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Who: Cain (

baguablade) & you!
What: event catch-all - investigating, hunting down bad guys, making (bad) medicinal soup, whatever
When: post attack
Where: Olympia
Warning(s): none

( a : no hunting like the hunting of man )

[ The group gathered in the market is strangely subdued, even for the wariness that's fallen over the place after the attack. There's something going around, glazed-over eyes and jerky movements, oddly shuffling feet as the group makes its way through the district. Some of the men and women bump into things and seem not to notice; others are laughing and chatting far too loudly, stilted — an obvious act.

At the center of the group is a man, bright-eyed and alert, the only one looking anything resembling normal. His sleeves are pulled down, but as he turns, one rides up, revealing a large "M" on his wrist.

One of the Shady Man's associates — and while the group hasn't noticed yet, sharp-eyed individuals might pick out Cain following along behind the group, taking a meandering path through the market as he trails their steps. He seems relaxed and at ease, but his gaze is sharp, watching the man, and his hand never strays far from the hilt of his sword.

Whether you're just passing by, doing your own shopping, or whether you're hunting the tattooed man, too, straying too close to the group has Cain abruptly stepping up behind you, grabbing your arm, and pulling you back into the shadows of an alley. ]

Hey. [ Low, hissed with urgency. ] Don't get near them, or you'll get caught, too.

( b : painted full of tongues )

[ It's not exactly the nicest of bars in town, paint peeling, tables uneven, the lighting dim and flickering, suspicious stains on the floor. But it is exactly the sort of bar that men who've recently helped set off a virus-laden bomb in the center of the city might frequent, an establishment where the drink is cheap, the customers are unfriendly, and no one asks too many questions.

Cain, of course, has come here to ask far too many questions.

He's nursing a drink (untouched, he keeps pouring a little bit of it out when it seems like no one's watching) and listening to the very interesting conversation going on nearby — the conversation between two women with "M" tattoos on their wrists.

Meet his eyes, catch onto what he's doing — if you approach him, he'll smile at you like an old friend. ]

There you are. What do you want to drink?

( c : toil and trouble )

[ The soup Cain's cooking can't exactly be called soup when it's neon-blue and roiling, letting off faintly pinkish steam. With the large cast-iron stewpot he's making it in, it looks more like a witch's brew in a cauldron than soup. Also it somehow smells like both fresh laundry and wet dog. Mysterious, but hopefully something to help with the equally mysterious illness going around after the market attack — the large chunk of also mysterious sea creature tooth that he's ground a bit of and used as seasoning might help, considering its medicinal properties. Or it might not, but either way, Cain stripped down to pants, undershirt, and under-gauntlets and wielding a wooden stirring spoon over the cheerfully bubbling not-soup is certainly a sight.

And hard to ignore, since he's cooking it in the kitchen of his apartment with the windows thrown wide open. Anyone passing by could easily catch sight of the cloud of pink vapors, catch a whiff of the (very strong) smell, or even hear Cain talking to himself. ]

It's probably not enough to reanimate the dead...

[ You might even pass by just in time to hear the loud roar of something combusting. Cain's startled yelp and the gooey blue soup going everywhere is pretty hard to miss. ]

( d : wildcard )

( If there's anything else you'd like to plot out with me, I'm available at idelva or through PMs! )

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[ Reinhardt's jaw clenches and there's a look of utter contempt and disgust in his single eye. He hates it. He hates when innocent people are used as shields. It's not right and it ties his hands. He can't do anything if it means some innocent person might get hurt because of him ]

Such cowardess. They are no men! What if I come out and distract them! If they focus on me then you can come at them and stop this sorcery!

We cannot just let them do this! We have to let it be known that this place and these people are protected!

No, we can't just let him do this. [ In sentiment, Cain agrees. The man with the m tattoo is a coward. That he uses others, puts them in harm's way... It can't be allowed. And yet his use of human shields is unfortunately effective. They can't just go charging in, swinging weapons blindly. The people the man's controlling are innocent.

And worse... ] But if you go out there and he manages to cast that spell on you, he'll have even more pawns to use.

[ They can't add to the man's firepower by letting themselves get caught, too. ]

[ That is something he hadn't thought of. Reinhardt is from a world were magic isn't really a thing in any meaningful way. He doesn't have the first clue how to fight someone with it. If it was just weapons or technology, he would have this in the bag, but magic. He doesn't know how to remotely defend against it. ]

Then I just won't give him time to cast it, ja? Or I don't know. Maybe a lucky rabbit's foot?

[ He really has no clue how magic even works. Just what the fairy stories of his native country and the classic movies tell him ]

Or maybe we can just start grabbing his hostages and putting them somewhere out of the way? But whatever we do, it has to be quick. We're wasting time here that we can use to save the people!

A lucky...

[ Cain trails off in disbelief. A good luck charm, against a spell? It's becoming quickly, painfully apparent that this man has no experience with magic in the slightest. He shakes his head ruefully even as his thoughts race. It's obvious the man won't be held back for long. A plan, they need a plan. Something that'll keep them out of the man's clutches and still get the hostages away from him. That's far more important than correcting the man's lack of knowledge, at least at the moment. ]

No, never mind. You're right, we need to be quick, before anyone else gets caught. Grabbing hostages, that's not a bad idea... But we need to stay out of sight while we do it. [ He's got the spark of an idea, and Cain frowns, tapping at the hilt of his sword as he waits for the spark to ignite. ] What sort of combat experience do you have?

[ Some, if the man's raring to go charging into a fight. But if he knows exactly what his new ally can do, then maybe he can come up with a better idea of what to do. ]

[ At least it wasn't True Love's Kiss, because where are either of them going to get that! And handsome princes to break spells are in short supply as well. Because the only magic Reinhardt knows is the fairy stories and that how you break spells. With luck or with kisses. ]

[ He watches the man think. Reinhardt is really getting antsy. He wants to go out there and save some people! But he doesn't want anyone to get hurt and then that question comes and Reinhardt grins from ear to ear. Unconsciously, he reaches up and taps just below the scar of his missing eye. ]

I joined the army when I was 17, I fought a war to save humanity when I was 30 as part of an elite knight's unit and as a special unit after that. I have been fighting ever since. So around 40 years of battle experience, give or take. My specialty is the hammer and the shield. [ In short, he exists to eat bullets though right now he has neither of those things. He was just going to put himself on the line, no big deal. ]

[ Cain starts grinning, relieved. He doesn't like involving others in fights, but he's lucky; it seems like this man has the experience and skill to back up his reckless bravado. And that's useful. Very, very useful. ]

Hammer and shield, huh... [ Well, the man doesn't have either of those with him, but they're in the marketplace. They can make do. There's plenty around to be used, and Cain doubts anyone will have too many complaints after the fear the attack has spread through the city. ] How about that?

[ Cain points to one of the stalls — a stall full of futons, down quilts, and what Cain's pointing at... a large, king-sized pallet mattress. It could, by a large stretch of the imagination, almost resemble a giant tower shield. ] Think you can break through the hostages with that if I give you a distraction?

[ Enough momentum, and even a feather-filled mattress will be quite the blow if it's used to pin someone against a building. Better still, it can cover the man, keep him from speaking or looking into Reinhardt's eyes, the most likely ways that the man's been casting his spell, from Cain's observations. Plus, if Reinhardt uses the mattress as a battering ram, being knocked aside by it is unlikely to injure any of the innocent bystanders. ]

[ He nods. Hammer and shield. And of course he doesn't have his armor either. But Reinhardt isn't too worried about it. He's charged into numerous tense situations without having his suit on.

His good eye follows where the man points and Reinhardt lets out a laugh. A mattress. As a shield? He does some calculations in his head and then nods.] I definitely can. [ He's not thinking of the 'you break it, you bought it rule. If the shopkeep takes offence that he's going to ruin a perfectly good mattress, he'll just pay for it. He needs a bigger bed anyway. ]

I will need about a minute of distraction to get the bed and line myself up for a charge. Can you hold his attention for that long? [ With a plan forming, Reinhardt is eager to just go. Perhaps he can just walk on out there and pretend he hadn't actually been following the guy. Just a huge man going in the same direction to buy a bed during a crisis. ]

I'll guarantee a minute. I don't promise any longer.

[ He'll do his best to give the man more than that, but with everyone in the vicinity under their target's spell, it'll be hard to keep his attention without him becoming suspicious and fleeing. Still, Cain's pretty good at being a distraction. As long as he can keep safely out of range of the spell himself — the tricky part of his job is making sure he doesn't become a liability.

But before he goes, he glances back at the man at his side. ]

What's your name, anyway? I'd like to know who I'm trusting to have my back.

A minute is all I'll need. Trust me on this.

[ He's faster than he looks when he wants to be. He can get to that mattress and have it equipped in a minute and be charging the man. He's certain of it. ]

I am Reinhardt Wilhelm, last of the Crusaders. Now, let us help these people and bring that man to justice!

[ He'll pull away and set himself up to make the mad dash to the mattress. ] On your mark.

[ That name has Cain perking up in surprise, a little shock at the coincidence. They don't look alike, but still, there's enough there that Cain lets out a soft laugh. ]

Reinhardt... Ah, not short for anything, I guess, but still. I'm glad to have your back, then. [ A little disbelieving shake of his head, and he offers his name in return. ] I'm Cain.

[ He flicks a quick little salute, a mock report. ]

Give me thirty seconds, and I'll have your distraction.

[ He grins and ducks around the corner of the building, staying out of sight.

Thirty seconds later, as promised, there's a loud crash. Out in the market proper, a huge barrel comes rolling down the road. Cain's behind it, pushing it along, using it as cover. One huge shove, and he sends the barrel careening into a stall. The awning comes fluttering down over the mass of people, and their target, obscuring his vision, like a tarp over the whole group. ]

Edited 2017-10-29 18:05 (UTC)

[ He has no idea what has Cain laughing, but he'll maybe ask later. When he has more time. ] Nein. It's not. Short for anything. There's nothing about me that's short. [ Except maybe his patience. ]

Thirty seconds. I will be waiting, Cain.

[ He positions himself and waits. And there comes the barrel. Reinhardt digs his feet into the ground and goes from standing to a dead run. Reinhardt's fast, not as fast as when he's got his rocket to boost him, but he can move a lot faster than most men his size could ever dream of.

He uses that distraction to grab the mattress.

He lifts it on the run, changing his direction on the fly to charge right at the man they'd both been following.] I have you now! [ He slams into the man at full run. ]

[ Reinhardt proves to be as successful a battering ram as Cain could have dreamed. Some of the bystanders may be knocked off their feet, sent flying, but there's no real injuries beyond a few bruises. And even better, when Reinhardt's done, their target is held against the wall by the mattress, muffled and blinded — and even more conveniently, knocked out.

Cain comes strolling over and lets out a low whistle. ]

Wow, good work!

[ Around them, people are picking themselves up, looking around in confusion, the target's spell broken. ]

Well, I live for this!! [ His grin is massive. He really does indeed love this sort of thing. Even more because the people seem to be waking up. ]

I think we need to gag and blindfold him. I can carry him. I wish we could question him, but I don't know how much power he'll still have once he comes to. It's probably safer and smarter to turn him in.

[ Reinhardt will be more than happy to pick the man up and carry him like a sack of feathers. But he'll let Cain have the reward if there is one. He's only in this to do the right thing and maybe clear his friends. ]

Turn him in and warn them what he can do.

[ Cain nods in agreement. He's busying himself with finding a sheet in one of the stalls and ripping it into strips with practiced ease. Kind of like he's done this sort of thing before...? Soon enough he has the man blindfolded, gagged, and with his arms and legs bound securely. Just to be safe, even if the man is well and truly knocked out, and if Reinhardt seems quite capable of keeping the man under control. ]

I owe you some thanks, you know. [ As he straightens up from tying the man's ankles. ] I couldn't have gotten him nearly as neatly without you.

[ He'll carefully put the mattress back while Cain does the tying. The man looks pretty secure. Secure enough that Reinhardt can come back and just heft the man over one shoulder like he's a sack of feathers. ]

You're very welcome. But I should be thanking you too. That was some smart thinking. I'm not equipped to handle this magic stuff. It's nice to work with someone who knows it better than me.

[ That said, he's going to head back to the guard garrison. ]

[ You know, it's really very convenient to have someone around who can just carry people over one shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Cain would have to go to far more effort to carry the guy, but Reinhardt doesn't look like he's even breaking a sweat. Good job, buddy! ]

It's kind of what I do. Did. [ A rueful correction as he trots along at Reinhardt's side. ] Back home, I mean. You know, I worked with someone named Reinhardt there, too.

[ Reinhardt, Reinhardtzar, close enough. ]

[ Definitely not breaking a sweat. He could carry Cain too if he really wanted to. But he doesn't. Instead, he's just happy to get their captive to the authorities. Anything to further his point that his friends are innocent. He just hopes it works.

He can't help but laugh though at that.]

Really? Was he a knight too then? I hope he doesn't mind if I work with you again some time. I haven't been in a team in a very long time and it was fun.

[ Fun and very useful. ]

He was a king, actually. [ Cain's voice dips into fondness without his meaning it to. ] A bandit king, but he joined up with my unit after I brought him in.

[ It seems like a distant memory after everything that's happened on this new world, their fight, Cain pleading for Reinhardtzar's life, his relief when he was allowed to take Reinhardtzar into his service as penance for his crimes against the kingdom. ]

And I doubt Reinhardtzar would mind. It's not as though he's awake to, anyway. [ He laughs, soft and wry, thinking of Reinhardtzar up on Thesa Station, peacefully sleeping in stasis. ] I doubt anyone could begrudge new allies in a time like this.

[ While Reinhardt isn't too happy about almost sharing a name with a bandit, clearly this man had good memories of it. He keeps his opinions of that way of life to himself. Clearly Cain had brought him in so clearly Reinhardtzar had turned over a new leaf. ]

I think you're right there. We need all the allies we can get. So if ever you need me, all you need do is call. Maybe I'll even have my armor with me and we can save the local bedding.

[ He laughs until they finally make it to the guard to deposit their capture. ]

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