nysalogs | ( the capture

[ 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. ]

[ 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?

[ 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.

[ 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?

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?

[ 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. ]

[ 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?

[ 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. ]

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. ]

Edited 2017-10-09 02:09 (UTC)

[ He commits it to memory, giving small nods in understanding. Of course, he still has some questions, but it's good that S-8 is cooperating so far. Does this guy value his life so much? It's clear that he's not behind all of this, just a pawn. Just like Qrow, when you look at the bigger picture.

But Qrow wouldn't mind dying for the person he worked for. ]

What do they need?

[ He motions with his free hand that S-8 can continue. That piece of information does make things complicated, though. ]

And don't tell me you and your M friends pulled a stunt like this there, too.

Ain't I told you enough? That's on them to figure out.

[ And it doesn't matter, because unless both sides do figure it out, getting into each other's territories to harvest enough material would be near impossible. A testament to both factions would rather let their citizens die than to work together.

He takes his hands out of his pockets now, although not before quietly and quickly depositing the knives within the folds of his clothes. ]

The very same "stunt", friend. [ air quotes ] It was only fair.

I'll be going now. [ Though he doubts Qrow will actually keep his word. ]

[ He's good to doubt Qrow, but at this moment, he presses another button on his sword to make the blades retract. Now it's small again, and he places it on the clip on his back. They both look defenseless, now.

This time, when he walks closer to S-8, he doesn't spare any kindness. He walks as close as he can get without even thinking about personal space. His man reason for coming closer is to apprehend S-8, though. ]

That's all you wanna say? I'm being nice by not even fighting you.

[ Now it's his turn for his eyes to wander, down to the other man's tattoo. ]

Don't come any closer.

[ He is curious... why did he retract his weapon? But not curious enough to stay. ]

[ He sighs, but he doesn't stop. If he can, he grabs S-8 by the arm before proceeding stop behind him, intending to grab the other arm, as well. ]

I said I'd let you go, but I didn't say where.

[ By which he means he plans on taking him to Ashti. Or at least, someone in the army. ]

I knew it. You're all the same.

[ Despite being an outsider himself, Qrow trusts in the Olympian justice system enough to turn him in to it. They were all fools.

S-8 is not strong, but he is fast, and as soon as he feels Qrow grab his arm and make a move for his other arm, he quickly maneuvers to twist away from his reach and attempt to knock off his balance with his foot. He stood no chance in beating Qrow in a fight, but with any luck and the right move, he could easily escape. ]

[ As far as he's concerned, he's in Olympian territory, and therefore, they're both bound by the same laws. In Qrow's mind, he is only doing what should be done. ]

I don't know what you're talking about, but do you really think people would let you walk away after what you've done?

[ It's not just about the sick people, either. The people who were named to have helped them had their lives shaken. Qrow believes those people were framed; and as such, more innocent people had to get involved.

Qrow remains calm as S-8 twists away, even as he stumbles to regain his balance. And instead of trying to grab onto the other man again, he takes out his weapon. This time, instead of using its sword function, he uses the shotgun. Qrow shoots at whatever he can. He doesn't aim directly at S-8, at least, but it may graze him depending on the other man's position. It's a warning shot.

And perhaps it's a stroke of luck on his part, but the noise makes a rat that was hiding behind a small box run away, bumping into a garbage can that ends up rolling S-8's way. ]

[ Rather than answer him, he focuses his efforts on the most important task: escaping. When he manages to maneuver himself free, at least temporarily, he intends to move quickly, as quickly as his legs can carry him.

That plan is soon cut short by the feel of a sharp bullet grazing his skin, momentarily interrupting his circuitry. That, in combination with the unforeseen circumstance of a barrier rolling towards him, is enough to make him fall to the ground.

He winces in pain, and now, knowing that he's stuck here again, looks up at Qrow. ]

Lemme guess— you'd take me to that beast woman in charge of the guard here. Am I right?

If that's what it takes to get those innocent lives back, sure.

[ With S-8 down, he walks closer and pulls the other man up. He doesn't care about being gentle now. His grip is rough and strong. His tone, on the other hand, is much lighter. ]

Listen up: you did something wrong, and you messed up by getting caught. I'd probably reconsider if you actually decided to rectify this whole mess, but it doesn't look like you're planning on doing that.

Not to mention, there's a lot of people who want your head, too. They won't take you to that beast of a woman in charge of the guard. They'll take you down themselves.

[ Either way, he's fucked now. ]

Edited 2017-10-10 07:57 (UTC)

There's nothing to rectify. I ain't ashamed of what I did.

[ Despite Qrow's aggression, S-8's tone has become flat, his body limp and somewhat resigned in the other's hold.

S-8 knew that this was a possibility from the very beginning, when he'd agreed to take lead on this job. He had hoped that he would be better able to serve him in the future, but this would have to suffice. ]

You ain't getting anything else out of me, either. [ There's information that can be coaxed out of him, to put things lightly. Information that would put them all in danger, and he's been enough of a coward already.

Before Qrow can fully restrain him, he shifts to lower his lips closer to the inside of his collarbone. There, he finds it. His ampoule. He bites down hard into the glass, injesting both broken glass and the poison within it as rapidly as possible. It is an acrid, burning taste, but far better than what would await him at the palace. ]

Not... a chance...

— Shit.

[ A wave of panic hits him when he realises what just happened. He turns S-8 rather roughly so they're both face to face, and his hands are on the other man's shoulders.

Qrow curses again as he shakes the man, but he's pretty sure there's not much he can do at this rate. ]

You idiot!

[ They say death by cyanide is painful. Perhaps for a human, it is. His anatomy is wired in such a way that the poison merely locks onto his circuits and halts their activity.

It is as if he's falling into a gradual sleep, remnants of the poison and a trickle of "blood" trailing down his jaw. S-8's eyes roll to the back of his head, and within a few seconds, the unit is unresponsive and limp in Qrow's hold. ]

[ With no signs of life, Qrow resigns. He sets S-8 down, the back of the android resting on a wall, then Qrow pats his body to see if there's anything he can get. It's not looting, at least. That's not his intention. Maybe there's some more information he can get out of S-8's... person.

Once he finds the coupon and the ID, he gives the fallen man one last look. He shouldn't have pity on the guy, but to kill yourself because you had no other options? It's a sad fate. And in the end, Qrow will blame himself for it.

He walks away with his head down. ]

( the capture - closed. )

Qrow

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cw: suicide

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