Ken Styles

Finally his classes were over. His feet nearly drag across the ground, making his way to his dorm. Once in, his body drops his bags and robotically moves him into his room where collapses onto the bed on his chest, his head off to the side so he can breathe. This day was far too long and draining for only 3 hours of sleep the night before and quickly the young man drifts off into the world of dreams.

Alice stepped out of the car, smiling in appreciation at Desmond before turning her attention to the current situation. Her heart skipped as the reality of how close they were to an enemy came over her, but she quashed her unease and set a critical eye on the area around her.

"I want to stay out of enclosed areas during the fight." She turned in a short circle as she spoke, taking in the surrounding area. "Baradiel, move the car behind those storage containers to get it out of the way, this open area here is almost perfect. We'll go in and try to lure the stray out. Alphonse, while he's doing that, go back and talk to the guard. Get him to call up his overseers and work some of your charm on them. I don't want video footage of this, but I don't want him to lose his job over it either."

"Desmond, get up on that roof. I want eyes on the target before we walk in there. I know you hate it, but with your phasing you can stay up there until the last moment and still be able to jump in if things go wrong."

With her orders handed out, Alice waited until everyone began their tasks before starting her own. Very carefully, keeping her magic subtle, she started laying the outline of a complex trap. The trap was almost more human magic than devil power, requiring all of her attention to weave, but the result would be a snare that would only spring when a target she had marked got close enough.

With a stone-cold expression, Desmond nodding upon hearing his lady's orders "Alright, I'll report back soon." His voice maintaining the proper tone of respect. He placed his right hand over his blade as he ran towards the building and leaped, landing smoothly on the edge of the roof where he could get his footing. From there, he stepped carefully along the rooftop towards the several large windows in the center. For Alice he would utilize every last one of his unpleasant abilities if she asked. It did not mean it was any less easy on him.

The interior of the building was dark, containing various containers stacked on tall, steel shelving units and bits of machinery. As his eyes scanned from the left to the right, he spotted their prey. A firm grimace was expressed in his face at the monstrosity, the twisted form of what was once a devil. The hand on his sword tightened around the handle as a burning hatred warmed his body. Whether it had been another guard or a human from elsewhere, it had been feasting on a corpse that looked recent.

He gritted his teeth and composed himself before contacting Alice and the others "I have eyes on the stray. It appear to be feasting on a corpse on the opposite side of the building where you are. It would appear the last traces of sanity have left it." Despite his tone being mostly neutral, he couldn't help the little bit of disgust that accompanied it. Death was the only fate for devils who stray from their masters and fall into madness.

Baradiel almost fell asleep during the short car ride, merely looking forward until he felt his eyes beginning to close. He wasn't sure if he actually fell asleep or they just got there quicker, but he certainly felt a jolt when the car rolled to a stop. He could vaguely remember Desmond hypnotizing the guard so they could pass through and by that time, Baradiel shook himself awake. Looks like he'll actually need a good nigt's sleep today or he won't function tomorrow.

Or more coffee. That sounded great right about now.

He followed them out of the car but only ended up leaning on it with crossed arms, a small yawn escaping his mouth. Though they were definitely in trouble now. Close proximity with the Stray and they just have to lure it in a bit later. Ah, this brings him back. Then again, every 'before the fight' moments brought back some wicked memories. Baradiel listened to the orders given and then he gave a small nod. He got in the car and then drove it over to the designated location. Shutting it off and then pocketing the key, he headed back to Alice though stayed far behind. He was a long range support after all.

When Desmond's report came in, his face scrunched up in disgust. Gross. But it turned back to his usual neutral face as he waited for the cameras to turn off or the Stray to come in. Whichever came first.

"Of course." Alfonse bowed and turned on his heel as Alice shredded his original plan. The human was the perfect scapegoat. Mortals tended to roll their eyes and look away once human error was introduced to little events like these. He reached the guard house and knocked quickly before ducking in.

"Good evening again." Alfonse shook the slightly bewildered guard's hand. "While my colleagues are looking over the grounds, would you mind answering a few questions about your team and the security procedures here? Or better yet, may I speak to your superior? I am sure you'd prefer they take the heat in the event my clients have an issue after all."

"Uh sure, I guess? Just gimme a moment." the guard picked up a receiver on the desk and contacted whoever he needed. Alphonse took a moment to look over the security set up. Screens displaying a live feed of the interior of the building lined a wall. A computer sat beneath it, logged into the camera management client. Excellent. The guard caught Alphonse's attention and passed him the phone. the woman on the other side didn't sound particularly pleased when she greeted him and demanded his information.

"Of course, please contact my firm at once. My clients don't want to wait longer than necessary." Alphonse passed over the contact information and waited while she followed up on it. "This is terribly inconvenient however. My firm contacted you almost a month ago for this. My clients had high hopes for this property and they'll be incredibly disappointed in this little communications hiccup. Of course, I entirely understand. I wasn't blaming you, its very likely your colleague just forgot to record it properly. We have one like that at my firm and we always have to scuttle around trying to fix everything. It is most exhausting isn't it? What are we, neanderthals? Email exists for this exact purpose after all." Alfonse chuckled superficially as the woman ranted about her lazy coworkers. It never failed to amaze him how tedious and trivial mortals were.

"You got us cleared already? I'm glad the firm responded so quickly." Alfonse nodded as she continued. Mortals. A few credentials and the promise of money and they'd do just about anything for you. "Excellent! So may I ask you a few questions about the security system set in place? I see you have a closed camera system but if I required a copy of the recordings, would I come here or would I have to request it through the company itself? Through the company, excellent. So the system is controlled at the company then and this only views the footage in real time? No, its controlled here unless you have cause to log into it. Very well." Alfonse glanced at his own phone and tucked it back into his pocket. "Thank you very much for your time this evening. I'll have my firm contact you with more questions once we've reviewed the location." Alphonse returned the phone to the guard and caught his eyes, implanting the memory of Alfonse walking out of the small building. As the man was working his way out the trace, Alfonse conjured a small barrier around his head and let it fill with the sleep gas, catching the guard as he fell.

"My apologies." Alfonse murmured as he propped him up in his chair and went to work at the computer, setting up a camera loop for the past few hours. He returned to Alice. "The issue has been dealt with, my liege."

Raymond left the house without any other words, on his mind was a million things yet finding out where he was going to stay the night was not one of them. Well it wasn't the first time that he had to sleep in the streets before so he'd definetly figure out some sort of sleeping arrangments. Since Raymond had left the house abruptly, he only had a cell phone with a quarter of charge left and about 15 dollars in his pocket.

Raymond didn't know where he was going, all he wanted to do was get as far away as possible from that house. Soon enough the sun was nowhere in sight and darkness fell on the city of Seattle. His travels led him to a large warehouse surrounded by chain link fences topped with barbed wire. He recognized this place as a metalworks depository, one with a competent security squad to boot. He noticed a car up the road parked near the gate along with 3 people conversing outside. Though tonight he wished he hadn't come near this place, as he got closer he noticed the guards laying still on the ground. Whatever was going on was obviously not good, and also none of his concern. But now he was a witness, and if these people were to see him they would most likely silence him in some way.

Looks like I walked in on some shit

Quickly, the boy dove behind a nearby bush as he attempted to hide himself, last thing he wanted to do was to get pulled into criminal activity. As Raymond crouched behind the bush his heart began beating like a drum as adrenaline pumped through his system.

What a day.