hangman is coming down from the gallows [closed]

[personalwar]

Who: Soldier: 76 (personalwar) & others
What: Catch-all log for October event! 76 is a fugitive, but that isn't going to stop him from digging for information. Part 2, escape and Wyver exploration!
When: October
Where: All around the dark shady parts of town, primarily in the Red Light District. Part 2, all over Wyver territory!
Warning(s): People may be trying to bring him in, so expect possible violence, language, etc!

[ This is a closed catch-all for me to put starters for any plotted threads. My plotting comment is here if you would like to do something! ]

Comments

IT'S FINE!!! sorry for this tiny-ass tag...

[personalwar]

[ The moment that 76 feels someone grab for his arm, even if the touch is light, he reacts. Spinning around, he shoves whoever it is away before the voice even registers, and while he isn't using his full strength, he's not exactly gentle about it.

Creeping up on someone who's already paranoid to start with, and is now a criminal running around trying to keep under the radar? Probably not the best move. ]

[shashka]

[ he should've expected that, given how similar he was to someone else he knew. hell, maybe he did expect it, and just wanted to see the either man's reaction.

either way, it was completely predictable. being well-rained (and having his ass handed to him numerous times) means that he manages to recover more quickly than most. ]

Don't worry. I just want to talk.

[ he keeps his hands raised, nowhere near his revolvers.

(mind you if he needed to he could probably get them but... ]

[nanamari]

Are you going to tell me the story of your daring escape?

[ She says it lightly, like she isn't worried about what could have happened in the time after she was freed. ]

[personalwar]

[ 76 keeps his eyes locked on Ocelot's hands, well aware that he's probably a pretty quick draw. Does he think that he's actually going to shoot him down so near to the palace? No, but he also can't be sure of his intentions.

Even with his hood up, 76 feels all too exposed here. He steals a glance around them, and there are at least a few other members of the guard nearby. ]

Not here.

[ They'll need to relocate somewhere a little more protected. ]

[personalwar]

[ Jack shrugs just as lightly. He doesn't have any sweeping tale to tell her about his clever escape. ]

Right after we got here, the guards were busy unloading supplies and getting settled. Me and one of the others who got locked up took our chance to break free.

[ Another instance in which his enhanced strength had come in handy. ]

[nanamari]

[ Straight to the point. She doesn't expect anything less from Jack. ]

Any injuries?

[shashka]

[ the corner of his mouth quirks upwards into a lopsided grin. ]

Of course.

[ and just like last time, he gives him a look, as if to say "lead the way". letting him decide on his own terms. it gives him yet another indication that it's just that. a talk.

the reward might be tempting, but there are many other things to consider. and for the time being, a man like 76 would be far better as an ally than an enemy. ]

[eusford]

Giovanni! The guy was a real handful, wouldn't stay still even if I asked him to—so I broke his legs.

[ That's said with an all too relaxed smile and tone to match. But obviously there's no need to worry since Giovanni has that strange regenerating factor that keeps him alive despite nearly being killed. ]

Then do you want in on it, too?

[personalwar]

[ As far as Jack is concerned, he may as well be briefing Ana post-mission. The circumstances might be different, but he doesn't think either of them want to dwell on the way that they'd been used as scapegoats. ]

Nothing serious. [ He'll be fine. Like always. ] How about you? Did they treat you all right once you said you'd cooperate?

[personalwar]

[ It is a lot of silver that the Olympians have promised to hand over for the safe capture of a fugitive, and 76 certainly doesn't forget that as he considers Ocelot's suggestion. He isn't eager to show him his back, so he motions for Ocelot to come walk at his side as he moves away from the palace.

It's only once they're away from any sight lines and out of earshot, tucked away in some back alley, that 76 speaks again. He turns back toward Ocelot with a swish of his cloak. ]

I'm guessing Ashti would have wanted you to drag me in the moment you saw me.

[ So why hasn't he? ]

[nanamari]

Aside from collaring me like a dog, I suppose so.

[ She's referring to the tracker, though her tone is dry and resigned. ] And speaking of that... We should probably get going.

[shashka]

[ now, Ocelot has betrayed his fair share of men. even shot a few of them in the back. but that was all in the past (or, a future that was now never going to happen). no, he's not about to make an enemy out of someone useful. ]

I'm sure she would've.

[ the way he says it is strangely affable, as if he's telling some sort of terrible joke about the weather, or something. ]

But you see, I haven't quite decided whether or not I really like her or not.

[ he slowly leans against the nearest wall, crossing his arms. ]

See, what I'm more curious about is the man responsible for all of this in the first place. And you and I both know you were probably tricked into participating.

[ how does he know this? ...the world may never know.

or maybe it was because he was also tricked into helping but managed to escape unnoticed so... ]

so sorry for the delay on this!

[personalwar]

[ Yeah, there's an unnerving quality to Crowley that isn't the least bit subtle. What is he, some kind of sociopath? Maybe that's to be expected, if he's long-lived and has to feed on people to survive. What's some broken legs, when he rips into people's throats? ]

I'm sure he took that real well. [ Granted, Giovanni had seemed just fine when he made that announcement with Ana. Maybe someone had healed him, or maybe he isn't a normal human.

At the question, 76 quickly shakes his head. He's had more than enough power in his lifetime. ] No, but I want to know what he's planning. What did he gain from unleashing that virus?

[personalwar]

[ Ana may not be happy with the tracker situation, but she'd decided to put up with it, and Jack isn't going to question her on it. Just as she hasn't questioned his choice to put his foot down about the whole thing. ]

Right. [ The meeting is frustratingly brief, but at least they have a plan for how to meet up, going forward. He lifts up the piece of paper she gave him earlier. ] I'll go pick this up. Thanks again.

[deathproofs]

( by now, jack should know that making this kind of point does absolutely nothing to reaper. it doesn't intimidate like it might a lesser foe. it never has. jack standing up to him in any capacity hasn't ever made reaper back down. not even back then. so, he does nothing now. doesn't even acknowledge his weapon. there are certain things jack just can't best him at.

reaper starts a slow circuit around jack. sure, it's an intimidation kind of thing. whether it works to unnerve him is up in the air. but, reaper doesn't really care. his footsteps fall softly on the jungle floor. )

Seems like you've been busy since you woke up, Jack.

( yeah. he's going to have to go there first. )

[personalwar]

[ 76 hadn't made up his mind about Ashti either, though his opinion of her has become more concrete now that she's calling for their heads. She wants to dole out justice and she doesn't want to stop and think about what could really be going on. She just needs some scapegoats, right?

Maybe there's more to her than that, but at this point 76 doubts he'll get the opportunity to find out.

While Ocelot relaxes in his posture, 76 remains as tense as ever. That isn't bound to change any time soon, no matter what Ocelot might say. ]

It's more like the job was misrepresented to us. Should've known better than to accept what he was telling me at face value.

[ He's been kicking himself over that one, even if he's not the only one who fell for it. Still, he should have known better. ]

you're good!

[eusford]

[ Things happen when you're forced to strip every emotion you've ever had as a human and your single drive now is to avenge your fallen comrades from eight hundred years ago. ]

Well that does pose a pretty good question.

[ Now that Crowley actually takes some time to think about it, but of course his only suggestion is possibly something that has already crossed 76's mind: ] Maybe to make Olympia and Wyver interact? They obviously got some bad blood.

[shashka]

[ isn't that just the way with some self-righteous types? always driving straight ahead and never looking at the bigger picture.

either way, it suits Ocelot just fine. helps him better understand who she is, what makes her tick. if the day ever comes that he's in this position... well, he'll be ready.

but for now, he can't help but look at the other man with a hint of amusement in his eyes. he supposes he'd probably give him a good fight if he really wanted, maybe even take him down.

(but he still wouldn't be the best) ]

I'll take a wild guess and say you haven't had any luck in tracking down the guy.

[ not that Ocelot had either. he really was curious as to how he managed to avoid trouble when others hadn't been so lucky. ]

Vanished without a trace. Almost like he has friends in high places.

[ or low places.

and it would seem he is going to continue to have this conversation like this is perfectly normal and no one's in any danger of being arrested. ]

[nanamari]

[ It's better this way, in the long run. Being a fugitive is all well and good when it's just the two of them, but she needs to be able to move without constantly putting the people she cares for at risk. She needs to push herself to stop keeping the world at a distance.

It's her choice, but that doesn't mean she has to like it.

Ana nods. A quick goodbye is better for both of them, but she doesn't quite manage to turn away just like that. ]

Will you do me a favor?

[personalwar]

[ Intimidation isn't really Jack's intention. He knows that would never work with Reaper, because it hadn't worked with who he used to be. Now that he's able to lose his physical form and apparently teleport, nothing Jack could do would really be able to frighten him. How do you scare a dead man, after all?

He can possibly get under his skin, though. (If Reaper even has skin. The jury is still out on that.)

Instead of turning to watch Reaper's every move, Jack forces himself to stay in place, not wanting to give him the satisfaction. That might open him up to attack, but he figures that if Reaper was out for blood, he wouldn't have greeted him like this in the first place. ]

I don't really know how to be anything else.

[ If Reaper wants to be vague and speak in implications, then 76 won't give him the benefit of a direct answer. ]

[personalwar]

[ Speculation isn't going to get them very far, but it's arguably a better way to spend the time than simply standing around and being on-edge. This might help the wait for Cree to go a little quicker, if nothing else. ]

They did make a truce so that the sick could come here.

[ There's still no telling whether that will last. 76 doesn't know enough about the history of this place to make an educated guess. ]

But if he wants to stop the fighting, there have to be better ways to go about it.

[personalwar]

[ While 76 doesn't know all that much about Ocelot, if it came down to a fight between them, he's fairly certain he could take him. 76 has the advantage over most normal humans, though that's not to say that Ocelot doesn't have some tricks hidden up his sleeve.

So far, it doesn't seem like anyone's been able to find this mystery man, and 76's getting frustrated with the search, especially when he has to watch his every move to make sure he doesn't catch the eye of someone who wants to bring him in.

Ocelot implies that the 'shady man' might have a connection to the empress and others of high rank. She used to be a courtesan, if the stories are true, so maybe it's not so far-fetched. ]

If that's the case, it'd be easier for you to confirm it. Could be he's just really good at knowing when and how to disappear.

[ Who's to say he's even still in Olympia? ]

[personalwar]

[ It doesn't entirely surprise Jack that Ana lingers for another moment. Neither of them are particularly happy about this setup, but they can put up with it for a month. It's not often that Ana asks anything of him, at least not like this, so he raises his eyebrows at her. ]

What is it?

[ It's hard to imagine what he could do for her, with little more than the clothes on his back, but whatever it is, he'll do it. ]

[nanamari]

[ Ana takes a small, familiar disk from the front pocket of her jacket. Jack will have seen it many times by now. It's the holo of Fareeha that she keeps near her bedside. ]

Hold on to this for me. You can return it when we're back together.​

[ It's not the act itself that she's really asking for as a favor. It's the indulgence of sentimentality for an old superstition. Give something valuable to someone you care for, so that they have no choice but to return from the war.

This is hardly a situation where she particularly fears for his life, but Jack - well, Jack carries a war with him wherever he goes. Ana worries when she's not there to see him home. ]

[personalwar]

[ Jack recognizes the disc instantly, and he also knows why Ana is giving it to him. It's her way of saying that she can't watch over him for the next month, so she expects him to stay in one piece, and to come back to her with this precious item intact.

He takes it from her with a nod, carefully tucking it away into an inside pocket of his jacket. Somewhere safe. He doesn't have anything to give her in return, but she's a little bit better at staying out of danger than him. ]

Will do. Take care, Ana.

[ With that, he disappears back down the alley, so that they can go their separate ways. ]