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Post by Reika on May 2, 2016 20:43:33 GMT -7
Lights up and down the street were going out as the night crept in deeper still. It was only a Monday, not many shops through this area stayed open very late on weekdays. A commotion could be heard inside one of the restaurants, a single flickering neon sign of a pizza and ice cream cone stayed lit among the dimming lights.
With a cry she chucked the empty bottle at the already filthy wall, her eyes dilated as it struck, shattering loudly and increasing the collection of broken glass on the floor. She couldn't say if any patrons had stayed after the hunter's meeting, not that she could be bothered to care as she reached for another empty bottle to throw.
"oh wait," she chuckled to herself as she tipped it back taking a good gulp, "that one is mine." she set it back down and turned back to the board, the hunters were becoming more timid, as other hunters had been going missing. There were more unclaimed jobs on the board than had ever been left behind. It made her blood boil. Again with another cry she chucked a bottle at the wall. his one was larger heavier, throwing her off balance.
At least she could say she had enough grace left to fall into a chair. Reika huffed trying to catch her breath without letting emotions drag her down the rabbithole. she had shed her apron and work shirt, and now slouched over her knees wearing her tanktop, jeans and boots she always wore.
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Post by Dante on May 3, 2016 20:01:52 GMT -7
It was something of a convenience, him opening the door as she threw a bottle. As it shattered at the same time the bell above his head rang, and she didn't notice his presence. Plainly obvious the weekly gathering was ended, though there were a very many cases left hanging, more than he liked to see. For a moment they must have been looking at the same thing, he watched her stop and stare at the board as well.
Her temper was worse than usual lately, her trigger lighter, and he didn't like it. It made this strong person he had known for so long suddenly seem very vulnerable. How long had she been like this? Was he so oblivious, not to noticed it happening until she was boiling over? He fought himself to stand still, watching her fall back into the nearby chair. What he could not do was leave her like this.
Taking slow quiet steps he came behind those heaving shoulders and sitting down, set his hand flat on her back. Sometimes it was easy to forget that she was a hunter and fighter as much as any man that came into her establishment. Then you catch a glimpse of her long ago marred shoulder, the scars on her arms from weapon mishaps she's had, old marks. He brushed her hair away from her neck and leaned to look around and at her. |
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Post by Reika on May 3, 2016 20:25:57 GMT -7
He was quiet sure, but not as quiet as he assumed. she had looked up and found his reflection on a bottle still on a table ahead of her. She even let him sit down behind her and lay his hand on her. The words would probably never leave her lips, his hands were always warm and his touch always did help her relax a little. But a line had to be drawn, and her pot was still boiling. His fingers brushed her neck and she shot out of her seat, chucking the first thing she could grab behind her and towards him.
"Don't touch me," It didn't shatter, disappointed as she was, she had a crappy throwing arm. More so she heard how that had come out of her own lips and it was sharp, too sharp. It even made her wince, too late to fix that though "Take what case you want, as you can see there's plenty high dollar bounties." she motioned to the board before grabbing the broom and dustpan to start cleaning up her mess.
She had kept from facing him so far, she didn't think she could very well look him in the eye presently. though cleaning maybe shouldn't have been the first thing to do, as she struggled to coordinate both hands to work together. |
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Post by Dante on May 4, 2016 21:42:26 GMT -7
The bottle didn't make a sound as he caught it, and set it down on the table. Watching her walk away from him, he had a feeling that her reaction wasn't quite genuine. He was a little hurt that she would shun him so harshly, but the way she carried herself spoke volumes of the opposite. Not to mention she was having a hard time even staying standing, as toasted as she was. He slipped off his coat and gloves, standing and leaving them on the chair, went to her.
Bare hands on bare arms, he turned her around to face him, "Reika," He kept his touch light against her tension, sliding his hands down to hers, "what the hell?" He tried to bend down to get her to look at him, but decided it better not to make her feel small he sat again, on the nearest chair so that he was looking up, at her. Gratefully she didn't seem to be fighting him so hard, or she wouldn't have let him hold onto her hands for so long. Or let him pull her closer, until she was standing between his knees.
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Post by Reika on May 8, 2016 12:51:54 GMT -7
Sorcery, that's why she couldn't get the glass into the dustpan, at least it was a momentary distraction. Purely angry at herself she kept trying to look busy, maybe he would go away. But then there he was again with those warm hands, a warmth that radiated much further than her arms. This time she really couldn't resist him. Weaker men would take the opportunity to take advantage of her fondness for him, their prior relationship, not this one though. As he turned her and she looked him in the eye when he sat, dammit, why did he have to be so good. So good at bringing her back down to earth, looking up at that sky-like blue.
He was trying to ask her what was wrong, and she was honestly trying to come up with some kind of logical response. Her eyes just couldn't stay focused on anything, though his lips pursed in concern, that had her attention. She was hardly aware that he had led her to stand closer, until his face was close to a foot from her face. She needed to stop watching his lips, but then they shifted from pursed to that tilted smug little grin. There was a mix of love and hate for that grin, but it was already too late. Her hand found his shoulder without her willing it, when she started to lean in. Or was she falling, she couldn't say. All Reika knew was that if he didn't stop her, she had a plan to kiss the living daylights out of the man.
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Kitty
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Post by Kitty on May 8, 2016 13:35:36 GMT -7
Kitty had been watching for the better part of the time that Reika had been upset, not sure which contract to take and having hidden when bottles had started to fly. Seeing her opportunity with the handsome man, whom she presumed to be Dante, capturing Reika's full attention, she snuck away to the back of the restaurant. She hunted for something that looked like it might be a janitorial closet, and fumbled with getting the door open. It seemed to be good and stuck, like the wooden door had swelled in its frame. She sighed, trying to determine the best course of action.
She didn't want Reika to have to worry, or to be somehow more upset than she already was. She also frequented the restaurant, and in all her time picking up food or work, she'd never seen the owner in this state. It was true that there had been fewer and fewer hunters; the top three contracts always taken, but never claimed. Something seemed to be building on the horizon, and whatever it was didn't seem to be good.
Consumed by her train of thought, Kitty managed to wrench the door open, immediately regretting it. The hose that had been wrapped around the door handle had pulled free of the fixture it was attached to, which started spraying water everywhere. That same troublesome hose also managed to bring every mop, broom, and bucket clattering out of the closet and on top of Kitty with a crashing commotion and audible yelp. To add insult to injury, the now-free mops and brooms managed to drag the pots and pans from across the tiny aisle onto the floor with a silence-shattering crash.
"Aw, crap." Kitty sighed, trying to figure out how to detangle herself from the pile of cleaning supplies and cookware.
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Post by Dante on May 8, 2016 14:19:52 GMT -7
It took a moment for him to realize why her face had gotten redder, and she couldn't look him in the eye. Despite making a comment about never being able to get this drunk, here she was, sinking closer to him. Now he was no user, there was just no way he would let this opportunity pass him, or rather the both of them, by. He let go of one of her hands, wrapping that free hand around her hip to have her to sit on his leg. The sudden movement closed the gap at last and the other hand tossed hers, still clutched, over his shoulder right as their lips met. For a blink, it was bliss.
The moment was quickly thwarted as the restaurant kitchen sounded like it had exploded. He pulled back from her, standing to go investigate, not before making sure she was stable on either her feet or her ass.
In such a cramped space he would need accuracy, Ebony slid free of her holster on his hip. She clicked cautiously, the safety disengaging. He turned the corner near the back door, only to find a woman lost and tangled in an array of lost items that found themselves back here. He could have laughed, if he wasn't peeved over the lost moment back in the diner.
"Need help?" Dante bent down recoiling the hose as he helped her free of it.
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Post by Reika on May 8, 2016 14:38:05 GMT -7
For some reason it felt inexplicable good to have her arms around his neck, the smell of him in her nose. For however brief a moment, the storm had settled. Until a new one sprung up in her own kitchen. She jolted, sitting back up straight so fast it made her dizzy. That's when she remembered just how drunk she was. Thankfully Dante had gotten up and made sure she was alright before investigating the sound. She sat up, planting her feet, trying to remind her body where gravity came from before she threw up.
The feeling would pass, but now she needed to sober up to see what the hell had happened to her restaurant.
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Kitty
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Post by Kitty on May 8, 2016 15:03:34 GMT -7
Responding to the sound, Kitty looked up, pushing a bucket back off of her head. She found herself staring into those blue eyes for a moment with her deep emerald orbs.
"I uh." She stammered, still wrestling with a wet floor sign. She was blushing, and it made the stripes on her face a little more visible through her human facade. She broke eye contact before her aura flared with her embarrassment.
"Y-Yeah, I could use a little help. Thank you."
With his help, it took her but a few moments to become free of the cleaning supplies before Reika rounded the corner.
"I'm sorry. I wanted to help clean up while you two were uh, talking." She looked away. "I thought the door had jammed, but apparently something was holding it shut..."
She looked down at the mess, running her fingers through the hair on the back of her head, scratching her scalp. "Guess I made things worse..."
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Post by Dante on May 9, 2016 6:47:58 GMT -7
With a chuckle he hung the hose back up on its reel, and helped restack the pots on the higher shelves.
"I didn't realize we weren't alone," he grinned at Reika as she came in, "should I apologize or say you're welcome?" He chuckled again at her heavy eye roll.
"So, where you here for the bidding then? Not many stay this late." Grabbing an extra broom he went back out into the diner to get up that glass Reika was having such a hard time with.
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Kitty
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Post by Kitty on May 9, 2016 7:23:30 GMT -7
The woman listened intently, helping to put all but the broom Dante had grabbed, one mop, and bucket away in the closet. She started filling the bucket with water, putting a couple pumps of general purpose cleaner in with the filling water.
"Yeah," she replied. "I might not look it right now, but I am a Hunter. I wasn't sure which contract to take, and with the disappearances related to the ones for Fortuna, I don't know that I feel lucky enough to try one of those without some backup in case things go sideways."
She shut off the water, placing the mop in the rolling bucket, following him out into the main area. Noticing the state of the rest of the place, she set the bucket against the wall and began to bus tables.
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Post by Reika on May 12, 2016 20:20:21 GMT -7
She was going to hit him, she was, as soon as she regained her composure. Reika shuffled away to the nearby sink to guzzle some water from the faucet before coming back to help Kitty get the cleaning supplies out into the diner.
"so your first time bidding?" She looked at the board again as they came out, "There are quite a few lower difficulty jobs up there, dead beats that need scaring, stolen items recovered. that sort of stuff." She pulled back her hair and went to work on picking up.
It didn't take long for the three of them to have the place looking fresh again, and Reika went to the board to filter through what was left. The last folders she took down were red and black. She handed the red to Dante before sitting across from him and opening the black.
The pictures were of men that looked like they would have been strong, able bodied... but for their chest cavities being turned inside out. "I knew each of these men," One by one she set their profiles with drivers licence pictures over their crime scene photos, "John, Ulrich, and Frank. They were regulars and took some of the harder jobs when certain help wasn't around." She nodded her head in Dante's direction before continuing, "They were all investigating the other missing persons and murder cases across Fortuna and Adeline. All of the victims looked like this, like they had died terrified."
Each photo showed their faces upturned, eyes rolled back and mouth wide open in a silent scream. And on the coroner's report it was stated that the levels of adrenaline were off the charts, even more so than someone in a fight. Rubbing her face she leaned back, frustrated.
"I don't know what to do about these cases," She slammed her hands back onto the table, "just look, every person I've sent to investigate became part of the victim pool."
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Kitty
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Post by Kitty on May 13, 2016 13:44:31 GMT -7
"Yeah... Typically I wait until everybody has the high dollar ones, and clean up the rest. I was hoping to start making more of a name for myself." She paused her speaking to concentrate on her work, and helped get the place back into shape in no time at all.
As they moved to the board and back, Kitty followed. She stood at the end of the table, listening intently. When Reika had finished, the feline leaned slightly on the table, her emerald eyes looking with a sort of mournful respect at the deceased men.
" Did they all go alone? " She sighed, pulling a chair over to sit. "Maybe going in groups would work better for fighting whatever it is doing that to people." She shivered. "I've seen creatures maim others for fun before, but this is something else."
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Post by Reika on May 14, 2016 23:03:39 GMT -7
"Each of them did go alone, yes," She leaned back in her seat, looking it all over, "There's merit to that, hunting in groups, but then we'll lose people in greater numbers." Exhausted she rubbed her face again, and with a heavy sigh looked through the pictures again. Listing off information that she had't had the stomach to go through before, she flipped through eh police reports. Her face contorted in disgust and realization.
"This thing isn't' maiming people for fun," Slamming the second page of the coroner's report on the table before them all, "the act makes sense but it still doesn't point us to even what kind of demon it is, but I'm sure its a demon." She pointed to the line where the report stated organs that were missing. "Heart, liver, kidneys. All organs heavy in blood. And no remnants of them were found anywhere at the crime scene."
She shoved away from the table, pacing. this is something she needed to process. There was a demon out there killing people in such way that they died from fright while it tore them open and ate their organs. But the thing was getting sloppy and leaving a trail. they would have their work cut out for them to find this thing. |
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Post by Dante on May 19, 2016 20:11:37 GMT -7
Chin resting on the back of his hand, he leaned on the mop he'd been using. Taking in all of the details, all of the nuances from the files Reika was reading. the clue was the fact that the individuals died from their wounds, yet their faces were trapped in a moment of absolute terror. Did the creature eat the organs after the fear was initiated, perhaps feeding on the adrenaline? The possibilities weren't limitless but their lack of information was frightening all by itself. He knew she wasn't used to having so little, when handed so much. His eyes followed her path in wide arches, no, he wouldn't let her be the one to go looking for him. The look on her face spoke volumes to the adage 'if you want something done right..etc'.
"Keep it the black folder," he set the broom against the table and helped to gather the papers, "I don't want anyone else touching this until I have had a chance to narrow our search." her hand was cold as he wrapped his fingers around hers, demanding her attention.
"Promise me..." He glanced at their new friend, not knowing who she is, walls having ears, for whatever reason he decided not to make the statement personal, "Just, promise me you wont go out there without back up. Preferably myself, but some form of back up." He picked up the folder, stepping away from her to hide it under her register at the bar. Coming around he grabbed his effects, lastly swinging his coat around his shoulders. With the small ring of the bell hanging on the door, he was gone, triggered, on the rooftops and nose wide open for a smell he did not normally seek out. Fear, and death.
[EXIT]
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I liiiiiiiiiive!
