[IC] Egregoroi: Action Psychopomps

[wonderwall]

Argo grinned when Lance voiced his support for the plan to see the Old Reaper. "OK, great, I think it would also be good if we asked the others who are still here..." He turned to Monica but she was silently exiting the room, seemingly oblivious to her surroundings.

Argo turned back and spoke instead to Chief Tobe. "Mr Tobe sir, thank you for your helpful words, I am thinking it is likely that we will see each other again, but for now, goodnight." He then motioned for Lance to follow, "Let us see if perhaps some other peoples will be interested in our plan, there will surely be some who do not want to fight these vampires just yet, I don't know, maybe we can persuade Zach also, you know."

He entered the room next door; it reminded Argo of the rooms people sparred in in the martial arts movies he had watched as a kid. Evangeline, Jimmy and Oda were the three people remaining in the room and the latter appeared to be tending to a wound on his arm. I guess this room is for fighting... Looking to each in turn he spoke of his idea, "Hey guys, I don't know about you but I was thinking it might be best idea to go and see this Old Reaper, Cheten, and see what she can tell us, you know, it might be she can give very useful advice. What would you guys say to that?" He looked at them as he spoke. "Oh and I very much think it will be better if we can get along with each other," he added, extending his hand to the nearest person as he spoke. "Nice to meet you."

[Tyrant from the West]

After Lance had spoken to Argo, Monica was already on her way out. That was a rather large disappointment, but alas. It was probably his fault. It was a rather rude move after all. Lance had no intention of following her though, he was going to stick with Argo. He seemed to know what he wanted to do, and Lance felt he would like to follow through with his idea. He did want to see the old reaper! See what they would have to teach and say. Maybe help them through their possible adventures in this new city.

Argo also seemed a little estranged after Monica left. Lance watched him bother Tobe. And signaled for Lance to follow, which he did. As if he wasn't going to already! His inner sass quickly dissipated. He had no reason to act that way, and he would rather stay calm and personable if at least to keep up a good impression with Argo. But that wasn't his only reason to stay calm either. The more positive he acted and less angry he was, the more likely others would follow them on their trip. People aren't exactly always willing to follow wriggling piles of wrath.

Argo was quick to re-introduce himself, and under the weird circumstances Lance found he had done it pretty well. He didn't plan on re-introducing himself though, he would let Argo lead this little expedition. Lance would rather just follow orders anyway, thats what he would prefer in most situations. Although he always joked about how intelligent he was, he couldn't trust himself in positions of power. Dealing with people en mass threw him for quite a loop! So much so that taking orders was the much more preferred option then giving them.

[Raijinslayer]

Zach nodded, he couldn't argue with the former cops logic. He just wished he shared her belief in him.

"Okay, just give me a second to prepare myself. A brief meditation is all I need." He pressed himself against the wall, seeming to almost sink into it's shadows. He focused on his breathing, in and out, keeping a steady rhythm, his eyes closed, his sense dulled. He focused all of his attention inward, attempting to subdue hi s hunger. And it seemed to work, as slowly, but surely, his hunger began to dim in intensity.

"Give me a couple more seconds Prudence, then we should be good to go."

[MarshiestMallow]

Prudence nodded, and merely studied the building some more, pondering what she believed the inside was, while Zack did whatever he needed to, to bring himself under control. Inferno stayed by herside, but didn't appear interested in talking with her, not in adding anything she might deem important.

It actually comforted Prudence. If the Mori wasn't worried, then surely that was a good thing. She took a few deep breaths herself, caming her self, and making herself in the right mind for this operation.

"Alright, I'm ready when you are" She seemed to hesitate for a moment or two. She needed to look like she had been taken captive, so she scruffed herself up some, dirtying her hands her face, ripping her shirt a little.

[The Narrator]

As someone who was in the same position as yourself, wouldn't you want to help him, rather than just taunt him? I might have been a cop in life, but I don't think I would have turned you in Jimmy, I think I would have sought you help as best as I could. When Oda said that it echoed through Jimmy's head. In another time Jimmy might have appreciated that sentence as a sign of good will but not now. Not in his anger. "And that would have been your mistake.", he simply answered. Countless cops and civilians gave Jimmy a helping hand by buying him food or similar things. Jimmy despised them. They never for just a second cared about him. They gave a sandwich to that poor man, what noble souls they where... And then they all went home to their warm apartments and their flat-screen TV's and patted themselves on their shoulders for how selfless they were...
And Oda was of a special sort. His Mori alone, he was no fair men, he was no good man. He was bully like the ones Jimmy had in his time at school, just with a badge and a gun.

He didn't cause this on himself. You could have said no the first time you tried the drug. Zachary has no choice. You always did. You can't stop needing blood, you idiot.
When Jimmy heard this he wanted nothing more than throw himself at Prudence and Choke her until she would die a second time. The veins on his arms turned pitch black. For years all kinds of assholes looked down on him, seeing him lying in the streets. All had the same look on their face. The same look Prudence had when she said that. It said: You are a looser. You deserve this. You brought this onto yourself. Nobody is to blame but you. I would have never got into the same position. The next words Jimmy said, when Prudence was already out of hearing range, were the most honest words he ever said. "Fuck you. Bitch."

He then simply turned to Argo. "Lets go. We got to find a fucking reaper."

[Art of Fun]

Konbini Convenience Store



24 Hour Store!

That's what it said on the outside. The convenience store was quite unsuspecting, appearing like any other one in the city, but if Ikiriyo's directions were correct, this is the place where some of the Bloodhounds were hanging out. The inside as well, was just like any other Japanese convenience store - that is, very convenient, with faculties present to pay your water bill as well as buy actual warm food.

"...There hasn't been much business these past few weeks, bro."

"I know."

"Why'd you think that is, bro?"

"I know why, brother."

"It's that damned 7/11 that opened up further into the district! Everyone's going there, now, because it's a big brand store, definitely!"

"I know, brother."

"We should go down there, and trash the place! Show them what they get for moving in our business, definately- Aaahh! Aaah! Ow ow ow!"

The slightly shorter of the two store workers reached across from behind the counter and grabbed onto the others ear, twisting and pulling him down in a rather painful motion.

"Stop thinking such idiotic things, brother. We do not need to create a scene. This is fine for us. You should learn to appreciate silence."

"Okay, okay! Definitely! I'll stop jusleggo!"

The shorter one did so, letting go of his 'brother's' ear, letting silence fall over them once again. It wasn't long until the taller took to idly tapping a pen against the counter top. Just outside waited their two newest customers.

---

Hida-shima City Center, the Nightlife



And people think the Shinjuku district is bad.

Lights, lights, lights, crowds, people in lines waiting into buildings with music vibrating their foundations from the inside, the smell of food. It's easy to get lost in this kind of environment, to forget -or rather drown out - any worries that might weigh on your shoulders. Among the chaos of this was the best place to hide, right under everyone's noses. In fact, one might say there's something distinctly 'western' about the Hida-shima night scene.

For Koyuki and Algis, it'd be a case of where to start in this labyrinth of neon and people. Each potential club seems like it's going to be packed with clubgoers, a mess of movement. Finding a specific individual in all of this is no easy task.

Lucky for the duo, someone seems to have found them.

A pair of eyes lock onto Koyuki and Algis as they move through the city centre past a club called 'the Moonlighters'. The gaze belongs to an older gentleman of...well, it's hard to tell where he's from behind the bushy facial hair and smoke curtaining his features. He dressed well though, in the attire of someone who obviously had money to spend on suits and hats and the likes with a fedora to top it all off. He was a anachronism, straight from the prohibition era of America.

Taking the cigar from his mouth in one hand, he beckoned Koyuki over with another, a lazy gesture of the hand.

[Raijinslayer]

Raijin broke out of his trance, turning to Prudence. His eyes were now fully Red, and his fangs were out, very visible as he grimaced in pain. The hidden smell of blood made his hunger ache even more than before.

"Come on, get in front of me as we walk, so it looks like I'm keeping you from escaping. If possible, ask Inferno look less. . .on fire. I'm nor a good enough liar to make up an explaination as to why one of my prisoners is in a stare perpetual conflagration."

((Sorry for short post, couldn't think of anything else.))

[MarshiestMallow]

Prudence wasn't afraid. It was easy not to be, when you had faced your biggest fear already and...well. she hadn't survived, but she was still here, wasn't she? She glanced to Inferno, and the young girl merely shrugged, her flames gutting oit, revealing the young girls appearance.

and still those haunted eyes.

Prudence swallowed, then turned back towards Zack. "Okay. Lets do this" she said with a half smile, before adopting a frightened expression, and manor. It wasn't so hard to do, having seen enough victums in her career

[Raijinslayer]

With a motion of his hand, Zach ordered Umbram to bind Prudence and Inferno, or at least appear to. After giving a quick check to make sure they looked nice and tight, he gave a quick nod of apporval, then positioned himself behind the two, ordering them forward with a quiet "Move". As they began walking to the convience store, he felt himself begin to struggle against his hunger. His breath became slightly haggard, and he felr a gnawing pain throughout his body. He opened the door, forcing the two inside, before closing it behind them, He then stared at the two individuals manning the store.

"I brought some fresh meat for the Bloodhounds." He said, his voice hoarse and gravelly, hoping these two were vampires. If not, then in a few minutes, he doubted he would care.

[MarshiestMallow]

As zack forced them inside, Prudence took the opportunity to stumble, and fall. She used it as cover to dart her eyes around the place quickly, taking it all in, with eyes trained for details. She let out a small cry, as of the fall had shocked her, and Inferno let out a thin, childlike wail.

Prudence kept her breathing slow, letting her hair fall over her eyes, to disguise her eyes. To hide the fact she was studying everything and everyone. She rose slowly, letting herself shake, as if she was scared, or shocked. "P-puh-please" she said in what she hoped was a shaky voice "d-don't h-hurt us, p-p-please"

[Art of Fun]

"...Dude, what are you doing?!"

"Are you insane?"

One spoke after the other, a confused expression on the taller of the two while the other just stared forward at them, nonplussed.

"Are you new or something?! Get out of our store, idiot! Criminal!" The tall vampire pointed at Prudence while looking at Zach, clearly taking issue with what was happening here.

"I am calling the police."

Woah, wait, the police?

Considering this from the perspective of the two working the store, someone had just barged in with another person 'bound' and declared something about having fresh meat for the Bloodhounds. If they were not vampires, that'd be problematic, but even if they were they'd probably have covers they would like to maintain. Someone trying to break that in the middle of said cover probably would not earn the favours of any vampires. This seemed to be the case.

The smaller vampire reached for a landline, preparing to dial away while the taller vampire approached them, intent on shoving them out of his store.

[MarshiestMallow]

It was there. The scent of blood. While she was sure there had been no kills here, it was there. The slight rusty smell, iron. Metallic. And she was more then sure it wasn't animal blood. You knew the difference, a cop did at least. Prudence swallowed, and twisted slightly, easily freeing her hand.

"I can smell blood" she said softly, as she darted forwards, the knife in her hand, and throwing it accurately towards the smaller vampire towards, falling back, in order to not be caught "I am the police, scumbags!" She shouted, and inferno lit up light a four of July weekend, the flames dancing along her skin once more.

Prudence didn't hesitate. She tackled the taller vampire, not even considering the danger she was putting herself in. Just acting. Just reacting on pure instinct, and doing what she had been trained to do. She didn't even stop to think about the remifications of staring she was a police officer and having no identification as such. She just reacted. Pure and simply.

[Raijinslayer]

Zach reacted instinctively when Prudence began her attack, going for the smaller prey, Umbram reforming just behind him. Zach put himself in between the smaller vamp and the phone, while Umbram veered off to assist Prudence in her assault on the taller one.

"I'm not sorry to say that this is the end of the line for you immortals."He said as he appeared in front of the small vamp, hopefully slowing him down enough for him to be hit by Prudence's knife.

Then he would strike.