(no subject)

[siesinddasessen]

Who: Blaine, Killian, Akito, Gabriel, Julien, Soren, Skyler, Magdalene, Sho, Neku, Gerald, more tba
What: Log for Children Are Dumb, The Plot. A few NPC children have gone to search for Karate Bugman in the underground. Cue a numbered rescue mission, since the unnumbered authorities are unfit...
Where: The underground & the outskirts of the dead district.
When: January 15th

Please thread freely with each other and NPC the children and the Blood Keys yourselves. There are short descriptions of the children at the bottom of the the plot post.

Please don't reply to the post itself, reply to the thread starters that will be up in a moment.

Comments

Williams Street: Gathering

[siesinddasessen]

As detailed in the message, Blaine is leaning against a van that is standing near the entrance of William's Street, wearing a blue hoodie, while the quite sizable van blasts music. She will wave those that she recognizes over and tell them to get seated inside the bus, and to wait there until everyone has arrived.

[youngestone]

It takes Killian some time to get to the van, largely because he had to dig through his work clothes to find something that didn't smell like horse too much. Still, he's there in plenty of time.

He's never actually heard the Tinymon theme, though, so when he approaches the van he looks a little perplexed. "I think I'm supposed to meet someone here?"

[strikeraid]

Skyler gets there a breath after Killian does, and jogs up in time to hear that question. Shit... He knows that Killian would be there, but he hadn't really worked out whether he'd talk to him or not. He'd really rather not put himself into a position where he could drop hints about what he's really up to. Well... Better to be natural, right? It'd be weird if he just avoided everyone during this. It's not really his style. (He thinks. He's pretty sure he liked people once upon a time.)

So he just gives Killian a customary check with his elbow as he passes. Hello, face he knows. "Lots of someones. I think you made it." He's got his brown contacts in and a bag around his shoulder, and is absolutely not wearing the same clothes he would wear as a Key. He's pretty dumb, but he's not an idiot. No, just a regular Raiders hoodie and some jeans, his hair up in its unkempt spikes.

[ursoreckless]

Shou drove to the meeting place, switching out his sport car for something a little more bland and less showy, but he couldn't keep some of of his natural dramatics at bay. So while he wasn't driving a flashy car, he was dressed like something out of a movie - long white trench, black leather pants and black sweater, his hair pulled back into that odd braided hair style. He had his gun and a few spare clips and was carrying a few other items he might need - like a flashlight and a lighter and a pack of smokes.

And sunglasses. He definitely needed them.

But there he was, wearing stuff he had gotten from past pulses and not looking like himself so much. Then again, he needed to focus less like himself and more like someone who wouldn't care about hurting someone to protect someone else, especially kids.

"If they wanted to see a Karate Bugman, all they had to do was ask if I met him," he grumbled, trying to keep that accent in check.

[siesinddasessen]

"You can fix that now." No reason to let the situation get too earnest, even if it is still really serious.

Blaine is coming over, approving of the car and just internally shaking her head at the trenchcoat. "You could supply a picture and a few episodes too, there has been quite the amount of dissent regarding what he looks like I've hear."

[espigeonage]

It's early. Julien's brought coffee in a couple thermoses and a stack of little cups, and a mesh bag full of Cliff Bars and the like. He's availed himself of both and set them out for anyone to sample, trying to ignore how irritating it is to keep hearing that song at close range.

All in worn pale grays, his hair netted and covered with a knit cap, he's somehow kind of hard to notice when he's not making eye contact. Which he mostly is.

[dyingtohealyou]

"Yo."

Akito has opted for mainly dark clothes, but nothing that couldn't be considered fashion. It looks like for today at least, he's just opted to keep the contacts out with a pair of shades to cover the unusual color instead. Slightly suspicious, but it's the more practical option here. He's the group healer and all - messing around with the contacts is just not really worth it here.

[thebalrogslayer]

Gabriel hadn't even considered that he might be one of the older members of the group. Maybe he's too new to this whole echo thing. It's just as well that he's used to the younger generations through his various jobs.

Fairly early, he takes a seat in the middle of the bus and waits with his usual impatient, foot tapping quietly on the floor. He's braided his hair and tucked it under his coat, which is unusual for him, but his recent fall is heavy on his mind. Besides, it's pretty noticeable on a man, especially one of his age, and he doesn't think that they need to draw any more attention then they will anyway.

[siesinddasessen]

Blaine will come up to him when everyone has arrived and sit down next to him - there are barely any free spots left on the bust and she has to sit down somewhere. Julien knows where they are headed, so she isn't needed in the front. It will only be a few minutes of ride, anyway. "Are you used to that kind of age in children?" The start is a bit out of the blue, but he should know well enough what she is talking about and she has no patience for pleasantries right now (has she ever?).

Re: Williams Street: Gathering

[needsmorezippers]

Neku shows up at the meeting spot on time, hand stuffed in his pockets- a slightly paranoid method of making sure he still has his pins (including one that he doesn't know what it does) and he doesn't wind up totally defenseless. He really doesn't do well with kids, but that doesn't mean he's ok with them wandering around where the killer snake statues or Blood Keys might be.

[centurian]

Gerald had always been a somewhat impulsive guy, especially when it came to helping those that couldn't help themselves. So he he saw someone asking over the network for help in rescuing kids, he accepted without a second thought. But as he approached the scene, he began to wonder if this was really the best idea he'd ever had, and just how much trouble he'd be in if the Bureau ever found out about this.

There was nothing suspicious about this at all (except there totally was and he really couldn't believe what he was doing).

He's dressed in casual street clothes, with his gun carefully concealed on his belt. Despite his mind telling him to "act natural", there's a very definite stiffness to his posture.

This was definitely not the best idea that he'd ever had.

so late

[mood2wiingiing]

Soren arrived just about on time - he had to sneak out early to leave before his Dad woke up for work, but at the same time he had to get there on his own that way, so it worked out all right. Once he's there he quickly finds the van, but he ends up waiting around outside for more people to show up, feeling a bit awkward and nervous. Even though it's a network meeting he's still wearing shades to cover his weird eyes, although he didn't bother with anything to cover the odd yellowish tone of his skin. He figures that with a coat and whatever else on it probably won't show enough for any normal people to care about, and who cares what network people think?

He ends up pulling out his phone while he waits, to stop some of his nervous fidgeting, although he looks away from it often to glance around at whoever else has ended up waiting.

At the entrance to the underground: Briefing

[siesinddasessen]

After they get out of the bus, everyone will be given the equipment that Blaine promised them, and those that will be responsible for the children will be given backpacks with food and drink for them in them.

After everyone is ready, Blaine will hold them up a moment longer to give them a short briefing.

"Our plan is simple. Get down there, get the kids, resurface as quickly as possible. We don't want to fight with snake statues. If they show up, we'll protect ourselves, but if we can solve the situation with slowing them down and running, that is what we will do. Julien will pick us up when we are back on the surface.

Since this will most likely be near or in the dead district, we might encounter Blood Keys. In this case, we will split up.

Youou, Kara, Gabriel. You will run with the children. Magdalene, you will support them with that as necessary and otherwise join Killian, Fai and Soren with keeping an eye out for potential Blood Keys and fighting them if necessary. If you hit a dead end, Soren can carry you over obstacles but will be slow, so you other fighters might have to make time for him.

Everyone else. You will be coming with me in this case. Our secondary goal is to kill them, so they can't blab. If that is not possible, we will buy some time and then run, because there is no reason to lose anyone to them because of this.

If all of this fails, we will try to meet up with Julien before we have have gotten rid of them, or find a different solution.

You." She turns to the group that might have to run with the kids. "Agree on a leader. Someone who will make decisions when there is no time for discussions.

Also, everyone get Julien's number. Any questions?"

(ooc: If someone is unhappy with their grouping, PM me please.)

[espigeonage]

Julien stood up, a shoebox under one arm.

"A few months ago there was an effort to explore the sewers and subway tunnels, and we all kept in contact with these, basically." He held up the box, which contained blank campaign buttons. They'd all had most of his number scrawled on them with a fine-point marker, and they all had a conspicuous empty space at the end. "The last part of my number is three. You can finish it with a bare fingertip if you have to call me in a hurry. I'll come as fast as I can without attracting police, but you've got to tell me where you've come up."

[strikeraid]

Skyler looks as though he's very clear on the instructions. Maybe too clear? He swings his bat over his shoulder and stalks away from the group a small ways, kicking at the ground more fiercely than necessary. Someone's unhappy with their grouping, but the reason behind it is so incriminating that he really can't say anything about it. And even if he did have a good excuse, it probably would be too petty to bring up in the first place. How infuriating. This probably isn't the best attitude to go into a rescue effort with, but he figures that it'll only take a few seconds to blow off steam.

Ok, maybe two seconds.

... Wow, he's a lot more worked up about this than he realized. He curses under his breath, trying to calm himself down. He's pretty sure he's not the type to get this angry over something this stupid.

[youngestone]

Killian raises his hand. "Someone said they'd see if they could get or make me arrows that'll do more than stab people," he pipes up. "Who was it?"

Underground

[siesinddasessen]

Underground: Searching for the children

[siesinddasessen]

There is a good way that they have to walk underground before they find the children. Darkness, rats, the cold, and it might smell badly sometimes, the sewers are a part of the underground too after all... but no actual trouble.

Underground: And they found them!

[siesinddasessen]

They'd been walking for a good while, when suddenly voices can be heard from down the tunnel. Children's voices. They sound scared, but not acutely so.

Underground: Snake attack!

[siesinddasessen]

Well, this was too easy, really. Just when they are preparing to get going with the children in tow, two moving state statues approach!

Above ground

[siesinddasessen]

They have just emerged from the sewers at the outskirts of the death district, and Blaine was about to call Julien when a group of Blood Keys on bikes comes around the corner. They stop, look at the group of numbers and children, and then talk to each other for a moment and drives into their direction. Their faces don't look friendly at all, and at least half of them aren't quite human anymore...

Blaine points to a small street with too much rubbish on the ground for the bikes. "There. RUN." Time for plan B.

Group Save The Children

[siesinddasessen]

Now the groups have split up. The plan for this group is to hide with the children, then get to a safe meeting spot, contact Julien and have him take them the heck out of there. But are plans just plans, or...

It seems like one of the enhanced Blood Keys noticed that they broke away. Is he coming after them, and is he alone?

[thebalrogslayer]

Gabriel has Ki on his back and holds David by the hand, hurrying them along. They just need to find somewhere quiet where they can call Julien. He doesn't want to go too far, both the children and the other members of the group will be tiring now. He knows he is, but he can't flag yet. Not until they're safe.

He's focused, and he doesn't notice the footsteps until Ki pulls on his plait and tells him, voice quiet in his ear. Gabriel glances back, peering into the gloom, but can't make out much more than that there's someone there. "We've got someone behind us." He shouts out as a warning to the other adults. Unfortunately there's no way to tell them and not the children, but they all need to be aware anyway as he picks up his speed, pushing David to speed up too. If they can find somewhere safer than this, somewhere that it opens out where they can lay an ambush, or somewhere they can hide, that would be ideal, but he's also hopeful they'll be able to lose their tail somehow.

Group Deception

[siesinddasessen]

The groups have split up. The plan for this group is to get the enemy away from the other group and preferably kill them, but if that turns out impossible, just distract them long enough for the others to escape and then escape themselves.

(Eventually, the Blood Keys will chase this group into a dead end and then into a building and up to the top of this building, where the "final battle" should happen. Please NPC as many or few BKs as you thing will work for you, there's no set number on purpose.)

[siesinddasessen]

As usually, everyone else is just slow when it comes to running. She should have taken that into consideration more. Outrunning those guys won't be an option at all...

Muttering a curse, she looks at the other members of the group. Do any of them look like they are at their limit already? Not everyone spends most of their time that she should be preparing for their high school diploma with physical training. They need to get them away from the other group as far as possible, but they also need to turn around and fight before anyone is at their limit. Hopefully their group will be strong enough for that...