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Post by Fawkes on Feb 5, 2022 16:17:52 GMT -8
Fawkes indulged the well meaning Emerald enough to side eye Yuan while forcing the group to move with him. He could parse where the other was coming from; where dragging detached addictions from the slots would mean a harmless tour through a few casinos so he could pick up the scraps, nodding along to acknowledge the option without committing to it.
He bit his tongue before snapping at the Playmate that if he had the fucking fruit then why didn't he bring it, checking his own anxiety and frustration—he didn't even remember calling Yuan, but the other's presence meant he hadn't had time to really sleep, let alone prepare. "Um. That would probably help I'm just. Not sure if it works with the alt," he admitted. This was foreign territory for everyone where even Cinderella could offer nothing on a diagnosis, though Blaze and Lotus being onside prevented the Elemental from completely locking up on the variables. "I don't want anything breaking."
Having them all end up hating each other with faerie vengeance because of the entity's chaos made the Sun Banisher reluctant. If the others had suggestions he was open for cooperation, but didn't trust his addled focus to cobble together a solid pact that covered all the unknowns.
He had watched what happened to Riley Sorsa this year, and it unsettled him.
They were weaving through the worst parts of Meadow's Valley as the Strip's neon aura was dulled behind the cover of neglected businesses and empty apartment complexes. The weight of Fawkes' authority felt absent to the other Winters, like the united feeling of sharing the calling of one's Court had all but disappeared. The Torrent's direction and experience didn't hold as much natural leadership where the fact that he was probably the youngest in the group was starting to show through the cover of established Mantle. "The. Drop. Right," he coughed again around the cigarette. "Just someone's friend or kid being stupid. They want him to live longer. Just going to scare him a bit. Easy draw."
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Post by Blaze on Feb 7, 2022 2:03:56 GMT -8
Blaze stays silent through the rest of the exchange, not having much to offer and already looking forward to the Harvest encounter. She has more pressing concerns, anyway: any number of dangers can lurk in the crowds of the Strip, from simple pickpockets to Huntsman agents, and in the group's unprepared, vulnerable state she doesn't want to be caught unawares by either.
The Elemental keeps an eye open, scanning the area as much as possible without looking like a human periscope.
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Lotus Eater
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Presence (4) Capable |Rigid Mask | Winter Mantle | Status (Licensed Security) | Autumn Goodwill (1)
Posts: 74
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Post by Lotus Eater on Feb 7, 2022 9:52:32 GMT -8
It didn't show on her face, but Lotus was unimpressed by the Sun banisher's provided information. Even when he wasn't worn thin and starving for glamour, Fawkes was cagey. Of course, the wizened would prefer more details, but pushing for them now felt like putting pressure on a cracked pane glass.
"Then let's go scare a kid straight."
The riddleseeker spares a glance to both Yuan and Blaze. She seemed ready to procede.
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Hua Yuan
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Presence 2 - Nostalgic; SL 1 - Flawless
Posts: 304
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Post by Hua Yuan on Feb 7, 2022 10:34:15 GMT -8
Yuan appreciated Fawkes sharing the plan, even if it didn't show on his face. No murder then. Good.
The lack of initiative irked him, both from Blaze and from Lotus Eater. The former couldn't wait to execute more orders, anything to not think for herself. The latter wanted to be in charge all the time, making sure everything was under her control before moving. The Playmate wanted to break free and run head first into the project, dealing with issues as they came up instead of obsessing over what ifs. He comforted himself with the knowledge that Fawkes had asked him here for a reason, that he wasn't just 'tagging along'. Still, the Beast couldn't help but wonder if his presence would be detrimental to the subterfuge; Yuan wasn't exactly intimidating.
"I'll wait around the corner. Someone needs to stand lookout, and I think my presence would be counter productive." It was self-pity. Yuan had nothing to be ashamed off when it came to his appearance. This simple wasn't what he had been tailored for.
He assumed his vantage point, pretending to text someone while he mulled over the situation. The Playmate was wondering if there was a way to show the dull Winters a little adventure. Before leaving, however, Yuan turned around one more time. "Hey, Fawkes. What's up with your Mantle?"
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Post by Fawkes on Feb 7, 2022 20:00:48 GMT -8
Fawkes gave Yuan a flat stare; his expression hard to read without the cracks of his Season. His grating laugh caught him by surprise, causing Yuan's hair to stand on end from the harsh static. "I don't know. Maybe it's the d̸̙̩̩̽͒̏e̸̘̟͂̑̈́ͅȃ̵͉̯͉̔d̵̳͌ ̸̼̓R̴͔͗̋i̴̝̭̇̍d̷̤̐̅d̵̢̞̊̽̊l̴͖͋ê̵̥̣̄s̴̼͕̕e̵͖̮̝͠ê̵͖̜͗̚k̵̗͚̤͂̉̚ē̶̢̩̘͝r̶̥̈̋ trying to claw their way. Through the ẗ̵̬͉̣́̄̉h̷͇̼͂e̶̞͓̬͗͛͝ ̵̫̐l̶̦̅͗ä̶̘̜̹́̿s̸͍̣͗̚t̸̻̞͐ͅ ̸̜̥͙̅͑b̵̘͕̖̀̈́i̵͍͓͒̌͘t̷̢̞̃̏s̵̻̜̯̏ of my slipshod personality."
As the group settled to follow the Torrent's lead, he produced a tagged set of keys to open one of the abandoned businesses. Messaging coordinates as he finished off his smoke, he gestured to several ideal spots that he had clocked for the others, though the Ifrit and Playmate were already moving on their own.
Blaze watched an old, beat up Durango take a turn into their corner of the woods, sending off a warning text to the group. Three mundies exited smoothly, not looking in any particular rush as they joked and lit up, speaking in Spanish as someone in a suit with a bag over his head was hauled from the boot of the vehicle. They were rough, but nothing crossing into the realms of torture as they dragged the zip-tied and kicking kidnaped by the collar. They hooted dark promises to the victim, though it was lost to language barriers. Lotus inserted herself as director via way of polite and professional greeting, tsking at the situation as she stepped aside. The humour of the traumatic prank sobered a bit as the gangsters hailed Fawkes, tying the guy to a chair while trying to make small talk as the quiet Torrent placidly stared at them. They then dumped an unknown liquid over the prisoner. Fawkes proceeded to slowly put out the cigarette out on the back of the man's neck in a particularly nasty deception, as the target seized under the assumption that it was petrol. Fear dampened the air like petrichor as the Sun Banisher stooped over the target and started whispering something methodically in his ear.
Yuan's attention drifts—too removed to skim some glamour off the top—and frowns as he noticed the indigo clematis and bluish coiling ferns that made him dizzy to stare at, all working its way through the foundation. It was taking over most of the interior from top-down before Lotus could take note. Molten gold rips its way through the Sun Banisher's mien in a surprised gasp as his hand went to his mouth, trailing weightless metallic globules that bled from the cracks. The gangsters exchange looks, obviously confused from the sudden outburst as one even bothered to shoulder check.
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Hua Yuan
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Presence 2 - Nostalgic; SL 1 - Flawless
Posts: 304
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Post by Hua Yuan on Feb 8, 2022 9:16:25 GMT -8
He made his way over to Fawkes, determination in his step. He was exhausted. He was absolutely done with people being dicks to him. His haw was set and his pupils shrunk to slits. Maybe that was the way Winter Courtiers did things, but he wasn't one. He was as much a person as anyone else and he deserved respect, dammit.
"Listen, Fawkes. I understand you're having a difficult time, but that's not an excuse to be an asshole. Is that why asked me here, to be your personal punching bag? It makes me feel attacked and underappreciated, two things I don't deserve. Let's just, get along."
There was a thrill to standing his ground and demanding to be treated as a equal. The feeling was short-lived however, as plants started growing out of the roof. Yuan's first reaction was to pull attention on him. "Gentlemen, we'll take it from here. This next bit is not for the faint of heart." Maybe the thugs were in on it and they would play or they weren't and the Beast had some real convincing to do.
The Beast directed Blaze and Lotus Eater to see the men out, hoping the two Winters would play along. He was taking charge of the situation, now that things have officially transitioned to 'fucking weird'.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 8, 2022 9:52:17 GMT -8
The gangster who turned his head jumped as the Beast descended from the rafters, hand going to his firearm on reflex before settling from the lack of reaction from the sicario. All three looked at Yuan, bemused as the sudden push to separate them from their escort. The oldest barked a question at Fawkes in Spanish, waiting for an explanation or confirmation, but clearly having no intent of following the random Playmate's lead.
Lotus Eater, in close proximity with the Elemental, felt the full force of the Mantle manifestation as her mood sky rocketed with an uncontrolled surge of joy. It immediately started to taper off, like a scattering flock of ideas that pulled her focus in several directions in an instinct to discover and pursue these new designs. Fawkes was oddly motionless as the gangsters were trying to get his attention, unblinking as the hand slowly dropped at the weightless chunks of molten ore flitted away as butterflies.
His eyes started to dilate as they clicked to each mundie, before flexing his hands and fidgeting with each articulated joint like it was a novel concept.
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Lotus Eater
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Presence (4) Capable |Rigid Mask | Winter Mantle | Status (Licensed Security) | Autumn Goodwill (1)
Posts: 74
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Post by Lotus Eater on Feb 8, 2022 10:34:56 GMT -8
Fawkes mention of a Riddleseeker gave Lotus pause. Their rigid mask disguised any signs of their curiosity on the matter. That was a detail they had not expected, nor did they fully understand what precisely that meant regarding Fawkes situation.
The Wizened played their part well in the ensuing act. Lotus took in the glamour that flowed out of the fear of the prison. Skimming a taste of it off the top. Before suddenly being hit by a strange intoxication of joy.
The moment was singular and disarming for the Wizened. A sensation hadn't felt to that extreme since they cant remember. She took a slight step back as the sensation tickled her nervous system, and she let out a soft gasp of air. Before she realized what was happening.
In moments Yuan was down on the floor approach, and the two escorts of the prisoner were understandably spooked by an unknown intruder.
Lotus raised her hands in a calming gesture. If handled poorly, this could go south quick, and it was painfully clear Fawkes wasn't in the headspace to take this. Yuan could have blown the whole illusion the criminals were trying to set for the kid they were trying to scare straight. Lotus knew that they needed to keep that illusion at play.
"Its been a longday, change of heart, this shit lives," She says in a cold voice, maintaining the illusion for the prisoner strapped in the chair. But her eyes obviously flicked from the two criminals down to the prisoner with a nod. Hopefully, they got what she was playing at.
"Get him out of here. Before he changes his mind."
Lotus wanted to give them an out before moving towards any possible threats. Also, give time for Blaze to get into a position to help if needed.
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Post by Fawkes on Feb 9, 2022 19:21:00 GMT -8
The three Cartel members exchanged pointed looks as the Dark and Serious woman wrapped up the show, pausing for one to act as a translator for the other two. Maybe the sicario was tweaking—who knows, but the work had been done and now two Unknowns were hustling them out. It was easier to roll with it when the expectation wasn't leaving their charge behind, and Lotus' presence didn't bait further peacocking.
Fawkes' attention clicked from his hand as they approached, still speaking at him on familiar terms and expressing some confusion as the Elemental slid in front of the charge. An alien thrum rippled through the warehouse; causing the glass along the upper edges to flex as he stance slid and locked with one leg trailing behind him. One of the gangsters repeated the question and/or prompt for him to move; the undercurrent of annoyance and confusion obvious to the rest. Instead of complying, the Lost casually returned his hand to his face and proceeded to dig his articulated joints into his Mask. The cracks echoed like a boot stomping on thin ice, as mechanical strength snapped the glass to pieces, diffusing with an outpouring of red sand, which thickened to true blood as the Mask is shattered. The sound escalated to a sharp whine that blistered through the complex, picking up in pitch until the frequency was undetectable. The glass from the windows directly above, watches, and phones cracked alongside, bowing out before popping from the pressure.
The being shuddered in oscillating vocals, and it became apparent the Elemental was laughing as he lunged at the horrified and fleeing gangsters.
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Hua Yuan
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Presence 2 - Nostalgic; SL 1 - Flawless
Posts: 304
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Post by Hua Yuan on Feb 10, 2022 15:00:46 GMT -8
The moment the windows popped, Yuan reached for the pistol strapped under his arm. Usually, he would have left the weapon home, but the events in Fawkes' Bastion had left him on edge. Better safe than sorry, and all.
He had no idea what was going on, except that Lamassu had decided to pull a quick one on them to be let loose on the world. Controlling his breathing, the Beast aimed for the Torrent's ankle.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 10, 2022 16:28:37 GMT -8
The sandstorm didn't seem to heed the bullet winging off the concrete near his foot, metallic shrieking following the streak of afterimages as it pivoted, skied, and pounced on the fastest mortal through the door and flew in a whirlwind of tumbling into the back-alley parking lot.
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Lotus Eater
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Presence (4) Capable |Rigid Mask | Winter Mantle | Status (Licensed Security) | Autumn Goodwill (1)
Posts: 74
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Post by Lotus Eater on Feb 11, 2022 13:39:39 GMT -8
The situation had gone to hell.
Three humans and perhaps a fourth had witness a full display of a faerie power. This wouldn't be something they would "forget." Lotus knew this mess needed cleaning up before it got worse.
As the chaos unfolds, she lets out a scream, dropping to the ground, blending into the terror of the moment. One hand on the ground touches the puddle of water that Fawkes had used as a decoy "gasoline ."A whisper of glamour danced from her fingers into the water and began to draw it towards her.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 11, 2022 14:27:32 GMT -8
The second one clears the door just as the other is tackled in the crescendo of gunfire, screaming, and whizzing shards. He pivots in the opposite direction towards the next alley, too taken by the Contract to even register helping his ally. The amalgamation of shards that is Fawkes' head snaps up, swiveling to follow the runner as the garbled laughter continues.
At least someone was having fun.
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Post by Blaze on Feb 11, 2022 15:39:18 GMT -8
Situation normal - all fucked up.
Lamassu and her meat suit clear the door, as do two of the three gangers, but there's still one of them to take care of, too slow or too scared to flee. He's not getting out of here alive. His buddies probably aren't either, they've seen too much that can't be reasonably passed as mundane, but that's for later.
It's easy to scream when you're internally kicking yourself for not putting two and two together: the Spring Queen has all the restraint of a starved drug user in a meth lab, and about twice the cruelty and offensive capability. And so the Torrent yells, her breath spreading ice over the door to this place, making the room a literal kill box.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 11, 2022 16:00:27 GMT -8
The last one who had been all bluster with Fawkes and the victim found that his hesitation had fucked him. As the other two bolted screaming bloody murder, he had tried to be brave—moving a little slower with his firearm drawn, only to be outpaced and whipped with an ice storm from a woman's wailing.
Teeth chattering from the shock, his aim swung and fired as his breath frosted, not understanding what was going on and responding with violence.
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