WEEK 2 DAY 5: MISSION

[wonderful_mods]

Mission: "Free the Black Rose from the Hydra's grasp."
Time Limit: Medium
Noise Plane: Solo
Wall Instructions: Key walls around the church, other walls as you see fit. Do not use Noise as a wall clearing condition. Harriers may still attack players with Noise.
Wall Rewards: Tin Pin Thrift
Reaped Rewards: Lovely Beam
Mission Rewards: Black Rose



[Well. Nobody did erase the GM last week, did they? Even if they did, she obviously had some trick up her sleeve, as she's definitely skulking around town... in several places, even. She's obviously been demoted, as well, judging by the scowl on her face. She doesn't seem to be harrying today - another reason for the scowl, judging by how aggressive she was at the end of last week. The reapers have a strange set of instructions as well - obviously, the goal to this mission isn't combatative.

And what's with guarding the church? There's nothing of note there.]

Comments

[needsmorezippers]

Not planning on it.

[Still, it's something they probably do need to keep in mind... the higher ups aren't stupid, after all.]

Thanks.

[tamedhollow]

We won't. Thanks, Grovyle. If you hear screams, go get help. [he gives a little wave, then heads down into the catacombs... not knowing what to expect. So he moves slowly]

[wonderful_mods]

[The pungent stench of mildew emanates from the wet dungeon walls Catacombs are a bit of a misnomer, as there's neither any dead entombed in the tunnel, nor is it very labyrinthine. There's no natural light for quite some way, but even with the echoing sound of motion above, the passageway is quiet enough to pick out bits and pieces of a hushed conversation much further in.]

...TOLD you it'd work. Now we know...
...-f COURSE they're coming...
...already got it covered...

[needsmorezippers]

[Neku hears the voices and holds out a hand to stop Ichigo- he doesn't say anything, just glancing over at him. Yup, some kind of trap. Good thing he has some of his really good pins on him.]

[tamedhollow]

[YOU ARE ATTACKED BY A GRUE. Wait, no. No grues.

Ichigo sees extremely well in the dark, almost as good as he sees in broad daylight, and his eyes glow dimly in the darkness. Hollows are predators, after all. His hearing is pretty damn good, too, so Neku holding up his hand isn't required to make him stop. He stops the second he hears the whispering, the fur on his neck standing on end.

He gives Neku a nod, and then summons out his "sword"; more just a vaguely sword-shaped blade of black and red flame held in his hand. He steps in front of Neku, lifting his feet to keep his claws from clicking on the stone. He gives a little jerk of his head, indicating that he wants to go first. He continues forward, quietly, keeping his tail out and touching Neku's leg ever so slightly. Keep close.]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[The two of them are not alone.]

[..obviously, but there's sound coming from behind them, and a pair of eerie yellow eyes approaching from the darkness.]

[wonderful_mods]

[Closer to the source of the conversation, the voices get clearer - words can be made out. In addition, there's a bit of dim light, enough to see two dimly-lit figures with noticable reaper wings. On the other hand, it's still far enough away that there's little way of telling which one of the two is speaking.]

"I told you. Everything is under control. Trust your partner and all that, right? That was one of the things her game was supposed to teach."

"You're talking like you know something again. You said those pins would be the perfect bait, and then you made everything into a cheap B-movie horror. How much aren't you telling me?"

"Showing the world what cards you're holding is only good for the shock factor once."

"...wait. Do you hear footsteps?"

[After that, the two reapers look back down the passageway, silently, waiting to catch another sound.]

[tamedhollow]

[Ichigo hears Zecora before he sees her. Hard not to hear the sound of hooves on a stone surface. He turns around and holds out his hand in a clear "stop, wait" motion. He gets a little closer and listens, carefully.

Trust your partner... Reapers could have partners?

But when they stop talking, Ichigo stops moving closer, standing still as can be and hoping that Zecora and Neku would as well]

[needsmorezippers]

[Neku's been listening carefully, frowning as he hears the conversation. One of these people is responsible for yesterday's mission, then... already, he can tell this won't be pleasant. Neku doesn't move, but he is on edge, ready for most anything.]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Quiet as she hasn't been up till now, Zecora can creep along when she wishes -- a necessary skill for someone who lives in the Everfree Forest, with all its fearsome inhabitants. She joins the two of them without a word being spoken, her deck readied.]

[wonderful_mods]

[The two reapers seem to go back as they were after a few moments of silence, though the air is noticibly tenser.]

"Anyway. You need to get going. The entire reason I set up the special wall leading in here is..."

"...because you like watching fireworks, yes? You're getting predictable."

"All you have to do is give them little nuggets of information and watch as they attack each other, scramble over themselves for more."

"So you know."

"Of course. It still won't do any good to have the GM out in the open before the final gambit. Get going."

[At that, the taller of the two figures nods and calmly walks out of the antechamber the two were talking in, further down into the passageway. The other, surprisingly, doesn't seem to flee, possibly holding his ground to keep his 'partner' from being followed.]

[tamedhollow]

[the conversation seems to be over. Ichigo frowns. He's not sure what it all means... And he's not sure if they should proceed. Before he'd probably just rush in, but his Hollow form actually made him more cautious. He turns to Neku and Zecora, and gestures down the hall and shrugs.

Then starts moving forward. If one of them thinks it's a bad idea, well... his tail is still within grabbing distance]

[needsmorezippers]

[Neku hesitates, but follows. There are a lot of things he'd want to do here- have some kind of plan, for one. Find out where the other person was going and what they were up to was another. But this isn't really the place for conversation. Might as well see the other Reaper's plan in action.]

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[No hesitation from Zecora. She hadn't come down here to turn back or falter, after all.]

[reaper_sport]

[The reaper leans casually against the wall, sparking a fire between two fingers as the three come closer. In an odd moment, he starts talking before they even step out into the light - it was obvious he knew full well who was there beforehand.]

You know... it's almost depressing when things are so predictable. Naturally it'd be the Shibuya kid and Whitey sticking their nose where it doesn't belong.

Gotta say I'm impressed a Player wanted to get involved in the rough-and-tumble of Reaper dealings, though. Knowing full well any one of us could erase you without a second thought... Heck, you're trapped here with three Reapers, all on Harrier duty... and no other witnesses. Didn't think this one through too well, did ya?

[tamedhollow]

I don't care about any of that. Your plans don't mean anything to me. [Ichigo brandishes his sword when he steps into the light, growling and baring his fangs. They may have walked right into a trap, but that doesn't matter to him.] And you're not going to lay one grubby finger on Zecora, even if I have to Erase you myself, Mummy-boy.

Now spill it. What are you up to? Involving the living in the affairs of the dead? What in the hell are you even thinking!

[needsmorezippers]

[If this were another situation, Neku might try and hold Ichigo back, but he's trying to contain his own anger right now. He's still braced for attack, but... he does want to hear this plan, because it sounds like there's more to it. And he wants to figure out what that is.]

...So we're predictable. What do you think happens now?

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Your words are just a silly sham
And I will not fall for your scam.
I will fight along with these two
And the one who faces defeat is you.
You'd best speak what we wish to hear
For your rescue is nowhere near.

[reaper_sport]

[The reaper gives a bit of a headshake.]

Ah ah, one at a time. First of all... why the cursed pins? Call it a test. See, I'd heard about a Game in Shibuya, one that used special pins with meme-imprinting psychs as part of its missions. When I learned that there were people nosing around - newbloods who hadn't been TOLD the whole story, but knew the Game inside and out... I was suspicious, to say the least.

So I did a bit of a litmus test. Surely nobody outside of that wreck of a Game would know a pin's latent powers could affect someone on the Realground. And yet you two Wonder Twins were in on it all along, weren't you? Because we have a few pawns from that Game.

As for what happens now? Either we continue civil discussion, you let me leave... or we find out just what kind of damage Drakes and Shrews can do to two officers and a player in a confined space.

[The reaper pulls a few pins out of his pocket, showing he's not bluffing. The antechamber can't be more than ten feet in each direction - there's not exactly ample room to dodge.]

As much as "civil" makes my skin crawl... I think you guys could seriously benefit from actually talking instead of fighting.

[tamedhollow]

[Ichigo listens, still sneering, but he lets his sword drop to his side. He doesn't get rid of it, not right away, but at least he's not actively threatening]

I don't know what went down in Shibuya's Game, other than what Neku told me. I just care that you're fucking with the living, which is not ok. Ever. No matter what kind of test you want to do. [well, he also cares about getting home, but one thing at a time]

[Ichigo twitches slightly, then disappears in a burst of staticy sound. He reappears a split second later, blocking the other exit, but his sword is now dispelled. But the message is clear]

Fine. Let's talk. But you don't leave until we're satisfied.

[needsmorezippers]

[Neku freezes when he mentions Shibuya's Game- and then proceeds to call it a wreck, which is not something he's passing on to Joshua. Because... those three weeks kind of were.]

The imprint wasn't part of a mission, and it shouldn't have been repeated!

[That part is a slip, probably harmless but he's trying to be careful. How much does this guy know?

When Ichigo teleports, Neku quiets down, hands in his pockets and clutching some pins. The Noise don't scare him at this point... he just wants to find out what's going on.]

...You can't just have been curious. Why go through all that?

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

[Zecora has absolutely no fear, certainly not of his threats. She stares at him, yellow lights in the depth of a shadowed cloak, daring him to underestimate her as a zebra.]

There's more to this then you have claimed
And I would like it all explained.
Is this Game, then, just a lie
To toy with those unlucky enough to die?
Explain how the living have come
To this city, instead of where they're from!
Mall girls, the Pin Trader, Pinkie Pie
All moved with us this week. Why?

[reaper_sport]

[The reaper seems a bit surprised when Ichigo manages to detune himself in such a way that he completely blocks off any avenue of retreat. Naturally, he only smiles slightly a moment later. Certainly not predictable, that way.]

Because remnants of Shibuya's Game are dangerous. By knowing, you've made yourself a target. Kind of like the girl who told me about the pins. They erased her, too.

[Then, with a sudden serious shift in demeanor, Rei turns to face Zecora.]

It's because you're strong. The Game makes you stronger. Do you really think being tethered to a mortal, fleshy body will allow your spirit to be as strong as it deserves to be? If you do, then by all means. Yell at the Conductor next time you win, tell him you demand to be brought back to life.

As for why we've got talking horses and we're dimension-hopping all over the place? Don't ask me. Those are secrets I'm not privy to.

[tamedhollow]

[Sonido is a useful trick for getting around quickly... and startling those who don't know about it. Ichigo remains solid, standing up tall and keeping his arms folded across his chest]

We're not going to get Erased. We have to find out what's going on here. And get everyone home. [he narrows his eyes] What girl? Who told you about the pins?

[Ichigo lashes his tail and looks at Neku, not sure if he's buying the whole ignorant thing] Is that so. So what about you? Are you from this world originally? Surely jumping cities isn't a normal thing for this Game.

[needsmorezippers]

[People from Shibuya were dangerous, and targeted... suddenly, Neku's much more worried about the fact that he hasn't seen Rhyme all week. She didn't have much to do with that Game, but still.]

...Why are 'remnants' of Shibuya considered dangerous?