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Multiple Settings Sonder Links, an Anomalous Noir

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Probably George

Honorary Truckfighters member
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6:22 in the morning; red sun piercing the blue horizon, with its rise comes the people of Slaughter's End. Business rose as the sun did. Fishermen diligently spearing fish revealed by the daylight, Kibbeh makers getting their oil boiling, potters heat up their kilns, most people get straight to work. The streets quickly come to life. Even for those with the day off, they were forced awake by the rest of society collectively waking up around them. It's extremely difficult to sleep in, unless you have severe hearing problems.

Greetings are a rarity, more likely to receive unsolicited offers from persistent salesmen chasing down anyone with any resemblance of wealth. Men stirring hot-pots yell at you to get some while the meat is still fresh. Another suggest you get some "real clothing" and just so happen to know the right place. If you do get a proper greeting, it'll likely lead you into some sketchy shop in an alley.

The capital, surrounded by the chaos, joins the ensemble as monolithic structures slowly come to life and get production going. Slaughter's End had become the pioneer city for industrialized architecture, thusly the capital was just as loud as its surrounding markets. Though the streets more organized and less crowded. The only salesmen on the streets here sold precious commodities like pure silk garments, spiny-whale skin shawls, pearl veils, and much more. Everything else was done indoors.

In a thin layer between the common commerce and the capital is the public housing for those unable to afford a home in the capital or outskirts, not even their own room in the markets. The buildings would be nicer than the markets, if they were kept in good condition. Most are vandalized and often derelict, only inhabited by the lower class. About 1/3 of the population reside in this small area of land. It's also the hiding grounds for much of the city's crime syndicates.

There's a stir amongst the people and a general sense of anxiety from rumors of a group of domestic terrorists Anchors called "Parallel." After the devastating events in Grohj and Two Feather's Gaze, many people in the surrounding cities began to fear if their home city would be the next target. Some folk have gotten scared to the point they regularly protest outside the Bureau for Internal Affairs and city court, demanding all known and future Anchors be executed. Though due to the unknown nature of Anchors, officials for Slaughter's End have decided to keep them as the disposable first line of defense against such attacks. And thanks to the enigma engine's officials have given to Exterminators, they're always on call.

Through the graininess and fuzz of an enigma engine, a message is sent out to the members of Heliopause "Exterminator, this is Chief Exterminations Officer Milnuras. The time is 0645. I expect you to arrive at the Internal Affairs office by 1000 for your first assignment. Failure to arrive will result in severe repercussions. Prepare to be on the field."
 
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token_2 (1).pngAwoken by the bustling of his neighbors, Bask quickly rose to prepare to see his caravan off for a trip to Mahatta. He had to be quick if he also wanted to reach the capital before long. With the arrival of his men, Bask gave them their order sheets and provisions then set them off. It was rough to watch his men go on without him, but he was confident enough that they could handle themselves and return unscathed. Many of them had been on dozens of trips with him, he'd known some for decades.

After closing up shop Bask made his way through the hustle and bustle of the markets and past the public housing. Navigating through the capital which he had only been in a handful of times, Bask eventually found himself at the Internal Affairs office. Making his way in, Bask went up to the front desk and told the receptionist he has an appointment with the Extermination's chief. The lady informed Bask he was rather early and would have to take a seat and wait for the rest of the party to arrive.

Carefully lowering himself onto a chair, Bask stuck out like a sore thumb. Most others were draped in finer, clean fabrics while Bask's shawl was stained through various sandstorms and sun bleaching. Boots torn and bag strap frayed. He caught some glares but brushed them off. He did find it odd that most of them didn't carry walking sticks though.

token_1 (2).png Like rats in the walls, Hawkshaw's hundreds of neighbors in his public housing section were a wall of noise in all directions. As much as he wanted extra rest, that wasn't going to be possible. On top of that, Hawkshaw finally had his first assignment since getting his new job. He hadn't planned to be stuck in the city for as long as he has been. If things went as he was hoping, he'd still be at an excavation camp uncovering ancient relics. As he knew too well, things don't always go according to plan.

Pulling himself from his hammock, Hawkshaw prepared himself to be ready to leave the city if need be. He was actually hoping for it, his craving for exploration having gone unsatiated for a while. Hawkshaw left early to give himself time to figure out his way through the capital. The only time he'd been there was when picking up a couple items for spelunking. Stepping inside felt like another city all-together.

With no clue where he was going, Hawkshaw quickly got lost. So much looked the same but also so alien. He thought the market was rough to traverse, but being a near illiterate farm boy for most of his life meant navigating the street signs was near impossible. He resorted to asking strangers for help, but most people living in the capital only knew street connections and not how to give actual directions.

By luck Hawkshaw managed to find his way into the building for Internal Affairs and informed the lady at the front desk who he was there to see. She pointed towards the waiting area and asked him to take a seat. Making his way in, Hawkshaw parked himself on the other side from Bask.

Uncomfortable with silence, Hawkshaw mumbled "Sooo... you're also a, uh-" He stopped himself, pressing his lips together and waving his hand around. "Y'know." He said uncomfortably.

"Yes-" Bask grumbled "You as well?"

Hawkshaw quickly straightened himself "Yea! Eh- yes. My name is Hawkshaw."

"Pleasure to meet you, I'm Bask."
 





"Notti" - Ki'Ashya - The Thief
Location: The Internal Affairs Building.


Waking up at dawn...

“I know how this ends, Shine…”

Blue eyes refocused upon the patch of mortar upon the wall. She had just sanded it yesterday. If she were an artisan perhaps she would have taken more time to let it set before working on it again, but she was not that kind of artisan. Her lower lip trembled as her tattooed arms swished back and forth in the deathly cold waters of the tub. Painted toes wriggled as she kicked her light brown legs gently up and down, creating ripples that dared to reach the brim of the rust stains upon the tub’s rims. Another full bodied shiver as her chin pointed upward, the back of her head submerging up to the tips of her ears. Blue eyes now focussed upon the handiwork she had completed a couple of weeks ago upon the ceiling.

A wry smile pulled up at the corners of her lips as she winked at the painted smiley face peering down upon her. The words; “Who are you supposed to be now?” were painted above the happy face, arching around its circular edge.

No, she was not an artisan. She was an Anchor trapped in this hellhole of a town, conscripted into a war against an inevitable foe in the mirror.

But she could not fight. She could not hunt. And worst of all, she could not take orders from anyone who was not her Clan. And yet, she was supposed to hunt this thing now. She was a doomed little Anchor.

“No, I’m Notti, the sailor’s daughter. And this is my enigmatic friend. Her name is Shine…” she whispered yet the over-exaggerated saccharine, sing-song sound of disdain still worked its way into her voice.

Bah. But she was still Mama’s little girl.

A generous double-barrelled middle finger salute she tossed the smiling reminder above her head,
“...and a yo-ho right back atcha, darlin'…”

And with that, Ki’Ashya, of The Clan Wicked Piratehood ‘Notti’ stood and stepped gingerly out of the tub.

---

Her teeth still chattered a bit even as she finished dressing up for the day.

One final cinch on the bustier to push up more cleavage. Satisfied how her precious pair were framed by the opening in her frilly white blouse, she covered up with a 3/4 length black vest with silver buttons and red trim. Today slacks were tight, striped grey and blue with flare bottoms that covered up her shiny, new black boots. A small smile could not help but flash from full lips when she pulled up the frills lining her ankles to inspect her calf-high boots. These were quite the prize she had nicked from that cargo cart. She even put red bows as accents ontop of the silver buckles.

Blue eyes caught her entire fit in the makeshift full length mirror, then a lone dark eyebrow raised. She adjusted the red and black kerchief tied over her chestnut hair till it was juuuuuust right. A pause. A smirk. Of course, she just could not help but roll up a white, frilly-ended sleeve and flex a bicep.


“See that, Shine? That’s why ya always get up early, early, early to work out,” a small playful grunt she let out after kissing her tattooed muscle bulge, “Mama always says that fat is only meant for a lush meal and lush-headed lazy pirates. We not lush-headed, darlin'. Aye, we Wicked, Shine. We always remember what we are, where we came from, and whose daughter–”

Blue eyes caught the blue eyes of the diminutive girl in the mirror and her breath choked away those last words. No, she was not Wicked. She was just a sailor’s daughter. Her brown chin hit her chest in defeat. There was no generous double-barrelled middle finger salute tossed in defiance at the image she was meant to portray. No, only a light shake of the head, a small wistful exhale, then finally a small nod of concession.

“I know how this ends, Shine… and tis okay. Aye, tis okay, darlin'…”

Ki’Ashya, of The Clan Wicked Piratehood ‘Notti’ grabbed her rucksack and marched promptly out the door.



Kia-2.jpg
Old habits die hard, don’t they?

With hood drawn and overcoat lapels pulled tightly together, she sat there upon the stoop of a building a couple of doors down and across the way from the awaiting Internal Affairs. Her elbows rested upon the knees of her spread-eagled legs. And of course, a cigar hung from the corner of her mouth. A pair of ‘newly-acquired’ sun shades obscured the direction of where her eyes roamed. But yes, she was still who she was out of stubborn habit; the girl was casing the Internal Affairs building as if casing a joint that she and her cousins were about to heist.

She was not only mentally marking those coming and going but also those who passed by staring up and around like new fish in a pond. As a member of The Whispering, she was not just in charge of above first-floor work but also contributing to the regular rundown; a mental checklist of what to look for when casing out a marked building: assets, threats, escape routes, get away paths, witnesses, etc. Her countenance darkened and a wry smirk could not pull up at the corner of her mouth when she spied one of her captors making his way out from the building. This 'gentleman' was just a bit too handsy and grabby with her bodily parts when he had shackled her.

But she had deftly taken something of his. And Shine had gleaned an ‘Imprint’ from that little something and her Enigma had been so kind as to give her Anchor a message regarding her captor. Not a name but something even better; the address of his place of residence. If Mama ever sent someone to come retrieve her darling little baby girl, well, darling little baby girl would give said address to darling little baby girl’s bigger sisters and brothers. They would see just how handsy and grabby he would be when they were done with him…

There was a time and place for that but not now.

No, as of now she had made note of two fully bearded men; one younger, one older, that smacked of ‘conscripted fools’ as they had entered the building. There were others, but these two seemed to be the type with whom she had received her ‘training’ (or lack thereof) in the poor excuse for a recruit barracks. They all had that dumbfounded ‘what the actual eff in the face am I doing here look’ that even she was barely aware she held upon her own visage.

She checked her pocket watch. A shrug.
“What says ya then, Shine,” she mumbled neath her breath, “still some time to make a friend then? See what other wildlife enters ‘the Sanctuary’, eh girlie?”

One more pull from the cigar then she crushed the stump at her feet. A black boot stomped it out for good measure. She stood then sauntered off, slipping In between two buildings.

A stretch of her neck from side to side, and when she was ready, she tucked away her pair of ‘newly-acquired’ sun shades. Shortly thereafter, off came the hood and overcoat; into the rucksack it went. After clearing her throat she shook out her arms, then slowly but surely her posture no longer slouched. A deep breath. An extended exhale.

The diminutive girl with a ‘can-do-chin-up’ look about her, practically skipped out from between a pair of buildings across from the IA building. A satisfied sigh she let out as she hugged her rucksack in her arms. A warm smile held at her lips as she stood to the side of the main entrance. Her red and black kerchief'd head bobbed up and down as blue eyes peered around looking for a friendly face to hit up.

"Eyyyy... Morning, morning...! Hello...? Can someone please direct me to... Chief Exterminations Officer Milnuras' office?"


Notti was finally here.






 
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Theresa Cantor
Location: internal affair office

See that man over there? He always tries to sell you overpriced goods. Kill him.

No.

He kicked a puppy for sniffing his wares and it dies from the wound. Kill him.

No, Shadow.

He groped your sister that one time. He might do something worse in the future. Kill him.

...


"I'm not killing anyone."

---------------

Ever since that day, Theresa's life had turned for for the worst. Her enigma was like literal devil who chips away at her sanity and then she was forced to work at dangerous job with little training. She had no choice but to accept the job so she hoped the pay would at least be good.

"Excuse me." The door to the Internal Affairs office was opened and a meek-looking girl entered the room with her gaze slightly angled downward to avoid direct eye contact immediately. Although she then shortly looks at everyone in the room and offered a weak polite smile.

"G-good morning. I'm Theresa Cantor, ready for duty." She greeted the people already in the room.
 
Adriana Nur Myalaym
The Evolving Exterminator
Internal Affairs waiting room, with the rest of the team
Beeeeep. Beeeep. Beeeep.

The now familiarly unpleasant sound of the shrill alarm clock woke Adriana from a light slumber. There was no such thing as deep, comfortable sleep anymore- not here.

In the few weeks since she'd become an Anchor, the eighteen-year-old's life had drastically changed. Asya had moved her out of the apartment they'd occupied together since moving to Slaughter's End and into the research facility, where she was monitored 24/7.

As her sister's first and, so far, only successful test subject, they needed to gather as much data as possible to figure out how her abilities worked, how they might differ from those of naturally-occurring Anchors, how the feat might be reproduced, if there were any risks...

So Adriana was watched and recorded, studied and interrogated, tested and retested as Asya's faceless, nameless, white-coated team gathered information. Her schedule had become a monotonous blur of training and trials and a firmly regimented lab-rat life.

She was woken precisely at 5am each day by the loud beeping of the alarm clock and the harsh glare of fluorescent lights. She would have a carefully concocted breakfast, followed by physical and combat training until lunch, after which it would be more tests- trying to determine the extent of her abilities.

These were usually grueling beyond belief but, at the end, her sister would join her for dinner, where they would sit in the apartment she now occupied alone and go over the events of the day. Adriana knew full well that Asya did this mostly so she could stay up-to-date with the project while giving her a semblance of her former, normal life, but she was grateful for the respite nonetheless.

After dinner, she would return to the lab, where she would meticulously journal and record her experiences of the day, before going to bed and knowing she would be doing it all over again when she woke.

But this morning was different. Last week, Asya had finally been given the green light to officially launch the Heliopause experiment, and Adriana would be joining the team.

Since there were several hours until then, however, she ate breakfast as usual and then proceeded to the training room.

Her instructor, a kind but harsh military man named Otrech, was waiting on the mat.

"Show me what I taught you last time," he ordered without preamble. Adriana nodded, took a deep breath, and suddenly ran at him full-tilt, jumping at the last moment to aim a kick precisely at the midpoint of his left shinbone.

At the very last second, Otrech veered out of the way and, carried by her momentum, she slid onto the mat and landed hard. He walked over to stand above her, stern expression on his face.

"The execution was good," he said, not bothering to help her up, "your kick was precise and, had it connected, it would've had enough force behind it to shatter the bone. But remember what I told you?"

She nodded, getting to her feet.

"You always need to have an exit strategy- you didn't have a contingency plan in place for if your move failed, and as a result you ended up off-balance and completely at your opponent's mercy; that's the kind of mistake you can't afford to be making."

Adriana nodded again, her cheeks flushing red- it wasn't the first time she'd made this mistake, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. In the short time she'd had to train, they'd only been able to teach her the most rudimentary basics of combat. She'd never been in a real fight in her life, and now she was expected to go out and hunt other people with abilities- not forgetting the scores of other dangers that awaited both inside and outside the city walls.

Adriana was scared- scared of what she might encounter out there, scared of what she might be asked to do, and scared that, after all this money and effort that had been spent on her, and everything that was riding on her being successful at this, she would fail and disappoint her sister.

She bit her lip and glanced up at the large, one-way glass window near the ceiling behind which, she knew, Asya was watching.

*****

Behind the glass, a tall, dark-haired young woman with piercing, acid-green eyes was indeed watching the scene below, her mouth a thin line of disapproval and underlying worry.

She turned to the muscular man before her, decked from head to toe in advanced, military combat gear, crossing her arms over her white lab coat.

"Captain Milnuras, I'm sure I don't need to tell you how important it is that Heliopause be a success. If these Anchors do what they're supposed to, never again will the people of Chroan have to cower in fear while an Eidolon lays waste to their homes, or send their sons and daughters into hostile territory to combat this threat." She glanced down at the training room again before turning back to him.

"I realize the conditions here are less than ideal, but it is imperative that you keep Subject Alpha alive," she continued, referring to her sister. "We need to see what she's capable of out in the field, but it is your job to ensure that she comes back to the lab at the end of each mission for further study. Am I understood?"

The cold tone of her voice gave no indication that she cared about her only living relative who wasn't in a coma beyond her value to her as a research subject and, as the the commanding officer was dismissed to go meet with the newly-assembled team, she glanced down at her again with critical detachment, her mind swirling with mingled worry and hope.

*****

A short time later, Adriana was standing outside the waiting room to Internal Affairs, heart pounding in her chest. She was wearing the field suit Asya had designed for her, covered with one of her customary cloaks so as not to draw attention. This was it- the moment of truth. Trying to ignore how queasy she felt, the Anchor took a deep breath and walked in.

A quick glance told her that the rest of the team was already assembled- there were two gruff older men sitting in chairs next to each other, and two younger women as well- one was currently speaking to the receptionist, and the other was standing in the middle of the room, looking uncomfortable.

Not trusting herself to speak, Adriana walked in and nodded briefly at the others before sitting herself in a chair on the far side of the room, looking down at her feet and hoping someone would come in soon and tell them what to do.
Code by Serobliss


Beeeeep. Beeeep. Beeeep.

The now familiarly unpleasant sound of the shrill alarm clock woke Adriana from a light slumber. There was no such thing as deep, comfortable sleep anymore- not here.

In the few weeks since she'd become an Anchor, the eighteen-year-old's life had drastically changed. Asya had moved her out of the apartment they'd occupied together since moving to Slaughter's End and into the research facility, where she was monitored 24/7.

As her sister's first and, so far, only successful test subject, they needed to gather as much data as possible to figure out how her abilities worked, how they might differ from those of naturally-occurring Anchors, how the feat might be reproduced, if there were any risks...

So Adriana was watched and recorded, studied and interrogated, tested and retested as Asya's faceless, nameless, white-coated team gathered information. Her schedule had become a monotonous blur of training and trials and a firmly regimented lab-rat life.

She was woken precisely at 5am each day by the loud beeping of the alarm clock and the harsh glare of fluorescent lights. She would have a carefully concocted breakfast, followed by physical and combat training until lunch, after which it would be more tests- trying to determine the extent of her abilities.

These were usually grueling beyond belief but, at the end, her sister would join her for dinner, where they would sit in the apartment she now occupied alone and go over the events of the day. Adriana knew full well that Asya did this mostly so she could stay up-to-date with the project while giving her a semblance of her former, normal life, but she was grateful for the respite nonetheless.

After dinner, she would return to the lab, where she would meticulously journal and record her experiences of the day, before going to bed and knowing she would be doing it all over again when she woke.

But this morning was different. Last week, Asya had finally been given the green light to officially launch the Heliopause experiment, and Adriana would be joining the team.

Since there were several hours until then, however, she ate breakfast as usual and then proceeded to the training room.

Her instructor, a kind but harsh military man named Otrech, was waiting on the mat.

"Show me what I taught you last time," he ordered without preamble. Adriana nodded, took a deep breath, and suddenly ran at him full-tilt, jumping at the last moment to aim a kick precisely at the midpoint of his left shinbone.

At the very last second, Otrech veered out of the way and, carried by her momentum, she slid onto the mat and landed hard. He walked over to stand above her, stern expression on his face.

"The execution was good," he said, not bothering to help her up, "your kick was precise and, had it connected, it would've had enough force behind it to shatter the bone. But remember what I told you?"

She nodded, getting to her feet.

"You always need to have an exit strategy- you didn't have a contingency plan in place for if your move failed, and as a result you ended up off-balance and completely at your opponent's mercy; that's the kind of mistake you can't afford to be making."

Adriana nodded again, her cheeks flushing red- it wasn't the first time she'd made this mistake, and it certainly wouldn't be the last. In the short time she'd had to train, they'd only been able to teach her the most rudimentary basics of combat. She'd never been in a real fight in her life, and now she was expected to go out and hunt other people with abilities- not forgetting the scores of other dangers that awaited both inside and outside the city walls.

Adriana was scared- scared of what she might encounter out there, scared of what she might be asked to do, and scared that, after all this money and effort that had been spent on her, and everything that was riding on her being successful at this, she would fail and disappoint her sister.

She bit her lip and glanced up at the large, one-way glass window near the ceiling behind which, she knew, Asya was watching.

*****

Behind the glass, a tall, dark-haired young woman with piercing, acid-green eyes was indeed watching the scene below, her mouth a thin line of disapproval and underlying worry.

She turned to the muscular man before her, decked from head to toe in advanced, military combat gear, crossing her arms over her white lab coat.

"Captain Milnuras, I'm sure I don't need to tell you how important it is that Heliopause be a success. If these Anchors do what they're supposed to, never again will the people of Chroan have to cower in fear while an Eidolon lays waste to their homes, or send their sons and daughters into hostile territory to combat this threat." She glanced down at the training room again before turning back to him.

"I realize the conditions here are less than ideal, but it is imperative that you keep Subject Alpha alive," she continued, referring to her sister. "We need to see what she's capable of out in the field, but it is your job to ensure that she comes back to the lab at the end of each mission for further study. Am I understood?"

The cold tone of her voice gave no indication that she cared about her only living relative who wasn't in a coma beyond her value to her as a research subject and, as the the commanding officer was dismissed to go meet with the newly-assembled team, she glanced down at her again with critical detachment, her mind swirling with mingled worry and hope.

*****

A short time later, Adriana was standing outside the waiting room to Internal Affairs, heart pounding in her chest. She was wearing the field suit Asya had designed for her, covered with one of her customary cloaks so as not to draw attention. This was it- the moment of truth. Trying to ignore how queasy she felt, the Anchor took a deep breath and walked in.

A quick glance told her that the rest of the team was already assembled- there were two gruff older men sitting in chairs next to each other, and two younger women as well- one was currently speaking to the receptionist, and the other was standing in the middle of the room, looking uncomfortable.

Not trusting herself to speak, Adriana walked in and nodded briefly at the others before sitting herself in a chair on the far side of the room, looking down at her feet and hoping someone would come in soon and tell them what to do.
 
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More oddballs began gathering in the pristine lobby, drawing more judging eyes. Passersby would imagine all sorts of reasons for a group of dirtied up commoners to be at the Internal Affairs center, but none would hit the nail on the head. They were unaware these people may just save their lives in the near future. Until then, they were just eyesores.
As each came in, they were directed to a waiting room to await their orders.
The waiting room alone was more extravagant than most housing situations; The floors and ceiling were marbled and the walls draped with massive silk murals. Between each other chair were marble tables with gold accents, each with an ashtray and a tray of embers that never went out. There was a lingering smell of tobacco and hemp from a previous group, some of it even danced through the rays of light casted from nearby windows.

token_1 (2).pngtoken_2 (1).pngBask and Hawkshaw continued with small talk for a bit of time before Bask felt footsteps of what he presumed to be his other new partners beginning showing up. As each came in, Bask did quick visual evaluations. His experience with many different types of people gave him the confidence to determine quite a bit about a person just by how the present and carry themselves. He watched as they came in. Hawkshaw broke Bask's concentration with a rather abrupt question, "So what does your-" Hawkshaw hesitated "thing do?"

Returning his gaze to the man sitting on the other end of the room, Bask himself had a moment of hesitation before looking down at the table next to him. He gently laid a hand on it and a small hum began producing from the table. It ramped in intensity before the table began vibrating. One could hear the table legs shaking on the ground from outside the room. The intensity didn't relent. Suddenly one of legs bent halfway and threw the table to the ground. Hawkshaw and Bask both were startled. "Damn it!" Bask grumbled "I-I'm sorry, I didn't expect the table to be made of sand."

He picked the table up and leaned in against the wall so it would still stand. "Vibrations- I can feel them too. You're actually close enough that I can feel your heartbeat." Hawkshaw retorted "I imagine the lady at the front desk can hear my heart right now too!" Bask laughed lightly, apologizing once again.

Others began coming into the room, not much time between each arrival. With five of them together, Bask assumed this was it and went ahead with introducing himself to the rest of his team. "Hello everyone, my name's Bask, I... make and feel intense vibrations-" he then laid his hand pointing at Hawkshaw. Hawkshaw looked back and forth between Bask and the other's before realizing what Bask was doing. "Oh-yea! I'm Hawkshaw. I'm not sure what you'd call this." Before continuing, Hawkshaw leaned over to look at the doorway to make sure no one else was watching or coming in. He held his hand up and pressed his index finger against his thumb. With a flash of light and a electronic hum, he summoned a golden spade-shaped outline, not much larger than a playing card, with an engram of a 9-point star in the middle "Buuut... it's sharp as shit and I can throw it." He released his fingers and the spade dissolved in the air.
Int: BuggaBoo BuggaBoo Spoiled Bread Spoiled Bread Ayama Ayama
 
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"Notti" - Ki'Ashya - The Thief
Location: The Internal Affairs Building.





Kia-2.jpg
With practiced spry steps, Notti entered into the waiting room.

Now as a pirate proper, she should have swaggered her way into the room, making quite the notion of herself; she represented Mama afterall. And true as Star North be true, the lass was proud to be Clan Wicked blooded so tattoos and markings should be unleashed for all to ogled in all their glory.

But no. She knew who she had to be now, and fully covered up was she, even selling her insecurities by hugging her rucksack as a child would hold a stuffy doll tight to their chest. And it really was not a hard sell as she witnessed the two large men begin to show off what their Anomalies could do. Probably George Probably George Dark eyebrows raised and blue eyes grew wide as she circumvented them to find a seat. The blades that the younger man showed off did not set her mind at ease, however, it was the table leg's destruction by the elder man that put her in a defensive mode. Being shaken till your limbs fell off was not a fate she ever fathomed.

And so in between the pair of young ladies she sat and offered up a polite smile to each, despite either not making eye contact with her. Onto the vacant seat beside her she placed her rucksack. Dark lashes fluttered closed. A wry smile pulled up at the corners of her lips. A shrug. A sigh.


"I'm Notti. And this is what Shine-- I mean, what I can do," cheeks flushed red as she errantly referred to her Anomaly by name, heat burned that much more for the shame she felt. Why should she be embarrassed of her invisible friend, Shine? A head shake then she continued, "it's not much really but something special, I'd say..."

The moment she closed her mouth, her eyes lit up. Pink and purple mists wafted away from her eyes and with each movement of her head, tracers of the glow chased after said movements.

"I can sense that you're anxious," she said to Spoiled Bread Spoiled Bread the redhead at her left, then she turned to Ayama Ayama the brunette girl at her right, "and quite nervous too aren't you? But we are all fine and dandy here; we are all on the same side, no?"

Her gaze fell upon both men and in great contrast to the pair of girls beside her, they exuded no strong emotions. Notti frowned; she did not want Shine to seem... unremarkable. The girl stood, sauntered over to the door to close it. Then she made her way over to the window and slid it open. A deep breath she took then ducked away from the opening, back against the wall, glowing eyes facing all of them in the room.

"Very well. Have a gander outside for me then...? I can sense..." within the droves of people making their way past the window, she sensed out a pair with strong emotional states, "there are two. Close together. One is enraged. Seething, but trying to hide it. The other... oh, dear. Well they..."

Notti put a hand to her temple. Outside a man wearing a cap lowered over his eyes, held his jaw clenched tight, yet the grip upon the lady's arm beside him much, too much, tighter. The lady had her chin lowered, brown hair obscuring her face, however every so often she would look up, green eyes wide and filled with--

"--fear and dread. My word, he's not... not very nice to her. No, not at all..."
Notti's eyes stopped glowing as she moved to close the window and thus cut off Shine's Emotive Bubble from the outside.

"With my Anomaly, I can sense out strong emotions nearby. And also I can get a sense of the owner of certain items; people leave 'Imprints' upon them. And I can imprint messages onto sentimental items too... and I... I..." A nerve calming inhale. A smooth exhale as she turned around to face them once more. The heat and red vanished from her cheeks, "I call my Anomaly; 'Shine.' She helps me..."

As a pirate, she would never interfere in anyone's business that was not her own. But she was Notti now. And this girl had an Enigma too; one that was all about well-being, emotions and empathy. And not always at all about her own emotional state and well-being.

"...She helps me see through a much better lens than I was ever capable before and..." A focussed gaze shot out the window and marked to memory the garb, faces and especially the gait of the man and the bruises of the woman as they passed by.

Bright blue eyes lost their lustre and the look therein darkened, ""...and then act accordingly."




 
Theresa Cantor
Location: internal affair waiting room

Theresa didn't say anything after her first greeting. She simply sat near the corner and tried to make herself as small as possible. Back in her neighborhood attracting attention most of the time means trouble and after the rumour of new anchors appearing there's already some instance wheres someone accused other people of being an anchor and got the accused beaten to death by mobs. She was of course taken aback when the others started showing off their power. One can feel vibration, the other can produce knifes and one other can feel emotion. Should she show hers off too?

You sure they are all trustworthy? You sure none of them would rat you out to one of the don? Actually, I'm sure Don Fluffles would LOVE to have an anchor working under him, might be better way to pay off those debts than being here.

"T-that's wonderful abilities you all have... I'm sure it will be useul." Theresa commented at the spectacles but decided not to shows her own. She was sure their captain would brief everyone about each other's power or something like that, hopefully. Whether she wanted it or not, sometimes her anomaly's words really get into her. If only she had a physical body Shadow would be grinning from ear to ear right now. Day by day, she's learning more about her host. What's her fear, what's her trigger, what would anger her and many more. It's like playing a game really.
 
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Luca Graymin
Location: Waiting room | Interactions: Everyone. I would ping, but it's everyone.
It occurred to Gray, as so many things do, only once he fell into a predicament he could've avoided altogether that he perhaps should've spared a thought to how he would get to Internal Affairs office before he left home. That was the thing about dogs, you never really thought about how many there were until you went on a walk as ten pounds of delightfully chase-able, canine enraging, utterly bite-sized meat. And you especially didn't think about how fast they were until there already was one on your tail baying for a taste of your blood. In other words, Gray had regrets. Immediate regrets.

Had he the confidence of a real cat, he might've leapt onto a convenient window sill or market stall, but the few times he'd attempted that in the past led to a lot more startled screams and brooms than he would've preferred. Instead, his paws pounded the ground hard enough to send miniature clouds of dust flying into the snapping jaws behind him as he dodged between pairs of stumbling feet.

That was another thing about dogs; at any given moment, very few people were prepared to be bowled over by one. The trail of yelps, thumps, and swears that followed them were a testament to that. Some, of course, took notice of the approaching sounds of chaos in time to escape it, but the great majority faltered for a moment too long and fell over like a child's domino once it came barrelling through.

The man standing obliviously in the doorway in front of him, Gray found, lay firmly in that majority. He was smiling, laughing, seemingly distracted by chatting with someone on the other side (something that would've normally been frustrating if it weren't for the fact that Gray could slide under him), when Gray bolted through the open door and scrabbled onto the ornately tiled floor beyond. He spared a glance behind, hoping that Mr. Roadblock might close it in time to stop the dog from following after, but it seemed he was too occupied with ogling at the stray cat that made it through first to even consider the snarling barks from outside.

The dog met his legs with the force of a speeding bullet.

It was a large dog, bigger than Gray would've felt safe being chased by even in human form. Unfortunately, that didn't make it a fluffy one, so there was nothing to pad the seething mass of claws and teeth that rammed head-first into Roadblock. It knocked the wind out of both of them, sending the two sprawling to the floor with the dog on top. Had it been a lesser dog, this could've brought the chase to an end, but it wouldn't be deterred so easily. No, Jaws—for there was no name more fitting—wasn't just another one of the starving mutts on the street that was more interested in the chance of food than the hunt itself. It was a healthy weight, filled out enough to hide the edges of his ribs, and, as it struggled to its feet and turned its claw-marked snout to face him, he knew this could only be for one reason. Jaws was very good at hunting.

Gray turned tail and ran.

If asked afterwards, he would've called what he'd done stupid. There were plenty of tables and chairs that he passed by, rooms to take cover in, people who might've helped (or, at the very least, taken offense to the dog tearing through their building), but he didn't consider any of these exits for a single second. There wasn't time. There were two directions: the space in front of him and the slavering fangs behind. Everything else was white noise.

It was only when he turned into an impasse with nothing but a door at the end did his mind kick back into gear.

He registered two things immediately. The lever-handle was within jumping distance and there were no hinges or other mechanisms visible from his side of the door. Among the terror-quickened beat that gripped his heart, he found a small pinprick of relief in the realization that it likely opened inward. Without a second thought, he leapt onto it, his feet pressing the handle and the force of his jump carrying onward into the door.

When it swung open, the ragtag group on the other side was met with a stray cat—ears pressed flat and tail bushy with fear as it maintained a precarious balance on the door handle—and a pursuing mutt about the size of a golden retriever that promptly slipped as its own leap landed long after it expected it to, sending it sliding rather pathetically across the floor and into the bent leg of a table.
 
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Adriana Nur Myalaym
The Evolving Exterminator
Internal Affairs waiting room, with the rest of the team
Adriana watched, wide-eyed, as one of the older men vibrated a table so badly it basically broke, then introduced himself to the group, followed by the other man, who displayed his ability as being able to summon a sharp throwing star of some sort.

She started to feel the beginnings of panic fluttering in her chest- she hadn't realized she was going to be expected to show what she could do. She'd expected some gruff, captain-like figure to walk in and give them instructions!

When Notti announced that she could sense everyone's emotions, Adriana's first thought was that Asya had selected her for the team as a way to monitor her reactions in the field, and a small stab of resentment popped up before she could stop it. Though it rarely manifested itself, she had inherited a portion of her mother and sister's family pride.

She became uncomfortable as Notti commented on the scene outside the window, Asya's voice echoing in her head as it had done a million times before.

"You can't fix everything or solve every problem, Ri, so focus on the task at hand."

She nodded to her invisible sister, eyes closed, and took a slow, stabilizing breath as the last of their group made a comment. No introduction, no display of power- that was interesting. Adriana felt the pressure on her to do so lessen, and then the need was obviated as a ferocious dog and a terrified cat suddenly burst into the room.

She got up and made a beeline for the dog, acting on instinct. It was groggily shaking its head, as its momentum had carried it straight into the leg of the damaged table. As it dazedly looked from side to side, trying to get its bearings, she put a hand on its warm fur and started muttering nonsensical words of reassurance.

"You're okay- everything's okay, you're gonna be fine..."

Adriana had always had a way with dogs, even the really dangerous ones, and she could feel it calming down as she petted and reassured it, hoping one of the others would have the good sense to do the same with the cat.
Code by Serobliss


Adriana watched, wide-eyed, as one of the older men vibrated a table so badly it basically broke, then introduced himself to the group, followed by the other man, who displayed his ability as being able to summon a sharp throwing star of some sort.

She started to feel the beginnings of panic fluttering in her chest- she hadn't realized she was going to be expected to show what she could do. She'd expected some gruff, captain-like figure to walk in and give them instructions!

When Notti announced that she could sense everyone's emotions, Adriana's first thought was that Asya had selected her for the team as a way to monitor her reactions in the field, and a small stab of resentment popped up before she could stop it. Though it rarely manifested itself, she had inherited a portion of her mother and sister's family pride.

She became uncomfortable as Notti commented on the scene outside the window, Asya's voice echoing in her head as it had done a million times before.

"You can't fix everything or solve every problem, Ri, so focus on the task at hand."

She nodded to her invisible sister, eyes closed, and took a slow, stabilizing breath as the last of their group made a comment. No introduction, no display of power- that was interesting. Adriana felt the pressure on her to do so lessen, and then the need was obviated as a ferocious dog and a terrified cat suddenly burst into the room.

She got up and made a beeline for the dog, acting on instinct. It was groggily shaking its head, as its momentum had carried it straight into the leg of the damaged table. As it dazedly looked from side to side, trying to get its bearings, she put a hand on its warm fur and started muttering nonsensical words of reassurance.

"You're okay- everything's okay, you're gonna be fine..."

Adriana had always had a way with dogs, even the really dangerous ones, and she could feel it calming down as she petted and reassured it, hoping one of the others would have the good sense to do the same with the cat.
 
"I realize the conditions here are less than ideal, but it is imperative that you keep Subject Alpha alive. We need to see what she's capable of out in the field, but it is your job to ensure that she comes back to the lab at the end of each mission for further study. Am I understood?"
"Of course-" Came a slow, gravelly voice from behind the lead researcher. "I would never disrespect your work." With a slide of the heel, the man behind voice marched off. One of side of the door was a straight-standing lanklet of a man, presentable as one could be. As he passed through, out of Asya's work space, his body contorted into a shriveled, hunch back that couldn't keep straight legs while walking, seemingly losing a foot in height.

As the ink-marked woman intensely gazed through the window, Hawkshaw rotated in his seat to check his own window to catch what the girl was transfixed by, but to no avail. His concerned gaze moved back to her. It seemed he wouldn't be the only "fixer" here, unable to keep themselves from helping others they believed needed it. Pressing his lip against his tongue, Hawkshaw felt the need to say something but was at a lost for words. token_1 (2).png
token_2 (1).pngThe weight in the room was lifted as a meeker woman in the corner broke the tension. Bask caught onto her hesitant disposition and responded "Don't feel obligated to make yourself vulnerable, this is just... greetings." Following with warm smile. He then noticed the third girl, also seemingly tentative, or at the very least cautious. Bask began thinking about trust building exercises he employed with his work and which would work best here, wanting to get everyone buddy-buddy as soon as possible. He was about to ask the quiet one her name before a dog had catapulted itself into the table next to him and startled everyone.

As the blacken-draped girl kneeled down and comforted the wild dog, the hunched back man came into the room and without hesitation, snatched the dog by the back of the neck and dragged it out of the room. Walking to the front door of the building, he threw the animal outside and down the steps, startling a couple passerby's. His glare quickly switched to an ear-to-ear grin as he waved off the civilians. "Apologies." He spoke in a nasally tone. His gazed turned to the door-man as the grin slowly faded and the glare returned. "I'm sorry Mr. Milnuras, it won't happen again." Replied the man, a slight shakiness is his voice. Milnarus stared at him for a second before giving a simple "Correct" then made his way back inside.

Milnuras came back into the waiting room and closed the door behind him. "I apologize for the disturbance, the animals usually don't come to this part of the city--" His eyes shifted to the cat. "At least the wild ones." Hawkshaw and Bask both looked over at the cat, equally baffeled by the situation. Milnuras continued "I am Chief Exterminations Officer, Haken Milnuras. You will be working directly under me, and reporting directly to me." Sniffling a bit before pulling a cloth from his pocket and lightly wiping his nose. "Don't mind, it's just allergies. The darn corn-weeds started blooming." Milnuras snickered. "Anyways! I have a little lecture and some guidelines to give you before I send you off with your senior Exterminator for some on-site training-" He scanned the room before mumbling to himself, "Wherever he is... the-" Milnarus stopped himself as he saw a man stepping through, not the window, but the glass of the window as if it was just a viscous fluid. Coming not from outside the window, but somewhere else entirely.

token_1 (4).png The man's arms first came through the glass with nothing on the other side of the window. They grabbed onto the sides of the window sill and were followed by his head. The rest of him came as he planted his feet on the sill and squatted at the window. "Good morning Milnuras!" spoke the man.
"I'm glad you could make it-" Milnuras checked his watch "Oh- on time." Closing the watch and placing it back in his pocket Milnarus resumed. "Well, everybody this is Vasoine, he will be taking you on the field." Reaching into a small bag, Milnuras produced pieces of circular glass and some notebooks. He walked around and handed each of the new recruits a piece of glass and a notebook with pencils, even putting one of each in front of the cat. "It doesn't matter what you do with your notebook, but as long as you're working with Vasoine you need to have a piece of glass on you at all times."
"At least 3 inches in diameter. Otherwise I can't come save your ass." Vasoine explained.

"Exactly, trust his judgement." Milnarus affirmed. "He already has all the details on the case, but in brief, you're going to be searching for Dawn Townsend, a suspected Anchor who hasn't been home in about 2 weeks and is potentially linked to a recent stabbing spree in the southern shopping district. Vasoine did you bring the dossier?" Vasoine reached into his own bag and held up a folder. "Wonderful! If you have any questions about the case, ask Vasoine, although it would be easier if you just quickly read over it."

Bask held his hand out to Vasoine "May I?" Which was obliged. He began skimming through the documents. The initiative brought a small smirk to Milnarus's face. "Again, feel free to ask Vasoine any questions pertaining to the job or the job. Since I don't have to be his stand-in there, I'll let him do the rest and bid you all fair luck." With that, Milnuras exited the room. Vasoine leaned over and watched as the door was closed. He then squatted back upright and scanned the room. "I read about each of ya. Well, the parts I'm allowed to anyways." Looking over everyone a bit more, he started listening them in order, starting with Notti on his right "You're definitely the empath, you match the file's description to a T."
Continuing with Theresa, "You're Ms. Shadow friend I assume-"

Skipping the two men, "Because you look like the one behind the file with all the black ink. I'm excited to see what that's about~." Vasoine smirked at Adrianna.
He returned to the men, "Old man with the shakes," he laughed "and shiny knife guy. Oh! and of course-" Vasoine hopped off the window sill and picked up Luca under his front legs "Who could forget Heliopause's mascot!" Putting a hand under the cats belly and holding him in his arm, Vasoine continued "And me? I'm the glass guy, an all seeing eye. Now aside from specifics on my anomalies, do you have any questions or something you'd like to bring up?"
 
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"Notti" - Ki'Ashya - The Thief
Location: The Internal Affairs Building.





Kia-2.jpg
A side-eye at the door upon hearing the click of the handle. But it was not that sound that set her hackles up. It was the other; the sound of heavy galloping footfalls leaving behind the wake of stunned cries and gasps.

The moment the door opened, Notti instinctively slid behind the largest man and drew her knifeboot. If any could get a closer inspection of such an implement one would note that it was weighted to be thrown. And despite the immense sack of slobber, fur and teeth rampaging its way into the room, her initial reaction was not to throw at the unsightly beast. No, she was set to impale the twisted, hairy demon crab upon the door handle.
What in all lovin' muffins be that thar thing?!

The woman moved from behind the man to get a better angle to throw, but instantly blue eyes popped wide. It was not a demonic crustacean, much to her relief. Dark eyesbrows slanted away and lower lip jut out as she absent-mindedly sheathed her blade. "D'aaawwww but nary a fear Shine. Lass, tis just a wee bitty kitty...!"

BittyBobcat BittyBobcat A tan hand reached up to her lips to stifle an excited squeal, the other reached up to snatch the red kerchief off from her head. Almost gliding, she made her way to the door and picked up the small black cat by the scruff and tucked him into the crook of her arm; the kerchief was like a little receving blankie for him. "Be still. Be easy now, lad. You're here safe with Notti. And Shine. And both of us are nice and friendly. And so are yoooo-ooou..."

Blue eyes shone bright as she looked him over. Skinny, but not malnourished, nor mangey nor injured. Probably some poor child's lost kitten. But still... she cuddled the little midnight fuzzball, nuzzling her head upon his as cats 'bunt' each other in greeting. Voice was low and sweetened as she spoke. "Hide your big, pretty eyes from the beastly cur. It is in good hands now as are you. Safe you are and lucky for you we likes our rat-catcher aboard this boat hahahahah... 'Lucky...' aye. That's a name for you, eh Shine? So. What does my Lucky-boy say to that--"

Just then another beastly being trundled up into the room, snatched up the large dog uncermoniously and trudged on out with it by the scruff. The dog yowled and thrashed wildly and Notti turned her back to it, shielding Lucky from the big ungainly thing. She scowled at the commotion but then was relieved when the man in charged showed up and cast some semblance of order back into the room. A quick glance at all her mates then she took a seat positioning herself so that Lucky could lie comfy in the red kerchief splayed across her lap. If he remained in her lap, she would stroke his back and neck gently and scritch softly behind his ears as Minuras presided over them all.

---

A lone eyebrow rose as she inspected her tear-dropped shaped piece of glass. She had marveled at how this Vasoine had slid right through the pane but wondered just how this thing was supposed to save her life. Was the man supposed to slip through this thing? That small? Blue eyes lit up as she envisioned the man grunting, red-faced and sticking out of the piece of glass, wriggling madly to pull himself free into the other side to rescue her. The sight of Lucky biting his nose to 'help' pull him through was too much. Notti let out a river of giggles, hand to her mouth to stop the flow but failing badly to do so.

Notti on his right "You're definitely the empath, you match the file's description to a T."

The girl cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes as she nodded. Her eyes then followed in order with the call outs of Heliopause members and their brief Anomaly descriptions; a nod she gave to each when he called them out. Her eyes then turned to Bask as he leafed through the dossiers. Perhaps she should have a gander as well. But before she could move, she noted that Vasoine had snatched up the skinny black cat. "Careful. careful there, mister. That's 'Lucky.' He's more than a mascot. He'll bite yer nose off...!"

Notti waved her hand away as if Shine had tried to shush her, but the vision of Lucky trying to 'help' the glass-man through the teardrop shard popped up bright into her mind's eyes and the giggles bubbled away yet again.

"Apologies... apologies a thousand fold, sir. No disrespect, Mr. Vasoine. I'm just nervous is all. As we all should be," cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. A calming breath. She tucked loose strands of chestnut behind an ear before continuing.

"Sooooo are we to apprehend and interrogate this... this 'Townsend?' Orrrrrrr... are we supposed to... y'know..." Notti had to swallow the distaste back down her gullet, "...execute them?"






 
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Theresa Cantor
Location: internal affair waiting room

Theresa was startled when the dog and the cat suddenly entered the room. Her hand thoughtlessly reached inside her coat for something but when she realized the cause of the ruckus was a pair of animals she relaxed a bit. The man who would later introduced himself as Haken Milnuras quickly threw the dog out of the room, but not the cat. She was rather confused by the turns of event and for some time she thought the cat was Milnuras' pet, until the cat got the glass and the notebook too.

After the briefing they were introduced into the Vasoine, senior officer who would lead their first mission. Theresa was relieved at the fact that they're not going to be left alone without any guidance. Although she wasn't sure how the glass would help. She didn't ask about it though, maybe he's just shy about his anomaly just like her. Overall the one thing she wanted to know had already been asked by Notti so she didn't say anything. Would she be willing to kill another people to finish a job? That time she said to Shadow that she wouldn't kill anyone, but...

If its your only choice, is it even still a question?
 
college_Gray.png
Luca Graymin
Location: Waiting room | Interactions: Notti ( BuggaBoo BuggaBoo ), Vasoine ( Probably George Probably George )

There were many things Gray disliked about his new form. His joints were in all the wrong places, he could hear far more than he ever wanted to, his teeth hurt whenever he carried anything heavier than a screwdriver… he could go on, but the worst by far was the constant touching. Even at the best of times sudden touch made his skin prickle; add to that the fact that everyone doing it was a giant compared to him, and he was starting to realize that he would much rather be forced to dodge a thrown stone than a hand aiming to pet.

So when a tattooed stranger pulled him up by the scruff and stuffed him in the crook of her arm, his claws slid out before he had the chance to fully register he was being moved. Still, he reluctantly allowed himself to be cuddled, nuzzled, and cooed at despite the already-fluffed hairs along his back raising ever higher. This was better than being torn to pieces by a dog—for now, at least.

Once the dog was subdued, though, all bets were off. Not a second after he was put down, he leapt out of the lap he'd been placed in and—with a bristling glare at Jaws—perched on the back of the nearest empty chair. He was already debating whether it would be worth it to attempt a quiet exit or if he should stick around until the dog left when a hunchback burst into the room.

Once Jaws was (much to Gray's amusement) removed, he finally realized that he happened to stumble into the exact room he needed to get to and hopped down to take his seat—it seemed rude to listen from the back of a chair, after all.

"I apologize for the disturbance, the animals usually don't come to this part of the city-- At least the wild ones."

His tail briefly flicked from where it sat neatly wrapped around his paws. Had anyone else made the pointed comment, he might've grumbled back a reply about how he might want to reconsider who he called an animal if he wanted to avoid the wild ones, but he held his tongue. No sense in making enemies of the people that stood above him.

When they got to introductions (as much as Vasoine's quick quips could be considered introductions, anyway), his ears pricked upward. Empath, shadows, black ink... he made a mental note of each trait and began tracking them backward as if he was being given a list of artifact conditions. Shadow friend, did that mean she controlled shadows? Maybe ink girl was some political figure's kid, that's something they wouldn't want getting out. The old man with the shakes didn't seem all that shakey to Gray, so that might've been a reference to his anomaly, but it could always be a condition that popped up sporadically—

He was so caught up in puzzling out his new associates that he didn't register the hands coming to pick him up until they were mere inches away. His mouth opened to speak, but all that came out was a grumbled, drawn-out mrowwwwww.

With a wriggling effort, Gray pulled a paw out from under Vasoine's arm and planted it on top, tugging himself half out of senior Exterminator's grasp. A hiss escaped his mouth, growing louder the minute he registered that, once again, he had failed to speak. It was only once he had fully escaped Vasoine's hold and jumped back to his former seat that he cleared his throat and finally managed to wrench some words out.

His voice was dry and raspy as if it wasn't often used, with a deepness to it that would've seemed out of place coming out of such a small creature had it not been for the underlying, frustrated hiss that cut through it. "Can everyone stop grabbing me for five minutes?" he growled, ears once again folded flat against his skull.

As he spoke, his eyes darted toward the empath. His hackles lowered slightly, and he forced the hiss out of his tone. "My apologies, I would've said something earlier, but I didn't know I was among... similar company."

His ears flicked.

”I should clarify, I didn’t- I’m not actually a cat.” Without any input (or notice) from Gray, his tail began to swish uncomfortably back and forth against the seat. ”And I didn’t intend to show up like..." He waved a paw in a vague gesture at himself. "this, but it should wear off soon. Probably.”

His silence stretched for a moment before, as an afterthought, he added, "I would prefer if you didn't call me Lucky, by the way." He briefly debated which name to tell them. There was always a chance that his surname would be recognized (something he would rather not deal with even when it didn't carry with it the implications of potentially ruining his entire family's reputation), and his given one was hardly something he enjoyed handing to strangers. Perhaps the point was moot considering that Vasoine likely knew both already but eventually, after another beat of quiet, he told them the technical (if obfuscated) truth. "My name's Gray."
 
Adriana Nur Myalaym
The Evolving Exterminator
Internal Affairs waiting room, with the rest of the team
Adriana startled as the hunchbacked man burst into the room, grabbed the dog, and bodily dragged it out. The room sat in stunned silence, waiting for him to return. When he did, making the comment about wild animals as he glanced sideways at the cat, most eyes turned to it as well, all looking equally confused.

They all focused back on the man as he introduced himself, then startled again as a second man appeared seemingly out of thin air. Milnuras introduced him as Vasoine, then started passing out notebooks and pieces of glass as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. Adriana turned hers over in her hand, thoroughly perplexed.

She was distracted from her thoughts by the mention of a stabbing spree.

We're going after someone that dangerous? On our first mission? she thought incredulously.

She barely understood the allusion Milnuras made about 'the job' vs. 'the job', and wondered vaguely when he left if he was going to report anything to her sister.

When Vasoine looked straight at her and smirked, Adriana looked away uncomfortably. They had redacted her file? What was that about? Was the group not supposed to know she hadn't gotten her abilities the conventional way...?

When Vasoine picked up the cat and referred to it as the mascot, Adriana frowned- that had to be a joke. But the tone of the room once again shifted as Notti asked if they were supposed to execute the mark and Adriana stared at her, aghast. She couldn't be serious!

And once again focus was pulled as the cat began to speak, of all things! When it complained about people grabbing it, Adriana was barely able to stifle a giggle. As he introduced himself as Gray, she flashed back to part of a conversation she'd overheard her sister make on the phone during her training...

"...I don't care if he turns into a beetle with a lazy eye- his restoration skill is unmatched in this city; both the Graymins and the Knives confirmed it, and I'm not about to pass up the use of an asset like that."

Adriana wondered, as she looked at the disgruntled feline, if this was what her sister had been talking about, but didn't want to pry- he seemed like a fairly private person. Instead, she walked over to the man currently holding the file on the person they were meant to track down and said

"Can I take a look at that?"
Code by Serobliss


Adriana startled as the hunchbacked man burst into the room, grabbed the dog, and bodily dragged it out. The room sat in stunned silence, waiting for him to return. When he did, making the comment about wild animals as he glanced sideways at the cat, most eyes turned to it as well, all looking equally confused.

They all focused back on the man as he introduced himself, then startled again as a second man appeared seemingly out of thin air. Milnuras introduced him as Vasoine, then started passing out notebooks and pieces of glass as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. Adriana turned hers over in her hand, thoroughly perplexed.

She was distracted from her thoughts by the mention of a stabbing spree.

We're going after someone that dangerous? On our first mission? she thought incredulously.

She barely understood the allusion Milnuras made about 'the job' vs. 'the job', and wondered vaguely when he left if he was going to report anything to her sister.

When Vasoine looked straight at her and smirked, Adriana looked away uncomfortably. They had redacted her file? What was that about? Was the group not supposed to know she hadn't gotten her abilities the conventional way...?

When Vasoine picked up the cat and referred to it as the mascot, Adriana frowned- that had to be a joke. But the tone of the room once again shifted as Notti asked if they were supposed to execute the mark and Adriana stared at her, aghast. She couldn't be serious!

And once again focus was pulled as the cat began to speak, of all things! When it complained about people grabbing it, Adriana was barely able to stifle a giggle. As he introduced himself as Gray, she flashed back to part of a conversation she'd overheard her sister make on the phone during her training...

"...I don't care if he turns into a beetle with a lazy eye- his restoration skill is unmatched in this city; both the Graymins and the Knives confirmed it, and I'm not about to pass up the use of an asset like that."

Adriana wondered, as she looked at the disgruntled feline, if this was what her sister had been talking about, but didn't want to pry- he seemed like a fairly private person. Instead, she walked over to the man currently holding the file on the person they were meant to track down and said

"Can I take a look at that?"
 
The big question had been brought up: "Sooooo are we to apprehend and interrogate this... this 'Townsend?' Or-- are we supposed to... y'know-- ...execute them?"
Vasoine dropped his cool laid-back compuser along with the grin on his face. "Well... it's technically up to our discretion," His voice lowered "But they're still people."
This subject was often uncomfortable for even the senior-most Exterminators. There was an irony in the idea that most of those who still saw the humanity in these criminals were sent after them. More often an Exterminator would face this moral dilemma with blank stoicism or some twisted rational. Ultimately they knew they weren't in the right, no one was.
"But-" Vasoine continued with his normal pitch "If it comes to it, you are allowed to exercise any amount of force needed to keep yourself alive. Each of you gave up to Exterminators pretty easily, that in itself makes you all anomalies- no pun intended. It's just... most the time fresh Anchors put up a fight. Maybe that's why you're all together."

"Can I take a look at that?" Bask brought up his gaze to Adriana. "Yes, go ahead-" as he handed her the dossier. A youngster's initiative would've brought a smile to Bask's face if not for what he'd just read. "Three people is a spree?" He asked Vasoine. It wasn't the number that rattled him as much as the victims, all of which were elderly and currently in critical condition, despite what the dossier called "Otherwise nonlife threatening attacks."
"Legally it's the start of one," Vasoine responded "and it seems like it'll sooner become a triple homicide."

Vasoine's attentioned turned to Hawkshaw, noticing him to not being paying attention and rather transfixed by Gray. "Hawkshaw, you got any questions?"
Eyes wide, Hawkshaw looked at Vasoine and pointed towards Gray. "It fucking talks?" He whispered in utter confusion. Vasoine laughted at the response. "That's nothing, wait until you meet a first wave Anchor. One of them makes air bleed, and that stuff burns! I'd know, he caught me."
Checking the time on his watch, Vasoine decided it was time to move to the streets. "Anyways, let's get this show on the road!" He bounced himself off the wall and the group left the Center of Internal Affairs.

The group had made their way past the polished paths of the center circle and past public housing to where it met with the shopping district. "This is the general area we believe Townsend is hiding. Now I know I'm supposed to stick with all of you, but this is a situation where we will get a lot more done if we split apart. Of course if I'm needed, just yell directly into the glass Milnuras gave you and I'll promptly respond. If it's an emergency, do it with your eyes closed unless you want them to get cut up." Vasoine looked over the group and thought of how to best divide them.
"Bask, take Gray and Notti with you to check the housing side, the rest of y'all are gonna stay with me here in the work district. I'll leave my extra copy of Townsend's file with you guys. Simplest way to do this is to just ask around, see if anyone has seen anything suspicious, seen anyone resembling Ms. Townsend, or locations of hideouts and bunkers. Remember she's likely in hiding right now so keep a sharp eye out. All we know of her Enigma is that it has something to do with an especially deadly knife, so keep your guard. But most importantly, be subtle. If word gets to her that y'all are looking for her, she probably won't hesitate to kill. But I think the combination of your three Enigmas should be enough to subdue her.
As for those with me, same thing goes but just follow my lead. Now go on, if you got questions, ask the glass." Vasoine beckoned Theresa, Adriana and Hawkshaw away from the others.

Bask was confused as to why his supposed on-site teacher was leaving half of them to figure it out on their own, but he felt it better not to question the methods of someone whose done this before and is still kicking. He opened the dossier again and studied Townsend's face. "Well... I guess we just start asking people." He said with a lack of confidence in his voice, anxiety beginning to settle in. Bask had never been in a fight in his life, and soon he may be fighting to the death with someone whose ability has already shown to be deadly.

Vasoine lead his end of the group through a few twist and turns of alleyways and streets. "I know a noodle-maker who is usually pretty helpful, we'll ask him some questions first." They continued on until they reached a small restaurant in the corner of an alley. When they went inside they were bombarded by a smell of meats and spices. "Vasoine!" The shop owner welcomed him. "Dango~" Vasoine replied. "Great to see you!"
"Likewise, what can I do ya for?" Dango asked without interruption in his cooking.
"I'm looking for a Dawn Townsend, 19 year old woman." Vasoine pulled out a photo of her and showed it to Dango.
"Hmm..." He studied the photo. "Nada. Never seen or heard o' her."
"Damn-" Vasoine feigned disappointment. "Well while we're here can I get four chicken stocks with extra egg? I've got trainees with me today."
"You betcha!" Dango enthusiastically replied.

Hawkshaw was bewildered. Vasoine had just talked about how deadly and important it was to capture Townsend, yet here he was ordering soup. "Hey-- what about the others, aren't they-" Vasoine interrupted him "Oh right! And 3 more to go."
"That's not what I-" Hawkshaw mumbled before being interrupted again.
"Hush and take a seat, this won't be long." Vasoine said as he sat himself at the bar. "You two as well, c'mon now, he only takes a couple minutes to prepare it." Vasoine patted the seats next to him.
 





"Notti" - Ki'Ashya - The Thief
Location: The Internal Affairs Building.





Kia-2.jpg
True, the question she had asked about execution of the target was rather blunt, but it was warranted in her mind. Just what was meant of the title 'Exterminator' that they had all been given as a conscripted member of the Heliopause?

Yes, Kia was a direct descendant of the Matriarch of the Clan Wicked Piratehood, but she was notorious amongst her family for being the least blood-thirsty of them all. She was still a bad girl vested in her criminal ways, her nickname in her outfit was 'Naughty-Girl' afterall. But she was still far, far, far and away from considering murder a tool within her skillset. Killing another was something the girl had never done before. In fact, she still tears up and becomes ill when revisiting the memories of her Clan members slaying other pirates in cold blood.

And so even without Shine helping her sense the emotions of the other 'Exterminators', Notti was strangely put at ease with the unease of which the rest had reacted to her question. A small sigh of relief escaped her when she realized she was not surrounded by a bunch of murder zealots.

Blue eyes slid over to the eccentric glass-man when he answered her question.


Vasoine dropped his cool laid-back compuser along with the grin on his face. "Well... it's technically up to our discretion," His voice lowered "But they're still people."

"But-" Vasoine continued with his normal pitch "If it comes to it, you are allowed to exercise any amount of force needed to keep yourself alive. Each of you gave up to Exterminators pretty easily, that in itself makes you all anomalies- no pun intended. It's just... most the time fresh Anchors put up a fight. Maybe that's why you're all together."

A simple nod was all she had responded to his response; that was all she needed to know. She had no idea why the others did not resist conscription, but whatever the case, Notti found comfort knowing that only desperate fools or those fighting their own demons would give up such freedoms to become members of the Heliopause. Pawns of doom by choice, if that be yer fancy then...

---


Location: The Streets of the Housing Area.



Hood pulled low over her head, and overcoat fully cinched up, Notti had fallen in line behind Bask and Gray. A small smile pulled up at the corners of her mouth despite the discomfort she felt as they walked into the housing area. If anything went down, she could hide behind the two larger men; they were both a full head and more taller than her. Truly helpful if, and when, they were face to face with a knife wielding woman intent on killing them given the opportunity.

The dossiers she had not seen in full however, she did know that Bask leafed through them. Perhaps he gleaned something that could be of note. He was older, old enough to be her father she surmised, and he had that calm, matter-of-factness about him that should put her at ease. But the shakiness in his voice was the part that unsettled her. She cleared her throat and struck up conversation to try to get them to all focus upon task at hand and not their anxieties.

"Mr. Bask, anything you found of interest in those dossiers? I wondered myself if the elderly were linked together? Influence, money, family and the like...? Perhaps Townsend knew them...?" Notti looked up to the sky as if to check the weather when she spoke to Bask.

And therein lay her discomfort. Oh, she knew how to go about casing these victims. It was her job to scout out marks and joints; people and places were her thing to know before striking up plans to a heist/hustle. But she was supposed to be a dead fisherman's daughter, not an experienced Sharper. It was not so much she feared her companions knowing her true identity, no, it was more that if her identity was revealed, those that did truly know her name and family would come for her. Or worse yet, her mother should find out the whereabouts of her darling, little baby girl and attempt to retrieve her.

His silence stretched for a moment before, as an afterthought, he added, "I would prefer if you didn't call me Lucky, by the way."

Looking back at the interaction with the talking cat, it was just too, too precious up until it spoke those last words. It was her dream since she was a child to have her very own talking pet! Oh, but the heartbreak when he rebuked her and her nickname. The dream was over.

"Well, if anything, mates, I might be able to get a solid lead if we can find an item that belongs to Townsend. I could try to catch an 'imprint' of them upon it," A sideeye at Grey. A sigh. A smirk. A twinkle in the eye. Notti was still Naughty-Girl afterall, "might prove to be a... 'Lucky' break for us, no?"






 
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college_Gray.png
Luca Graymin
Location: Waiting room | Interactions: Hawkshaw ( Probably George Probably George )

"Well... it's technically up to our discretion, but they're still people."

Gray shifted in his seat. Perhaps it was wrong of him to think it, but some small part of himself almost wished that it was an order. If he found himself with a knife at his throat... well, he didn't want to die, but he wasn't keen to kill either, and that sliver of a chance at keeping blood off his hands could lead to a moment's hesitation that might be his last.

He flicked his ears and tried to ignore the issue altogether. There was no planning for it. Besides, he was more likely to be left without any options at all than stuck weighing morals. After all, what was he supposed to do about some unknown magic knife? Turn into a cat at it? No, his use (if he had one at all) did not lay in offense.

"Each of you gave up to Exterminators pretty easily, that in itself makes you all anomalies- no pun intended. It's just... most the time fresh Anchors put up a fight. Maybe that's why you're all together."

That set his hackles prickling again (and right after they had finally managed to smooth down too). Were they all non-offensive? Gray hadn't fought back because he was a cat, what were their excuses? He eyed the younger man sitting beside him with confused expression that ended up matching his own.

"It fucking talks?"

His confusion melted into a squinted annoyance. "Not it," Gray corrected with a growl, "he."

If his open mouth was anything to go by, he would've continued speaking had he not been interrupted by the rather abrupt prompt to exit the building. As it was, he settled for a disgruntled grumble and turned to grab his newly acquired equipment...

The three-inch circle-cut piece of glass glinted maliciously back at him.

He sighed.


Location: Public Housing Area | Interactions: Bask, Notti ( BuggaBoo BuggaBoo )

Following alongside the group was... difficult, to say the least.

It wasn't because the glass was too heavy—in fact, it was lighter than nearly half the things he'd found himself lugging around like this in the past—nor was it due to the size (it felt a bit strange against his teeth, sure, but that did nothing to hinder him carrying it). No, the reason it was such a pain was exactly as he expected. It was too damn slippery to hold in his mouth.

Gray walked with his head bent at an odd angle to keep it from slipping out, forcing his eyes to strain to the very limits of their gaze just to see where he was going and avoid being stepped on (something his newly sore tail reminded him was of great importance). His tongue pressed awkwardly against the bottom of the glass to keep what little grip on it he had. Every few moments he took a sudden, unplanned step to one side or the other as he felt it slide and was forced to counterbalance before it fell out entirely.

He was seriously considering attempting to roll it on its side when he was hit by a strange tightness in his legs, as if the joints had comrpessed and needed to pop back into place. Then they did exactly that. In the blink of an eye, his fur disappeared, his posture turned so his two feet were planted in the ground, and he found himself facing the street from an angle that finally wasn't foot-level. There was no transition. There was only one moment where he had been weaving between the crowd, and then the next where he stood as a member of it. To any other person that might've witnessed it, it would seem as if a cat had walked behind a pole and gotten replaced by a tall, rather disheveled man in that brief second it had been out of view.

He stumbled. The transformation had taken place midstep and now he was forced to deal with the consequences of suddenly being launched back into bipedal walking. His hand reached out to steady him against the rough side of a building as the wave of vertigo that always seemed to accompany these changes rolled over him. He blinked. Once. Twice. It passed as quickly as it had come, leaving him free to spit the piece of glass still in his mouth into his hand, pocket it, and then catch up with the rest of the group.

"Bask, take Gray and Notti with you to check the housing side, the rest of y'all are gonna stay with me here in the work district."

Oh great. He shot a quick glance at his two newly assigned partners without meeting their eyes. Did he want them dead? Three strangers with no experience in the field, of which two had non-combative Enigmas—it was a recipe for disaster. In fact, it was the exact number Townsend had already managed to kill. Not to mention that he wanted them to ask around, something he admitted moments later could draw deadly attention. Were they just the expendable ones, or would the other three get their trial by fire as well?

His foot scraped nervously against the ground, forming small arcs in the dust. He swallowed down his questions, along with any indignation that accompanied them. It had no use here.

"Well... I guess we just start asking people."

"I suppose we do," Gray echoed, his voice as monotone as his stone-faced expression. If there were any present who knew him well, they would immediately register that heaviness as a mask for his nerves, but—as it were—it would likely sound rather stoic to the untrained ear.

"Mr. Bask, anything you found of interest in those dossiers? I wondered myself if the elderly were linked together? Influence, money, family and the like...? Perhaps Townsend knew them...?"

He peeked at the dossier over Bask's shoulder and gave it a skim. "If the victims were personally identified, then they don't seem to mention it," he noted. "If that's because no identification ocurred... I almost wonder if their age could've been linked to the anomaly. Perhaps it affects people differently based on their age, or it could've, uh—" he swallowed, "caused it somehow." The childishness of the statement set a faint flush on his cheeks; saying it out loud felt like telling some ridiculous ghost story. "But that's only speculation, after all—it might not even be possible for an anomaly to expedite the aging process," he added hastily.

"Well, if anything, mates, I might be able to get a solid lead if we can find an item that belongs to Townsend. I could try to catch an 'imprint' of them upon it. Might prove to be a... 'Lucky' break for us, no?"

Notti's linguistic cleverness was rewarded with a glare, but even Gray would have to admit that her idea was a good one. "We'd have to go to her former residence for that." His eyes returned to the dossier to reread her address line. "If she's anywhere nearby, that would catch her attention. There's no subtlety in a home search." Then again, how much subtlety could be achieved by asking around about her?

He swept another glance across the two, then at his own stained outfit. If they were lucky (his scowl deepened ever so slightly at his own mental use of the word), they might be mistaken for opportunistic thieves. With a reluctant look in the direction he suspected her house would be, he admitted, "she would have to be stupid to stick around after the incident in the shopping district, though."

Gray decided to leave out how little he liked assuming a stranger would act intelligent.
 
Adriana Nur Myalaym
The Evolving Exterminator
Internal Affairs waiting room, then sitting in a bar
"... you are allowed to exercise any amount of force needed to keep yourself alive."

Adriana shuddered as Vasoine said these words, flashing back to another piece of conversation she'd overheard in the lab.

"... don't care what you have to do, but make sure you keep her alive, understand? We can't lose her."

Adriana bit her lip, trying not to get emotional. Hearing her sister talk about her like she was some prize lab rat (which, she supposed, is all she was to Asya now) just about broke her heart, but she'd chosen to do everything she could to help her in her work- she couldn't turn back now.

"Yes, go ahead-", Bask's soft voice cut into her moody thoughts as he handed her the file. She quickly scanned the contents, her eyes going wide. It was truly a horrifying account, especially since their mark appeared to have no prior history of problematic behavior. Adriana was particularly struck by the parts about capturing her before giving teammates medical attention, and the last bit about executing her. She swallowed a sudden lump in her throat and handed the file back to Bask.

Vasoine seemed to be a man of unshakable good humor, making jokes about First Wave Anchors who could make the air bleed as if it were an everyday anecdote which, for him, she supposed it was.

*****​

Once they got to the area of town they were supposed to start searching, Vasoine immediately split them up, and Adriana's anxiety ratcheted up a few more notches.

She was so reassured to hear she would be in his group that she barely registered Gray having returned to human form. She meekly followed Hawkshaw, Vasoine and Theresa through the streets, trying to appear inconspicuous even though her dark, shapeless cloak was already doing a bang-up job of making her unnoticeable.

When Vasoine cheerfully chose to order some noodles rather than pursue the investigation further, Hawkshaw looked as bewildered as Adriana felt. She sat herself with the others and took a sip when her bowl was served.

She had to admit- the noodles were delicious.

Still, she had to agree with the older man- weren't they on an important mission?

She glanced around nervously as though afraid someone was about to stab them in the back with a sharp knife at any moment, unsure what to make of Vasoine and his apparent reluctance to take anything seriously.
Code by Serobliss


"... you are allowed to exercise any amount of force needed to keep yourself alive."

Adriana shuddered as Vasoine said these words, flashing back to another piece of conversation she'd overheard in the lab.

"... don't care what you have to do, but make sure you keep her alive, understand? We can't lose her."

Adriana bit her lip, trying not to get emotional. Hearing her sister talk about her like she was some prize lab rat (which, she supposed, is all she was to Asya now) just about broke her heart, but she'd chosen to do everything she could to help her in her work- she couldn't turn back now.

"Yes, go ahead-", Bask's soft voice cut into her moody thoughts as he handed her the file. She quickly scanned the contents, her eyes going wide. It was truly a horrifying account, especially since their mark appeared to have no prior history of problematic behavior. Adriana was particularly struck by the parts about capturing her before giving teammates medical attention, and the last bit about executing her. She swallowed a sudden lump in her throat and handed the file back to Bask.

Vasoine seemed to be a man of unshakable good humor, making jokes about First Wave Anchors who could make the air bleed as if it were an everyday anecdote which, for him, she supposed it was.

*****​

Once they got to the area of town they were supposed to start searching, Vasoine immediately split them up, and Adriana's anxiety ratcheted up a few more notches.

She was so reassured to hear she would be in his group that she barely registered Gray having returned to human form. She meekly followed Hawkshaw, Vasoine and Theresa through the streets, trying to appear inconspicuous even though her dark, shapeless cloak was already doing a bang-up job of making her unnoticeable.

When Vasoine cheerfully chose to order some noodles rather than pursue the investigation further, Hawkshaw looked as bewildered as Adriana felt. She sat herself with the others and took a sip when her bowl was served.

She had to admit- the noodles were delicious.

Still, she had to agree with the older man- weren't they on an important mission?

She glanced around nervously as though afraid someone was about to stab them in the back with a sharp knife at any moment, unsure what to make of Vasoine and his apparent reluctance to take anything seriously.
 
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Theresa Cantor
Location: Dango's bar

The last time Theresa entered a bar was roughly one and a half month ago, as a waitress there. The pay wasn't much, especially compared to her weekend job of driving cab for the riches, but her employers were very kind and oftenly handed her some of the foods after they close the place. The smell of spices inside the bar gave her some pleasant nostalgic feeling. Although she must made a conscious effort to restrain her stomach from growling, those stale bread she had for breakfast didn't fill her much.

While they're waiting for the food to come Theresa took some time to read through the dossier. Other than the three consequetive stabbings she had done, this Dawn Townsend sounds just like a regular girl. It had been roughly one day since the incident but the fact that she had a pair of horns and no one had reported her yet means there's a high chance that she's still around the stabbing site.

Oh? What is this? Are you getting excited about the job? Did reading about the target awaken your deeply buried detective self?
Reading along inside Theresa's mind, Shadow started to tease her about the woman's emotion. Theresa squinted her eyes slightly at the anomaly's words but didn't offer any reply for it. As their food arrived, the woman started pouring quite some amount of chilli paste into her noodle and turned its broth into flaming hot liquid. She continued reading through the dossier again and again while eating through her meal.

"Thank you for the meal." Theresa performed a silent prayer after she finished her noodle. She was sweating profusely from all those chilli but otherwise she didn't seems to be too bothered by it. She then shifted her attention back to the other anchors.

"I think we should get Dawn's parents to help us. Notti said she can use her anomaly to track down an item's owner right? If we bring along her parents with us hopefully we can make Dawn less hostile to us."

Yes, they can be decent distractor and meatshield.

"I-I mean, it would be good if we can bring her in peacefully, right?" Theresa let out an awkward smile as she looked around at her co-workers, trying to gauge their reactions.

Probably George Probably George Ayama Ayama
 
"Soups' up!" Dango rang out as he laid out the bowls in front of Vasoine and crew, additionally handing him a stack of soups in plastic containers. "That'll be 385 criels."

"Can you put it on my tab?" Vasoine asked with a cheeky grin. It was met with a piercing glare from Dango. "Oh come on! I eventually paid the last one!"

Dango was unmoved, his eyes squinting ever so slightly. "Fine~" Vasoine broke, handing Dango the coins. He then took the to-go orders over to a mirror on the wall and put them through the glass, the other side being inside his refrigerator at home that he prepared with a pane of glass inside the door. "Your stoicism is something to admire Dango, yknow?" To which Dango responded, "And your cheekiness is something to be ashamed of!" They both laughed. "You know I have no shame." Vasoine retorted before sitting to enjoy his own soup.

Hawkshaw simply kept his opinions of professionalism to himself and quietly ate his soup. It was marvelous, he felt like he'd been guided to a hidden oasis in the cruel desert. "Mm!" He interjected with with a mouth full of noodles before swalling them. "So I'm not exactly a good reader, what did the file say about the woman?"

Vasoine waited a moment to respond as to take a couple more bites. "She's got horns, orange and spiraling like a goat's. And a knife that left wounds that haven't yet healed. The people she attacked were each elderly, which could either be because it's some sort of condition for her anomaly or it was simply a choice of easier targets." He paused. "But being in a crowd meant she could've stabbed anyone... so I'd wager she deliberately chose her targets for a more sinister reason. I had a similar case where a man was kidnapping babies because his enigma used their growth potential to further its own." Vasoine shivered at the details coming back to him. "Of course my partners decided not to take him in. I objected, but y'know how it goes, majority rule." He went back to his soup as though discussing this was mundane.

Hawkshaw was taken aback. Vasoine just earlier had specifically said 'they're still human' yet it seemed not everyone on the field shared the same sentiment to all anchors.



Bask, Gray, and Notti began wandering throughout the public housing complex. Notti brought up the proposition of the victims being related, but Gray made the point it wasn't mentioned in the dossier, to which Bask agreed that the lack of such information likely implied there wasn't a connection beyond age. But that was something Bask didn't want to think about, considering it left him with the idea that he'd be first on the chopping block if Townsend had a choice of attack.

Gray had brought up a good point about the lack of subtlety with an abrasive home search. "I think in this situation, subtlety is off the table. She ought know she's being looked for. But it doesn't hurt to start with the obvious first." Bask chimed in.

As they made their way through the sprawling maze that was this end of the residential district they eventually found themselves at the door of Townsend's home. Before they could make another move, Bask quickly threw his hand up as a gesture to stop and quietly shushed at the two. He felt a couple faint vibrations from the other side of the door. His heart sank as he whispered "Something's inside."

With a heavy gulp, Bask slowly pressed his ear against the door to try and listening for something. Notti could feel a sense of desperation oozing from inside. As the suspenseful moment went on, Bask turned towards Notti. "I don't hear-" He stopped himself when he felt quick foot steps approaching the door. He pushed himself away from the door, but not before a foot long blade pierced through it and partially into Bask's stomach. He fell to the floor and quickly grabbed his piece of glass, screaming into it "She's here!"

In a moments notice, fingers came out of the glass and grasped it around the rim. They ripped it apart and a cloud of glass ploomed suddenly, along with Vasoine standing in the middle of it, glass shards poking out from his fingertips and across his arms.



As they dined, Theresa brought up the idea of reaching Townsend's parents. Vasoine pondered it for a moment. "Well I see 2 likely scenarios: Either her parents are entirely ignorant of the situation and thusly wouldn't be of much assistance aside from providing a personal belonging to Dawn, in which case Notti could..." Vasoine trailed off before mumbling "Shit, I didn't think about that." He then moved on, "Well the other likely scenario is that they knew the whole time and never said anything because they don't want to snitch on their daughter. We can't know until we ask though!" Vasoine turned to and pointed at Theresa "Smart thinking lass, you're already on the ball! We'll go there when we're done here."

It was then that Vasoine heard Bask's cry through the glass. "Go to Townsend's home, now!" He yelled at the others at the bar before he stepped out, grabbed a glass disk from his bag, stuck his fingers inside, and ripped it apart, vanishing as soon as the cloud of glass particles enveloped him.

The moment Vasoine stepped out, a hooded figure had stepped in. Hawkshaw turned to quickly run to the other party's location, before he locked eyes with the man in the hood. An unknown man with spiraling horns protruding from his head like described on Townsend. "Kill it!" Hawkshaw's enigma whispered. He summoned a blade and prepared to throw it, but not before the man pointed at Hawkshaw and a spiraling yellow light shot from his finger and struck Hawkshaw in the shoulder, sending him against the bar then onto the floor.

The attacker then directed his finger towards Adriana and was about to fire at her head, but luckily Dango had thrown a bowl at the man's head, disorientating him. "Not in my shop bitch!"
 





"Notti" - Ki'Ashya - The Thief
Location: Townsend's Building.





Kia-2.jpg
Notti slowly removed her sunshades. The girl froze midstep, pulled up at the lapels of her dark overcoat then inhaled.

There it was. The home of the attacker. And here she was. Alone without her siblings to protect her.


A quick glance around gave her a dual purpose. One was to see who was out and about this morning; just see exactly who was giving them a closer eye than usual. The other was to slow down her racing heart and try to swallow it back down her throat as hard as she could.

She felt ready, but the shaky and noisy exhale betrayed any thoughts of confidence in the three of them in this moment. Bask was waltzing right up to the front door just like that! No. No more playing dumb.

"Mr. Bask. The next steps we take will determine how we apprehend Townsend," there was a hitch in her throat, she could barely fight back her natural accent, "or determine how we are kil--"

Before they could make another move, Bask quickly threw his hand up as a gesture to stop and quietly shushed at the two. He felt a couple faint vibrations from the other side of the door. His heart sank as he whispered "Something's inside."

"Away from the door really, Mr. Bask..." the soft faded 'r's' and low purring voice of the coastal girl was roughed up and her 'r's' were harder and took on a rolling growl as her eyes lit up with swirling purple and pinks, "away from there, mister! Shine, darlin', show me her heart's contents...!"

Immediately she was beset by the rising emotions of mates around her; each beat of their heart, she and her Anomaly drank in and 'spotted' them without actually seeing them. Then there was the wave of emotion behind the door. Normally, Notti had a tough go sensing behind solid objects, but whether it was because the door was paper thin or whether it was the true overwhelming emotions of a crumbling person reaching their final breaking point, she did not know in the moment. But what she did know was that it was a desperation greater than which she had experienced. Fight or flight.

"We are dealing with a trapped animal; cornered and dangerous--"

Bask turned towards Notti. "I don't hear-"

"Away, said I--" her words were lost and turned in a high pitched scream as a wicked, thirsting blade cut through the door and right into Bask's midsection.

The moment Vasoine was summoned was the moment Notti was lost. She should have ran. She should have fled screaming and calling for help, begging for someone, anyone to come rescue them. But as of now, her blood ran hot whilst witnessing a fellow member being attacked; as any blooded Clan Wicked proper should have reacted. And although, no, she could not fight as any proper Clan Wicked pirate worth their salt should, she could just not stand there and let them die.


"Mister Bask! Sail's still up...?! Fall ya' back then! Tend ya' wound! Mister Gray, watch them windows! Be thar only these exits, true!" lost was the mellow coastal accent. In its wake was a pirate's talk. A harsh whisper was her voice, but that accent rang through like a bell on a clear day, "She be last standin' right here, right now! Me n' Shine gots her 'spotted'! If that wench be on the moves, we gots her like stank on ya' mommie's lowdowners! I gots up high then!"

Like a rabid, electric charged squirrel, the little thing leapt and scrambled up the support post beside the door and ended up precariously, yet expertly perched upon the overhang above the main door. Somehow, like a magic trick, she had taken off her overcoat without anyone noticing and held it in ready, like a fisherwoman waiting anxiously to toss a net upon unsuspecting marine prey.

Pink and purple mists swirled away from glowing eyes as her chin tilted up towards Vasoine below. A quick wink and slight upward chin nod she tossed the glass-man.

On his go,
Ki'Ashya of Clan Wicked would act.






 
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Adriana Nur Myalaym
The Evolving Exterminator
In the bar, facing a new threat
Adriana watched as the mysterious final member of the team fairly drowned her noodles in chili sauce, wondering if she'd somehow burned her tastebuds off a long time ago. It made her entire face drip with sweat, but somehow she didn't seem to mind- the woman was a definite enigma.

The suggestion about Dawn's parents made sense, even though Adriana had her suspicions about it being in any way useful, doubting they would know much. As Vasoine casually disappeared several bowls of noodles through a pane of glass and then explained the contents of Dawn's file, Adriana grew more worried.

None of them had any experience with what they were expected to do here, and they knew next to nothing about their target except for the fact that she was dangerous. He told yet another alarming story in a matter-of-fact tone, and Adriana wondered if they would all become jaded enough by their experiences to one day do the same.

Well, if we survive that long, she amended, Vasoine's dark humor apparently rubbing off on her already.

He was interrupted in the middle of agreeing with Teresa about her suggestion that they try Dawn's parents when his eyes went wide with alarm at something only he could hear. Before the rest of them could so much as blink, he'd used one of the glass circles to disappear, instructing them to head for Townsend's home.

Before they could even attempt to follow the order, however, a mysterious hooded figure had arrived in their midst. Hawkshaw tried to attack it, but was struck in the shoulder and sent crashing to the ground.

Adriana screamed, barely aware that she was the next target, but grateful for the shopkeeper's intervention. She threw herself across the bar to Hawkshaw's side, ignoring the file's instruction to focus on capturing the Anchor before giving teammates medical attention, her eyes going wide when she saw the hole burned clean through the man's flesh. She had absolutely no idea what to do, but she attempted to help him up nonetheless, hoping that, if their enemy chose to fire again, her ability could protect them both.

Teresa, she silently prayed, if you have some incredible, awesome ability, now would be the time to use it!
Code by Serobliss


Adriana watched as the mysterious final member of the team fairly drowned her noodles in chili sauce, wondering if she'd somehow burned her tastebuds off a long time ago. It made her entire face drip with sweat, but somehow she didn't seem to mind- the woman was a definite enigma.

The suggestion about Dawn's parents made sense, even though Adriana had her suspicions about it being in any way useful, doubting they would know much. As Vasoine casually disappeared several bowls of noodles through a pane of glass and then explained the contents of Dawn's file, Adriana grew more worried.

None of them had any experience with what they were expected to do here, and they knew next to nothing about their target except for the fact that she was dangerous. He told yet another alarming story in a matter-of-fact tone, and Adriana wondered if they would all become jaded enough by their experiences to one day do the same.

Well, if we survive that long, she amended, Vasoine's dark humor apparently rubbing off on her already.

He was interrupted in the middle of agreeing with Teresa about her suggestion that they try Dawn's parents when his eyes went wide with alarm at something only he could hear. Before the rest of them could so much as blink, he'd used one of the glass circles to disappear, instructing them to head for Townsend's home.

Before they could even attempt to follow the order, however, a mysterious hooded figure had arrived in their midst. Hawkshaw tried to attack it, but was struck in the shoulder and sent crashing to the ground.

Adriana screamed, barely aware that she was the next target, but grateful for the shopkeeper's intervention. She threw herself across the bar to Hawkshaw's side, ignoring the file's instruction to focus on capturing the Anchor before giving teammates medical attention, her eyes going wide when she saw the hole burned clean through the man's flesh. She had absolutely no idea what to do, but she attempted to help him up nonetheless, hoping that, if their enemy chose to fire again, her ability could protect them both.

Teresa, she silently prayed, if you have some incredible, awesome ability, now would be the time to use it!
 
Theresa Cantor
Location: Dango's bar

Theresa was happy that her suggestion can at least gave them a starting direction to take. She was just about to brainstorm for something to say to Dawn's parents later when she heard Bask's scream coming frok Vasoine's glass. The situation instantly became tense as Vasoine urged them to came into Townsend's house before he immediately walked out.

Quickly putting the dossier back together, Theresa was just stood up when she noticed the hooded man but she wasn't prepared at all for what would unfold. The hooded man pointed at Hawkshaw and shot him on the shoulder with a light beam. She was sure she caught a whift of singed flesh there but she couldn't check on Hawkshaw nor put herself behind a cover as her survival instinct took over... and she just stood there for a few precious seconds. Eyes widen in shock, legs trembling and jaws dropping. It was fortunate that the man wasn't aiming at her for his next target. The one who broke her out of her trance was actually Shadow who screamed inside her mind.

DO IT! you've prepared for something like this.

Taking a deep breath, Theresa reached inside her coat and dropped a kitchen knife onto the floor. Then two things happened at once. Theresa rolled back to where their eating table was. Her hand snatched the container for the pepper, loosen the lid slightly before throwing said container towards the ceiling above the horned man, raining spicy powder upon the assailant. At the same time, as if suddenly having a life of its own, Theresa's shadow grabbed the knife and leapt towards the horned man. It was an entity completely made of black unknown substance. It poses no other feature other than its general shape that resembles Theresa's sillhouette and passed through the pepper powder without any problem. When the doppelganger was close enough to the man it swung the knife in a wide arc, aiming to slash the throat of the horned man.

Probably George Probably George Ayama Ayama
 
college_Gray.png

Luca Graymin
Location: Outside Townsend's Building | Interactions: Bask ( Probably George Probably George ), Notti ( BuggaBoo BuggaBoo )

Against his better judgement, Gray followed along as they made their way toward the address listed in the dosier. Seeing as his abilities gave him no extra advantage in reconnaissance or combat, he tailed toward the end of the group, and contented himself to committing the route they took through the winding streets of the public housing district to memory.

This didn't change when they reached their destination. Once he spied the dilapidated address marker that confirmed this complex as Townsend's (either that or Building 27, the mold creeping across the lettering made it difficult to tell), he headed a little ways off to the side so he could check the thin alleyways that bordered the sorry excuse for a housing unit.

The other two went straight for the door, something Gray would've protested had Notti not beat him to it.

"I'd listen to her if I were you," he warned, his foot planting itself a half-step behind him as if he was about to demonstrate the truthfullness of his statement. His hand, however, took a less timid approach and reached for the rather small switchblade he kept in his pocket in case of emergencies. Really, the only use it had met at his hands so far had been prying open containers or sharpening pencils, but he made a point of maintaining it well enough that it could theoretically do damage should the need arise (something he had been keeping even better eye on in recent months, not that it was any help once he was finally caught) and the near hand-length blade that clicked out of it was suitably sharp.

When the foot-long chef's knife plunged through the door, though, Gray realized that perhaps it was a futile gesture.

Still, he brandished it with as much resolve as an inexperienced hand could hold (which was to say a shaking—if stubborn—one).

A foreign accent met his ears. Ridiculous as it was to focus on in the moment, he found himself wondering why Notti had suddenly put on a new voice. He shook his head to clear the thought. There would be time for that later (or, rather, there would only be time for that if he survived now).

It took him a second longer than he would've liked to properly process the series of events. Townsend was here (let that be a lesson to him about failing to trust in stupidity), Bask was on the ground, Vasoine was not, and Notti wanted him to watch the windows. What exactly he was meant to do if Townsend made for one was unclear, but an impatient growl in the back of his mind (that wasn't his, was it?) convinced him that could be solved later. For the time being, he trod further backward to bring the full building into view, fingers still clenched around the rather small knife in his hand.

Then his eyebrows furrowed.

"...What if there's windows in the back?"
 

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