soul_logs | [Closed] Different World

Entry tags:

[Closed] Different World

Characters: Sugata Shindou and Valentine
Location: Shenyang, China
Rating: PG/PG-13 (Rating could be subject to change)
Time: June 9th, Early Morning
Description: Children missing in China and yet there appears to be a festival

Valentine had nothing to say, watching the progression down the street. A parade, but for what? There had been no report of a local festival going on today, but Intel said this may have been occurring for a while. Then again, their Intel claimed encountering a dragon with golden claws and teeth. The only dragon seemed to be the one in the parade which was far from suspicious, but perhaps... yes.

That was enough observation... Valentine rose to her feet, hand on her hip as she continued staring down from the rooftop they were perched on. This investigation would be simple enough if her partner could manage being bait. All the missing children had something in common; that was, they were all from upper class families. A pretty boy like Shindou appeared reasonably well-off despite his visiting status. No doubt whatever was behind this would snap him up.

"Time to get into position."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sugata tore his attention from the bustling crowd below and glanced over at Valentine. He'll nod his head in agreement as he gets to his feet. It did help that he was actually from a well-off family! Not that it'd help him much here since he's far away from home right now. (That and if his family ever discovered he was off the island they'd have a conniption. But that's beside the point.) The role was definitely something he could tap into easily without over thinking it, though!

"Right." And with that he will make his way down into the bustling crowd.

Valentine watched Sugata descend, but then turned her eye back onto the parade. If her suspicions were correct, this would be a simple Investigation, maybe a disturbing call-back to a few missions Marie had her going on.

The progression was steady and every one seemed to be in place. Parents, children, teenagers, all in attendances and then some watching the performances and colors going by. She eyed Sugata. The moment his blue disappeared, that was when it was time to move.

The whole ordeal was very... interesting to say the least. It was almost like he was having an out of body experience. In fact, he kind of had to remind himself not to fight back as he was dragged off into one of the various alley ways. He fought back slightly, because he didn't want to come off weak to the kidnappers. Who knew what they'd do if they didn't find him worthy of sorts. He was also slightly in pain by that point too. They managed to elbow him in the ribs pretty hard.

He wheezed awkwardly as he was shoved against a wall. A white cloth was instantly pressed to his face. Probably chloroform...ah, yep. Most definitely chloroform. Sugata passed out quickly after that. The kidnapper that drew Sugata out of the crowd kept the cloth on his face for a good while longer. It would be bad if he woke up in the middle of transportation. Not that he'd see where he is with a blindfold on. But still, preemptive measures and all that. After that they tied him up and made their way to the hotel they used as their base.

It had stopped, and her eye narrowed. While the dragon danced, the blue hair had disappeared, pulled back instead of forward. No one seemed to have noticed, clapping to the extravagant performances. Good, then they didn't notice her moving over to shadow the assailants.

Silent and by the shadows, Valentine followed the individuals as the took her temporary Weapon into the hotel. Hah, no different from the Mafia; just keeping themselves hidden from the public. All the more easy to take them out then. She pulled out her clipboard, noting no Kishin egg sighting so far and put it away. Silently, she slipped inside. Time to find Sugata and if she was right, then she needed to find the stairs.

When Sugata came to he was all alone in a hotel bedroom. From the looks of it, he was either in an expensive suite or the hotel he was in had an executive room at the top of the building reserved for gold star members or very important people. It made sense considering that the kidnappers were making money off of the wealthy. He couldn't really do much though in his slouched over position. He'd tug a little at his restraints if he could, but everything felt too heavy.

Sugata could probably hear a conversation outside if he managed to focus. Apparently, the kidnappers had called a medic to check on Sugata - a private one. Valentine spoke quickly and fluently enough to the man who had been walking around the hallway (he had been happy to receive the nurse despite her odd appearance). She found the language wasn't that different from another she learned in her own world.

The door opened soon enough, permitting Valentine access. She was being flanked by the man of course, but he didn't carry much on him beyond a pistol. He only led her over to Sugata - how polite.

He tried his best to focus in on the voices outside the room. But all that really did was make him feel dizzier than he already was. Then again they were speaking rather quickly and the foreign language just sounded so... weird to him. When the door finally opened he did what he could to straighten up in the chair he was strapped down into, but, all he could actually do was shift a little in the chair. He at least had enough strength to glance up and look at Valentine. He gave her a tiny nod. One that the kidnappers probably took as a hello, or something alone those lines.

Valentine acted as a medic, drawing out her clipboard and giving Sugata an evaluation. The man watching stared, but seemed bored as she checked his pulse and stomach. Bruising from blunt force; either a punch or elbow. No evidence of head trauma so they used chloroform.

"Think you can transform?"

She kept her voice low, leaning over as she jotted down notes, a key one being 'No kishin egg'.

He looked up in thought at the question. He could probably transform if he put his full concentration in it. But he wasn't exactly sure how long he'd be able to maintain said form. His mind was still hazy from the chloroform. He would definitely try his best though. Especially if this mission took a drastic change for the worst. After remaining quiet for a couple of more seconds he glanced up at her and nodded his head slowly.

At least there was no kishin eggs. That was a pleasant thing to keep in mind should he actually need to transform.

Edited 2013-07-02 01:35 (UTC)

"... Get yourself together."

Standing up, she turned to the men and told them the extent of Sugata's injuries. Nothing major, but the bruise should be iced and, well, it would take a while before the chloroform wore off.

Sugata couldn't see, but she was subtly shifting, drawing the eyes of every one in the room down to her chest. Slowly, one man moved while keeping his eyes on her towards the door. He didn't step out, but he closed and locked it. It was somewhat boring to wring the information from them via hypnosis, but she needed her Weapon to come around again. Her pen was moving again, tilted enough for her partner to see once he could focus.

'Crime syndicate. Children in the following rooms...'

Sugata nodded slowly once more as he set about to try to get past the haziness. He tapped his toes and wiggled his fingers in an attempt to alleviate something. He wasn't exactly sure what he was doing, but whatever it was, was definitely working. His limbs don't feel as stiff as they did when he woke up a couple of minutes ago. His mind was still foggy, but that wasn't as bad either.

He glanced up and noted the information that was written down on the clipboard. They'd have to work quickly and quietly so they wouldn't alert any of the guards on standby if that were the case.

The clipboard away, one of the men had the audacity to get into her face and keep his eyes down. Well, his fault when she spoke to him quietly and injected the syringe into him. No one had seen it be prepared, but he remained standing there. Before one could shout, there was a throwing star sticking him to the wall. Reaching for the alarm, she appeared behind the final guard and placed a knife to his throat dragging him back.

"I can't let you do that..."

He hit the ground after a solid chop and Valentine turned her attention on the pinned guard. What to do with him? Paralysis? Poison? Maybe she should just knock him out too; he looked terrified. She smirked under her mask. Oh how the unknown could frighten even those who had assumed power. The gun was coming out, but she was already there, sending him to the floor in the same manner as the other. Picking up her star, she slipped it away and walked over to Sugata. Now she cut him free.

"How much feeling do you have back?"

Watching all of that was mildly terrifying, just gonna... get that out there. Thankfully he was on her side and didn't have to worry about her pulling any of that on him. But still. It wasn't something he wanted to think about anyway. So he stood and flexed his hands and moved his arms. After doing some small stretches he turned to look at her.

"Enough."

Valentine nodded, "We'll leave then and finish cleaning up... though..."

She looked around at the unconscious and one paralyzed members on the ground and considered taking them as ammunition... or perhaps body shields. Reaching into her kit, she pulled out a single black body bag and frowned. Searching her pockets and inside her outfit, she grumbled, "Damn..."

Glancing around, her eye fell on the paralyzed man. That would be as close to rigor mortis as she was getting and that was the sort of body she preferred throwing around. Sure, Sugata was watching, but whatever gets the mission accomplished. She laid the bag down and pushed the man inside, zipping it closed and placing them onto her shoulder.

"Let's finish what they've started then. The police can wrap it up once they're subdued and the hostages secure."

"Right." He nodded as he took a step closer to his meister of the night. He wasn't exactly sure what she was going to do with the body bag after she was done, but hey that's... probably a question he's not going to ask. So instead he'll go with this one. "Do you want me to change now, or later?"

"Now will do. We're going to cause a commotion soon."

Once they inspected the room if they bothered coming upstairs. Of course, they could be jeopardized if the medics they really called showed up.

He nodded his head once more and went about concentrating on transforming into his weapon form. Before completely transforming, he paused and took her hand into his own. That way she'd at least have the tantou in her hand, and wouldn't have to bend down to retrieve him. He also didn't want to fall to the floor either. Sure it didn't hurt, but still. He'd rather not have to deal with that headache.

She almost whipped around at that, but ended up looking down at the Weapon instead.

"We have enough time for a warning." Valentine definitely wasn't pleased with being touched suddenly. Had Sugata not transformed, he would've been the first getting hit by a paralyzed syndicate member. Eye narrowed and looking at the door again, she walked over and opened it. Hallways were clear at the moment.

"I'll be more careful with that the next time, sorry." Whoops. He had a hunch she didn't like others touching him, but he wasn't really sure how strong that hunch was or not. At least he knows now though! And knowing is half the battle. Or something.

Valentine wasn't a jealous Meister, but he was a cooperative Weapon. Genesis was on to her and the Skullheart's deep-rooted corruption. Stalking down the hallway, she kept close to area's she could quickly hide, darkness and shadows being key. They would have to utilize the hotel properly to get the kids out. And they better not run off... Enough she has to get tangled up in a syndicate working in the public view; she's not being paid to babysit.

It was a good thing he turned into his weapon form. He probably wouldn't have been able to squeeze in those tight spaces with Valentine had he tagged along with her. Though it is a shame he can't do two things at once. Because he would definitely take the kids to a safer place. But he doesn't want to leave Valentine alone either. Not that he thinks she's incapable of finishing this off on her own, because she probably is, but it goes against his moral code.

It's strategical, each potential opposition silenced and removed from sight before alarms can be set off. Each kid she saved seemed to have the same annoying reaction to start crying and hug her legs. Valentine scowled and spoke to them rather harshly to make them let go and stay quiet, but they seemed to understand. It's once they gather up the last kid that she's surrounded finally.

"Well look at that. They finally got off their asses and realized something was wrong."

Not that he'd ever tell her, but it was quite entertaining to watch Valentine deal with the kids. Thankfully they were smart enough to remain as silent as they could. He's definitely going to have to reward that whenever he's back to his human self.

"And it only took about half of their men to disappear for them to realize it too."

Yeah, yeah, keep on chuckling it up quietly. She can feel that amusement, he should remember that with her own brief jab of annoyance back.

"I suppose they assumed numbers would help them. Well, I have their quarry." The door behind her slammed shut and locked. Smart kids... The guns rose. "Ah, we'll count by fingers then just how many need to fall before they understand."

It was a flash step to the first guard and a thumb flying high into the air. The gun clattered as the man clutched his hand with a yell. She chuckled. "Don't complain. I'll stitch you up in a moment. At least you're not number five." Valentine dropped the body bag before her at the first gun volley.

Ooops the cat is out of the bag! He's sorry! Mostly, at least.

"It's such a shame they have to go about this the hard way." But who was he kidding? He wasn't really sorry for them. They had this coming.

"Yes. Their own decision."

Valentine is pleasantly surprised that Sugata isn't lecturing her because the guy in the bag is dead by now. What a full clip from a pistol can do. Ready to move, she took down two more, removing two and three fingers respectively. Her eyes narrowed on one particular man flanked by two guards.

"Ah, the director has made his appearance."

Last he remembered there wasn't anything saying that she couldn't kill the gang members. Although he would have gone about this a cleaner way, but hey, to each their own! If this is her style he can learn to respect that.

"I was beginning to wonder when he'd show up."

"The significant loss will help them understand..."

As four fingers hit the ground, she brought the leader to his knees, drawing the guns in her direction. Still, Sugata was posed at the man's throat while her other hand twisted his arm behind his back. Eye glancing around, she told them to lower their weapons, but the director demanded they stay pointed at her. "You are aware I'm about to count five..."

"You're not in a position to make demands, b-"

There was a crack as she twisted his arm further, gloved hand secure on his hand. He grunted. "Your boys lost their fingers. This can be peaceable here on out, or we can make a few more amputees. Your choice."

"Hopefully." Because you never really know with these people.

And here's hoping the director has some actual sense and won't make anymore stupid decisions.

"He'd deserve to die for his foolishness."

The guns still aren't dropping and the boss is barking harshly at his men. Valentine sighed, rolling her eye and slipped Sugata away for a moment, exchanging him for a saw-like instrument. Knee in the boss's back, forcing his face further into the ground, she held the arm straight out behind his back and gripped his fingers.

"No, no, bone saws don't make clean cuts if you struggle..." The first cut and scream made dozens of the armed guards lower their weapons. One seemed to be calling the police themselves.

Sugata chooses to remain silent at that. Hopefully the poor guy will come to his senses and snap out of the stubborn attitude he's in. But he will agree with her on some levels that it would be his fault if he didn't come to his senses soon. Also sure, he could do something about it if he really wanted to, but he'd rather not step in between him and Valentine.

As Valentine sawed and the boss yelled, she was snapping back at him, asking if he wanted to lose his hand and life. If he didn't get his mutts to back off, it would be his own damn fault. Offense was taken, but the boss seemed to come to his senses and screamed for the guns to be put down. Nothing immediately, but guns were shortly lowered to the ground. The bone saw stopped and she pulled it away after a few seconds of stretched silence. It was interrupted by the sirens outside.

Weapon snapping back, she didn't let go just yet, exchanging tools for a suturing needle. Boring, but at least the moron could think. She gave Sugata a brief tap. "You can change back now. I'll sew him back up and we'll let the police take care of the rest."

And with that he transforms back into his human self. While Valentine is busy dealing with the director, Sugata immediately turns his attention to collecting the rest of the children outside. He makes sure to stay well within earshot though. Just in case Valentine needs to use him again should things go awry. He does have to stop a few boys from wandering inside though.

There's more yelling inside and scrambling as the boss tries to get away from Valentine. She has him in a leg lock just to suture his hands up; what a baby. An overall pathetic man for kidnapping kids like this... She shouldn't even take missions with kids in any situation. Not after last time.

The police are there soon enough, helping Sugata with the children and locking down the hotel. The syndicate members were being taken out in handcuffs. She walks over to Sugata without much expression. "Mission complete. Lets go."

Sugata's head definitely snaps up and whips over to the other room. He listens intently as he's trying to pick apart Valentine's voice in the mixture of all the yelling. The yelling stops the minute he starts walking over in that direction, so he'll turn his attention back to one of the wandering kids.

When they're all gone and taken care of he places his hands on his hips and looks up at Valentine as she walks into the room. "That went off without a hitch."

She already has a new pair of gloves on. No need to ask where they were now.

"I didn't expect any less. In fact, I'm disappointed." She shook her head with a grin beneath her mask. "Given how long they we're allowed to continue, they became lax. An error on their part. Oh well, what's done is done and they'll be punished by whatever law here."

He nods his head. "In the end they were taken out by their own doing." It was sad, but hey whatever made the mission easier for them! He bows his head slightly. "Thank you for working with me."

Valentine almost cringed. "'Thank yous' aren't necessary. It's our job and we have to... work together. Besides, you're perhaps the only Weapon who wouldn't question my methods." Which is... curious for her. He's different then that fidgety red-head.

He mostly thanked her out of habit. That's something you can blame on his upbringing. "If it gets the job done and doesn't go against anything the mission set for us, then I don't really see an issue with you doing what works best for you." If he were a meister he knows he'd do what's more comfortable to him.

"... Wise boy. Bleeding hearts in war will find themselves sorely out of luck." And they should stay out of her way. Now, to get to that mirror and get back. She needed to clean off her tools and sharpen some blades.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Closed] Different World

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject