Quest Collections

[tellmehowthisfeels]

Who: Moira O'Deorain (tellmehowthisfeels) & quest partners
What: It's quest time
When: Next couple of weeks or so
Where: Nabril and Olympia
Warning(s): Terrible people in here? Otherwise not much?

Comments

Gabriel

[tellmehowthisfeels]

Dressed for the weather, Moira stepped through the snow. If the cold bothered her then she was keeping it to herself, simply keeping her hands in her pockets as she followed after Gabriel. It was nothing but forever winter out here. A place for people to just go to freeze to death.

Looking back her companion, none other than Gabriel, she let out a sigh. "You are certain that we are going the correct way?"

Outskirts or not, it would be nice to have some actual information to go off of rather than some wild chase like they had presently.

[gravemistake]

"Cold" is most certainly one of Gabriel's least favorite things to be, but he's been around the world enough that the complaining Californian in him knows to be quiet in a situation like this. There will be plenty of time to whine about how frigid this was after they successfully complete the mission.

Which they will, of course. If there's one thing he's good at, it's seeing something through to the end, even if it involves trudging around in snow.

"It's the best lead we've got, so yeah."

Though of course waiting for the next clue to fall in their laps isn't exactly a good use of time, either.

"Gotta be someone around here who might've seen something."

[tellmehowthisfeels]

"Lovely," she muttered in a tone that said she very much thought otherwise. Clucking her tongue, she looked around them at the snowy wasteland. Snow and not much else. Save for...

"Might I suggest we ask that man there? He appears to have fishing supplies which would suggest he may have seen something."

Not that she was going to actually wait for Gabriel. She wasn't his subordinate anymore. Really they were actually equals in her time so she had no reason to wait for his okay on the matter. Moira was going to go talk to this fisherman with or without him.

"A good day to you," she said in greeting, nodding her head to the man who nodded his head politely back to her. "We are looking for someone who might have been in this area."

With that, she provided the description of Magda. Immediately, the man's eyes lit up with recognition before he pointed to the middle of the lake. "Wanted to know how to navigate a boat in fog on open water. Told 'im a thing or two. Best waters around here are that lake. Left my boat there so you can use that. Not sure what you'll bother with but best return my boat when you're done."

From her pockets, she pulled out some coin for his troubles then looked to Gabriel. "I believe we have a boat to catch."

[gravemistake]

Gabriel's in general agreement with her, but he manages to keep a lid on his most egregious complaints. They're black ops agents--if they can't manage to track down one guy, well, perhaps they've lost their touch. If he acknowledges her taking action without receiving any orders, he doesn't show it. It doesn't seem appropriate for him to act as a commander in this scenario, especially because he's still navigating the new terms of their relationship.

Difficult to do, given the fact that he's working with half the information (or perhaps even less), but Gabriel knows how to hide any uncertainty.

He lets Moira do the talking, acting very much the bodyguard as the exchange takes place, all the while scrutinizing for anything that might be off. When the man offers the boat, he supposes it's their best shot, and he nods.

"We'll bring it back in one piece."

That, unfortunately, is not a guarantee, but hey. He'll do his best.

[tellmehowthisfeels]

Did she lift a brow at him saying that they would bring the boat back in one piece? Oh yes. Because she knew there was no guarantee about that. Which was something to be said more about him than her really. Still, the bodyguard thing was a nice touch. Even if the man didn't need to know that it was unnecessary. It wasn't like they advertised that she could be just as deadly as the man behind her.

Still once they were out of earshot, she glanced to Gabriel before looking ahead again. "We'll have to see if there are any clues in the water. That seems the most logical location. Perhaps he tossed it in there."

Which would mean someone was going to have to go in after it.

Spoilers: It wasn't going to be her and she just hadn't informed him of that fact yet.

[gravemistake]

If they destroy the boat, there's no reason for them to go back to the fisherman--vanishing is something that Gabriel is good at, after all. He supposes it's possible that the fisherman is well-connected to the Nadril equivalent of the mob, perhaps, but he can deal with hired thugs, too.

"We should've asked for scuba gear."

Gabriel says that with some measure of sarcasm, but he can see where this is going. Once they're out on the water, he hopes the hiding spot might become obvious, but it seems like he's in for a dive. The boat's easy to find, at least, and he takes a few moments to give it a cursory inspection before gesturing for Moira to board.

"After you."

[tellmehowthisfeels]

"We will have to find a way to manage without."

Stepping onto the boat, she settled herself and drew the collar of her coat up around her neck some more. It could get cold in Ireland but nothing quite like this. At least she had a scarf and gloves to keep her warm.

"I will look for the glow. Hopefully it hasn't died out completely."

If it had that would make this remarkably challenging.

[gravemistake]

"Or that the water isn't too deep."

It doesn't matter how much light the thing gives off if they can't see it. Gabriel is already starting to think they might be a little ill-prepared for this, at least equipment-wise. Still, he's good at improvising, and it's not like they're combing the entire ocean for the thing.

"I take it you're not the one going for a swim."

[tellmehowthisfeels]

Studying the environment around her, she looked for clues that could point toward something that would suggest where the thing had been left. It was for that reason that she didn't actually answer Gabriel. It took a remarkable amount of concentration to make sure her eyes could see what they needed to.

So she squinted, leaning over the edge of the boat while she looked until.

Moira pointed. "There. That must be it."

It was the faintest of glows. Almost coming and going. However, it was definitely in the water. "Come here. You will see it better," she said, waving her hand to have him come next to her.

[gravemistake]

Gabriel, meanwhile, handles the actual operation of the boat. It’s a little worse for the wear, but the bottom of it isn’t filling up with water, so he imagines they’ll be fine for the duration of the (hopefully) short excursion. As he’s handling the steering, he lets Moira look for the damn thing, and he has to admit he’s slightly surprised when she actually sees something in the dark, cold water.

He cuts the motor and circles the boat to bring it to a stop.

“You sure?”

Perhaps he’s just stalling a little because he doesn’t want to get in the water, but despite its faintness, he can see the glow as well. That’s good—hopefully that means it’s not too deep. Doesn’t make him any more excited to go diving.

“Seems like a pretty haphazard way to dispose of it.”

At least throw it in the ocean, or something.

[tellmehowthisfeels]

"Haphazard or not, it's successful if we don't fetch it quickly."

She looked at it again then looked at him. And his stalling. Then sighed heavily and, without any warning at all, shoved him over the edge of the boat into the water. She certainly wasn't getting in and she could handle any medical concerns later.

Besides, he has an enhanced soldier body. Clearly he was the one getting the thing.

[gravemistake]

Gabriel knows it’s coming, but he shouts anyway as she pushes him off the side of the boat, the shock of the cold water not at all dampened by his enhanced abilities. He disappears for a long moment, then breaks the surface, sputtering and treading water.

The longer he drags this out, the longer his recovery period will be, but he needs a real lungful of air before he goes looking, and he wants to address one important thing, just in case she thought she was getting away with this.

“You could’ve let me take off my shoes.”

[tellmehowthisfeels]

"The more time you complain, the more time you spend in the water."

She clearly had no sympathy for him. Not even a little bit. In fact, she maybe looked a little bit amused by his current plight. Maybe. (She definitely did.)

"Take a good breath before diving in now."

Takasugi

[tellmehowthisfeels]

It seemed that when one needed a local gang removed from an apothecary that one hired some...interesting people for the task. Moira was interested in getting on the good side of this person, even if perhaps it didn't mean much for her reputation. Then again, had she ever really done things for that?

So with her partner at her side, she entered the apothecary and proceeded to browse the wares available. In her eyes it would be to their benefit to simply shop as it were until they were interrupted. Based on her knowledge, this supposed gang should be arriving shortly.

"Such intriguing supplies."

So behind the times after a fashion as well.

[shikomizue]

They don't look like the good guys here, slinking into the darkened apothecary. Takasugi spares the proprietress a nod in greeting, formal yet dismissive as he weaves through the shelves.

Foreign plants, with strange names, but he doesn't let that dissuade his browsing. He plucks one after another from the shelves, twisting cork or lid to smell the substances within. It's the best way to identify the qualities; some acrid, some distinctively similar to certain intoxicants from home.

"What would you use them for?" He'd use them to get high as fuck.

[tellmehowthisfeels]

"It would depend on the plant or bottle. Each one could serve a purpose." She heard the door open and slid her gaze over to the gang piling in. Her lips curled a little more as the device on her back seemed to swirl with purple energy as she turned to them.

"Though it would seem that is a discussion for another time. Our company has arrived."

The company that was ignoring the pair of them currently, busy wandering up to the front to bother the woman about what she owed them. "It would be a shame for her to lose her supplies. Shall we lure them outside?"

[shikomizue]

He hears the interlopers, their heavy scattered footfalls and idle goading chatter, but he doesn't look up. This woman's creative approach to science is more interesting than some rats from the street.

But they have a job to do.

Setting the jar out of place on its shelf, Takasugi turns from the stock. Such a considerate proposition...

"Yo." He may or may not take it. Takasugi places a hand on a gang member's shoulder, calling the attention of a jittery, agitated teen. "I heard a gang was going to show up here, but.

All I see is a bunch of school kids.

Any idea when the real criminals will arrive?" Smirk smeared across his face, he incites anger in several in the back line, who turn to him with colorful threats.

[tellmehowthisfeels]

One would hardly call it considerate if one knew that she only wanted to preserve these so she could study their properties herself. But people would believe what they wished and she wasn't about to stop them from doing so.

Moira smirked as she watched the men start insulting her companion.

"What colorful language. I would expect children to know better than to speak like that to adults."

[shikomizue]

His partner falls in line with his simple antagonism, and that's enough to call the group leader's attention away from the shop's owner. The one in charge appears slightly older, a scar across his shoulder emphasized by a sleek tattoo.

To emphasize his experience, or something.

With an exasperated sigh, the leader pushes past his ranks, shushing several complaints along the way. "You two got business with us?" He seems more practical, though he's certainly put himself in their space - an attempt at intimidation.

"Don't know. That depends how much you're willing to pay." Bought protection can go both ways.

[tellmehowthisfeels]

An intriguing play. Moira decided to see how this would play out. It wasn't like she exactly was on anyone's side really. Though based on the look to that face, she had a feeling they were going to continue to side with the woman who had sought out the help in the first place.

It turned out she wasn't wrong.

The leader took a swing at her companion and Moira let out such a sigh. "Such a pity. I had hoped to preserve the stock of his shop."

Ah well. Some people simply had no elegance at all. She faded out of sight and reappeared behind the entire gang. Since their attention was on Takasugi, she simply lifted her right hand and started to drain the life from them one by one from behind.

[shikomizue]

Dimly lit, the apothecary offers many shadows to duck into, lines of shelving perfect cover for a hit and run style attack. But the woman disappears entirely, and those who witnessed her evaporation stare in shock.

All as their leader is mid-swing, broad fist aimed for Takasugi's face. He doesn't sidestep - in an instant, his blade is drawn and thrust upwards. The man's hand connects with the floor, rather than his target, a bloodied stump left behind.

Screams erupt from both sides of the group, chaos bursting forth as several try to run (stealing wares on their way) and a few make a break for the counter, no doubt hoping for a hostage. Takasugi vaults a shelf, knocking most of its contents to the ground, and skewers the pair heading for the owner into the wood partition.

Only then does he turn his attention to his partner, "Outside." Might as well make a clean sweep.

[tellmehowthisfeels]

"Of course."

Just like that, she faded again. This brought her out of the shop faster and then she was running after the few that were trying to get away. There weren't many left now honestly. Just three based on what she could see. However that was plenty for her as she threw an orb of purple energy after them.

As it caught up to them, it started to drain the life from them. They gasped in shock as they felt their bodies getting weaker, one stumbling in the process. That was the last mistake he made as Moira extended her right hand to drain the last out of him before rushing past him to continue after the other pair still struggling to stay up.

It would be messy in the shop but she knew her partner could take care of the rest there. He'd already proven himself quite capable. Besides, the ones left in the shop were rather at half health now.

[shikomizue]

The shop's owner is, understandably, harried as she takes in the scene unfolding in front of her. Supplies covered in shattered glass strewn all over the floor, blood seeping into the wood from both sides of the leader's stump, and a pair trembling in shock threaded through with the man's sword. Not exactly a service - they may have done more damage than these hooligans.

Takasugi's hand slides from his hilt, leaving the men to figure out among themselves if they'd like to die on the blade slowly, or bleed out on the ground. He leans forward on the counter, casual but for how close he comes to the proprietress's body.

"We'll finish the clean up, don't worry.

But this service doesn't come free. You can subtract what we broke from the total this time, but we'll check in again." And expect more, implied. He's not even masking this whole ordeal as a favor; the difference between coercion and a kind gesture isn't so easy to bridge.

A groan interrupts the sudden silence, the now one armed man cradling his injury on his knees. Takasugi has left him alone too, even as he turns from the woman to right the shelf he'd toppled.

[tellmehowthisfeels]

The pair that tried to get away soon fell as a purple orb chased them and Moira's right arm extended to drain the life from them as well. When she was done, she came slowly walking back to the shop, hands behind her back as she went to look at the man who was sill bleeding out on the floor.

Stepping before him, she knelt down with a smile.

"If you leave here and never return then I will heal your injury. However, if you ever come here again then I will see to it that everyone you ally yourself with dies."

[shikomizue]

With his partner's coercion as a backdrop, Takasugi sifts through broken glass and spilled sundries. There aren't many containers in tact, but he salvages what he can. A few pristine bottles, and several cracked, are placed back on the shelf with no effort spared for orderliness.

He does the same with another pile of wasted wares, before turning to the owner once more. "Do you have anything to clean bloodstains?" The wood beneath their feet is covered in it, red soaking into the cracks and spreading in vein-like paths from the casualties.

One of which seems to have been spared. The gang's leader nods desperately to Moira's proposition, holding up his trembling arm. "I'll stay away from here. I'll leave the city!" There's hardly any need for that, but... whatever.

Desperate begging makes an idiot of everyone.