Best Plan Ever [Closed Action]

[theboywiththebook]

Who: Henry, Luke, Phillip and Toushirou
When: January 8th
Where: Dead District
What: Henry being a rebel and decides to go in the one place he's not supposed to. Bitties follow. Chaos ensues.

[Everyone's been saying don't go in the Dead District. It's bad, just don't. Well, Henry has this thing where he doesn't really listen. Especially when it comes to the bad guys getting away with things. He thinks that if he can find any kind of proof that he might be able to use it to get these bad cops arrested or at least stopped. If that was at all possible. Some teenager he had talked to on the network mentioned a building that was really important and that it was being made. The police were linked to it and a company called Thunder Crop was making the building.

That was enough for him to go snooping. He planned it all out the moment he got to school. Skip during recess, go get the kitchen knife he took from home and buried a few blocks away, and then venture to the district. He was sure no one would follow him at this time of the day. Everyone would be too busy playing and the teachers on duty would be dealing with other stuff to notice one child wander off.

Everything seemed to go off without a hitch. He's just on the outskirts of the Dead District and about to go and sneak his way in.

Of course, the best laid plans always have some minor flaws. Like other children following.]

Comments

[darkhourdear]

[Phillip knew Henry said he was busy today, but maybe he was only busy after school! So he could still play during recess, right?

Only apparently... that wasn't true, as Phillip saw the boy sneaking away from the playground. Since he was a network person, he guessed that might have had something to do with it, and if it did then the network people should stick together! So he grabbed Luke and told him what he'd seen, and the two of them decided to follow Henry. And when they finally catch up...]

Hi Henry! What're you doing?

[songoftimeandtimeagain]

[Naturally after he'd been informed of another exploration trip he'd done the Responsible Thing and notified an adult. Well sort of an adult. He's not technically an adult or anything. But he'd told someone. Someone responsible. Someone adult-like.


....Toushirou. He'd told Toushriou. So. Yeah. That counts right?




As for his part in the grand confrontation, Luke just sort of stands behinds Phillip and waves a little bit.]

[icy_heavens]

[Why are his friends idiots? Why? Hell, why are they even his friends? ... Right. Because of the network. Which leads him back to his first question and since that's a really circular line of thinking, he's just not going to bother with it right now. The point is: they're being really stupid and need somebody around to make sure things don't get out of control.

[Phillip and Luke had gone on ahead of him, because he has the good sense to go and get a weapon before he heads to that part of town. Fortunately, Granny had been out when he stopped by the house, so he'd been able to get in and grab his sword with no fuss.

[Even though he's behind by a bit, it doesn't take him long to cover the distance. Between his speed ability and Phillip's really blatant spirit energy, it's not hard to find the group. He essentially shows up out of nowhere -- his movements are too fast for the normal human eye -- and starts criticizing without preamble.] So are we still going ahead with this stupidity or is somebody gonna decide to be sensible?

1/?

[theboywiththebook]

[Wait a second, what the heck?

Where'd Phillip come from?

And why was he here and with that Luke kid?]

How'd you-?

2/?

[theboywiththebook]

[THEN SUDDENLY TOUSHIROU COMES RIGHT THE FRICK OUT OF NOWHERE!

He just kind of leaps back at the sudden appearance of him, because one second no one's there and then suddenly blond haired child. Suddenly his focus is turned right on Toushirou just pointing between him and the other two.]

When did you-!?

3/3 okay just 3

[theboywiththebook]

[What the ever loving hell was going on here? Henry has to take a few minutes looking between all these kids that just showed up. His face goes from confused, to surprised, to angry.

Then his eyes just set on Phillip and he just KNOWS why they're all here now. HE DID IT.

But as to why he was about to find out. His voice grows annoyed when he asks:]
What are you all doing here?! I never asked for any of you to come!

couldn't fucking resist the line drop

[songoftimeandtimeagain]

He's got super speed.

[Luke decides to graciously take on the part of Exposition Ambassador.]

And we've been following you since you snuck out of recess. It's dangerous to go alone.

[Luke equips his sword, which for all intents and purposes looks like a sheath and belt magically appear on his torso. Because they do. Cinderella may have robbed him of the initial shock of network magic-ness, but he's still got a few tricks up his sleeves.]

Especially since you don't have any echos yet.

[darkhourdear]

Right! [what Luke said.] I saw you leaving and figured it was network stuff- [and he was TOTALLY RIGHT] -so I thought someone should go with you so you didn't get in trouble.

[He's not sure why Toushirou's here though, so he'll look over at him.] How'd you know, though?

[icy_heavens]

[... Huh. He'd never actually made anybody jump like that before. Well, whatever. Not important. He inclines his head in Luke's direction.] He told me.

[To Phillip:] And it's not like I could miss your spirit energy even if I tried. [The headache is already setting in, and it's not doing his mood any favours.]

[theboywiththebook]

[Okay, to Luke? His eyes just widen in surprised. Sword magically just materializing out of nowhere? Yeah, that earns some WOW points.]
How'd you do-?

[Wait, no it's probably an echo. And not the point.]

Look, that's not what I meant.

[Henry's perturbed now. He didn't want the other kids following him. He wanted to do this alone. He had to do this alone.

He grips his back pack strap tightly, huffing and puffing in annoyance as he looks to them.]

I might be doing network stuff, but this is undercover. Maybe that's why I went alone because I don't have echoes. I'd be harder to get caught or something.

Besides-
[And he sets his bag down taking out a kitchen knife from it.]

I didn't come unprepared.

[darkhourdear]

[First replying to Toushirou:] I'm sorry! Um...! [HERE HE HAS SOME ADVIL since he can't figure out how to turn it off yet. >: He's trying to be helpful!]

[When Henry speaks, Phillip looks at the knife, biting his lip a little and thinking over his words carefully. He doesn't want to be mean, but...]

Um... that's better than nothing? [He guesses?? But it doesn't look super useful. Sure, Phillip might not have any visible weapons, but the things he has can do more damage than a kitchen knife.]

[songoftimeandtimeagain]

[Henry's dismissal of their help does not sit well with Luke. A scowl appears on his face, and there's a determined edge in his stance.

He can understand the instinct to go charging into danger. He can even understand the desire to do it on his own, but he's learned in his time on the network that there's strength in numbers, and there's very real danger in being isolated. He never got to really reprimand Suzaku for going out alone and getting hurt like he did. It didn't feel like he had the right, as a kid, to talk to a grown up that way. But here, with another kid and backed up by his friends he's got more confidence.

He unsheathes his sword. It's a good deal more impressive than a kitchen knife.]

I told you not to go alone. The blood keys aren't just gonna ignore you cause you don't look dangerous. I'm not going to stop you from going, since doing stuff and getting more echos is the best way to be prepared, but if you go: We're. Coming. With.

[icy_heavens]

[He nearly facepalms at the kitchen knife. Yeah, that's really gonna do something if they run into the Blood Keys. Geez, the new kid had sounded at least a little bit smarter than that.

[Huff.] Alright, fine. Looks like stupidity isn't off the table, so it seems we're going in. [He eyes the knife, and nearly sighs again.] And did nobody mention that the Blood Keys are superhuman cyborgs? You'd be really lucky if that thing managed to do anything to them.

[Not that he has personal experience in this area. He's just going by network consensus, here.]

[theboywiththebook]

[WOW. Why are you all dissing the wonders of this Kitchen Knife. It can do so many things.

Like dice veggies.

No, but seriously Henry is kind of fed up listening to all of this. Phillip was going out of his placate him, Luke was just telling him he wasn't going in alone, and Toushirou was calling him stupid.

But, regardless Toushirou did bring something to the table that Henry had been unaware of.]

You mean like the terminator?

[Jeez, what the heck kind of organization was this?

But, it seemed like they were at an impasse. Either Henry would have to give up now and come back later or go in with these kids.

He'd rather not bring these guys along. Both out of fear of them also getting hurt and his own stubborness. But, they were just as equally as determined to come with him.

So he just lets out a sigh.]

Fine. We'll go in. Together. But, this is recon. Got it? That means we're not fighting anyone.

[darkhourdear]

[Luke and Toushirou did a much better job with the convincing than he did, but that doesn't mean the fact that Henry is consenting doesn't get him to smile.]

Ok! [but since Henry didn't even know about the Blood Keys and brought a kitchen knife, he has to ask--] What if they attack us first?

[songoftimeandtimeagain]

[Subtlety has never been Luke's strong suit, and the idea of not charging ahead with gusto raises his hackles a bit. He still hasn't put away his sword away, and he shifts from foot to foot, looking agitated.]

Yeah! They're bad guys.

[That's the only rational he needs. Why isn't that good enough for everyone?]

[icy_heavens]

Something like that, I guess.

And being prepared for a possible fight isn't the same as looking for one. You know that, right? [Because it feels like Henry is lecturing them and Toushirou really hates being lectured. How stupid and reckless and trigger-happy does the guy think he is, anyway? Geez.]

[A frown in Luke's direction.] Put that away. It doesn't come out unless you actually need to use it, understand?

[theboywiththebook]

[He's going to have to thank Toushirou for that later. Clarifying everything and all.]

Yeah, this is a stealth mission. Er...call it Operation Viper.

We spy on them for a bit and we leave. If they try and fight us, we run. Fighting is the last option.

Just no killing.

[Heroes don't kill bros. :I.

With his piece said he turns away from them and goes towards a nearby alley into the Dead district. At this rate he expects them to follow.]

[songoftimeandtimeagain]

[Luke gives Henry one last grumpy glare, but everything he said was totally reasonable, so he grudgingly gives a terse nod. Then his glare promptly melts into a cowed expression when he turns to Toushirou. He sheathes his sword and his petulant stance deflates a bit. The response that slips out is almost automatic, a sign of respect and obedience.]

Yes sir.

[His eyes snap wide open, and his similarity to a deer caught in headlights is astounding. He feels his face heating up almost immediately with a blush, and in a last ditch effort to scrape together the remnants of his dignity he promptly turns on his heel and follows Henry.]

[darkhourdear]

[Phillip might be really, really bad at noticing when people want him to go away, but there's a large element of denial in there. He's actually pretty decent at telling what other people are feeling. And it's not hard to tell that Luke's really, really embarrassed.

So what does Phillip do? He relieves the tension in the only way he knows how- by doing something incredibly stupid. In this case, saying very loudly-] Ok! Let's go! [-and then charging towards the dead district.]

[icy_heavens]

[... What? That gets a few blinks out of him. Okay, so his past self was a military captain, but . . .]

[Aaaaaaaand there's Phillip charging ahead like an idiot. Seriously, why are these his friends? He huffs out a put-upon sigh and goes on in after everyone.]

[theboywiththebook]

[Did Phillip not know the meaning of STEALTH. MISSION. Charging in like that makes Henry turn to snap at him, but he quickly silences himself. Right, stealth.

Oh God they were all going to die.

Though he picks up his pace a bit, reaching the end of the alley. He peeks his head out just to look and oh boy. There were some thuggersons just off in the distance. Thankfully their backs were to Henry and the others.]

We might have to run. Quietly.

[darkhourdear]

[He knows! He just. Had another goal in mind.

Which apparently has been achieved so Phillip stops and waits for the rest of them, nodding.] Ok. Really quiet!

[songoftimeandtimeagain]

[The appearance of the Blood Keys goes a long way in pushing Luke's slip up out of his mind. His hand itches to pull out his sword, but he's under orders. Not unless they're actually attacked.

He equips the bomb bag and rests one hand where it attaches to his belt. Just in case.

He's not so sure what they're looking for or what they're trying to do exactly. 'Spying' and 'gathering information' both seemed like pretty vague and unhelpful descriptions to him. But he won't question anything now. This is not the time. He just holds still and waits for further direction.]

[icy_heavens]

[... Does he want to ask what's in the bag? He's not sure he wants to ask what's in the bag. Yeah, he'll leave the bag thing alone for now.

[He spots the thugs up ahead himself, and there's just a natural readiness that comes over him. He's been in up-front fights before, faced life-threatening situations. In a weird way, he's become kind of used to them. It doesn't really occur to him to be afraid at this point.

[Quietly:] Not before we get a better look, though.