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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 15, 2022 16:40:41 GMT -8
Miguel's peers would have cashed in on their luck and bolted upstairs, but he didn't get the nickname 'Rooster' for acting with a level head. Muttering a prayer to himself as he slammed his heels into the iced over stairwell, a shiver ran up his spine as the witch emerged — bloodied and decidedly not dead from bleed out, and fire bloomed across his shoulder as the bullet passed clean and avoided anything vital. He didn't have time to register as his pistol flashed and chipped the pillar.
He dropped prone for full coverage as he reached the scaffolding, breaking line of sight.
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Post by Blaze on Feb 16, 2022 9:05:18 GMT -8
When Blaze eventually emerges from behind the pillar, after their opponent has already made his escape, she looks like a banshee - pale from the blood loss, her arm and sleeve bloodied where the bullet hit, gripping the handle of the gun so tightly her knuckles are practically white. She has the intense stare of someone still coming down from an adrenaline rush.
He's gone. Fuck. How did this happen?
The Torrent wants to scream, but she can't, not now - so she just manages a guttural growl at the ice sheets to melt them in a short-lived heat wave. They will have to do something with - or to - the guy tied to the chair, but for now they have more pressing concerns. Like Lamassu and her prey, or the fact that Yuan is standing in a pool of his own blood.
"I'm sorry." she says to the Playmate, the effort needed to keep her cool making her voice feel flat "We should move on. Catch up with Fawkes."
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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 17, 2022 7:22:09 GMT -8
"Not in the state you two are in," Lotus said, shaking her head. The Torrent and beast were lucky to be alive.
"We don't want to aggravate those wounds, and this bloody on the strip draws eyes. I can find Fawkes; that won't be an issue."
Lotus glanced between the two in case they wanted to argue that point.
"But first, we need to do something about you two."
She considered their options, Yuan might no some springs that could help, but their healing magics were on the frits. An ogre could possibly help stabilize the wounds with a little blood magic.
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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 17, 2022 10:32:34 GMT -8
"Yeah," the Courser wheezed. "Right behind you." It hurt just to speak. He looked up to Blaze and Lotus. "Just. Just give me a few minutes, just to catch my breath."
Instead, he found himself a nice column and and used it as support to keep upright before sliding down to the floor. His vision swam in a dizzy spell and he tried to fish out his phone with numb fingers. Yuan fought to keep his eyes open and wiped the cold sweat off of his forehead. He thumbed in the number and waited for the dial tone.
"Hey Mitch, how are you?" The Playmate considered being flippant to reduce the Fairest's worry, but he couldn't find the strength. "I've been shot. I think I'm in shock and I've lost a lot of blood. Can y-" His voice broke and oil-slick tears started rolling down his face. "Can you come help?"
It was dumb, selfish and it likely endangered what they set out to do. But fuck it. He didn't want to bleed out in an abandoned warehouse in a blood of filth and blood and tears.
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Post by Blaze on Feb 17, 2022 13:34:13 GMT -8
When the Wizened looks at the Ifrit, she meets the eyes that look like a gathering storm. It takes considerable effort to stay focused, calm and ready. When Blaze speaks, she does so through gritted teeth. It was hard to gauge if Lotus' care was genuine or if she just wanted to get rid of what she saw as the dead weight but either way Blaze was having none of it.
"I'm fine. The bullet had a clean exit and I stopped the bleeding. I can self-medicate when we get home, but for now we need to move."
None of the firearms were suppressed. If anyone accidentally came by and called the police after hearing the shots, that means they are even more on the clock than before.
"One of these guys got caught in the parking lot behind this building. If we're lucky, he and Fawkes are still there. We do a battle damage assessment, intercept the VIP if possible, then regroup. You're right that the bloodied rags will call attention. That's why I'm going to need you to buy us something to cover them with. Here's a hundred. Keep the change." Blaze fishes a banknote out of her trouser pockets with her remaining unfucked arm and hands it out for Lotus to take "Now, can we go?"
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 18, 2022 15:23:33 GMT -8
The Playmate starts feeding the Bishop details of their location as he's clearly being coached through relevant questions. He indicates that Blaze and Lotus are present with him as the Winters converse, before explaining the situation with the mortals in an orderly fashion and that it was a botched Harvest. Yuan seemed surprised for a moment, going silent as the line went dead temporarily, before sagging with relief as there was a confirmation that Spring courtiers were coming to help.
He proceeded to try and get Lotus' attention, having a hard time projecting his voice with the state of injury, before relaying that Squire Carr was concerned about criminal retaliation and that they should probably barricade the doors in some fashion.
For the time being, it seemed that the Emerald was being walked through stopping the bleeding.
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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 19, 2022 9:16:25 GMT -8
"First Yuan. I am not trained in medical work; Blaze, help me stop the bleeding."
Lotus moved to help Yuan, as he was taking instructions on the phone. When signaled that he didnt need aid. Lotus observbed him for a moment before looking to Blaze and her concenrs.
" Clothes, I can make that happen. But you both are in rough shape. Clean wound or not," Lotus said, eyeing the two for a moment.
"Sounds like help is on the way; we need a new spot to set up this meeting."
Her eyes drift to the kid who was the target of this scare, still stuck to a chair, head in a bag.
"I'll handle that in a minute," she said simply about the kid. Grabbing the hundred and moving towards the exit that Lamawkes had lept out of. She quickly scans the area for Fawkes or other trouble. If clear, she will go to grab clothes.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 19, 2022 11:49:19 GMT -8
The door cracked as Lotus forced it open, swinging open to reveal the lone figure collapsed in the lot where Fawkes had apparently left him. It had been about two minutes since they had sealed the door and tried to put down the mundie—the fight had been over in seconds, but between melting the door, organizing, and dealing with bloody comrades as cash was handed off, Fawkes might be a block or two away depending on how fast he was moving after the third.
There was no signs of the runner, or maybe he was hiding, but Lotus Eater could likely trace the blood trail if she investigated the fire escape. Taking a few steps into the lot, she was surprised to see the first mortal bruised and scraped from the supernatural takedown, but well in tact and apparently sleeping.
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Post by Blaze on Feb 19, 2022 14:02:44 GMT -8
Just as soon as Lotus was out, Blaze looked for something to secure the perimeter with, only to frustratedly conclude that there was nothing of the sort around. This place could be stormed at any moment, and they don't have time to lose: she calls on her control of the elements once more to freeze the doors shut. As she does so, she is looking for something handy to crush her work with later - a crowbar or a solid plank. The Torrent was starting to feel the life-giving energy draining with every cold snap, and she wasn't sure how much she will be able to keep it up.
Until a solution revealed itself, or rather: became obvious.
"Hey you. You speak English?" she asks the tied and bagged man harshly. If he does, he might tell them more about who they will need to hunt down. If he doesn't, well... there are still ways his presence may help amend the situation.
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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 19, 2022 18:38:01 GMT -8
Lotus eyed the unconscious man before sniffing the air.
"I seek Fawkes" She stated matter of factly. Calling upon the Regalia of the sword. As the glamour left her lips, her senses tuned in. Like a dowsing rode, struck like a harp, she looked to feel where Fawkes had gone.
The unconscious man was out. Leaving him alive however was a risk, but murder, that might complicate things more. She kneels down drawing out her stilleto and removes a strand of hair from the man and stashing it for later. Turning her attention to the other areas Lotus takes a minute as Blaze ices up the exits to search for signs of the escaped Gangers.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 20, 2022 9:58:13 GMT -8
As the flame of Blaze's mien sputtered, she propped one of the abandoned palettes that the company hadn't bothered to toss out against the door before prying off one of one of the boards. It was a little too flimsy if she planned on whipping someone over the head with it, but she would probably be able to locate a lost rebar that would have rolled under something with some thorough searching.
The man in the chair was shivering from the pivoting temperatures, hunching from the voice as raw skin tugged on well-tied restraints for the umpteenth time. "Uh- un poquito," he murmured.
--
The Wizened attention danced as the Contract to hunt down thieves and trespassers solidified the Changeling's path with gilded wax footprints and trails of glamoured blood. Occasionally a distant alarm would sound to redirect Lotus back on the direction of his path. The Treasury's Alarm became more insistent as she moved towards the fire escape instead, easily spotting the real-world bloody handprint and the occasional droplet strewn across the stairwell, leading towards the closest alleyway back towards the Strip.
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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 20, 2022 13:35:37 GMT -8
Finally, Yuan managed to stand up. His chest was a mess, his t-shirt ripped and wrapped around the two wounds. His paleness gave him an ethereal quality rather than the look of someone who could collapse at any moment. I took him a moment to regain his bearings. "Oh for the love of-"
It didn't take a PhD to see that the tied up man was terrified. The joke had gone on for too long. He moved slowly to the Elemental and the prisoner. His hand on Blaze's shoulder was gentle but firm. "I think he's been through enough for one night. He's terrified and doesn't understand what's happening. Why don't we let him go?"
He turned to prisoner wiggling in his restraints. His mind reminded him of the Oath he had sworn to the Knight of Masks, causing the Playmate to frown at this whole situation. With the same firmness and gentleness he had shown to Blaze, he grabbed the man by the nape. They still had a job to finish, even though Yuan figured the scaring part had been achieved.
"I'll talk slowly so can understand me. What do you want?"
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Post by Blaze on Feb 20, 2022 14:32:01 GMT -8
Blaze removed the Playmate's hand from her shoulder - but she wasn't trying to be gentle at all, partly because she just couldn't be arsed, and partly because his request couldn't come at a worse time. She was actually getting in the mood for some good old fashioned enhanced interrogation, banking on the shifting temperatures as a source of discomfort. But the more rational side of her mind reminded her that there's no point in arguing right now. They can always do a debriefing on it later.
"You want to babysit him, be my guest."
She makes a half-circle behind his chair.
"It's your lucky day. You're actually going to get out of this and return to your life. Think about that as you answer my friend's questions, hm? Focus on the positives."
She attempts to draw out some of the ambient fear from this man, but her inexperience Harvesting that particular emotion shows when the gain is meagre at best. Still, better than nothing.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 20, 2022 15:48:14 GMT -8
Basilio caught 'want', 'you', and 'answer' at least.
"I want to be leaving," he said quietly, keeping the tone flat to not set anyone off or give them an excuse to hurt him. However, it felt like an obvious set up for an ultimatum or threat.
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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 21, 2022 12:28:55 GMT -8
The kid's heart was in the right place, even if his methods were questionable. Reorienting the flight of the Arrow should help him get off the streets.
You want to prove yourself to your community by getting your life together and becoming a success story.
Yuan fished out Henley's business card and circled around the chair to untie the captive. He placed the card in his palm before taking off the bag for his head. "Work." He then pointed to the scaffolding. "Exit." Hopefully, the guy got the message.
"I think we accomplished what we set out to do, at least as far as scaring the kid went, so there's that." It was eerie to hear Blaze talking about the positives. That was exactly what the Courser was focusing on, instead of thinking how close to clash he had come with a Torrent just seconds ago. "Mitch should be here in a few minutes and he's bringing a friend. I don't think I need to say this, but just in case. Don't volunteer information, yeah?"
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