Description: Japan Life is a small department store chain in eastern Japan. Recently, there have been a string of smash-and-grab attacks on the store chain. Not much property has been stolen, but thousands of dollars of property of property damage occurred in the high-end electronics and appliances departments. And in a small Yokohama department store... well, two competing interests collide.
"Gosh, are we really doing this?"
The voice doesn't -sound- like that of a thief, but nonetheless, three people dressed in all black are skulking about in the shadows near the Japan Life department store just outside Southtown. And one of the two more feminine shadows seems to be the one voicing the complaint.
Even more curiously, she stifles a small groan of pain just a moment after said complaint, despite the other two figures being quite a distance away.
Shaking her head, the other feminine figure wordlessly approaches the front door. She points up to a small orb over the shuttered entranceway -- the security camera.
The two figures who are clearly -not- in charge nod in assessment, before placing shaped objects upon the top edge of the security shutter. The male figure then steps back, raising the brick in his hand -- and with one more confirming glance towards the quiet leader, he pitches the brick at the camera.
The silent alarm is undoubtedly ringing. But it's not a matter of concern, as the security shutter comes clattering down, the three charges having ripped a jagged line across it.
"Go, now." comes the leader's hoarse whisper, and all three rush into the department store. The clock is ticking, and from the large sacks on each of the thieves' backs, the objective is quite clear: swipe everything that will fit.
A couple days ago he'd been in Egypt, which was located inside Romania, somehow. The world was slowly changing, things were getting weird, and people were getting insane. And when people got insane, they did desperate things. And when desperate people did desperate things, the desperate victims hired Wendigo for far, far too much money to set things right.
So aside from getting knocked out by some scrawny little boxer, Wendigo had it good. He had it damn good, in fact. So good that, when his incredible sense of hearing detected the faint ringing of an alarm bell, he decided to hang a left on his bike, and go investigate.
Seconds later and here he was, stepping through the door, lit cigar illuminating that vicious, wicked looking face in the dark. His red eyes looking especially eery, that black cowboy hat going well with the black leather trenchcoat currently adorning his massive albino body. Stroking his heavy beard that he'd been growing, he snorted and spoke out loudly.
"Hello? Any dweebs gotta cup of brown sugar I can borrow?"
The three black-outfitted thieves freeze up the instant they hear the massive albino's query. The leader's hand is poised just a few inches from a rather large toaster oven, hanging there for one long, uncertain moment. Her companions seem similarly transfixed on the sound.
But then the leader resumes, as if the pause button pressed one moment before were simple pressed again, playback resuming at full speed. Already been caught red-handed -- why stop now?
Her companions resume, after another moment's hesitation.
This would probably piss off whoever was standing there, figures the black-tobogganed figure. And she knows just about how long the average guy who asks such a confrontational question would probably be willing to stand there silently before asking a followup.
She waits just about that long -- actually, half a second less -- before turning towards his direction. She's not in -direct- view of the front entrance, but close enough to call out. Perfectly calm and measured, she answers, "Try the am/pm store. It's just 'round the corner."
And shortly thereafter, a hand mixer gets dropped into the bag as well. Apparent level of concern: low.
The big man just rolled his neck and watched the scene unfurl, puffing and smoking on that cheap stogey and patiently waiting for them to get over the shock of his appearance. As they worked, he noticed something to the direct right of him, tightening the fingerless black glove on his right hand as Honoka made her quip. Wendigo chuckled, nodded...then put his fist directly through the giant Roman pillar to the right of him, smashing through fake plaster designed to look like solid marble. It gave easily, and seconds later he pulled out a small, compact blue safe, chucking it lazily at their feet, letting it smash through the jewelry case directly between them.
"Lemme guess, college loans are too high, so ya decide ta dabble in larceny on the weekends? One of these two almost done with their creative writing measures, maybe?"
As even-keeled as their leader is, it's pretty obvious to tell that her underlings aren't quite as ready to deal with the newcomer. The young lady drops her bag, the tinkle of glass shattering resounding all throughout the glasswares section. The young man isn't quite as unsteady, but his hesitation is definitely notable. He finishes up with his bag, though, and starts making his way towards his less experienced accomplice -- she's gonna need help with that.
"Wrrrrrrongo," comes the leader's reply without missing a beat.
Her loot bag now filled to the brim with hand-held appliances, the leader slings it over one shoulder, effortlessly and efficiently. Rounding the corner, she meets Wendigo's gaze with a steely glare. Scared? No, just mildly irritated. "What, is this supposed to be a gift?" The sing-song pitch from earlier is completely absent as she stabs her finger curtly in three different directions to illustrate her words: "In ninety seconds there will be cops there, there, and there." She pointedly breaks her gaze away from the massive newcomer, just long enough to give a visual signal to the young man. No words are spoken, but he hands his bag to the younger girl -- more stable, now -- and starts to move towards the bag as if to pick it up.
"Eighty-five," she amends, cocking her wrist to the side. A small pocket watch dangles from her sleeve, and she idly swings it back and forth. Okay, forget "idly," it's out-and-out impatience.
The big man just gave a dangerous 'grin' and grabbed the edges of his trenchcoat, pulling them aside and showing a row of weapons, the gleam of throwing knives across his chest, the big revolver holstered on his hip, and a row of grenades and other explosive-like devices all promising a bad time, if somebody got on his bad side.
"You ain't gotta worry about no police, darlin', ya gotta worry about me, right here, right now. Now, ya three got a choice. We can all have a nice talk somewhere normal, or I can whip all yer asses and leave ya here for the cops, an' I'm sure they'll love to get their hands on some bonafide big heist kinda thieves. I can promise ya that I'm the better option, here."
Honoka is normally pretty patient, but this guy. THIS GUY. Black face paint may conceal her identity to some extent, but it can't hide the disgust on the young woman's face.
"Hah! You are a riot! This word you use, 'worry,' I'm not sure that really spplies here!" She glances at her female compatriot, and with a tilt of her head tells her to move to the exit with her bags of loot. A look to the male companion keeps him from grabbing the blue safe, and instead moves by Honoka's side. "Ain't after -your- loot, big guy, we got what we want. Safe's all yours, my treat." With a wink to the much taller figure, she confidently moves as if to stride right past him, her guy friend in tow.
COMBATSYS: Honoka has started a fight here.
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Honoka 0/-------/-======|
COMBATSYS: Honoka has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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|======-\-------\0 Honoka
COMBATSYS: Sneaky Guy has joined the fight here on the right meter side.
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|======-\-------\0 Honoka
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|-------\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
COMBATSYS: Wendigo has joined the fight here on the left meter side.
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Wendigo 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Honoka
> //////////////////////////////]
|-------\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
Wendigo didn't make a move, letting the girl run on past, his hands on his hips keeping the sides of his trenchcoat pulled back. He was still as a statue save for the subtle rise and fall of his chest, the end of that cheap cigar glowing in the dark while swirls of smoke blew out of his nose and mouth, like a dragon.
This all ended when Honoka and Mr. Sneaks tried to do the same thing the girl did. Instantly his left arm shot out to block their path, and to lazily 'shrug' them back where they were, using just a fraction of that mighty, mighty strength of his.
"Uh uh, not so fast, chillun. Papa wasn't finished with storytime, ya dig?"
COMBATSYS: Sneaky Guy blocks Wendigo's Quick Throw.
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Wendigo 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Honoka
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|-------\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
COMBATSYS: Honoka blocks Wendigo's Quick Throw.
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Wendigo 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Honoka
> //////////////////////////// ]
|-------\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
The young criminal figured that everything would be kosher, and why wouldn't it be? The big guy gets his safe, she gets her appliances, everyone's happy, right? As she's fond of saying, wrongo.
She's quick enough to notice that she's getting shoved, though, turning her shoulder into the 'shrug'. It's bothersome: not enough to knock the little lady over, but more than enough to cause her shoes to squeak as she's forced backwards into her companion. ... And enough to cause -his- shoes to squeak too.
Drawing in a sharp breath with eyes slit, she mumbles, "Give me a goddamn break." Without a word, her helper moves to pick up the blue safe, moving as if to carry it out anyway.
"Now I done told you, we don't have any brown sugar!"
That's when her helper does a power whirl, flinging the heavy safe at the big guy in her way!
s/he/The
COMBATSYS: Honoka focuses on her next action.
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Wendigo 0/-------/------=|======-\-------\0 Honoka
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|-------\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
COMBATSYS: Wendigo endures Sneaky Guy's Random Weapon.
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Wendigo 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Honoka
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|=------\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
That safe was flung straight at the face of the big ivory terror, and there was a loud
CLANG!!!
and when the blue box fell, it was dented inward from where it impacted with Wendigo's pretty mug. It fell spinning and landed straight on the foot of the bounty hunter and assassin, landing with a sickening thud. There was a slight amount of blood trickling down his nose, and his cigar seemed to be completely frayed and ruined, to say nothing of his bent hat. Cigar was spit out and the hat was flung to the side, along with that trenchcoat of his a minute later. It was clear he was pissed, and he 'kicked' that safe aside to blitz straight at Mr. Sneaky with all the speed of a charging lion! Moments later if the man was unprepared, Wendigo would grab the man and lift him straight in the air facing upward...only to jump up and bring the man down, trying to utterly destroy the man's spine with his knee in a sickening backbreaker!
COMBATSYS: Wendigo successfully hits Sneaky Guy with Free Chiropracty!.
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Wendigo 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Honoka
> ///////////////////// ]
|=====--\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
Fifty-five seconds. Even though her aggressor promised he'd take care of the police, she really has her doubts on getting out of this situation unscathed. ... Especially now. She lets out an irritable sigh as she picks up her bag and slings it over her shoulder. The nerve of these two guys, fighting in front of the door!
Her friend has more pressing concerns though: momentarily confused as to why the big brawny guy is still standing, he takes a hesitant step back, like an extra about to get mauled by the monster the movie's titled after. Raising his hand in defense, he nonetheless gets snared, lifted into the air, and then slammed down with a sickening crunch. He rolls off to the side, wracked with agonizing pain.
"Fifty seconds," reminds Honoka, idly looking for something else she can grab. Deciding on a standing vacuum cleaner, she reaches for it, hefting it over one shoulder, squinting her eyes yet again."Don't see what's so damn important that you can't just spit it out, champ." And then...
Well, right then, her minion can't really see himself getting off the floor, but he =can= push off of the shelving unit, slamming himself into Wendigo's shins -- at roughly the same moment Honoka hefts the vacuum cleaner like a bat and tries for a home run on Wendigo! "Ryyaaaa!"
COMBATSYS: Sneaky Guy assists Honoka.
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Wendigo 0/-------/----===|======-\-------\0 Honoka
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|=====--\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
COMBATSYS: Honoka successfully hits Wendigo with Large Random Weapon.
- Power hit! -
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Wendigo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Honoka
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|=====--\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
Wendigo felt good, throwing that piece of trash down to the ground where he belonged, the assassin quickly unzipped the sleeves of his trenchcoat and threw it aside, freeing himself and letting him fight without any distractions of fear of entanglement. Unfortunately, taking the time to do all this meant that he was distracted, and he looked down to notice the mess of Mr. Sneaky grabbing around his knees and trying to attack his shins. He was a little more wobbly, but hardly effected that much. Looking down, he chuckled, reaching behind his back to grab for his hunting knife.
"Ya got heart, kid, an' I respect that. That's why I'm about ta donate it ta scien-HNNNK!"
He was interrupted by this train of thought by a large, heavy vacuum cleaner, smashing into bits against his left shoulder. He was just off balance enough to pivot and slip on the ground, smacking his head against a glass display case, and warping and bending the metal frame around it.
"That's it, no more mister nice guy, ya punks!"
In a flash he was back on his feet, throwing down a punch aimed for the back of Mr. Sneaky's skull, to daze the little worm. If that worked he'd grab him by the back of his shirt collar, swinging him like a sloppy club, aiming the heels and the back of Sneaky's knees for the side of Honoka's face. When fighting two people, you had to get creative...
COMBATSYS: Sneaky Guy dodges Wendigo's Combo Grapple.
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Wendigo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Honoka
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|=====--\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
COMBATSYS: Honoka blocks Wendigo's Combo Grapple.
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Wendigo 0/-------/=======|=======\-------\0 Honoka
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|=====--\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
It's only two people now... but it could easily be three if their little accomplice decides her honor is more important than her sense of self-preservation.
To his credit, the guy on the floor's not out just yet. He's definitely going to feel it in the morning, but, well-versed as he is in the way adrenaline works, he knows that as long as he stays moving, he won't feel it -now-. He scrambles back to his feet, all set to spring over to a shelf and grab something else to lug at the big wall of meat, but just then -- yoink! -- he gets grabbed by the jacket. "Uwoo-ah?!" Due to his flight he's able to shift his feet so that he can land on a shelf...
If, in fact, his attacker were throwing him into a shelf. He's not, and Honoka's more than a little annoyed at this. There's no way she can bring the vacuum cleaner (or what's left of it) around for another hit like this, so she drops the thing, snapping her forearm up to deflect her companion away from her face. Impact deadened, she snags him by the waistband and gives him a boost to the nearest shelf. "So, uh... which book are you rattling these quotes off from?" Irritably, she closes her eyes to mere slits. "Might have to see if Book-Off has a copy."
Her companion is able to recover from the sudden forced velocity changes, springing off the shelf and launching himself like a missle at Wendigo, elbow-first. And then... the reason for Honoka's eyes constantly closing in the middle of the battle may become apparent to the burly bruiser: little lady's got a surprise ready for him. There's nothing to block, directly -- it's an attack right into the psyche. She hasn't used it on many people before, but some say the pain is like drowning to death at sea, surrounded by tons of screaming babies, combined with the most vivid headache imaginable... all wrapped up in the space of a heartbeat.
COMBATSYS: Wendigo blocks Sneaky Guy's Flying Elbow.
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Wendigo 1/-------/=======|====---\-------\0 Honoka
> //////////////////// ]
|======-\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
COMBATSYS: Wendigo Toughs Out Honoka's Anomalous Space!
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Wendigo 1/------=/=======|======-\-------\0 Honoka
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|======-\-------\0 Sneaky Guy
Wendigo was already on guard after throwing Honoka's henchman at her like a ragdoll, and he noted Mr. Sneaky's wrestling tribute out of the corner of his eye and reacted just as fast, casually bringing up his left hand to let that elbow 'smash' right into his palm. Casually throwing the fool aside, he then turns his attention to the girl in front of him, looking into her eyes, feeling all that hate, all that sadness, all that misery and pain and despair...and the big man laughed, shaking his head suddenly and snorting in derision.
"Cute little parlor trick there, sweetheart. Betcha didn't know I jerk off to that shit, though. Now, ya listen to that in the distance? I hear sirens, an' that sure as shit ain't a good thing, not fer you, an' not fer queerbait down here. Last offer, ya wanna go an' talk business in private like a couple'a respectable businesspeople, or ya wanna end up like twinkletoes down here?"
He emphasized his point, as the Sneaky One was still on the ground, by suddenly lifting up his right foot and smashing it down, not caring where it hit, just as long as he made contact with the little black-clad worm.
CRUNNNNCH! (If it hit.)
COMBATSYS: Sneaky Guy fails to interrupt Fierce Kick from Wendigo with Faceplanter.
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Wendigo 1/-------/=======|======-\-------\0 Honoka
> //////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Sneaky Guy
Parlor trick. Honoka has a lot of pride in her abilities, and for them to just be shrugged off like that... well then! She looks down at her friend, biting her lower lip at the determination with which he keeps launching himself at the aggressor, and takes a sharp, irritable draw of breath.
"You promised me I wouldn't have to worry about them!
She reaches to her bandolier, withdrawing a small yo-yo from it with a sigh. "So just spill it already. You're outnumbered, I call the shots here."
Crunch.
Raising a black-painted eyebrow, she asks, "Do you jerk off to crap like that, too?" Slinging the yo-yo into an idle pendulum swing, she gives a rather bored sigh. "Twenty seconds."
Is that the sound of footfalls on the stairsteps?
COMBATSYS: Honoka enters a meditative state.
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Wendigo 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Honoka
> //////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Sneaky Guy
In the darkness, his white skin made that blank ink adorning his arms all the more visible, those fingerless gloves almost gleaming in the reflective light of the moon, his red eyes practically burning a hole in the yo-yoing girl across from him. Reaching up to stroke that beard of his, the big man gave a grin, and spoke.
"No no, I said they wouldn't be a problem fer ME if they show up. See, not only could I twist any jackass on the force's head off any time I want...I'm practically one of the boys. Licenced bounty hunter, see. All I have to do when they show up is put up my hands, I get taken to the station, questioned then let go with a handshake and a pat on the ass. You...you might have some more problems, especially if I tell them everything I remember about the three suspects who evaded arrest and assaulted me in the process. Fighting styles, how acrobatic they were, any dialects or accents heard in their language...you get the idea. So, when I suggest that we all go somewhere safe and cozy, and discuss business like civilized people, I'm not just pullin' yer yo-yo, little girl, I'm giving you a very direct choice as to where ya want yer future ta go. An' that's the truth, so you can believe it."
The sirens were getting louder, now...
COMBATSYS: Wendigo takes no action.
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Wendigo 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Honoka
> //////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Sneaky Guy
Honoka closes her eyes in frustration. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. This was NOT how it was supposed to go. She flicks her yo-yo around at an ever-increasing pace, shaking her head. "Your offer..." Yo-yo flies high into the air, and she snatches it angrily out of the air. "Is worth consideration." She spares a glance over at her compadre. Her badly wounded compadre in dire need of medical attention
Wrapping the string back around her yo-yo, she tucks it back into her bandolier. "I'm going to take you up on it. But I want to make one thing... just =one= thing... perfectly clear."
It's really tough to talk about things being =clear= when the room is suddenly filling with smoke -- the very -dark- room lit only by the dim night lights of the shopping mall, and the flashing alarm lights of the department store. You can have Honoka's companion to thank for that -- as he was carrying something as well, a canister that hisses rather obviously from just by Wendigo's feet.
"We meet under -my- terms."
Cue a rather loud and obnoxious delayed-fuse M-80 exploding from the shelving system near Wendigo -- Honoka had thrown it when she caught her yo-yo. And between the darkness, the smoke cloud and the strobing effect caused by the raging firecracker, it's going to be -really- fun catching hold of the petty criminal at this point.
COMBATSYS: Wendigo blocks Honoka's Small Thrown Object.
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Wendigo 1/-------/=======|=======\-------\1 Honoka
> //////////// ]
|=======\===----\1 Sneaky Guy
Wendigo gave an expression that was somewhere between a snarl and a grin, a lion-like bestial growling coming from his throat as the little one tried to play hardball, even now. She threw something and his head snapped back in reflex even while his left arm shot out and grabbed the object tightly. Moments later it exploded in his hand and smoke billowed from the limb, blood pouring down even as skin, muscle and bones reknit themselves quickly, and the big man just nodded in approval.
"Cute trick. Adios, girlie."
He looked up and noted the two's escape, chuckling and walking away to find his hat and coat. He looked up and spoke, though mostly to himself.
"Don't worry, kiddies. I'll know where to find ya."
He tapped his nose twice and sniffed at the air, smiling to himself. Everything was going according to plan. Now, assuming the sun didn't explode into bats tomorrow(or something else completely crazy), he'd soon be set for life.
And Wendigo could hardly wait...
Log created on 00:24:21 08/16/2014 by Honoka, and last modified on 00:22:10 08/27/2014.