| In the Depths of Winter...; [Open to respondents to the thread "Emergency."] | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 3 2014, 09:44 AM (1,437 Views) | |
| Czernobog | Feb 3 2014, 09:44 AM Post #1 |
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Best Influence.
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Shin drove quickly, but kept a firm grip on the wheel. Behind his glasses, his eyes stared straight forward. He hadn't blinked since the city limits, or at least it didn't feel as if he had. He wanted a cigarette, he wanted a cup of coffee, he wanted his nephew back alive and well. This weather would kill the boy if he stayed out in it. The wind whipped the branches of the trees to either side of the narrow mountain road, and the sky had begun to darken up above. He didn't like that. That looked like trouble if he had ever seen it. The Inspector saw the mile marker that he had found the motorcycle after, and counted to ten before pulling off. He got out, and walked over to the exposed blue plastic tarp that he had put back over the vehicle. It was on the edge of a clearing, and had been buried under a pile of leaves. There were paths branching off from the clearing leading several directions up the mountain. Something red-gold and metallic flashed in the corner of his eye and he stopped to look, but saw nothing. The stress was getting to him. He stopped by the tarp and turned back to look at the search party. He was dressed in winter clothing: a heavy wool coat with a short scarf tucked into it, over a flannel button-down and jeans. For many people here, it would be the first time they had seen him in anything other than a suit, and he looked somewhat gaunt and haggard. His facial hair, which grew in a somewhat patchy fashion, was visible because he hadn't had a chance to shave. This was his fault, and he knew it: if he had talked to the boy, then he could have steered his nephew away from this path. Though perhaps it was inevitable that Naoya would return here. Still, despite his haggard appearance, he spoke with authority: "Okay. We're using the buddy system. Teams of two or three. Understood?" |
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| The One True Nobody | Feb 3 2014, 05:27 PM Post #2 |
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
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Kyo hadn't been surprised to learn that Naoya's choice of hiding place had been in the area where his mother had died; she'd been the one who'd pointed it out to be likely when Shin had voiced his skepticism, after all. What she'd been surprised by was how unsurprised Chika had been. But there was something oddly precarious in the air whenever she was with Chika now--ever since their time together in the ruins, when Kyo had faced her Shadow and ascended, and Chika had nearly gotten herself killed. Things were tense between the two of them now. Kyo's Left Eye had confirmed that the spirit-strand between them was intact, but... ...Alarmingly, the one connected to Kenshin's ghost was frayed and looked on the verge of breaking. That was something Kyo had never expected to see. Had something happened between Chika and Kenshin before he'd died, or what? She couldn't ask directly, she couldn't ask what had passed between Chika and Naoya either. She couldn't ask anything. She had all this concern and worry and she felt as if doing anything with it would snap the connection she had just barely managed to re-establish with Chika over the past month. All she could do was follow in silence as Chika slipped out of the back of Inspector Imoto's car. Chika was dressed in lighter clothing than the others--her resistance to ice made up for the lack of insulation. She held her sword in her arms in a bundle, the sword Naoya had made for her, and wordlessly moved aside to strap it to her belt when she was free of the car, putting its coverings back inside once the other passengers were clear. She had no intention of using the sword itself, but its enchantment would no doubt be useful even for basic woodland traversal. A weakness to physical damage meant that even tripping over a wayward root could be dangerous. Kyo was, conversely, unarmed, and unarmored. Her jacket was thick, black, and she wore a green-and-purple scarf over her face that trailed behind her as she approached Shin. "The buddy system is the only system," she said with a void devoid of irony or sarcasm. "I dunno if it matters or if it'll even be needed, Shin, but... I absorb nuclear magic now. If there's any trouble, I'd like t'be with someone who can heal me. Mind if I go with you?" |
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| Prince Arjuna | Feb 3 2014, 06:20 PM Post #3 |
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-insert something witty here-
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Surprisingly, Kakeru Kagami didn't get lost on his way to this place. Granted, he had already prepared himself before going there. The former child assassin was wearing his normal clothing which consisted of his gray turtleneck shirt, deep black jacket and denim pants. He was also wearing a pair of heavy-looking boots. Thanks to his immunity against coldness, he wouldn't bother wearing something thicker. He wore a pair of gloves, though. He arrived shortly after Shin, Kyo and Chika had arrived. Due to his reliance with his sword, he was seen carrying it, which was neatly wrapped under a purple cloth. The sword acted like a security blanket and also a useful tool for emergency. Well, he was worried that he might end up lost in the mountain, but with buddy system that Shin had proposed, he wouldn't have to worry about getting lost for the time being. He looked at Shin, Kyo and then Chika and nodded in acknowledgement for their presence. He noticed that Chika was holding her sword. While there might be no enemies to fight here, Kakeru understood that a sword could at least help them in this mission. He also brought his sword, albeit for another reason. It seemed that they would have to wait for more people before they could start their searching. Resting his wrapped nodachi against his shoulder, he walked towards Shin and spoke to him. "What are we going to do next?" he asked the policeman. He noticed the haggardness of the man. It was understandable, considering that his nephew might be in danger due to the harsh weather. He could only hope that they could find him before it's too late. Edited by Prince Arjuna, Feb 3 2014, 07:09 PM.
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| Nonsequitur | Feb 3 2014, 06:57 PM Post #4 |
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Yellow Bubblegum
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Since they were going the same way at the same time, Hanako had driven right behind Shin. When he parked, she did too, and the occupants of her car filed out timely enough to hear Shin's instructions. Given the cold, everyone was bundled up, Mia and Hanako both had knives for utility over anything else. At the suggestion that they buddy up, Mia turned to the taller man. "What do you say? Should we stick together Watanabe-san?" Benkei shrugged. "Sure." As long as no one lost sight of why they were there, he didn't mind going with anyone. Hanako wore boots, jeans and a sweater, over which a thick eggshell coat that went to her knees. She turned to Kakeru. "We can't afford to waste time with someone finding you too. Just stick with me, Kagame-san." The sooner they could start their search the better. She looked back to Shin… actually? She had second thoughts, Naoya asked her specifically to look out for the Detective. She wasn't sure what she could do for a policeman that he couldn't for himself, but she at least had to stay close. "Actually? No, anyone that knows their way around is fine. If it's all the same, I'll find you a good partner or partners and go with Kyo and Inspector Imoto." It seemed Kakeru dodged a bullet there. |
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| Exodin | Feb 3 2014, 08:38 PM Post #5 |
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MAHHA
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The best part about it? Jiro Takenaka was there. Of course, the even better part of the best part? Shin had told him to go specifically with him! The boy had bought a winter coat, gloves, and even snow pants. All bundled up to go look for his friend. He knew of course, Nakamura would be there. Instead of feeling the familiar white hot rage he expected, there was nothing. No sort of vague irritation or even fear for his own life from the others. The only thing that mattered right now was finding Naoya, and making him come back. Even if was kicking and screaming. The boy said nothing, simply standing with hood drawn over his face next to Shin and looking at the ground. On the other end of the spectrum was Daichi Nakamura. Bundled in three shirts, a sweater, a coat, two pairs of pants and three pairs of socks along with some boots he'd been able to buy for cheap. He approached the larger group with a solemn look on his face. Why people had brought weapons, he hadn't been sure. This was supposed to be a search and rescue mission. Still there was the Inspector, along with others and.... For all the boy's self proposed 'stupidity' he knew that the hooded boy was Jiro Takenaka. He honestly, hadn't been sure whether or not to find him here. Anything that was between the two of them, was going to be shoved to the side at least for now. He could feel it in the cold air. "So, what are the groups going to be Inspector?" It was better that the adult and authority figure map out the groups right? |
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| Czernobog | Feb 4 2014, 02:10 PM Post #6 |
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Best Influence.
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Shin sighed. "Okay. Why did you all bring weapons?" he asked. Then, he pointed at Chika, saying. "I can understand why Nakadachi-san did, because of the enhancement, but what are you all anticipating?" He softened his face, which had begun to tend into a glare. He was attempting to work this cooperatively instead of dogmatically. He looked at the others. The frail-looking girl with the American accent and the camouflage seemed to be going with Benkei, which was good. Ito and Kagami seemed to be trying to figure something out, but Ito said she was going to come with him. That wouldn't work. He needed to keep an eye on Takenaka, and that would put the group at four. "I'm saying pairs or trios. Takenaka is with me, as was the condition for him helping out. I don't think we're going to need much healing, so..." He pointed at Mia and Benkei. "You two. There's another path forty meters up the road on the left. He could have put the bike down here and then used that. He's definitely on the north side of the road, because he has to be in the middle of the field of chaff. Check there." He looked at Daichi, then at Kyo. "Nakamura, Charinko, why don't you two stick together and take the the right-hand path. Takenaka and I will take the left. Ito, Kagami, and Nakadachi, I would appreciate you three taking the middle path. Kagami-san has third-tier healing -- if anyone gets hurt, he's our medic, and I need you two to make sure he doesn't get turned around, as I understand that he does." He thought for a moment. "Kijimuta and her group will be along shortly. I need someone to message them and ask Susaki to stay here in the base camp. If it's easier to get back here than for Kagami to get to the wounded, then that's what we do." Looking over the assembled faces, and he asked something that might seem uncharacteristic for someone so used to handing out orders, or someone in as much obvious distress as he was in. "Are there any objections to this plan?" |
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| The One True Nobody | Feb 4 2014, 03:12 PM Post #7 |
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"...does this clockwork hand follow you... or guide you?"
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"Oi, don't look at me," Kyo said, holding out her obviously weapon-free hands. "And Kakeru, well, he'd dissolve into a puddle of uselessness if he ever broke physical content with his nodachi. Ask Chika, she's seen it." Chika paused for a few moments, and then continued the ask of belting on her sword. "It's good t'be prepared, just in case. If Naoya's wrestlin' with his Shadow, there's no tellin' what mental state he'll be in. With luck, it won't be needed... but his monster form was powerful. So don't rule out anythin', okay?" Kyo grimaced, obviously not pleased with Shin's resistance to being prepared, or his assertion that there wouldn't be call for healing. "If Naoya's possessed or somethin', I'm prolly gonna catch fire at some point. My Persona's a witch! Witches burn easy. That's all I'm sayin'." The girl gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and then added, "As someone who's hadta be slapped outta monster form in the past myself, I ain't gonna be shy about doin' that for someone else who needs it. Naoya's Shadow's been takin' over his body at odd times, and knowin' he's out here by himself with nothin' and no one t' help him if somethin' goes wrong with that..." The green-haired girl shook her head, threw her arms up in a hopeless shrug, and gestured to Daichi to follow along with her, moving to take the indicated path. "...I can't speak for the others, but I'm havin' trouble bein' calm about this," she said. "C'mon, Daichi, let's go..." Chika moved to stand near Hanako, putting up no resistance to Shin's idea of how to do things. He was the one here who was likely to actually know what he was doing when it came to organizing a manhunt, after all. |
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| Prince Arjuna | Feb 5 2014, 07:43 AM Post #8 |
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-insert something witty here-
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Kakeru rolled his eyes after hearing that from Hanako. "Whatever you say, Mom..." he deadpanned. Sometimes, Hanako could be just that overbearing, and he didn't know whether it was good or not. Well, if he had anything to say, it was that Hanako was concerned about him as a friend. He just shrugged before he looked at the policeman who was saying something about some of them bringing their weapons. "No matter how much I'd like to deny it, that is really the case," Kakeru said with a sigh. Yeah, he still couldn't overcome this problem about his sword. He felt next to useless without it, and the sword itself acted as a security blanket. Moreover, a sword could be useful in certain situations, like cutting down the trees that were blocking their way. Kakeru nodded after hearing Shin's plan about their groups. He looked at Chika and Hanako. As long as they were in group, Kakeru wouldn't have to worry about him losing his way while searching for Naoya. And Kakeru's healing spell would be useful for this occasion, considering that there might be some unexpected dangerous things that might pop out of nowhere. "I have no objection," Kakeru said, shaking his head. He went towards Hanako, resting his wrapped nodachi against his shoulder. He could only hope that nothing strange would happen to him and to others today. |
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| Nonsequitur | Feb 5 2014, 09:02 PM Post #9 |
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Yellow Bubblegum
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"What did you just call me?…oh, forget it" She said in mild annoyance. Still she just rolled her eyes at the perceived insult. There were more important things to do that day than to waste it with childish bickering. "I don't know about anyone else, but I'm keeping a knife around for sheer utility's sake. And no, I don't have any problems with that arrangement. I'll keep things under control." Which mostly meant keeping Kakeru from wandering off in some random tangent and Chika to keep it together. Hopefully that wasn't to be an issue. "I can get in touch with Machi-chan and relay that message." Oh, good, she actually had bars out there in the wilderness. She'd leave Machi a message asking her to keep the beret back for healing if needed. "Understood, we'll be checking that way now then, Imoto-san." So exit Benkei and Mia, off to look on their assigned area. |
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| Exodin | Feb 7 2014, 05:47 AM Post #10 |
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MAHHA
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Jiro was silent still. Not raising his head to look at the others. Only fidgeting slightly, putting his weight on one leg, then on the other. This was a damn waste of time! They could all be out there looking, but no they had to sit here and argue like a bunch of infants! Naoya was out there, possibly dying. Yet here they all were, shooting the breeze. "Imoto-san...we should get going." Jiro's tone was a far cry from the bombastic, blustery boy that he usually set himself up as. In fact, one could even call it meek or reserved. Still there was a quiet determination in his words. He'd make sure that his friend wouldn't die. His friend would come back safe. "..." He was shocked, that he could feel Kamina stirring. The blue haired man seemed to letting his presence be known. Nothing more and nothing less. Jiro nearly felt tempted to see how much effort he'd have to put in to summon his mask. It seemed like it'd be a bit of a time waster in and of itself though. So he'd wait his gaze lifting from the ground and looking toward the trail that they were supposed to go down. --- The tall boy made no moves to interject or interrupt. Rather, he wordlessly went to follow Kyo. Only giving a curt nod to Shin before turning away from the group. Feeling the bite of the cold air against his face, he shook his head. There were more than enough of them to find Naoya and bring him back without the use of possibly lethal force. |
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