( the capture - closed. )

[nysan]

Who: Shady Man (S-8), Gnome, and Chadsef (nysan) & Qrow (unpromising), Terra (earthy), and Jeanne D'Arc (Alter) (lahaine)
What: The pursuit and capture of the Shady Man and two of his closest associates.
When: October 8th
Where: The Red Light District, Nobles District, and a remote alley in the Market District
Warning(s): Violence, possible suicide. Threads will be warned for appropriately.


(( Subthreads for each capture will be posted below shortly. These three characters were drawn via RNG under the criteria of signing up for either Choice 1 or Choice 2 for the October Plot AND being unaffected by VIOLET 2710. ))

Comments

Qrow

[nysan]

[ Shady Man, or the alias he typically goes by, S-8, was exercising extreme caution in how he traveled around Olympia. There was still much to be done, but the aftermath of releasing VIOLET 2710 and being tied directly to it made his situation understandably precarious. Today, their meeting spot was in the Theatre District, but that will change, as it always does. He seeks a particular person in the Red Light District: his closest confidant, Chadsef.

It only took one moment, one split second, of letting his guard down, for the damning tattoo of an "M" on his wrist to be revealed. He is not typically this careless. Being one with the shadows is how he's gotten as far as he has within the organization. But that split second is enough, apparently, and he notices that Qrow has caught attention almost immediately.

The pursuit was subtle, at first, with S-8 weaving expertly through the costumed crowds and attempting to lose his pursuer. Then, as the crowds thin and Qrow still hasn't lost sight of him, he resorts to less subtle means. His superhuman speed kicks in, as does his ability to momentarily disappear from sight.

It's no use.

S-8 knows the city like the back of his hand, but he is quickly running out of options that aren't dead ends. ]

[unpromising]

[ Perhaps it's his own luck that's brought him to where he is now. Qrow considers himself momentarily lucky now that he's actually onto something. His weapon remains attached to his back for now, but he continues his pursuit like a predator chasing its prey. As predatory as a crow can be, in any case.

He's a bit shaken when he loses sight of the man he's after, but is quick to tell himself that that shouldn't be a cause for alarm. He couldn't have gotten that far, especially when at the end of the street is nothing a dead end.

Once he sees the shady man again, he walks closer, both hands in his pockets. His game is to get as much information as he can, and Qrow doubts he will be able to get it by immediately resorting to aggressive measures. ]

Got any more tricks up your sleeve, pal?

[nysan]

[ Qrow's luck may be looking up, and in contrast, S-8's is getting worse and worse.

S-8 knew this was a dead end, yes, but he was expecting the same abandoned vendor stand to be here, as always, as a springboard for a more elaborate getaway. Instead, today he faces a bare stone wall, with no nooks or crannies to take advantage of. Worse yet, he is alone.

He is not strong, and prefers not to fight unless necessary, as his specialty is taking advantage of the protection of others and conducting business in the shadows. He is quick, but that does little good when he's been cornered like prey. This is an unfortunate circumstance.

He keeps his hands close to his throwing knives, but makes no move to attack just yet. ]

You're one of those newcomers to the city, ain't you? What is it ya want? Fame? Money?

You sure as hell can't be chasing me out of loyalty and love for this place.

[unpromising]

[ So he knows.

Either Qrow really looks new in all his drunken stupor, or this guy knows each and every face in Olympia and more. The latter is plausible. It's not like he would be the only one who likely surveys the people here as their day jobs. ]

No, that's not it. [ He shakes his head as he lets out a chuckle. His loyalty can't be bought that easily. ] Some money would be nice, but I doubt you'd give that to me just to keep my mouth shut. Besides, that'd be pretty despicable of me to ask for a bargain.

[ A beat. He takes a step closer. ]

Why'd you do it? What are you after? [ Common questions in an interrogation. ] How do you cure the disease?

[nysan]

Despicable? Nah, it's practical.

[ Especially in a world where the rich, with all of their money and resources to spare, do so little to help those who seek refugee here. It's sickening, especially when S-8 considers that the reason so many people come here is Olympia's fault in the first place, and the way they destroy homes in the name of expanding the kingdom.

But that's neither here nor there. ]

Sometimes, innocent people have to suffer for the purpose of a greater good. We ain't the bad guys here, trust me.

[ Not that he's given Qrow, or anyone for that matter, much of a reason to trust him. He curls his fingers around his knives. ]

I talk, you let me go?

[unpromising]

[ Qrow hasn't given this guy any reason to trust him, either. They either have to play the fool for both of them to come out of this unscathed.

While he had been down for a few days after being poisoned, it's been a month or so since he had arrived here. He's had time to recover, and he's confident that his body's in good enough shape to actually fight S-8 if it ever came down to it. ]

Talk, [ His expression grows somber, and he makes sure his stance is intimidating enough. His hands are on his side, legs apart, head cocked slightly. ] and I'll let you leave.

[ Leave with his life, he means. Qrow has no reason to take another man's life unless it was the only choice. There are other choices here, and Qrow wants to take this man to the proper authorities once he's gotten what he needs. ]

[nysan]

[ Understandably, S-8 doesn't agree to the terms or speak right away. He could, and undoubtedly would, get in big trouble for this.

But there's little need for innocent people to keep suffering when they've made such a mark already. ]

You asked about a cure.

[ That's a place to start, at least. The man before him is much bigger, undoubtedly stronger than himself, but he's been intimidated enough times in his life that it doesn't affect his demeanor. ]

Look, I don't have the details or know everything about how to find an antidote or whatever. That's not my area of expertise.

[ He lets his gaze wander, trying to see if he can find an opening to slip past Qrow. Nothing. His luck truly is lacking today. ]

I just know... that whatever progress may be done here, it's not enough. You don't have all the necessary materials here.

You need a raw material from deep within Wyver territory. Funny how that works, ain't it?

[unpromising]

[ To Qrow, it just seems like they're both waiting for the first person to strike. He'd rather avoid more conflict, but if this guy still won't talk— oh, he's talking! Good. By this time, Qrow's taken another step forward, but still maintaining some feet away from S-8. ]

It's not funny, pal. Those who got infected might not be at death's door, but I'm pretty sure something's gonna come up sooner or later. You don't spread a disease like that just to give people... "headaches".

[ He even does the airquotes. ]

If you don't know what this raw material is, then tell me what the whole thing's for. Better yet, why don't you tell me about that tattoo of yours? We'll just keep wasting each other's time here like this if you don't.

[ And to make things clear that he wants answers without dilly-dallying, he takes out the sword from his back. At the moment, it doesn't loo intimidating. It's got a wide blade, but it's little. That is, until the gears by the hilt start turning. The blade chucks out two more sections, making it double its size, as if it's a machine that was just turned on. ]

[nysan]

I never said I didn't know what the raw material was. Have a little patience.

[ He looks at the other's weapon and purses his lips when it turns on. That looks like it has to hurt. ]

It's a plant called the Oshai Leaf, and it's so rare it's only cultivated by dedicated witch doctors within Wyver. That's why this city will never get a cure, and neither will they. They need something only this city has, too.

My ink ain't gonna tell you anything interesting. [ And he's not going to say anything on it, not even on the threat of death. ]

Jeanne D'Arc (Alter)

[nysan]

[ Chadsef doesn't get by on his charisma or good looks, but he knows how to wile his way out of a bad situation. How else could he elude the waves of people out on high alert lately? Olympia was bound to be out for blood, but he wasn't expecting so many refugees to take up the cause. He is small and quick, easy to miss as long as he's clever, but he overlooks a woman in black that didn't look a wit like a city guardsman.

But now she's on his tail and impossible to shake, even after he's run halfway across the Market District, scurrying into every alley he can. The chase is finally over when some bad luck catches up with him, driving him up against a wall. He is frantic, sputtering out his words as he wrings his hands. It doesn't hide the M on his wrist. ]

Oh man, ah geez... Hey lady, parley? Truce? We can come to some kinda understanding, can't we!?

[lahaine]

[ Christ! Did he know just how irritating pursuing his rodentesque behind was? He was nimble and familiar with the area, so it seemed and keeping up was proving to be a more intricate task than she originally intended.

Finally cornering the animal in a dark alley, she would draw La Pucelle lazily. Lifting it up to point between his eyes she accompanied her actions with a practiced slasheresque smirk of her own. Eyes darted to the "M" on his wrist, vaguely recalling the importance of the brand.

His disgusting prattling would break her from her thoughts, and a sharp order was issued from her lips. ] Ta gueule! [ She had no interest in negotiating, as her mind was already made up with her plan of action. He talks about something relevant...and she makes his cauterization as quick as possible. ] The only understanding we are coming to is you helping me understand something important and then... [ A lazy flame conjured in her hand and then extinguished seemed to illustrate her point. ]

[nysan]

[ It's just his luck that he's ended up trapped in an alley with some crazy sadist. He lets out a horrible squeaking noise, shoulders startling up in surprise as she conjures her flame. If intimidation's her game, it's definitely working. Where was Gnome when he needed her? ]

What is it? I'll talk, just--gah! Just put that away, will ya!?

[ He makes a shooing motion at the fire, then seems to have a light bulb moment. ]

Oh, I know! You probably wanna know about that smoke, right? The violet stuff?

[lahaine]

[ How easy it was to make people squirm. A haphazard shrug was given when he seemed to shy from her display of dominance. Her intimidation techniques didn't seem to be lacking.

Canting her head she would lower her blade a fracture, as if imploring him to speak. ] The smoke...violet stuff... tch, Christ! You think I really care about that? I'm not even a little curious.

[ She would sneer at her prey, but do nothing more, indicating she was waiting for an explanation. ] Start talking. [ Didn't she just say she wasn't interested? ]

[nysan]

[ Well, that's confusing. He finds a moment of short-lived clarity to give her an incredulous, beady-eyed look. ]

Can you make up your mind, lady...

[ He shouldn't talk back to someone so ready to force an answer. He swallows nervously, eyes flicking back and forth along the alley to search for some escape as he prattles on. Maybe if he can distract her enough, he can find an opening to knock her upside the head and slip away. ]

Okay, okay... How's this? Don't you wonder where it came from? 'Cause I know--I helped nab it.

[lahaine]

What's that? Do I hear something? Is it talking about something relevant, or simply saying it's ready to be charred?

[ Obviously she wanted to heard what he had to say.

Because she didn't particularly care (or at least, that's what she told herself), it was hard to tell if she was truly listening. Some would consider it an art, others a coping mechanism she learned over the years after hearing some sort of "voice" in her head. Either way, she made sure to adjust her body in a way that screamed, just try and get past me you little vermin. ]

And? isn't that obvious? Rats are usually carriers of all sorts of disgusting things. How is that helpful?

[nysan]

[ He lets out a long string of colorful swears, words blurring together with frantic energy. Somewhere in there, he clarifies that he's more a rabbit, not a rat. But she's more interested in his intel, right?

He finds enough courage to laugh, a weird, squirrelly noise. ]

C'mon, where's your, uh... scientific curiosity?

[ He points offs in the direction of the Noble District. ]

That's where it's from. Stole it from right under those snooty knobheads' noses at the Institute. I mighta stole it, but I didn't make the stuff!

[lahaine]

[ She knew better than to turn around. If she did, he would slip right out from under her. Instead she simply nodded slowly. ] Uh-huh, you stole it from here. Is that supposed to mean something to me?

[ As if to pressure him further, she lifted her blade again, a warning that seemed to indicate that his information needed to be spilled at a much more substantial rate to sate her. If her less than subtle actions didn't do the trick, she added... ] I sure am getting bored and hungry...

Hey...Rabbit stew sounds good, doesn't it?

Terra

[nysan]

[ That fresh young boy with the bright-looking eyes didn't look like much at first. Gnome was expecting to shake him off easily. She's always been apt at sneaking around, after all; most of her spells dwell into stealth and camouflage, rendering her almost soundless and helping her blend into her surroundings. She's managed to hide from Terra quite a few times, but who would expect him to be so persistent at his goal? Every time Gnome lifted her spell, he somehow managed to find her and was hot on her tail once again.

She needs to get back to her husband, Chadsef. She's dying to know if he made it out alright, with so many refugees chasing them right now. First, she has to shake off Terra. As Terra searches, Gnome hides herself away in a tree, using her chameleon-like powers to blend into the leaves. She can't keep this up for very long, but it's hopefully enough to throw Terra off her trail. ]

[earthy]

[Terra's not so sure at first that this suspicious woman is really with the group that attacked Olympia a week ago, but the long game of cat-and-mouse effectively dispels his doubts.

He ends up having to use a lot of old tricks, along with a few improvised new ones, to keep up with her, and she still almost manages to give him the slip several times.

The only thing that keeps frustration at bay for him is the thought that as long as he's tailing her, and she's forced to continue hiding from him, she can't head off and plot more attacks with her cohorts.

And so, once again, here he comes around a corner, following her trail to another apparent dead-end, searching the shadows for any glimpse of her.

He starts to slow as he approaches the tree, then, hesitating for just a second, he continues past her hiding spot to stop a short distance away.

He breathes out, lets his eyes unfocus, and concentrates on the feeling of his surroundings, the presence of nearby hearts...

His back to her, he reaches his right hand out and, out of a whorl of gear-shaped fragments of light, a large key-shaped blade appears.

He turns and swings the weapon up in one decisive motion, pointing it straight at what looks to be a bunch of leaves.]

Unless you can fly, too, I think you're done.

[nysan]

[ As odd of a blade as it appears, Gnome knows better than to take it lightly. It's such a large and heavy thing, and yet Terra was swinging it around like it weighed practically nothing! It goes without saying that she really doesn't want to be on the other end of that blade, and right now, it almost looks like she's out of options.

Even while she's staring directly at her possible killer, Gnome doesn't flinch. She reminds herself of her resolve, the promise they made to build a better world by erasing the corrupted city of Olympia. Even if she may not live to see it, at least she had helped cast that fatal blow. ]

How fiercely you pursued me -- it reminds me of my husband. Of course, he is more handsome than you will ever be, hairless boy. [ There isn't any use left in hiding, so she lifts her camouflage spell, but Gnome doesn't leave the safety of the tree just yet. She knows that in close combat, she doesn't have a chance of beating him. There's no way she's getting any closer than she has to. ]

[earthy]

[Hairless? Terra can only imagine what this husband of hers must look like if she thinks he's 'hairless'... No point in acknowledging that remark, though.]

You didn't make it easy for me. [He'll give her that.] Your magic must come in handy when you're poisoning innocents. Get in, get out, no one ever knows you were there at all.

[Cowards, the lot of them.]

But your cruelty ends here and now!

[nysan]

[ She is, for all intents and purposes, trapped. But that doesn't mean she's willing to give up the only cover she has.

Gnome frowns deeply at Terra's accusations. He isn't lying... this is how they must look to everyone. Like common thugs who had no morals. She doesn't have to explain herself to anyone, least of all an Olympian sheep like the man pursuing her. She's afraid, but she remembers that this isn't just about her. ]

That's where you're wrong, hairless boy. You can turn me in, kill me, do whatever you want with me. But it's not going to end. There's too many of us.

[earthy]

[This time the insult draws a little twinge of a scowl out of him. He resists the urge to gesture at the hair on his head.

Focus.]

How many? Who are you? You and your group?

[Cautiously, he steps closer to the tree. He keeps the Keyblade pointed at her, just in case.]

Why did you attack Olympia? What are you trying to achieve by hurting people?

[He's eager to deliver her to Ashti, but... it'd be remiss of him not to take this opportunity to try and get some solid answers.]

[nysan]

Ugh.

If I tell you what I know, will you let me say some goodbyes first? Before killing me, or turning me in, or whatever it is you're trying to do here.

[ He doesn't seem eager to kill her just yet, so maybe this is worth a shot. She's willing to die for the cause, for Chadsef, but there's still stuff she needs to do. They'd understand that, right?

She shouldn't even be making an offer like this in the first place. But she has so much to live for... ]

[earthy]

[Ah...

Surprise flashes across his face at her offer, then his expression's softening, uncertainty and a hint of sympathy making him look more and more like the inexperienced young thing he really is.

She just wants to say goodbye, huh? To... whoever. Her wicked friends, her presumably super hairy husband...

Well... It can't possibly hurt to give her a minute before he leads her away, can it?]

Turning you in.

[For the record.]

... And sure, I guess. [He recovers part of his glare.] If you promise to be quick about it.