Fandom Thorns

[S n o w]

Shiho Ueno​

July 16th
7th Ward​

@jaylen @simj22 ​

Shiho watched Hitode leave, but it wasn't until the door closed that she wiped the kiss off her cheek. That wasn't what she meant when she told Hitode not to get in her way, but the ghoul had, or pretended to miss the point. Shiho's words had been a warning, but Hitode's response made it seem like whatever she'd done wasn't already taking a big, obnoxious step in her way.

Hitode Hayashida was no better than Rorschach. They did what they wanted, and they didn't care how it made ghouls look to humans. The only difference was that Hitode was a Thorn, and easier to keep an eye on than an outlier like Rorschach.

It told Shiho a lot that Hitode had left before she could order her to tone it down, or give her something to do that wasn't making a mess. Even with all the vanilla in the air, Shiho could still smell blood. It told her even more that Hitode hadn't gone to take a shower, which meant she planned on killing again.

Shiho wouldn't have told Hitode to stop killing. She knew she wouldn't have listened. And it would have made Shiho a hypocrite. She wasn't this strong because she relied on coffee. If Hitode could make a little effort to not be so showy about her kills, Shiho wouldn't have as much of a problem.

Hitode Hayashida was a giant, neon arrow pointing the CCG to the Thorns. "That'll have to wait," Shiho said to Roan's offer, facing them. "I want you to follow Hitode. I won't ask you to stop her if she kills again." Shiho knew Roan wasn't in the physical state to do so. They would be more use to her here, plotting the takeover of the 22nd, but with Dresden occupied, she didn't have much of a choice. She didn't want Hitode running around, doing whatever she wanted.

Hitode might back down a little, if she knew she was being watched. "Report everything she does back to me. I'll take care of her myself, if need be. If she makes another mess, try to clean it up, if you can. We don't need any more attention than we already have."​

 

[Nostalgic-Writer]

~Santeru Ishumari~
/7th ward\

He looked around at the unfolding scene as his mind raced attempting to find even a single straw to grasp at in order to find the start to this event. he slowly held the boy closer to his chest his heart racing in anxiety. Violence and gore was nothing new but when it involved children Santeru lost his mental footing, sending himself back into the mindset of the young terrified boy whose parent's were just killed. But his train of thought got derailed by a new arrival on the scene, the young man from the coffee shop stared at the scene completely taken back Santeru moved quickly to block the young mans vision as he leaned down and spoke softly and with urgency "Listen I am going to try and do you a favor before you get roped into something you probably want nothing to do with, turn around and walk back to that shop forgetting what you just saw, live your life uninterrupted again and never let anyone know what you have seen today." As he spoke Santeru's violet hued eyes scanned his looking for reactions out of the shell shocked man before motion to his right caused him to break his gaze, a young woman stepped into the mouth of the alley not with a look of disgust but of inner thought she walked here almost instinctively and this caused a pit to form in Santeru's stomach he glared at her suspicious of her nature but had to make sure they both got removed quickly before additional units arrived he nudged both of them "Leave now trust me." The smell of blood assisted in the fact that he was on edge it had been a short while since he last ate and he felt himself slowly start to slip and the last thing he needed was extra stress. Suddenly his phone began to ring, turning away from the two his hand slowly fished the phone out of it's pocket where he answered it listening to the voice on the other end confirming that units were closing in, his new partner spoke to him in a eccentric and excited tone which slightly amused Santeru as to the nature of the young man but acknowledging his partners call he quickly ended it letting a slow steadied breath escape from his lips as he began to gather himself. A bit of time passed and steadily units trickled in and Santeru stood off to the side as Shota and the rest flooded the scene soon Santeru began to speak after having time to gather his thoughts "Looks like the work of at least a A-S class ghoul confident enough in order to attack in broad daylight and leave a witness, It's bold to say but perhaps the ghoul is backed by a larger organization such as the thorns which helps fuel their confidence in this attack. It's a stretch but I think it should be kept open as a possibility." As he sat and listened to the other investigators talk about the scene and boy Santeru's eyebrow raised realizing he has actually paid him little attention throughout this ordeal and probably needed to introduce himself and attempt to get some details out of the kid. He patted his back and began to speak as he looked down "Excuse me.. might I ask what your name is?" The young boy began to look up at Santeru who gazed back in a subtle look of shock as he attempted to muffle himself as the boy craned his neck to look up from Santeru's chest to his face and staring back at him was a black and red eye along with one normal one "Shinra". As the situation dawned on him Santeru quickly raced through his own thoughts figuring out a course of action, the logical thing would be to immediately turn the boy over but it didn't sit right with Santeru for some reason, perhaps relating to the boy who was no doubt scared and very confused. So he pressed the boys head into his chest as to hide the boys eye. Santeru spoke up for a moment "I think it's best we get forensics to scan the scene to see if they can find anything and then quickly clean this up as to not let rumors fly around the 7th ward even worse than before. As for the boy I will talk to the chief and see about taking him into my care."

S n o w / StarryKnights / Kloudy / Lucem / The One Eyed Bandit

 

[StarryKnights]

Ainslee

The scene was one of true horror, why someone would do this to anyone was beyond poor Ainslee. She couldn't help but stare though, the sickly smell of blood was almost addicting.
She fed somewhat regularly thanks to Dresden's hunting, but so much gore teased her inner instincts.
She gulped and shook her head, this was horrible. She couldn't be thinking about a meal after seeing this...
And the poor, poor child.

It wouldn't be long before BBG arrived on the scene, Ainslee knew she needed to get out of there.
With one last look to the horrid crime scene she slinked backwards and out of the ally.
She wanted to run straight back to the Thorns, but feared that she could lead someone back there.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to remain calm as she walked away, hoping to avoid unwanted attention.

 

[S n o w]

• Masaaki
• Kohaku

• 
  
  Masaaki Kita​

  

  The customer had blocked his view, but Masa could still the blood. It was everywhere. Written on the wall, all over the ground. It made Masa sick. He took a step back, barely hearing what was said to him. He'd never seen a dead person before. That man thought he was doing him a favor by telling him to leave? They needed to call the police, the CCG, someone! Masa jumped when another person appeared--a girl around his age--stumbling back into the wall. He needed to find a phone.
  
  What if this was done by a ghoul? Masa thought it was, but what did a ghoul-kill look like? He'd only seen the aftermath of the Thorns, and only after the bodies had been cleared away. Worse still, what if the ghoul was still in the area? He shuddered. He didn't feel safe, stuck in an alley with two near-strangers. What if one of them had done it? What if he was staring at a ghoul and didn't even know it? He shook his head. That was stupid! If they were ghouls, then what were they waiting for?
  
  Masa needed to clear his head. He turned away. He was going to have nightmares about this for the rest of his life. "I'll get help," Masa said, voice shaking.
  
  He ran before either of them could respond. Kotaku. He needed to get to Kotaku. Masa didn't realize he was tracking blood until he stumbled into Kotaku and saw bloody footprints behind him on the tile. He took them off, but didn't notice there were two others until he heard his co-workers voice asking him what happened. It had to be today, that the shop became busy.
  
  "If you have a phone, call the police. Someone was-" Masa couldn't finish. He fell into a chair and dropped his head in his hands.

  QuirkyAngel Skita ​
• 
  
  
  

  Kohaku Ishikawa​
  July 16th
  8th Ward Branch Office​

  StarryKnights ​

  Kohaku closed his eyes. Daichi might not agree about who this unknown ghoul was loyal to, but if there was even the smallest possibility that Kohaku's worst case scenario could be the reality they were facing, he would treat it as such. It was better if he planned for it now, than be caught off guard later.
  
  Five Investigators were at the crime scene. If anything happened, they had enough firepower to deal with it. Kohaku was sure that Hawthorne would take care of Rorschach, one way or another. That took one S-rank off the table. It seemed almost even, until he remembered that he hadn't heard from Nakamura or Morumotto. Kohaku checked his phone. Not only had they missed the meeting, but Nakamura wasn't picking up.
  
  Kohaku pinched the bridge of his nose. It didn't matter. They would still succeed, for the good of humanity. "We're going to Sumida," he said to Daichi. His partner didn't need to know about Nakamura, not until Kohaku could confirm his worst suspicion. He faced the younger Investigator. "Not as the CCG, but to recon. We need more information on the situation inside the seventh, and the only way we're going to get it is to go there ourselves and see how much the people know about what's going on."
  
  "No briefcases. Hide your weapon in something more discreet. Unless you have any objections, we leave in thirty minutes," Kohaku said, waiting to see if Daichi had anything to say before he left to prepare.​

 

[Skita]

Hanako Fujita
Location: Kotaku​

"I prefer my coffee black with an impossible amount of sugar." She answered glancing at the pastry display, watching as Akane conversed with the cashier. "Speaking of sugar, those pastries look great today don't ya think?" She grinned at the cashier, twirling her hair through her fingers.

She wondered if today wouldn't be a bad idea to buy one. Of course that meant risking being sick to her stomach but at the same time it provided more evidence of humanity. And if things went to hell like she expected them to, throwing up because of a brownie would be a small price to pay. On days like today she almost wished she was born human, there would be no need in trying to fake it. She could easily have one of those pastries without getting ill, and hell, enjoy one. She wondered if they tasted as good as they smelled. If they smelled as good as she pretended they tasted. It would be a simpler life without all this pretending. But if she had been born human whose to say she couldn't have easily been that stench of blood not too far from here?

Hanako was just about take a seat at once of tables when she smelled it. Blood. Wait more blood? That couldn't be possible, that stench should still be trapped outside and not have made its way in here. She could feel her stomach growl as she continued to play with her hair, noticing the new person and his bloody shoes. Bloody shoes, of course that would explain why it smelled like blood in the shop now. But why would his shoes be bloody? Was this boy at the crime scene? He sure as hell was not a dove with how terrified he looked, she was pretty sure the boy worked here.

She couldn't help but look from his shoes to his bloody prints on the tile. The last thing she needed was for him to have tracked all that blood here, and as far as it looked it seemed he did just that. This was not the time for her to panic, in this case coffee might just have to wait. She'd have a chance to talk to Akane later but right now as long as she stayed logical in this situation everything would be fine. Running out of the building would probably be the worst thing to do and staying too long could be detrimental to both her and Akane's safety. This situation had be played with carefully.

Hanako took a seat next to the boy, carefully making an effort not step in his prints. "All that blood........was this a ghoul attack? Are you alright?"





S n o w QuirkyAngel

​

 

[QuirkyAngel]

Akane Tsukimori (Kotaku)​

“I have a phone,” Akane replied as she brought her earphones to her neck. The appearance of a human boy stumbling into the coffee establishment drew her attention, but it didn’t really startle her. Part of the reason was because she had smelled him coming even before he opened the door—the scent of blood intermingled with coffee making it him stand out even more. Though, the other part probably lay in the fact that Akane wasn’t the type to startle easily. Accepting things as they are. Going with the flow. That was what she was good at. Why she was okay with the status quo.

Not that she couldn’t imitate the expression of surprise when needed.

Reaching into her back pocket, she pulled out her smart phone and, before the cashier could, proceeded to dial 1-1-0 for the Japanese law enforcement. Her eyes tracked the bloody foot prints as she brought the phone to her ear. There were two reasons she did this.

The first was that being the one to report the crime generally emphasized her innocence and her willingness to cooperate. Not that Akane ought have anything to worry about since she was innocent in this particular case, but such idealistic notions only existed in a non-ghoul-antagonistic society.

The second was that she would rather deal with regular police than ghoul investigators—who were trained to identify ghouls. With any luck, the local police might even deter ghoul investigation. Block roads for the CCG. Make it easier for her and Tsubaki to leave without getting too involved. Akane didn’t know whether all the blood was caused by a ghoul, a human, or some random hobo who decided to jump off a building. However, she wanted to give her own kind the benefit of the doubt. That, even if it was a ghoul that made the mess, it wasn’t intentional. Not like she couldn’t understand hunger. Or loosing control.

When the phone was picked up, She revealed to the police what little she knew—that a boy had trekked blood in Kotaku, someone was likely hurt, and an ambulance was probably needed—then promptly hung up. No mention of murder.

She looked to Masaki. “When the police show up, you’ll have to be the one to answer their questions as I have no idea what’s going on...and you can more accurately describe what happened than any of us.”

Akane glanced at Tsubaki who was sitting next to the guy. Leaving now was ideal in her mind. The less involved they were the better. However, she didn’t like the thought of leaving Tsubaki alone to deal with potential danger if she intended to stay either. If they were lucky, the humans in the establishment could confirm their lack of involvement. Better yet, they weren't noticed at all. Not like they were the ones coming in with blood. However, Akane was a realist…and she knew she would rather be taken to a police office for questioning than a CCG interrogation room if it came down to it. If worse came to worst...well...she'd deal with it then.

Looking back at the distraught human, Akane couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy for the boy. He had the look of someone who had just seen death for the first time. Akane ought know. She probably had that same expression on her first kill as Teardrop. The kills afterwards dulled her reactions to death. Even though she tried not to take life anymore, it wasn’t as if her past could be erased.

Nor his expression back then.

Opening her backpack, Akane pulled out a water bottle, approached the sitting male, and gave it to him. She hadn’t a clue what calmed humans. However, she figured water might have a soothing effect. Better than caffeine at least. “It’ll be okay. Just calmly tell them what you saw.”

Skita , S n o w

 

[StarryKnights]

Dresden

Finding his target at his place of work had been a bust, leaving Dresden unsure as to what he should do next. He doubted he'd just stumble across the man out and about, such a thing just wasn't feasible.
He disliked the idea of returning to the hideout empty handed though, Shiho had given him a job and intended to do it.
It was just going to take more time, the man would have to go back to work at some point. Perhaps he would try again tomorrow.
As this thought crossed his mind, the ghoul stopped short.

The smell of blood was thick in the air.

Eyes narrowed he paused to take a careful look around his surroundings. Had he gotten lucky? Had Rorschach done him the courtesy and gone and killed again?
He couldn't find a man he didn't know, but any ghoul could follow the smell of blood.
Dresden reaffirmed the location of his mask, tucked away in the large pockets on his jacket.

Just because he knew who Rorschach was, didn't mean Dresden want him knowing their identity.
A ghoul's identity was a precious secret, and in the wrong hands, could be their undoing. He wondered of Shiho planned on using it against the man if he refused to cooperate.

Dresden followed the stink toward a secluded area in the tenth ward.
When the smell grew stronger, he slipped into a sheltered area and pulled on his mask.

He then continued after the scent, until he came upon a bizarre scene.
A young woman standing in the ally way, mangling a poor, poor corpse.

He chuckled.
"Well well, looking to do some art young lady?". He cocked his head to the side.

The One Eyed Bandit

 

[S n o w]

Masaaki Kita​

"I don't know," Masa answered the taller one. He felt relieved when the other woman made the call for him. He didn't know if he could speak to them, much less describe what he saw. He shuddered. He should've never left Kotaku. "There was so much blood, and it was everywhere."

Masa realized that he probably wasn't making any sense, and tried again, "There was a body, in an alleyway, and it was in pieces." He frowned, looking between them. "It might've been a ghoul attack, but I'm not sure. I've never seen anything like that. It could've been a human who did it too, couldn't it?" He wanted to think it was done by a human, because that was easier, less scary than a ghoul. He took the offered water, but didn't think he could stomach it.

"But if it was a ghoul..." he trailed off, covering his eyes. "Would the police be able to handle it? Should we call the CCG too, just in case?"

QuirkyAngel Skita ​

 

[QuirkyAngel]

Akane Tsukimori (Kotaku)​

“It isn’t your responsibility whether they can or can’t,” Akane answered. Certainly the arrival of the CCG would be bothersome, and part of the reason Akane replied the way she did, but it was also her true feelings. The ones who gave their lives to create a better place for ghouls. The ones jumping into danger for their passions. Their anger. Their love.

Akane knew deep down that her mother was the reason her father had joined Thorns. She just…wasn’t ready to acknowledge that yet. Or, maybe, she just didn’t want to. Because doing so would justify him leaving her.

The human boy was doing the same. Risking his life. Getting involved, even though he didn’t have to. It was on the list of stupid things to do. Involvement with a serial killer was a mark for death. Involvement with a ghoul was doubly so. And for what? The policemen to be safe? The city? There were ghouls and serial killers in abundance. Taking out one wouldn’t matter in the grand scheme of things and claiming a CCG base would hardly solve the problem. Yet groups like Thorn and other ghoul gangs just kept trying. It was a little maddening.

“I called the police because someone might’ve been hurt. Not to catch a murderer. It they attempt to do so, their safety is on them. You shouldn’t get involved anymore than you have to. Nor should you attempt to influence investigations with your own bias. Leave the deducting to the police. They are the experts. If they deem the case is ghoul related, the CCG will be called. However, calling the CCG unnecessarily will only spread panic if people believe a ghoul to be living in their area and possibly slow the catch of the criminal—therby creating more victims. You should tell just the police the facts, only the facts, and only if they ask.”

Akane left it at that. A criminal that tore body pieces into a bloody scene probably would hesitate to kill a boy if they found out said boy was the one that sent the police/CCG at them. However, Akane couldn’t find it in her heart to care at the moment. If either the boy or the girl called the CCG, Akane would find an excuse to leave. Safety came first.

Her Teardrop mask was in her backpack for the worst case scenario.

S n o w , Skita

 

[Skita]

Hanako Fujita
Location: Kotaku​

"I think she's is right. We should really just leave it to the police and if they think it's more serious they can call the CCG. Everyone is already on edge because of thorn, the last thing we need to do is add to it out of speculation." Hanako said standing up, adjusting her purse on her shoulder. The last thing she wanted to deal with was a terrified human. Honestly, she would rather not deal with a terrified anything. When people are scared they make hasty decisions, and when haste is made it ends badly. "If you feel you need to call, them call. But I don't think we should be hasty and waste their time if we're wrong. I'm sure the police can decide better than we can."

If the police came, she was sure she could deal with them. It was just going to be as simple as saying she came here for coffee and heard second hand about the this crime. Being questioned by the police meant nothing compared to the CCG. If the CCG is called then it could be disastrous for both her and Akane. Besides with how scared the human boy seemed she wouldn't be surprised if eventually got his coworker to call them. And if that turned out to be the case, Hanako wasn't going to stick around to find out.

"If you want us to wait with you for the police we can, but my friend and I have class in about 20 minuets and have to be going soon, right Akane?"

QuirkyAngel S n o w

 

[The One Eyed Bandit]

Just when she was finishing up, just when she was about to leave, a bug started to buzz in Yokubari's ear. What joke, what a sham. Whatever day it was today, she'd have to make it her new unlucky number. It was just one thing after another.

But, oh well. She supposed it was just time for her to put on another mask.

"Mmm..." With a sigh, halfheartedly strung between annoyance and exhaustion, she turned to the boy. He was a cute enough, and decidedly foreign-looking ticket, but that wasn't what was important; Rather, even through the smell of gore that she'd so recklessly strewn throughout the alley, it was clear enough that he was a Ghoul. Ergo, she didn't need to make this into a pair of sister-pieces. Or brother-pieces might have been more appropriate.

"Well, kinda, it's like a... School Project?" Throwing one last stroke of blood against her canvas, Yokubari started to pace towards the boy, her movements growing more animated with each bound she took and word she spook. "You see, you know how art teachers are like, right? It's always 'paint what you know' this, and 'art is suffering' that... Yeah?" Both she and her words came to a stop a foot from the boy, and looked him over properly. He didn't look like anything too impressive. A foreign pretty boy, maybe with fondness for playing the big man, if that tone has was carrying was any indication.

Mmm. Not her type.

"So I got to thinking... And what does a Ghoul know better than this, right? What sight is as riddled with as much suffering as this, right? I'd say it's something to be proud of, right?" With each question, she nodded to herself, seemingly growing more and more convinced as to the genius of her idea each time her head bobbed up and down. "If I like, paint this or draw this or something, I'm pretty sure I can ace my class. Or maybe I should give it another shot or two before I settle on it... What do you think?"

StarryKnights

 

[StarryKnights]

The One Eyed Bandit

Dresden arched an eyebrow.
"A school project, really now. I didn't know schools were teaching painting with blood and viscera now adays", he looked the girl up and down.
She was most definitely a ghoul, that much was clear from her scent, though he had no way of knowing what her kagune was, or how strong she might be.
Of course that ran both ways, she didn't know his kagune type either.

He didn't flinch as the girl approached him, standing his ground he regarded her work with a small frown.

"Certainly ghouls know a thing or two about suffering, and on any other day I wouldn't give a shit about making some hapless human experience a bit before taking them out".
It seemed awfully wasteful, it didn't appear that the girl had fed at all on her victim. That wasn't really the issue now though.
Dresden sighed and looked the girl in the eyes.

"See the thing is dear, that this...project seems a bit...disingenuous. Seems more like your copying that big wig Rorschach. I bet he'd like your uh...painting".
Shiho wouldn't like it though, it was more senseless killing and that wouldn't help the Thorns mission.

She stopped in front of him, he looked down at her with a smirk.
She might've been cute if it wasn't for the completely crazy vibe he got from her.

"Your painting is...unique, but such brazen acts of violence don't gel with my current... organization. So this is me, asking you nicely, to lay off on the...art".