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Post by therunawaygirl on Sept 12, 2020 15:35:21 GMT -5
Softly, the Almira began to land amidst an open area, not without difficulty. Inside the ship, Alice was frowning alongside Jack, both of them not really pleased with their landing at all. Still, it would do for now, given that there were barely any readings of people in the nearby area. But given how tough it had been landing, taking off once more and remaining in the sky for however long their mission took would prove difficult.
At M’Lyn’s suggestion, Alice agreed to joining the team for the time being, opening the bridge for all of them to drop down and explore the new world. Dusk was upon them, an orange light being the first thing to greet them in that new world. Stretching as usual, Jack looked around the ship, finding trees as far as the eye could see.
Wasn’t much different from their previous world, now was it?
A few steps ahead, one could see a wall —indicating a town, most likely. The path was free of obstacles, only an opened door leading underground and to what seemed to be sewers. Smirking with unease, Jack headed that way, noting how familiar the sensation was.
“How long has it been since I’ve gone underground…?” he thought to himself as he headed forward.
With Alice following behind closely, M’Lyn was the last member to drop off, before the ship’s bridge went up and closed itself shut on its own —most likely per Alice’s command. The Miqo’te looked at Kujo, her expression serious as usual. Her tail was calm, and her ears still —observant mostly of the area around them— before she chose to follow the siblings through the short forest.
As for the pair, they had already jumped down to concrete floor, Jack scanning around with his visor to see if anything caught his attention. Alice was close to him, almost glued in a sense. Given that most of the time she would remain inside the Almira, her usual bubbly demeanor shelled itself into a quiet one as she looked at the world around her.
“…There shouldn’t be too much of a walk before we hit the town” Jack mentioned, turning towards his team, “We’re here for info, but it doesn’t mean we can’t lend a hand if the situation asks for it.” “So we’ll just roam around?” M’Lyn asked, having jumped down to meet them. “For the time being, yeah” Jack nodded, “Since we don’t got much to go on… We’re here to investigate” he smirked sheepishly, and then scratched the back of his head with unease, “Although at this point, I wanna bet and say Elena wants us to keep an eye on Heartless activity… Right?” he asked Alice, searching for reassurance. “Well…” Alice pouted, “From what she’s seen and told me… Yeah —she thinks we’re the best team to see Heartless’ behavior. Mostly because we’re able to fight them off.”
With a nod, both Jack and M’Lyn gave up fully to their tasks, the unit’s leader taking the lead and guiding them through the underground paths. Alice stuck to Jack almost immediately, rushing her step to end right behind him, although he didn’t seem to mind.
Instead, he was more than happy to give her the reassurance she wanted at the moment.
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 12, 2020 16:00:50 GMT -5
Stepping out of the Almira and into the orange dusk, Kujo grimaced with his hands in his pockets as he found himself in another forest-like setting. Tch—better not be like the last place… Though some might have enjoyed the vacancy found in the last world the group had been to, save for the group of dwarves, Kujo had found running through nothing but forests and swamps obnoxious. It had taken him forever to clean the expensive name-brand sneakers he wore. Seeing the wall and underground passage at least calmed his worries about the lack of urban civilization, though it appeared the tall and colorfully dressed man was as stoic and cynical nonetheless. As Jack and Alice headed onward towards the passage, Kujo met M’Lyn’s look with a skeptical one of his own—shrugging a bit before sighing, following the others lead.
”Can’t I catch a break?” Staring down at the underground passage entryway, Kujo had a sour expression as the smell of the sewer greeted his nose. ”There shouldn’t be too much of a walk before we hit the town.” Jack’s reassurance did little for the man’s mood, his tall and muscular stature making him more wary of the grimy ceiling above them as he jumped down with the rest of the team. ”So we’ll just roam around?” It was hardly a surprise. They’d hardly been given anything to go on the last mission they had, too. ”Although at this point, I wanna bet and say Elena wants us to keep an eye on Heartless activity…” Thinking of the blue haired woman, Kujo continued to scowl and listen with his hands in his pockets. Pain in the ass. At least if there were Heartless here, they had something to focus on, though.
The irony of such a menace being good news to him wasn’t lost on Kujo—though he chose to ignore it. ”Yeah—she thinks we’re the best team to see Heartless behavior. Mostly because we’re able to fight them off.” So it was business as usual. Despite being a reconnaissance team, with the amount of Heartless threatening countless worlds, the Twilight Brigade seemed to be part-time exterminators. It was impossible to get anything done without running into the little pests. ”So, none of you have been here before?” The other three had been a team before Kujo’s addition, after all. He didn’t know of all the worlds they had been to during his absence. He hoped to get some idea of the world they were walking into, though he wasn't expecting much. If anything, his bet was moreso on the fact that they'd be walking in blind like the last place.
Following Jack’s leads in the underground passage, Kujo walked at a casual and steady pace—though his guard was never down. Not with his Akogare.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Sept 12, 2020 16:37:44 GMT -5
While Jack led through the sewers, and Alice remained stuck in a sense to him, Kujo’s question echoed and bounced against the concrete walls. The group was aware of it, although only M’Lyn showed signs of hearing. Humming a bit while she looked away in thought, she shook her head.
“I think I’d remember a world like this” she replied, “But no —we haven’t been here before.”
The path forked a few ways ahead, and Jack looked around while Alice looked forward. Thanks to the visor in sight, Jack could easily tell where to head from there, leading the group around. As he took steps forward, a more than familiar presence made itself clear in the sewers, the shadows beginning to stir. Jack flinched, standing in front of Alice as the Heartless made their presence clear. The strange blade quickly reached its wielder as he reached out for it, ushering Alice behind him while his glare was unlike before.
A cold one, bitter and relentless.
“Alice, get to cover!” he shouted without hesitation.
The girl nodded, frightened to be so close to the battle, and ran off. M’Lyn had made her stance clear as she reached out a bow and quiver, her aim looking at the nearest Shadow she could find. Jack’s gaze was focused on the ones that decided to flank them —mostly Soldier Heartless, while the rest were merely Shadows. A few of them rushed forward, one being shot down by M’Lyn while the other was thrown back by a swing of Jack’s blade. The third one managed to slip past, aiming to strike Alice as she ran for cover.
In the blink of an eye, Jack appeared near Alice, slashing at the Shadow that decided to get too close to his sister with no remorse. It wasn’t that he’d gotten better with his swordsmanship or skills.
His own strength was his will to protect.
“Don’t you even dare going near her!” he threatened, a growl in his voice as he spoke.
Alice was caught off guard, but quickly found a hiding spot and waited for the fight to end, knowing her aid would be for nothing. All the while, Jack scowled at the remaining Heartless, M’Lyn watching his and Kujo’s back from afar.
[Battle! 10 Shadows, 5 Soldiers]
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 12, 2020 16:54:42 GMT -5
”I think I’d remember a world like this…” Kujo sighed at M'Lyn's answer, having had low hopes to begin with. It seemed it was indeed roaming in blindly once more. Whatever. It’s not like they hadn’t done so before and succeeded. There hadn’t really been a chance of failure, in Kujo’s opinion. Whoosh! Gritting his teeth as a familiar presence emerged from the shadows underground, Kujo glared at the appearing Heartless as his Akogare emerged in a burst of light, floating and translucent at his side. ”Alice, get to cover!” Walking calmly past the girl as she fled the scene of combat, Kujo hardly seemed phased as the Heartless surrounded him and Jack with ease. It was easier when they clumped together. Tch—as if! Seeing a Soldier slip past them and try to reach Alice, Kujo prepared to intervene before blinking in mild surprise.
Within no time at all, Jack had appeared to defend her. Not having been present during their prior excursions with Heartless, Kujo had never seen him have to protect Alice. The difference in his capabilities when such a goal was priority was obvious. Hmph—seems like I keep underestimating him… Finally getting his head into the game, Kujo faced off against the remaining Heartless, knowing M’Lyn would be providing coverage with her bow. The Miqo’te was a sharp-shot, only adding to Kujo’s already blatant confidence in combat. ”Girooo—“ Readying himself, Kujo swept one long leg back, the floating guardian at his side miming his motions. ”—chin!!” A burst of light within the blink of an eye and Kujo appeared behind the small group that had clustered around them, his foot steaming as it reached the ground once more. The kick was like a blade—slicing any in its wake.
Turning to see how many Heartless remained, Kujo prepared himself—ready to aid Jack in protecting Alice, who wasn’t used to direct combat, if the situation arose.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Sept 12, 2020 17:19:11 GMT -5
Jack poised himself back, a bit calmer now that he knew Alice was hiding safely. It only left the Heartless issue, which meant his focus could solely face the imminent issue. His grip was firm in the blade, as his gaze, although a bit less fierce than before, locked on to the Heartless that surrounded them, having finally noticed the blade in his hands.
In the end, they still aimed to get him out of the group first and foremost. That was good for him, since it meant that everyone else would be a second focus for the Heartless.
The Heartless cluttered in front of Kujo faced immediate defeat, disappearing in a puff of black smoke as his hit connected. M’Lyn aimed once more at one of the lesser Shadows, obtaining the same result as Kujo as her arrow hit true.
The remaining Heartless focused solely on Jack, yet he had enough agility to fend them off by both running and blocking the attacks. Little by little, he chipped through the numbers with ease, releasing a bright light for every Heartless he managed to defeat.
Given that they were purely small fry, it didn’t take long before Jack took them out, the remaining ones somewhat hesitant to attack. With a heavy sigh, he turned towards them, his gaze still bitter at the thought that they wanted to hurt Alice as she ran off. It still wasn’t as harsh as before, but the hatred remained there.
“These things really don’t let go at all…” he thought, turning to face the remaining enemies, “They attack whoever catches their fancy…”
He couldn’t help but appreciate the fact that the Heartless focused him once they noticed the blade he was capable of wielding. If that was the case, then he could act as a decoy while the rest ran off —in this case, Alice. So long as he could keep her safe… Or the rest, for that matter...
Nothing else really mattered.
[6 Shadows, 2 Soldiers]
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 12, 2020 18:30:47 GMT -5
Lazily cracking his neck as he stretched after delivering his attack, Kujo was pleased to see the numbers dwindle as he and his teammates worked through the ranks. If there’re people on this world, they must not come down here often… Well, at least no smart or sane civilian. Maybe those foolish enough to try their hand against such demons, but Kujo had little sympathy for individuals like that. Knowing ones weakness and strength was vital to surviving, after all. The fact that these Heartless were small fry did little to change his strategy—he’d never show any of them mercy, or hold back. His Akogare floated forward, guided by its translucent pixie-like wings as it went in front of Kujo, its galaxy eyes taking in the enemies before it.
We’ll make quick work of them. Rushing ahead into the mob, Kujo’s Akogare shimmered in radiant light as it’s armored fists pummeled the enemies in his way with its Wakeru ability. M’Lyn’s strikes were as true as ever, and Jack only continued to improve in his swordsmanship as his time with the odd weapon he wielded went on. All in all, they had become quite the powerful team—hardly shedding a sweat against such low level enemies.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Sept 13, 2020 3:58:39 GMT -5
Shortly thereafter, the Heartless were no more. Jack dismissed his blade, same as M’Lyn dismissing her weaponry as they grouped back up, the battle over with. Someone’s running footsteps were heard —Alice’s. With little care, she got out of her hiding place and went to embrace her brother, much for his shock. Hiding herself now in his chest, Alice hugged tightly, not wanting to let go anytime soon. While M’Lyn sighed, exasperated, Jack simply patted Alice’s head, calmly and reassuringly, all of it with a faint smile.
“You okay?” he asked, receiving a faint nod, “That’s good…” “Shall we get going, then? If we’re all done with the battle…” M’Lyn mentioned, breaking the moment a bit without much care.
Grinning, Jack looked back towards her other comrades and nodded. Patting Alice once more to signal her to let go a bit, he got back into move. Alice didn’t move much when it came from distancing herself from Jack, staying quietly behind him as he led the way.
It reminded him of times better left forgotten.
After a bit of walking, the group would finally see the exit, leading into a fairly crowded town. The same dusk light greeted them as they exited the underground. Jack squinted his eyes a bit, allowing himself to get used to the bright light. The mirth of town soon echoed to their ears, as they could see people walking by without much care.
No matter where they looked, it seemed peaceful.
Still allowing Alice to stick to him, Jack began to make his way around. M’Lyn followed at a decent distance, her arms crossed as her ears picked up the many noises surrounding them. She had a clear frown, knowing her presence would be more than noticeable due to her Miqo’te features. Had she brought a hood along, then maybe it wouldn’t be that pressing of a matter. “Ack!”
A thump followed a falling boy, who’d collided with M’Lyn having not seen her there. M’Lyn, on her end, hardly staggered, instead turning towards the boy with a curious yet cold stare. As the boy raised his view to meet who he’d collided with, he cowed.
“S-Sorry!” he apologized, “I didn’t see you there…” “Hey, Pence!”
The boy turned back to the direction a voice called him, only to find 2 teens running their way. The other boy was a blonde one, stopping his tracks as he noticed the rest of the group, while the girl behind him was a brunette with a more than calm look. Too many people at once were too much for Alice to handle, who quickly hid behind Jack, much for his amusement. He sighed, turning towards the new-found trio as he spoke.
“Who’re you guys?” the blonde asked, “Never seen you here before…” “Well, you ain’t wrong” Jack replied, grinning, “We’re from another part. Can’t really disclose where from exactly, though.” “O… kay…” the blonde looked with scrutiny, “Then… Why’re you here?” “Just checkin’ around… Unless you know something ‘bout some sneaky, shadowy creatures?” “…You mean the Heartless?” “’Ey, would you look at that —you are aware of ‘em.” “Well, duh —anyone would” the blonde replied, puffing his cheeks a bit, “Everyone in town knows about them. There’s a reason why they’ve reinforced the walls and stuff.” “…Are you okay?”
While Jack and the blonde spoke, the girl tilted her head after noticing Alice withdrawing behind her brother. As she got closer, Alice hid further, catching Jack’s attention from his conversation. Chuckling a bit, he shook his head and looked at the girl.
“Don’t mind her —she’s just shy” he reassured her, “Right… Name’s Jack. She’s Alice” he nudged at his sister hiding behind him, to then look at the other crewmembers, “And those two are M’Lyn and Kujo.”
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 13, 2020 11:41:41 GMT -5
As the Heartless threat vanished, Kujo’s shimmering guardian dissolved in a glimmer of light. Walking calmly back to the others with his hands in his pockets, the tall stoic man was glad to see Alice had made it out fine—though the girl seemed rattled. Guess it makes sense, though. She was only used to seeing the creatures on a screen, not having them charge head-on at her. ”Shall we get going, then?” Always quick to the point and prompt, M’Lyn urged them to continue through the underground passage. Kujo couldn’t help but agree with the sentiment—as the smell and stale air of the place was something he was not fond of at all. Truthfully, his first impression of this world sucked, so far. ”Let’s get this job over with…”
Scowling a bit as he followed the others, he couldn’t help but glance around at the passage they walked through. No one comes down here and cleans it? He shouldn’t have been surprised. After all, there were certainly grimier sections of his own home-town. Finally coming upon the exit, Kujo had to duck quite a bit to make it out of the passage, thankful for the cleaner air as he rose into the true destination. The sounds of mirth and chatter greeted them, distant bells ringing from what sounded like a trolley or street-car, something familiar to Kujo due to his own home world. Though he felt minor surprise, as he hadn’t expected to find such an inhabited place, the man’s face hardly showed any emotion whatsoever as his emerald eyes scrutinized and analyzed every passing face.
”At least it’s not more dwarves…” Grumbling a bit as he stood beside M’Lyn and behind Jack and Alice, Kujo couldn’t help but feel relief. It was a much more urban setting than he thought, with brick buildings and streets assorted with shops, housing and other commodities unseen yet. All in all, it was a peaceful and bustling place, quite the opposite from the desolated mines and forest they had last been to. ”Ack!” Giving the boy who had collided with M’Lyn a cold look, Kujo kept his hands in his pockets as he turned to look down at the civilian. ”Oi—airhead. Watch where you’re going.” How hard was it to look in front of you? The boy appeared like the distracted sort, messy hair contained by a headband and a loud graphic blinding any who decided to look at the double-layered tank-top and t-shirt combo they sported.
Truthfully, the fashion taste of this kid was more disagreeable to Kujo than them spacing out and running into people. ”Hey, Pence!” The shout caused him to look up, his frown deepening once he noticed two more teenagers around the same age coming over. Tch—attention was the last thing we needed… Sighing a bit, Kujo shook his head, resigning himself to the fact that even if someone was careful, other people could still blow your cover. ”Who’re you guys? Never seen you here before…” One of the newcomers, a blonde boy wearing camouflage pants and a vest, rubbed Kujo the wrong way. Who demanded names and didn’t give theirs? Thankfully Jack swooped in, quick as ever and far more agreeable in most social situations. The last teenager with the other two, the brunette with the orange floral shirt, was the trio's saving grace. She at least seemed level-headed.
”…You mean the Heartless?” The teen’s comment caused Kujo’s brow to raise. So, people here know about them? That was different from both his own home world as well as the last world they had been to. But will that make it easier, or harder? Apparently everyone in town knew about the little demons—which at least made Kujo think gathering some local intel would be a little easier. ”Right…Name’s Jack. She’s Alice, and those two are M’Lyn and Kujo.” Not bothering to pull his hands out of his pockets, Kujo simply nodded at the introduction, taking a step forward as he eyed the three teenagers. ”If everyone in town knows—why isn’t anyone doing anything about it?” Cutting to the chase, Kujo figured they had to start gathering intel somehow.
Even though you could only put so much stock in rumors and local gossip—there was a kernel of truth to be found somewhere.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Sept 13, 2020 12:08:06 GMT -5
Already, the blonde scowled at Kujo, not really finding his approach the slightest pleasant. Jack smiled with unease, noting the tension rising and visible enough to cut through with a knife, and sighed. Stepping in front of Kujo in order to avoid commotion while leaving Alice alone for a bit, Jack looked to stop the fight from even starting.
He knew exactly how Kujo could act, and he wasn’t about to chance it.
“Well, would you fight the damn things if any weapon just goes past them?!” the blonde asked. “Hayner, knock it off!” the girl pouted, “You don’t need to be so mean!” “Oh, come on!” “We can have a civil discussion, can’t we?” Jack asked, amused, “First of all… Who’re you three? That’d be a good starting point.” “Right —I’m Olette” the girl introduced herself, “This guy here’s Hayner, and the other one’s Pence.” “Hayner, Pence and Olette, then…” Jack nodded before proceeding, “So, following along… If you guys’re aware of the Heartless, why aren’t ya doin’ stuff to fend ‘em off?” “What Hayner said —anything we use to fight them just goes through” Olette said with a pout, “It’s nice enough that they don’t come inside the town walls, so it’s relatively safe. If anyone wants to step out or into the sewers, though…” “Have they ever come out of those areas?” “Not that we’ve seen.” “Hmm…”
Jack frowned a bit as he, once more, got thinking in the info they had so far. It was somewhat nice to hear that the town itself was safe, and that only the outskirts of it were dangerous, but it still wasn’t enough. The numbers they’d seen were indeed small, and the Heartless that appeared small fry at best. His frown soured a bit more, only wondering how much longer it’d take before their attacks took even more strength and consistency.
It was always like that, from what he’d seen.
“…How long have they been active? The Heartless, I mean” Jack continued. “Why’d you wanna know? Can you do somethin’ about them?” Hayner asked, more that suspicious, “No one’s been able to really fight them off —they just come back, tail tucked between their legs and all that.” “Well… We came from outside the walls —a forest, not that far from an entrance near the walls you pointed out” Jack explained with a smirk, catching the group’s attention, “We did encounter ‘em, as you pointed out, but they weren’t that big a deal. If anything, small fry at best. That ain’t saying that we can fend them off easily, though —we got lucky with it just being minions.” “So… You can beat them?” Olette asked, calmly, receiving a nod from Jack, “Then… Maybe you could do something about them.” “I’m listenin’.”
While Jack crossed his arms with confidence, having gotten a lead as he’d hoped, Alice fidgeted a bit, finding herself a bit cowed by the amount of people around them. Stepping around in small steps, she moved her way to end behind Kujo, still very quiet and shy as before.
It seemed like she wouldn’t be getting out of her shell anytime soon. Jack knew that, but trying to convince her out wouldn’t help in their current situation. Not yet, anyways.
“The Heartless have been rather inactive up until recently” Olette explained, “We don’t really know why, but it forced people to strengthen the walls and stuff, just in case they want to jump into the town and attack. Since they haven’t been spotted in town… They surely come from outside —where you guys say you came from. By any chance, did you see an abandoned mansion on the way here? There might be a clue or so in that place.”
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 13, 2020 12:27:59 GMT -5
Seeing the blonde’s scowl, Kujo merely gave a glare of his own back as his eyes narrowed. ”Well, would you fight the damn things if any weapon just goes past them?!” Apparently, the annoying loudmouth was called ‘Hayner’, though they had brought up a good point. Heartless couldn’t be dealt with by just any old weapon. It took either specific materials and weapons or a certain strength of heart—meaning that in Kujo’s mind, Hayner was just too weak to do anything about the Heartless himself. So that’s how it is, huh? As Jack broke up the coming argument, sensing it before its beginning, Kujo merely shrugged, keeping his hands in his pockets as he listened to the introductions being made. Witty as ever, Jack was quick to get back to the more pressing matter—gathering intel.
Finding out that the Heartless didn’t invade the town made the peaceful atmosphere make more sense. ”Why’d you wanna know? Can you do somethin’ about them?” As Jack and Hayner continued to talk, Kujo felt Alice emerge behind him—using his tall and powerful frame as though a barricade to block the others from her sight. Tch—can’t say I blame her. Kujo wasn’t the biggest fan of dealing with people, either, though he showed it in much different ways. He smirked a bit, glancing down over his shoulder at her before paying attention to the remaining info being shared. ”By any chance, did you see an abandoned mansion on the way here? There might be a clue or so in that place.” Kujo blinked in mild surprise. That was actually a really good lead. He hadn’t expected a couple of teenagers hanging around to have such good intel.
Glancing between the others, Kujo raised an eyebrow, finally pulling his hands out of his pockets only to cross his arms over his chest. ”An old mansion…?” Turning to look at Olette, Kujo didn’t move much to allow Alice her shelter in peace. ”How do we get there?” Though part of him would have preferred exploring the urban town around them over returning to the 'outer sections' of this world, they were here for a reason. The sooner they figured out the situation with the Heartless on this world, the better. They couldn't afford to be picky with where they went.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Sept 13, 2020 15:51:00 GMT -5
It seemed even Kujo could have his interested piqued. Jack smirked, not really seeing that side of Kujo very often —side he overall enjoyed. All the while, Alice appreciated him not moving from his spot, allowing her much needed respite. She smiled, only so faintly, silently thanking him for it. “You wanna go there?” Pence asked, confused, having already recomposed himself, “Well… Us three know the way —we could probably help you get there.” “I would’ve gone regardless” Hayner said with a pout, “I wanna see if they’re really able to fight them off or not!” “I guess our little expedition turned into something greater, then!” Olette cheered, and then looked at Jack and company, “How about it? We can guide you there, all the while you guys fend the Heartless off.”
Jack pondered a bit, although just by looking at M’Lyn’s expression, he knew what the best option was. With a grin, he regained his casual pose, nodding in agreement to the little deal Olette had offered. However, he had something to add if they wanted to cooperate.
Given that the town was safe, Jack wanted to leave Alice there, saving her from unnecessary targeting and stress. Mostly as the elder brother, he saw it a necessity to keep her out of harm’s way.
“I’ll agree under one condition” Jack pointed out, serious, “I’d like to ask one of you to stay here.” “Huh?” Hayner frowned, “What for?” “…” Jack turned over towards Alice, who knew exactly what her brother was doing, “I don’t want her to get in harm’s way. Not to mention that, given the fact that it’d be 4 people needing cover, keeping all of us safe is going to be problematic. If it’s just 2 of you, though, then the odds change in our favor.” “…Then I’ll stay” Olette offered, “I’ll keep her company! If that’s the only condition you have, then it’s no big deal!” “Heh… Then we’ve got ourselves a sweet deal” Jack grinned, confident, “Pleasure doin’ business.” “Say that after we’re done here…” M’Lyn growled, rolling her eyes a bit.
Jack snickered a bit at the Miqo’te’s annoyance, but even she was grateful to have a deal so early after their arrival. It meant that their work would end faster, and with that, they’d have less trouble along their current mission. Of course, that was only her hope, as anything could turn the tides in a short amount of time.
Jack turned and headed towards Alice, who had stepped up a bit knowing what her brother was planning. Still, she was hurled inside her psychological shell, only barely raising her view to meet her brother’s. Patting her head, Jack smiled.
“You heard, didn’t you? I’d rather have you wait for us here if it’s safe, rather than keepin’ you with us where it can be dangerous” he explained, “You’ll do that for me, right sis?” “…” Alice nodded, “I know…” “You can still contact us through the coms, right?” “Yeah —I have my stuff here.” “Then… You’ll keep track of us, right?”
Jack’s overall optimism caused Alice to giggle. The two knew better than doubt the other, and so their plan was afoot —Alice would stay with Olette in the town, while Jack, M’Lyn, Kujo, Hayner and Pence would make their way to the abandoned mansion in the outskirts of the town. With the two teens ready to guide the way, the team parted ways, the major team heading back into the sewers as they followed Hayner and Pence’s lead.
Alice looked at the group left, frowning a bit in clear discomfort. Olette, noticing this, smiled with some unease, already knowing her job to be a difficult one. With the best smile she could muster, she tried to get Alice’s attention, in hopes of helping her out of her shell, if only with Olette for the time being.
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 13, 2020 16:26:22 GMT -5
”How about it? We can guide you there, all the while you guys fend the Heartless off.” Kujo grimaced at the prospected deal, his arms still crossed as he glared at the three teens. Tch—why don't they just give us directions? Why did they have to make everything so difficult for them? ”Can’t I catch a break?” His grimace turned into an open scowl as Jack agreed on a condition. Kujo understood needing to get to the Mansion, as it was their only lead—but did they really need to bring these guys with them? ”Heh…then we’ve got ourselves a sweet deal!” Kujo failed to see what was so ‘sweet’ about it, other than Alice being left out of harms way. ”Say that after we’re done here…” M’Lyn’s growl was reassuring, at least letting him know he wasn’t alone in his lack of enthusiasm.
”He gets us to babysit every time…” Grumbling to the Miqo’te, Kujo shook his head with a sigh before resigning himself to his fate—shoving his hands into his pockets and scowling openly still. He'd do what they had to in order to get the information they needed, though his hopes weren't high with the two that were chosen to guide them. As Jack and Alice prepared to part ways for the moment, Kujo glanced around the town once more, trying to figure out what the nagging feeling he was getting was. Something about this world was off, though he couldn’t quite place his finger on it just yet… Maybe later on, if they explored the town itself more, it'd come to him. ”Let’s get this over with.” Mumbling to himself as Hayner and Pence led them back through the underground passage, Kujo wondered if the mansion they were looking for was really the source of the Heartless or not.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Sept 14, 2020 4:59:16 GMT -5
While the group headed back into the sewers and out into the forest that had previously greeted them, Jack grinned with unease as Kujo openly scowled —him and the Miqo’te both, not pleased at all with the current predicament. Had he been hasty in his approach? In his eyes, it was better to cooperate with people that were from the world in order to make a lasting impression, which in turn made it much easier to finish with their task.
Of course, it never accounted for how viable the natives’ aid would be. It always depended on that that their tasks would take longer or not.
Their time in the sewers proved quicker, although the Heartless would jump at them at any given occasion. Given that they were small fry, however, it would be a breeze for the trio who already had battle experience. Their victories would leave a lasting impression on Hayner, given that his prior thought of seeing the proof with his eyes was becoming a reality.
The group could fight them off —that was something he had to admit he admired.
“Heh —you really thought they were lying, Hayner?” Pence asked, elbowing him a bit with a smirk. “Well, who knows? They could’ve just acted it off like Seifer!” Hayner retorted back. “Oh, so that’s why? You thought they were like Seifer and his crew?” “Knock it off, Pence!”
Bitter as he was, Hayner pushed Pence away, but it only caused the latter to laugh aloud. Jack glanced their way noticing this interaction, although not really with any sort of emotion this time around.
It wasn’t that he didn’t appreciate it. In fact, it was something Jack wanted for himself —a friend he could just act like that with. Someone who would stand by him, whenever he felt alone —someone who wasn’t family. Alice was always there for him, but mostly because she was his sister. And as things were going, he thought of M’Lyn and Kujo more as comrades rather than friends.
His already unusual life had forced a change on him —one he couldn’t help but embrace if he wanted to survive.
Up ahead, after going through the concrete sewers and making it back outside into the forest, Jack perked up as he noticed people already there. A trio, talking and discussing about something most of them couldn’t hear —all but M’Lyn. Her ears twitched a bit as she perked up noticing the presence, and listened to what she could of their exchange.
Nothing worth mentioning, though —at least, not to her criteria.
Hayner and Pence, on the other hand, stopped as they neared the trio in front of them, already much aware of who they were. The lone girl in that trio turned back towards them and pointed, silently, while the other 2 guys turned as they wondered what was going on.
“Huh… What’re you losers doin’ here?” the tallest guy asked. He wore a knit cap, and a sleeveless, long white jacket. A scar was visible across his nose, in somewhat similar fashion to Jack’s own scar, and his smirk was simply annoying, “And who’re you lot? Came here to back the losing party up?” “What are you doing here, Seifer?” Hayner asked back, trying to act tough, “I thought you said no one could beat those things up.” “Shut it, punk —you’re in no position to talk.” “Tch…” “You know ‘em?” Jack asked Pence, who nodded, “Gonna take a guess and say you ain’t on friendly terms…” “Nope —we got a truce and all, but it’s not really working…” “So?” Seifer asked, bitter as before, “Who’re you lot?” “No one you should bother with” M’Lyn replied just as coldly, “Do make us a favor and leave before we resort to a fight.” “Replay” the girl said coldly. “Ha! You wanna pick a fight with me?” Seifer asked, smirking, “You’ve got guts, sure, but ya really think you can take me on?”
M’Lyn groaned, scowling back as her lips soured. Jack on his end wasn’t really enjoying it either, and with a sigh, simply began to make his way past, indicating at the rest to follow. M’Lyn was hard to convince, and surely Kujo would be as well, but picking a fight then and there would only result in disaster.
“Let’s just go” Jack said with some annoyance, “We’re here for work, not to play around.” “Oi, say that again, prick!” Seifer flared, glaring at Jack. “What I said —if you wanna pick a fight, go ahead, I won’t stop ya. But I got more pressin’ matter to focus on, so either scram or pick it now.”
Seifer’s face slowly went red, while Jack simply looked his way with a frown before resuming his way to where the Mansion was. M’Lyn let it go after a while, sighing and following on the leader’s steps, who ushered the other three to keep going.
However, things would end just yet. Seeing completely red, Seifer rushed towards Jack, who was caught off-guard by the assault. With a toy sword in his hand, he aimed to strike at Jack with little care.
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 14, 2020 7:13:21 GMT -5
Their second trip through the sewers proved to be just as unenjoyable as their first. Heartless leapt out from the shadows at every turn, though it was nothing but small-fry. Making quick work of those that popped up with his team, Kujo couldn’t help but find the situation bizarre. What’s keeping them from going into the town? The underground passage that led to the forest wasn’t far from the more populated sections of town, leaving the man wondering why the demons didn’t venture out—not that he minded. It would make it easier for them if the townsfolk couldn’t get involved. ”Heh—you really thought they were lying, Hayner?” Well, almost all the townsfolk. Glancing over his shoulder at the two teenage boys having a back-and-forth, the man in lavender sighed quietly as he shook his head.
They should’ve just stayed behind if they’re gonna goof off the whole time. Jack’s decision hadn’t really surprised him, considering how the guy had partnered up with the dwarves on the last world they had been to. It didn’t mean he’d agree with it or enjoy the decision, even if he resigned himself to going along with it. Green scenery returned to them as they exited the concrete passageway, coming up from the metal double-doors that jutted out from the forest floor at the base of the town wall. ”Huh…what’re you losers doin’ here?” Surprisingly enough, there were others already in the forest, another trio. ”Tch—no one hangs out by themselves here, huh?” Giving Seifer and his crew a clear scowl, Kujo’s hands clenched into fists in his pocket as he listened to the hat-wearing loudmouth talk.
”Gonna take a guess and say you ain’t on friendly terms…” Jack seemed to hit the nail on the head—as the moment they arrived, the man with the black hat was definitely being antagonistic towards Hayner and Pence. Not that Kujo could blame him. He’d probably do the same if he was forced to share the same space as those clowns. ”Do make us a favor and leave before we resort to a fight.” He couldn’t help but smirk at M’Lyn’s comment, eyeing up Seifer with a devious look. He’s definitely the type to start something after that… Kujo wasn’t new—he’d seen this type before. They were all over in SanFransokyo, to be honest. ”We’re here for work, not to play around.” Business as usual, Jack seemed to wave off the oncoming fight, pressing forward to more important matters. Sighing a bit, Kujo glanced at the antagonistic trio, sensing that it wouldn’t end so easily.
Sure enough, Seifer lunged forward with a red face just as Kujo suspected. ”Not so fast.” Composed and stoic as ever, the tall and muscular man appeared in front of Seifer mid-charge within the blink of an eye, grabbing his outstretched wrist that wielded the toy sword. With his other hand, Kujo would grab at Seifer from the collar of his white vest, using both hands and the momentum the guy already had to heave and pull Seifer off of their feet and over his own head before SLAMMING! into the forest floor. All without his Akogare—Kujo was plenty strong on his own for a normal ruffian like this guy. Before Seifer would be given a chance to get up, the tall man would stomp one of his expensive name-brand shoes onto his chest, glaring down at him with a look that was similar to an animal corner prey in the wild.
”Get lost. Your bark's worse than your bite.” Continuing the glare for a moment, Kujo shoved his hands into his pockets, waiting to remove his foot until it seemed the guy wouldn’t fight back or at least admit defeat. Jack might have been willing to avoid a fight with such a troublemaker, but Kujo had known better. Some guys just wouldn’t stop, even if you tried to take the ‘higher’ road.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Sept 14, 2020 9:17:03 GMT -5
Jack was caught off-guard, as the action suddenly happened in front of him. Kujo had made quick work of Seifer, tossing him to the ground and stomping on him until the one defeated admitted said fact. ”Get lost. Your bark's worse than your bite.” The comment echoed a bit in the air, no one daring to raise their voice and object. Seifer himself was cowed by the sudden toss, not really expecting such a fast retaliation, and after a while, he spat away.
“Grr… You’re askin’ for trouble” he replied back, scowling, “Do you know who I am, punk?” “A dumb brat who doesn’t recognize the disparity of strength —we got that already” M’Lyn sighed with irritation, glaring back at Seifer, “You’ve lost. Fighting back would only serve to strengthen that fact. Unless you can afford your pride to be tarnished even further, I'd advice against it.”
Jack glanced over at Kujo, his expression pretty blank —mostly to a frown. He had wanted to go by unbothered, but even if he had no willingness to cause trouble, others seemed more than intrigued by it —Seifer being just one of them. He sighed, shaking his head before talking Kujo out of it.
“Just let it go” he said, “We don’t got time to waste” Jack then looked at Hayner and Pence, “C’mon —we got a place to get to, don’t we? Where to next?” “It’s this way.”
Pence rushed his way towards Jack, not really wanting to be a target of Kujo’s annoyance, although little did he know he was already a form of nuisance to him and M’Lyn, although for the latter wasn’t as strong. He led Jack and the rest ahead until they arrived at the front of a gate, a giant lock holding it shut, protecting behind it a large mansion that seemed mostly abandoned. Pence turned towards the group once they reached their destination, shrugging.
“This is the mansion Olette mentioned” he explained, “Although… It seems like someone locked it…” “It wasn’t closed before, right?” Hayner asked, crossing his arms, “Who came by here…?” “Beats me, but it was probably someone who could carry a giant lock like that one” Pence finished pointing at the lock.
Jack took a good look at the gate, particularly what was keeping it shut. Something about it intrigued him… Almost as if it called out for him. He walked towards it, calmly. Pence had mentioned the gates being open before…
So, didn’t that mean there was someone inside? Perhaps someone who could give them answers for what was happening? Chancing it seemed like a good option as any other.
His weapon arm suddenly raised, the blade materializing itself before he could even react. M’Lyn perked up as she noticed it, flinching a bit as the blade shot a beam of light forward and aimed towards the giant lock. A click followed after, and the blade disappeared. Jack groaned, glaring at the hand that had held the blade.
“I gotta wonder what that’s about… It’s starting to bother me a bit…”
He was about to step in, when he stopped, almost as if he’d sensed something, and turned around. M’Lyn also perked up, already familiar with the presence. The Heartless took no time to show up, although their timing indicated things that would’ve been missable otherwise.
“We’re onto something!” Jack cheered to himself as the blade answered his call, and smirked.
He ushered Hayner and Pence to stay away, while M’Lyn held a pole in her hands, ready to fight the shadows that had arrived to their encounter. There was no way they could back off now —not when their timing indicated a lead in that case.
[Battle! 20 Shadows]
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 14, 2020 10:18:17 GMT -5
”Grr…you’re asking’ for trouble.” Kujo couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at Sefier’s comment—unsure how someone could try to act so tough literally under someone’s foot. ”Just let it go. We don’t got time to waste.” Removing his foot from Seifer’s chest, Kujo scowled a bit as he turned to glare at Jack over his shoulder. ”Tch—keep your guard up next time, then.” Despite his comment and grumbling, it appeared Jack was able to reign him in as he walked away from the hooligan. Leaving Seifer and his gang dumbfounded, the group headed further into the forest, led by Pence. Eventually the trees and brush cleared out, revealing a rather large mansion, its grounds spreading out before a tall brick wall with a large steel gate. It certainly looked abandoned, with a visible layer of dust tinting the windows—making it hard to even try to gaze in from the front yard.
”This is the mansion Olette mentioned.” As Pence explained, Kujo walked up towards the gate, eyeing the rather large lock that hung menacingly against the bars. ”It wasn’t closed before, right? Who came by here…?” Hayner’s comment caused Kujo to turn and look at the teen over his shoulder, surprised that he said something so useful. So, someone has been messing around here… It seemed that their lead may have actually proved correct, after all. If this place was the source of the Heartless—the fact someone was messing around in the mansion was a bad sign. Though, it doesn’t immediately make them the cause of the Heartless. There was a chance that whoever had closed the Mansion did so with good intentions. Perhaps someone that knew about the Heartless, or where they came from?
Though his hopes were low, the thought intrigued him and motivated him to follow through on the mission. Click! Turning his eyes away from the gate as a bright light flashed, Kujo saw Jack wielding his odd weapon again, using it to unlock the gate. ”So—you can use it on anything, huh?” It wasn’t the first time he had seen Jack use the weapon in such an odd manor—but it was the first time he had seen it literally work on a normal mundane lock. Whoosh! A familiar sensation cut off his train of thought as the Heartless began to emerge—seemingly in protest to the gate being opened. ”What a waste of time.” Sighing a bit as he pulled his hands from his pockets and cracked his knuckles, Kujo scowled as his Akogare appeared in a burst of light at his side. Seeing Jack and M’Lyn already move into action, he didn’t feel the need to rush. It was just more small-fry, after all.
”Let’s get this over with.” With the same kind of look he had given Seifer, Kujo locked the Shadows in his sights, walking casually towards the mob as his guardian shimmered in front of him, raining a flurry of powerful and fast punches and kicks against the demons.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Sept 14, 2020 13:32:10 GMT -5
“Yeah —no way am I plannin’ to make this last longer than it needs to.”
Jack sounded confident, knowing that his actions were the reason the Heartless had shown up. If they wanted to stop them from entering the Mansion, then there was something worth looking into that lurked inside. The call was too tempting to resist or ignore —and Jack was more than up to answer it.
Kujo’s flurry of punches allowed them a rather good room to start with, taking about 5 or so Shadows. With her pole, M’Lyn was almost dancing her way around, swinging and making it spin whenever she needed something like a shield. Lastly, Jack was fending himself much easier with his blade, slashing at the Heartless with no need to care about them retaliating.
Their numbers were the only annoying factor —not their strength.
It wouldn’t be long before their numbers dwindled until they were completely defeated. Honestly, given that they were mere Shadows, it was no issue at all for the trio who’d fared against tougher enemies. Jack’s suspicion still held true, given that the Heartless had tried to stop them.
It was about time to see what it was about.
He made his way quickly after getting rid of the Shadows, dismissing his blade as he did so. He didn’t wait for anyone as he made himself into the mansion, opening the door with almost no effort at all. What greeted him was a messy entrance hall, with books and papers scattered all around the floor. Some broken windows and destroyed furniture —the place was bleak and uninteresting, yet there was no sight of Heartless in the area. Why had they attacked with such ferociousness, if there were none inside?
“Something’s up…”
He looked around, his scanner aiding in finding anything that could point out an interesting destination or an easy-to-miss detail. He noticed electrical currents at his left, and he headed that way, on his own.
Hayner and Pence didn’t take long in going in, either, with M’Lyn behind them. They all noticed Jack heading left, opening a door and going inside without any precautions —almost as if he knew what he was doing.
“Jack, where are you going?” M’Lyn asked, curious, “Do you know this place already?” “Nope —never been ‘ere before” Jack replied, not turning back to face her, “It’s just a hunch o’ mine, though —that’s all.”
In the room he had entered, only a table stood up, surrounded by plethora of bookshelves, with some of said books scattered across the ground in unorderly fashion. Jack noticed a drawing in the table, and scouted the area with his eyes. Following his gut and with the help of a crayon in there, he drew what he believed to be the patter. Rumble, rumble… A small shake followed as a hidden staircase leading to a basement showed up. With a smirk, Jack looked over there.
“Bingo.”
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 14, 2020 14:09:02 GMT -5
Though his Akogare was a blur of motion as it worked through the Shadows, Kujo merely stood with an irritated glare at the enemies. Glancing over at Jack, the man couldn’t help but smirk in begrudging respect—the guy had certainly become a lot more reliable in a scrap with that bizarre blade of his. M’Lyn was as impressive as always, her versatility with a variety of weapons a constant reassurance on the battlefield. Tch—why’d they even show up? Such a pitiful attempt to stop them only angered the man—glancing at the abandoned building looming behind the unlocked gate. If this is the work of someone, they’re underestimating us. It was a mistake that Kujo wouldn’t let one make without consequences.
With the battle ending in a swift victory, Kujo’s guardian dispersed once more as the man followed Jack’s lead through the gates. Walking through the courtyard path, he couldn’t help but notice the overgrown grass, untrimmed hedges and somewhat mossy cobblestones. How long has it been like this? If it really was old, it was bound to have history attached to it. Just what role did the building play in this world, exactly? Heading through the faded and once ornate doors, Kujo was hardly surprised to see the state of the place exactly as he imagined it. It was also eerily quiet. ”Jack, where are you going?” He had seemed almost like he was being guided by something—a confident determination in his stride. Kujo raised a brow, curious himself as to what had come over their teammate.
”It’s just a hunch o’ mine,” He couldn’t help but grimace. ”Tch—more of your ‘hunches’.” He gave the guy an exasperated expression before glancing at M'Lyn and shaking his head a bit. Keeping his hands in his pockets as he scowled, he eyed the room they entered with contempt. With a bored expression, Kujo nudged a book near him, able to make out some of the title. Hm, nothing mentioning Heartless. He was beginning to grow doubtful of this place being a ‘lead’. Rumble, rumble… Turning his gaze back towards Jack, he was surprised to see the table move with a section of the floor, revealing a hidden staircase leading further below. ”Bingo.” Kujo crossed his arms, sighing in mild irritation that Jack’s ‘hunch’ proved to be correct once more. It would just be harder to not go along with it, if he kept being right about things like this. ”Can’t I catch a break?” Looking down the dark staircase, Kujo could make out a small space that led into a darker unseen area further in.
”You're never wrong about the things I want you to be wrong about.” Giving Jack a smirk, Kujo simply walked down the stairs into the dark area below, glancing around to see the dark path that led to an area unknown. Obviously their main route, Kujo would head down, his eyes scanning the area with guarded resentment.
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Post by therunawaygirl on Sept 14, 2020 15:21:26 GMT -5
”You're never wrong about the things I want you to be wrong about.”
Jack grinned back with pride, even if the comment had a condescending tone behind Kujo’s smirk. The path was dark, but his scanner allowed a good enough flashlight to guide them through. Hayner and Pence joined the squad as they all went down to the basement.
The surroundings were a complete 180 —completely technological with walls and floors of steel. A few ways inside, there was a computer with plenty of screens, a blue hue glowing and illuminating the room.
“Woah!”
Pence seemed eager, rushing head-first towards the computer and sitting on the chair, enjoying the tech around him. Jack blinked a few times, noting how similar they were in that regard —although if he had to be honest, he wouldn’t have rushed there during a mission. Had it been any other time, then Jack would’ve definitely rushed there.
“Got an idea of what this place is?” Jack asked, curious. “Nope —we’ve never been in this area” Pence replied, eager, “Not to mention, that I’d never expect such a well-kept lab being hidden here!” “…” Jack thought a bit. “Sullen, are we?” M’Lyn asked, catching the leader’s attention, “You wanted to check the computer for yourself, didn’t you?” “I won’t deny it” Jack shrugged with a smirk, “But I ain’t gonna fight for it. So, Pence —ya know how to use one, I’m guessin’?” “Yep —let’s see what this bad boy’s got!”
While Jack and Pence tried hacking into the computer —thing that would be simply trivial with Jack’s advanced tricks—, M’Lyn glanced over at Hayner, wondering about what he knew and what didn’t. The fact that they’d said that the gates were not closed before hinted at something, but she had to ask before it escaped them.
“So, then —how did you know the gates were open before? You’ve never been here before, have you?” the Miqo’te inquired the teen without remorse. “’Cause we've wanted to check this place out for a while now” Hayner pouted. “Yet you were the one claiming that weapons were useless against the Heartless. How would you have known?” “…!” “I’m onto something, aren’t it?” M’Lyn narrowed her gaze, “There’s no way you could’ve known about the gates without having come here yourself. And yet at the same time, you’re the one claiming that weapons are useless against the Heartless. I hardly think you could’ve gone back and forth on your own unscathed with no weapons to even distract the Heartless with.”
The Miqo’te’s gaze narrowed down onto Hayner, who was now uneasy given that a possible lie had gotten out of hand. While M’Lyn didn’t exactly move from her place, her overall attitude was one wary of the obvious contradiction in front of her.
She wasn’t one to let things like that go —not when she had a job to do.
“So, then? Care to answer?” “I…” “…” Jack sighed, glancing over at the trio with a calm and overall blank gaze, “I think I have an idea” he mentioned, with a smirk. “Oh? Do share.” “Someone’s been usin’ this place —that, I have no doubts about” Jack stated, while Pence looked away from the screens and towards the group, “It’s recent activity, too —couldn’t have been a few days from here.” “And you think…?” “I need you to be honest with us here, Hayner” Jack said, “Did you follow someone here, yes or no?” “…” Hayner looked away, but nodded, “I did —someone with a black coat made their way here. I followed him until the gate, ‘cause I saw Heartless. So… I backed off before they could spot me. That’s when the gates were open —I’m sure they’re the ones that locked it, after they left.” “And did you see ‘em after?” “I didn’t stay here to check if they left or not —I bailed as soon as I saw Heartless. But… I never saw ‘em in town after that, and I don’t know where they could’ve gone.”
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 14, 2020 17:06:49 GMT -5
Bright blue light greeted Kujo as he entered the futuristic looking space, completely different from the antiqued vibe above. Seeing so many monitors in one place actually reminded the man of his home world. ”Woah!” Apparently such commodities weren’t a usual sight on this world, showcased by Pence’s reaction. ”Got an idea of what this place is?” It seemed the teen had never ventured into this area of the mansion—if having ever entered it at all. Though Kujo knew how to work a computer and navigate most programs, he wasn’t familiar with hacking or coding. Surely it was something he could learn if he invested the effort—but he had never viewed it as necessary. People like Pence and Jack always managed to worm their ways into situations like these, anyway. Seeing the similarities between the two brought a faint smirk to his face.
”So then—how did you know the gates were open before?” M’Lyn occupied herself with narrowing in on Hayner—much to the teen’s obvious dismay. Crossing his arms and leaning against the nearest wall, Kujo merely watched the events unfold in mild amusement as the Miqo’te delivered her interrogation. ”I think I have an idea.” Jack looked over from the computer, Pence busy clacking and typing away. ”Someone’s been usin’ this place—that, I have no doubts about.” The clacking stopped, the conversation finally intriguing the teen more than the tech. Kujo nodded from where he leaned, agreeing with him in his hunch. His eyes were closed in thought as he listened, processing Jack’s conclusions with his own. ”Did you follow someone here, yes or no?” Kujo doubted there could be any other option. M’Lyn's earlier point was right on the nose—there was no way he was capable of clearing the path to-and-from himself.
”I did—someone with a black coat made their way here.” Kujo’s eyes snapped open as he turned his head, looking at Hayner with a serious expression and narrowed eyes. A black coat…? If Hayner wasn’t messing with them, then this would be the second time they’ve heard of a mysterious figure dressed in black. While Hayner finished his explanation, Kujo glanced between M’Lyn and Jack with a knowing look. If he’s telling us the truth, it’s most likely the same person. Or at least, someone related to the individual they’d heard about from the dwarf named Doc. Someone had messed with their world as well, also dressed in all black. The chances of two people dressing the same and stirring up trouble not being related was slim to none. If it wasn't the same person, it had to be people working together. Kujo had never heard of such mysterious persons before his travels with the Twilight Brigade. Figures. He really couldn’t catch a break.
Sighing a bit, he remained leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. ”You thinking what I’m thinking?” The question was for both M’Lyn and Jack. He didn’t want to say anything too specific in front of Hayner or Pence—as their reconnaissance relied on keeping other people’s noses out of their business. After confirming Jack and M'Lyn's line of thoughts, Kujo would glance around the room, noticing a darker section in the far corner to the left of the bright computer modules. ”Hm?” Pushing off of the wall, he slid his hands back into his pockets as he headed towards it, wondering what lied further in. ”Get what you can off of that.” He glanced over his shoulder, clearly talking to Jack and Pence. ”I’m gonna go check out the rest of this place.” With that, he was off, hardly waiting for a response. As usual. It seemed despite having gotten closer with the team a little, the concept of ‘teamwork’ outside of battle was a somewhat new one to the man, who was used to going solo in most things.
Walking through the darkness into the next area, he kept his guard up and his emerald eyes scanned for any signs of Heartless.
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