- Yoru didn't even bother to look at Akabane as they kept walking, he lifted up a hand and addressed her as he kept moving.
"Now, Now, Do not be impatient, Lady Akane already moved past the gate, she told us she would be back the next day. The barrier operates in 24 hour cycles, and she took the last one just a few hours ago, we will provide lodging for your group while the next cycle opens"
Mai was right, they were gonna bullshit their way in some shape or form. Akane was inside doing god knows why and they were clearly gaining time. Unfortunately, there was little to be done.
"My agents will guide you from here. there's food and refreshments in the main area. Now, if you excuse me, I'll take my leave"- Yoru moved past them into the main hall of the castle
"Phew, he is gone. Well anyway, group one will come with me to wing A, group B please follow Nara!"-Sarah told them as she picked the groups
Group A
"I'm actually glad you all came here, it sometimes gets boring just staying here with no new faces to chat"-Sarah told Caroline, clearly reiieved she was moving to another area of the castle with them. Sarah looked at Arthur from time to time, fidgeting as if wondering if she should talk to him, eventually she walked next to Arthur bumped his shouder in a friendly manner.
"So um, what's your name?"-Sarah told Arthur as she smiled at him.
Akabane was still somewhat distracted, she knew she had to focus on the mission, but god it was weird hanging around everyone again. She moved next to Jun and attempted to make small talk
"Hi Jun, I know we just met and everything, I just, you know, wanted to get to know you better! Did you come here because Gan asked you to?"-Akabane told Jun trying to understand what really motivated Jun.
Group B
Nara guided the second group, she tilted her head slightly when she saw Haruko and whispered to her as they walked.
"Say...You are Haruko Miyata, arent you? I...I actually love the stuff you make, see?"-She pointed at her Jacket while she did little hops of excitement, If Haruko paid attention, she would notice the entire outfit Nara was wearing was of her design.
"I'm actually a seamstress myself, would love if you could take a look at some of my designs, maybe give me a few pointers here and there!"
Ann walked a bit slowly and moved with Katsuo and Amelia, taking advantage Nara was fully distracted with Haruko, Ann spoke to them in a low tone of voice.
"I'm so glad so many of us are here, As soon as she leaves, we are gonna discuss our plan of action, no way we are waiting 24 hours"
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Post by Vapovile on Apr 28, 2021 7:21:37 GMT
The team found themselves on a tropical island, and then joined by three people. Haruko's eyes widened slightly when she saw the attire of the woman on the right. It was one of her outfits she used during missions like this, designed to show as few dirt stains as possible while staying durable, yet fashionable. When the groups were split up by Sara, Amelia stepped toward Caroline and began to whisper.
"Are you ok with this? I can't protect you if I'm not around..." Amelia said quietly, but Caroline shook her head. "Oh Amelia, do you think I can't fend for myself for a few hours? I am sure you'll be there in my time of need, should I ever need it." Caroline winked at her assistant, before pulling her into a hug. Amelia rolled here eyes and squeezed back.
"Yeah well...just don't forget about that spell I taught you. Use that, and I'll be there in an instant." With one final squeeze, Amelia let go of Caroline and the two split up into their separate groups.
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Group A:
"Well, I certainly hope we are pretty enough faces for your liking." Caroline joked, flashing a smile at Sara before she moved onto Arthur. Caroline got a strange feeling from this woman. She sniffed the air, and a pleasant aura wafted into her nose. She instantly knew what this was. In Caroline's work, she trained herself to recognize the scent of succubi and incubi, for their powers were one of the few things that could kill Caroline if she slept with one. Any person of that species must wear power cancelling bracelets if they wanted to be with Caroline.
Taking out a small cube from her pocket, Caroline took out a white tissue and tore it in half, sniffing the air as if she was holding something back internally. She then folded up the two pieces and stuffed them into her nostrils, putting them far enough inside that it didn't look obvious anything was inside from the outside.
Her eyes then fell upon Arthur and Sara. Caroline could tell instantly that Sara was interested in Arthur, from the shoulder bump and her disposition. No doubt he would begin to fall for her succubus aura. Caroline continued to act casual, but her watchful eye kept taking glances at the scene. She needed to protect her friends.
---
Group B:
Nara's complements affirmed Haruko's observation from earlier, being a fan of her own work. The seamstress gave a friendly smile and began to inspect the outfit. "You certainly have an eye for detail, Nara..." Haruko complemented. The work wasn't shoddy in the slightest. The skill made Haruko wonder why she's not heard of Nara via her professional network, or any magazines. Was this really just a hobby?
"I would be happy to give you some advice, if you'd like! This is a marvelous replica of my design." Haruko began describing some minor details she adds to the seam, and the various pockets she puts inside the coat for her knives that could be expanded for more everyday items.
Nearby, Amelia nodded at Ann's suggestion. "Yeah, no way. Anybody notice that tower Mai talked about?" Amelia whispered back, acting casual. Her mind continued to wander to Caroline, worried about being unable to defend her boss, and good friend from danger.
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Post by TimePuppy on Apr 29, 2021 21:44:11 GMT
Mai was right. They gained entry but it didn't bring them closer to Musashi. The Ono-ha were very clearly stalling for time. Furthermore, they were splitting them up into two groups. Katsuo did not like it at all. As used to being alone with Shi as he was, he knew there was safety in numbers in this case. But there was little to do now but bow to their will. --- Group A:
Arthur was grouped with Caroline, Akabane, and Jun. While Caroline was the only one could fully trust, he felt like the other two were trustworthy. Even Jun, whom he recognized from a Christmas adventure. Their guide was a bit more suspicious though. Though she was also very cute, he had to admit.
She bumped his shoulder in a friendly manner and asked his name. "Arthur. Arthur Cromwell." He blurted out before he even considered if that was a good idea. "And you're... Sara, was it? Is that with an h or no?"
--- Group B:
Katsuo agreed with Ann. "Every second wasted brings Akane-dono closer to her goal and us further from ours." He said. "We might require Shi to do some scouting for us if worst comes to pass."
After Haruko and Nara finished their conversation, he started talking to their guide. "Nara-san, spending 24 hours in a room is not healthy for one's body or mind. How much are we allowed to explore? Might we look for a training spot? Even a day spent wastefully causes skills to rust."
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Post by HungryHunter on Apr 30, 2021 1:30:48 GMT
Jun huffed at Mai’s parting insult, but she realized now wasn’t the time to pick more fights. Then she teleported and felt like beating Mai up all over again. Sweat immediately began running down her spine when the tropical heat washed over her. She wasn’t dressed for the heat, even if she was dressed down for combat. She never liked the heat even without what it did to her in combat. She hated becoming a sweaty, disgusting mess. It was wretched.
Her mood didn’t improve when they were told they couldn’t pass through, although at least they were going to be inside for a bit. She would get to recuperate, maybe even find a way to change. “Eh?” She responded when Akabane addressed her. This lady was weirdly friendly. It honestly made her a little uncomfortable, but she was still trying to be polite. “Mostly, yes. He is close to Akane, but he couldn’t be here. But also, well… Akane and I have a poor history, and it is… not entirely her fault. I can’t let things end like this.” She admitted. It was agonizing to take blame for her rivalry with Akane, even if she knew it was true. Gan had said it would be good for her to acknowledge her role, but she still didn’t believe him. It sucked! It was so much easier just to blame that haughty bitch!
When they first teleported, Shi didn’t even notice the heat. Her sense of touch was entirely different from a human’s, and the warm air didn’t effect her in the slightest. She just took in the scenery, and of course the people near them. She didn’t like any of them, but two in particular stood out. Shi was rarely considered smart, but she knew danger when she saw it. The kid. The kid was a monster. Katsuo would feel the wind around him go cold with fright as a shudder went through her invisible form. Evil. Evil and powerful. She didn’t like him one bit. Neither did she like Sara, but for a much different reason. She wasn’t so dangerous, but she was a threat to Shi herself. There was a seductress’ air to her. Danger! Danger danger danger! Shi was an angry little dustdevil until both of them were gone. The sand fell to the ground and she rose up to listen in on Ann’s conversation. “I can’t go very far…” Shi was tied to the sword that served as her body. At most her influence could travel about 40 feet away.
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Post by othus on Apr 30, 2021 4:48:11 GMT
"Hey, I think you are all cute"-Sara replied to Caroline with a big smile, hopping around as she guided them to their rooms. She giggled when Arthur introduced himself
"See what I mean?! he's super cute!"-She told Caroline somewhat red
"You are super cute, anyway It's Sara without H"-She said repeating her statement to Arthur right as she stopped.
"Alright, these are your rooms! they are separate but don't worry, you can always just visit each other if you are feeling lonely! Akane told us to treat you guys nicely so, I hope you like the rooms! I uh, will be around, call me if you need anything!"-she said while caressing Arthur's shoulder before turning around and leaving.
Akabane's eyes widened quite a bit, did she just said it wasn't entirely her fault?! this was a far more mature version of Jun than what she was used to for sure!
"wow...I mean, well, no matter who is at fault right now, you are here for her, so she will definitely owe you one after this!"-Akabane told Jun as she gave her a thumbs up.
When they finally stopped, Akabane looked at Sara and shrugged, she didn't seem like she was gonna be troublesome, at least not from a combat standpoint.
Sara left the group to their rooms and Akabane immediately called for them to group.
"I think Ann is gonna try to get to the tower , we could split to throw them off maybe cause some sort of distraction, i think that would be the best option. I will stay in contact with Ann through comms so we can coordinate our entrance to the barrier, you guys put this on so we are in touch as well"-Akabane told them as she pulled earpieces from her pocket.
"...Caroline, what is that on your nostrils?"-Akabane told her now that she took a closer look at the doll.
Nara's dead eyes lit up a little once Haruko began to talk about all the little details she added, she seemed completely into it, only interrupted by Katsuo's question, the Asassin looked at him and displayed a creepy smile, clearly she was not used to social interactions but was trying hard.
"Uh, no, feel free to move about, you are not hostages...Musashi don't take those, remember? Heh, heh"-Nara replied, doing her best attempt at a joke.
"Just uh, don't walk through red doors, those are for authorized personel"- She said with her anemic voice, she looked back at Haruko
"Actually, if you don't mind, I would love if you could come to my workshop in a couple hours...just to see if i'm missing something"-Nara added.
"Ah right, these are your rooms. see these doors? there's one for each...if you need something you can shout my name...I am always around"
Nara walked to the end of the hall and waved goodbye at the group. Ann scratched her head
"I'm glad she left...I think I know where the tower is, Amelia. This castle looks like a miniature version of the one the Musashi have at Shinkyo. maybe we could get close and have Shi sneak into the controls? she's the only one that could get into the control tower without everyone noticing, I'm sure we can get her that close. The guys on the other group should be able to keep the other agents distracted, the main issue is Nara, she's bound to be around since she was assigned to keep an eye on us."
Ann told the plan to Akabane through comms, everyone on both sides would be on it by then, since they were allowed to roam freely, they could reorganize however they needed. If anyone on the group had a preference, they could swap now.
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Post by Vapovile on May 6, 2021 19:09:28 GMT
Group A: Sara left the group in a chipper mood, making Caroline relax a little more. Akabane began to explain the plan, which Caroline paid careful attention to. When Akabane looked up and saw the tissues up her nose, she gave a teasing smile. "Just a runny nose, is all~" She joked, giving one more glance to the door before lowering her voice. "I don't know if anyone else noticed, but she's a succubus. I am into both men and women, so I would be a target if she decided to turn aggressive. But if I plug my nose, it's harder for those pheromones to get into me, you see." Caroline explained, pointing to her nose. "As for how I noticed...let's just say I have a great sense of smell and need to spot these kinds of demons for work." She nodded when finished explaining. Taking one of the communication devices, Caroline strolled over to Arthur and held out two tissues for him as well. "And I was particularly looking after YOU, Farty. She sure took a liking to you, but why wouldn't she with a dashing man like yourself." Caroline gave him a wink, and dropped the two pieces of tissue into his hands. "Though I would advise you do the same. Who knows how much of a problem she'll be later, no?" The doll joked. She then walked over and deposited two ripped tissues into everyone's hands. "I don't know who else here is into women, so everyone gets one of these to put in at their discretion. No need to out yourself to a friendly snake like me." Caroline tossed the group a smile as she finished, turning to her phone. --- Group B: Haruko couldn't help but smile at Nara's awkward attempt at a joke. She didn't seem like a bad person, just socially awkward. Once she left and Ann began to explain their plan, Amelia turned to her phone and typed as she listened. > Hey, Caroline? Are you all ok?> Nope. Already had to eat the cutie in the blue dress before starvation > Good choice. Hey, we're down the hall. Can I get you? It's dangerous.> Amelia, as your boss and friend-with-many-benefits, I want you to stay there. Make some friends. They seem lovely.> Are...you sure?> If you show up, I'm telling everyone about the German Shepherd. > You wouldn't.> Try me, oh majestic dragon~With a sigh, Amelia put away her phone and leaned into the discussion when Haruko began to speak. "That's a great start, Ann! I wouldn't worry too much about Nara, I think I can go to her workshop and keep her distracted for hours showing her different techniques and designs. Just say the word and I'm there." Haruko said confidently. Amelia nodded along. "Sounds good to me. How far can your ghost friend travel away from the sword, Katsuo?" Amelia asked. So there was another swordsman here? The ghost being the lynchpin of this plan also seemed a little risky, but they had little other option.
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Post by TimePuppy on May 6, 2021 21:35:34 GMT
Arthur watched Sara leave with a pang of sadness. Wait, no, that's wrong. Goddammit Arthur, the girl is hot for sure, but you're taken. She's nowhere near as hot as Hyun! Forget her! He shook his head, trying to get rid of the foggy thoughts of Sara still lingering in his head. He was too busy with that to really listen to the plan, but he did tune in when Caroline started talking about something up her nose.
"She's a succubus!?" Oh! Oh thank god... He wasn't an asshole, he was just stupid apparently. Letting himself get taken in by a sex demon. At least, he really hoped he wasn't actually an asshole... Still, at least Caroline had his back.
"Thanks, slick. My girlfriend owes you one." He winked. "And I guess I do, too. So, uh, what was our plan again? Or summarily, what do you need me to do?" --- "But you can go subtly," Katsuo added to Shi's statement. "If the barrier does not react to spirits, then I assume they also don't have ways to detect you. I merely need to get close enough for you to observe the location."
Amelia asked him just how far Shi could travel. "12 meters," he answered. "If Miyata-san can keep our chaperone occupied, I believe we can get close enough." He steeled himself with a deep breath. "Say when we are to move, and it shall be done."
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Post by HungryHunter on May 7, 2021 3:39:45 GMT
“Uh… I am sure she will? Or maybe we will just be even.” Jun mumbled to Akabane. She wasn’t used to people just being so friendly. She didn’t get it, but it was… nice, she thought. She couldn’t dwell on it. They had things to discuss. “Succubus.” Jun hissed. “I have dealt with their ilk. Take protection whether you think you need it or not. They are less effective on those not naturally attracted to their chosen sex, but they can overcome that resistance with prolonged contact.” She stuffed her own nose, snorting involuntarily a few times. “Give me just one minute to myself. I need to make a call, then we can plan.” Jun went to her room, knowing this would likely be the last moment of privacy she would get for the rest of the day. Maybe ever if this went poorly.
Her hands shook a little as she scrolled through her contacts. She called and got a busy signal. He still must be busy with Pele. For a brief moment there was a sting of jealousy. Gan was something of a demigod. Pele was a goddess, and a beautiful one even by their standards. Maybe he would join somebody more on his level and leave this mortal behind. She knew that Gan would never do that to her, but she was in a low mood coming into this fight. It would make her feel so much better to hear his voice. She closed her eyes and thought. He was hundreds of miles away, probably worrying about her, and she was selfish enough to work herself up over a cheating fantasy? He needed to hear her voice too. She clicked to leave a voicemail.
“Hi Gan. I am okay! We are on the same island as Akane, just trying to get through a barrier. I have Cromwell and, uh, Caroline with me. It reminds me of the North Pole. Oh, and a woman named Akabane. I think… she wants to be friends? Do you know her? I will call you when we are done, so tell me then. I miss and I… I love you!” She managed to gasp out before ending her message and sending it. She had been working on more casual English with him, not the stuffy way she spoke to others. One day she would talk normally to everybody, but for now it still felt too intimate. Words like “okay” were things she whispered to Gan. It was stupid, but that was how it was. They were her and his words and that was… that was okay!
She put her phone away and returned to the group. “Alright. I assume that some of us will be distracting members of the Onoha and others will be attempting to open the barrier. I am willing to do the former. I am significantly resistant to harm in case things turn for the worse.” She sighed to the rest. So long as she didn’t have to face the succubus… the absolute worst for her abilities and style.
“Oh fiiiiiine.” Shi whined. “I’ll be your dumb scout. But can I do it out of my sheathe? If I can form fog I can actually touch whatever they use to control the barrier. Maybe break a generator… strangle some guards…” She giggled at the thought. “I like this idea now.”
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Post by othus on May 7, 2021 20:06:27 GMT
"R-right, I'll plug my nose as well, just to be on the safe side of course"-Akabane replied after listening to Caroline and Jun. when she went to make a call, Akabane got word from Ann on their side, apparently, there was a plan ready. She waited for Jun to get back to finally fill in the details.
"Alright, so. Jun is exactly right, we are gonna divide ourselves, a small team will try to lower the barrier, then some need to make distractions, and most of us need to just make a run for it. Let's go back to our rooms and move out one by one so we don't draw too much attention as a group. let's see...I think I will take Jun on this side to try and lower the barrier, not sure who else is gonna back us up from Ann's side, but we will meet them there."
"Also, i got another idea, you are pretty fast, aren't you?"-Akabane told Arthur, tapping his shoulder
"You are gonna have to retrieve people who are lowering the barrier, I imagine Ann has also picked someone to help with us retreating, but i need you to stay out of sight, so...i guess you can stay in your room for the time being. easy enough, right? Caroline here can probably help distracting ono ha members in the main area, I'm sure everyone has noticed she has a way with words"
"That's actually great, with Nara out of the picture, i think we can fend off most people, just...know that when the alarm sounds you are gonna be alone with her. It can be dangerous, if she thinks you were distracting her she could get aggressive"- Ann scratched her head, she didn't want to put Haruko in harms way like that, but it was necessary. something lit up in her almost immediately
"Oh, i know what we can do! Amelia can probably teleport to an area close to you! then you two can escape like that! sounds good?! So, Amelia, I'm gonna need you to stay put Maybe follow Haruko and Nara for as long as possible without actually being noticed!"-She then moved on to Katsuo
"You are gonna be the key piece here, well...Shi will, but we need you close enough so she can sneak into the controls. make sure you break some stuff so they have to deal with that. no point in lowering the barrier if they can manually put it back up instantly, I will be protecting you while that is going on. alright? Akabane will let me know when we are ready"
The first person to leave her room was Akabane, followed by Caroline. They strolled their way to the main area, waiting around as they saw Ono-ha agents moving back and forth, there were some seriously strong people around so, getting caught was not an option. all that was left, was waiting for the rest.
"Well, this is gonna be your area, see that hallway towards the end? that's where we will be heading in a minute, don't let anyone through! I'm sure you will think of something if you see anyone headed there"-Akabane told Caroline as she saw Ann and Katsuo arriving at the scene as well.
"So, it's gonna be just us 4 huh? alright then, let's make this quick"-Ann told them and they walked towards the back. If caroline was paying attetion, she would see Nara and Haruko taking stairs that led undergroud. right as the party left her sight, she would notice one of the Ono-Ha followed after them. In that same move, Caroline would also see Sara walking towards the hall where their rooms originally were, this time she was wearing a dark coat that covered her from the neck all the way to her ankles.
As Arthur awaited at his room, he would notice the his door opened. Sara quietly got in and locked it behind her with an ID card.
"Hi. um, I know you won't be around for long so, I wanted us to have some fun before you left"
Sara took off her coat and was left in an all black lingerie outfit, she walked towards Arthur as horns, wings and tail were revealed, she grabbed his shirt and shredded it in one go as she pushed him to the bed.
"Man, I’m beat. I shouldn't be here with all the stuff that is going on in Japan right now."- Gan told Sasaki Yuriko, who brushed off his comment
“Hmph, worried about Akane? You shouldn’t underestimate her. Whatever is going on with her right now, I’m sure she has more than enough people to help her out. Instead, you should focus on the mission! we almost died inside that volcano because you were checking your stupid phone!”
“Well sorry, I’m just worried about Jun as well”-Gan said as he sighed
“Your girlfriend? the one that sent Akane to the hospital?”
“Now you are just making it sound like she’s nuts. that was a thing between them, not like you haven't had your beef with Akane before”
“Oh don’t get me wrong, I can totally relate to your girlfriend, Akane can be a bitch sometimes, I’m just saying! If she can do that to Akane, I’m sure she will be fine! you always mention how she saved your skin as well”
“...I think I might be talking about her a bit much”-Gan admitted, blushing somewhat
“Ya think?! You are in love, dude. Which is fine, just focus on the damn mission! Now, since Pele seems to have taken a liking to you, why don’t you convince her to leave the island? We can uh, hopefully take care of that snow deity that is bothering her”
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Post by TimePuppy on May 8, 2021 18:37:13 GMT
"Thanks, slick. My girlfriend owes you one." Arthur winked. "And I guess I do, too. So, uh, what was our plan again? Or summarily, what do you need me to do?" He told Caroline.
The doll’s eyes immediately lit up. “Your huuuuuuh?!” She asked with surprise, walking over to Arthur and grabbing him by the coat.
“You have a girlfriend and didn’t tell meeee?! Forget this for now, what you need to do is say who it is, you jerk!” Caroline then began to push back and forth, shaking Arthur in mild frustration.
Arthur burst out in laughter at Caroline’s reaction. “Oh you nosy snake, shoving your, uh, tongue everywhere!” He tapped her forehead with his finger. “You would’ve known already were it not for this whole situation. We just started dating actually. Like, maybe a few hours before Akane went nutso. It’s actually Soon’s sister, you see. She’s a real cutie patootie, really. She’s called Hyun. I’m sure you’d love her.”
Hearing his girlfriend’s name made Caroline stop shaking him, letting go of his coat. “So it’s Hyun...that wouldn’t be Hyun Park, would it?” She asked, giving Arthur a sidelong glance.
“Wait, you know her?” Arthur exclaimed in surprise. “Now you’re the one hiding stuff. Oh, do tell me my assumption is right at least.”
Caroline let out a squeal of excitement. “I knew it! Oh that’s just adorable, you’re both so small! And can do ice stuff!” Caroline said with excitement.
“Heeeey, are you shipping people just based on height now?!”
“I’m saying it’s a cute match! Anyway, to address your question, it’s a little impossible to tell you of each new acquaintance I make. But Hyun’s beautiful. Went into her shop one day, we hit it off, came back to my place, I took off her shirt…”
Caroline puffed out her cheeks and giggled. “Kidding, kidding. She’s straight. But I did take her to Universal and had a great time! So yeah, we are definitely friends. Surprised?” She asked, staring with anticipation.
“More than I should be, knowing you.” Arthur chuckled. A social butterfly like Caroline knowing many people is as big a surprise as water being wet. “But yeah, she’s gorgeous, isn’t she? And adorable! And fun and almost as big a tease as you. Ahahaha, just talking about her is filling me up with giddy happy butterflies again.” Remembering the village adventure they had but a day ago, the cute ice skating lesson, and the softness of her kisses, Arthur felt happy enough to almost start wiggling his body in excitement.
Caroline couldn’t help but put her face in her right palm. “Aaaaaaaaw, you’re already a lovely couple. Remind me to bully her later though for not telling me either! Or I could just swing by her shop after this...feel free to join me, lover boy.” Caroline let out a few more giggles and turned toward the others, winking at Arthur.
“Oh, don’t mind if I do,” Arthur said. “Ahem, but enough about my amazing girlfriend… Uh, what was the plan again?” --- Arthur has explained the plan. "Oh yeah, I like to think of myself as a bit of a speedster," he said at the time. His job ended up being quite simple. Efficient extraction when needed. But it would be some time until that happened, so for now he was casually relaxing on his bed. He decided to send Hyun a message to check up on her, Soon and Kaguya. But his quiet time was interrupted.
The door to his room opened and Sara slipped inside. Without missing a beat, she let her coat slip off and reveal a sexy set of lingerie. Alarm bells rang in his head along with a renewed appreciation for Caroline's forethought. When she grabbed his shirt, he caught her wrists and tried turning her around, putting himself closer to the door.
"Ahaha, no offense Sara, you're very hot, but I have a girlfriend. This is not the kind of fun I want to have right now." In all his years of adventuring, he never experienced a situation quite like this. The question of how to handle something like it never popped into his head. He really just wanted to get out now, but would she let him? If he used ice cuffs to bind her, would the clan take offense to that? Worse yet, he felt his mind was starting to get foggier. Nowhere near as drastic or as fast as when they'd just met, but it meant the nose plugs were not a perfect solution. Perhaps not helped by the fact he touched her skin.
While waiting for Sara to respond to him, he used ice to pull out the keycard to his room from his pocket and float it over to the scanner. Hopefully without her noticing. --- On the side closer to their objective, Katsuo and Ann met up with Caroline and Akabane. "We are ready, right, Shi?" He popped the blade slightly out of her sheath, enough to let her release her mist form. "Stick to the walls and corners until you find what we are looking for. We do not want unnecessary attention until the time comes."
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Post by HungryHunter on May 8, 2021 23:16:01 GMT
Jun left her room just a little bit after Caroline passed. She watched her go, hanging back to stagger out their schedule. Her eyes wandered to Sara. She frowned and followed her with her eyes until the succubus stopped and entered Arthur’s door. “The rest of you keep moving. I will handle Sara.” She said into her earpiece before moving out. Her hand casually rested on her sword hilt as she walked over. She was ready to lop Sara’s head off on a moment’s notice. However, to her surprise, when she tried the door it popped right open for her. She got to see Sara and Arthur locked close, Arthur keeping Sara at arm’s length. Okay. No killing. Not yet. “There you are. I am sorry Sara, Arthur was coming with me to do something. He forgot this because he is an idiot.” She kept her face and tone flat, just offering a hand to Arthur to pull him away. “You can have your… fun with him when we’re done. Don’t worry, just a few minutes.” Her eyes were locked on Sara, ready to retaliate if she chose to escalate.
“I don’t want to go with the geishaaaaaaa.” Shi whined as they approached the rendezvous point. Why were there so many women? Too many of them had magical weapons too! She hated it! When Katsuo cracked her sheath, she swirled out in a thin line and nipped at Akabane and Caroline, leaving tiny cuts on their legs if they didn’t get away in time before she went low, keeping her fog crawling along the ground. She stretched it hair-thin, a barely visible wisp of mist that rolled along the ground. It wouldn’t take much mass to wiggle this fog into a machine and slice a few wires.
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Post by Vapovile on May 11, 2021 2:50:01 GMT
Caroline was the second to leave her room after Akabane. She eyed up the patrolling Ono-Ha agents, trying to size up their personalities. She took particular note of the pink-haired woman from earlier leading Nara down a staircase, and the succubus from earlier wearing a strangely oversized coat for a creature that thrived on skin contact. "I don't like this one bit..." Caroline whispered, taking a step toward Sara before Jun's voice came on over the earpiece. Jun was going to deal with the situation herself? Nodding her head, Caroline turned to the hallway in time to see the others making their way up...followed by an Ono-Ha agent. Time to work some magic.
Adjusting her hair, Caroline tapped the agent on the shoulder and looked at him with a nervous expression. "Hi, um, sorry to bother you, but do you think you could show me the way to a kitchen around here? I am a little famished, and well...it's a little scary walking around in an unfamiliar place at night. Think you could help a girl out?" Caroline asked, shifting with nervousness and pushing a lock of hair behind her ear. Truth be told, she was just mimicking her friend Erin's behavior. If she could lure him into a conversation about how great he was for helping this hapless girl, she might just distract these agents long enough.
---
Haruko and Nara made their way down to her shop, Haruko explaining more about the industry and her history with it. Once they entered, she took interest in the strange machines Nara had around the workshop. "Well this seems nice." Haruko commented, careful not to pause at the adjective. Seeing the spools of thread, Haruko walked over and pulled up a chair. "So, what sort of article do you want to learn? I do charge by the minute." Haruko let out a few laughs. "I'm kidding, just here out of professional curtsey to a fellow seamstress. Hopefully you'll enjoy this."
Out in the hallway, Amelia was leaning against the wall and tapping on her phone and trying to look casual. There wasn't anything she could do until the signal was given, so hanging out and not raising suspicion was probably the best tactic right now. But even so...Amelia worried about Caroline's safety. She was probably the weakest person in the group, how was she going to defend herself if things got dangerous? That's what she hired her for...to be a protector.
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