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Tangled Currents - Gaze

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Mercy Merchant

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« Reply #90 on: <04-12-16/2233:33> »
Spike looks over at you for a bit then nods.  "Nothing keeping you here, kemo sabe.  I understand."  Her expression is neutral as she stands and puts her flask away.  Taking off at a run, she vaults the gap to the next building and begins navigating back home.  You are still not too familiar with the area and are a bit surprised when she gets you to the narrow alley and the entrance to her place.  The downstairs is pretty much as you saw it on your first time here; Drake slumped in his chair, Rain likewise on hers, three of the kids on the couch, and DoubleT standing against a wall and giggling to each other.  You can hear Angel talking to Myotama in the resting room.  Tommy pokes his head through the door and smiles before ducking back.  "Mom, Sensei-Joe is here."  You hear his mother gently correct him.  "Please, Tommy, you should not interrupt.  Now say that you are sorry."  Tommy apologizes and comes out into the main room, moving close to you before bowing.  "Hello, Sensei-Joe.  Thank you for coming for us."
"Speech"  *Thought*  <Matrix>

Chrome Head

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« Reply #91 on: <04-12-16/2256:16> »
"It was the right thing to do, Tommy-san. You are welcome." Joe walks to the resting room. "How are you feeling, Myotama?"

Mercy Merchant

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« Reply #92 on: <04-12-16/2350:59> »
Myotama looks up when you enter and Angel bows and steps away, returning to the room behind you.  You notice that Myotama's face is bruised in several places as she bows to you. "Hello, Joe-san.  Thank you for coming for us.  You did not need to do that."
"Speech"  *Thought*  <Matrix>

Chrome Head

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« Reply #93 on: <04-13-16/0152:30> »
"I had given you my word that I would get you out of your situation. I wasn't gonna back down after that. I'm just sorry that I couldn't prevent more harm coming to you before it was all over."

Mercy Merchant

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« Reply #94 on: <04-13-16/0918:42> »
Myotama looks at you and tries to smile but scrunches her face up in pain.  "So what is to happen to us?  Angel was saying that we were going to stay here for a few days.  Is that right?  Here?  In this place?"
"Speech"  *Thought*  <Matrix>

Chrome Head

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« Reply #95 on: <04-14-16/0003:15> »
"There isn't much else we can do right now. Last evening, I asked you if you were ready to leave everything behind. Well, this is what is happening right now, I'm sorry to say. When Aldo decided to take you hostage and kill me off instead of staying true to his words, he left me with very few options."

Joe has a look of sadness and empathy, but he's not feeling any regret. "I'm really sorry for you, this must be quite traumatic."

"I don't think it will take very long before we can cross out of his turf and out of the barrens, a day or two maybe. You and I should probably discuss what happens then."

Mercy Merchant

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« Reply #96 on: <04-14-16/0027:34> »
Myotama's eyes open wide and she shakes her head a little.  "Yes, Joe-san, I could leave everything, but go where.  I heard what you did to Aldo.  One of the strange girls told me as we were coming here.  Two of Aldo's men came upon us as we were waking and one of them recognized me.  Those girls just glowed green and some sort of balls of green fire hit each man.  They died, Joe-san.  Those girls cannot be more that sixteen and they killed men, took things from them, and walked on as if it were a natural thing.  I know things like this happen, but........................"

She opens and shuts her mouth a few times without saying anything and just stands there, looking at you.
"Speech"  *Thought*  <Matrix>

Chrome Head

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« Reply #97 on: <04-14-16/2114:01> »
"I don't know what to tell you. You've lived here most of your life, and you've been around men like Aldo for a very long time. You know what they're capable of. Him and his men have committed terrible crimes and they had it coming. Even then, I still offered him a fair trade, but he tried to have me killed and then tried to keep you hostage, Myotama! It's not like there were many other options for me than to team up with this group and take him on. You wanted my help, you wanted out, well you're out now."

"You won't have to stay here very long. If you want, I'll bring you to Renton for a while and then we'll get you and Tommy set up somewhere, somehow."

Mercy Merchant

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« Reply #98 on: <04-15-16/0014:05> »
Myotama steps back a pace and looks up at you.  She flutters her hands a bit and says, "I do not want to appear to be ungrateful.  You saved me from that man.  He was laughing and swearing as he hit us.  Not even asking any questions.  Just laughing and hitting.  Then he had us locked in that room.  And now........and now.............here we are.  Somewhere.  And I do not know where we are to go or what to do.  But I am sure that we will work it out.  Will you take us to your home, Joe-san?  Will you help us still more.  I am afraid to ask you for more help as it seems to get you in trouble to help us."

Tommy had left the room during the conversation, but now comes back in with the three little boys after him, all laughing and pretending to shoot villains and thugs.  They swirl around the mattresses and end up in a small pile.  One bumps the wall near your bed and the small shelf above Spike's mattress falls down with a clatter.  Myotama scolds Tommy, "Tommy, stop that, and pick that up.  You are a guest here.  Be polite."  There are a couple of Japanese words after that and Tommy hangs his head and nods.  He helps one of the other boys to put the shelf back up on its supports.  Picking up one of the small knights he plays with the other boy, who has picked up the other two.  Myotama speaks sharply to him and Tommy goes to put the knight on the shelf when he stops and whistles.  He looks from you back to the figurine then softly calls out, "Sensei-Joe, it's you."

Myotama calls out Tommy's name but the boy holds the knight out to her.  She takes it and looks closely.  Then closer.  She looks over at you and says, Joe-san, it is not possible, but it is you.  It is not possible."

From near the door you hear Angel softly say, "It is true."
"Speech"  *Thought*  <Matrix>

Chrome Head

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« Reply #99 on: <05-02-16/2031:56> »
Joe is about to reply to Myotama that it's okay to come crash in his doss for a while, but then the stuff about him looking like a plastic figurine was now the focus. They can't be serious.

Very incredulous, Joe replies "Great, so I'm a knight in shining armor now, just because I went out of my way to help you two out. I get it, you're trying to flatter me. But quit it with the nonsense."

Faced with serious looks all around, the adept reluctantly gestures for the figurine, "Just show it to me..."

Mercy Merchant

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« Reply #100 on: <05-03-16/0137:16> »
As you take the figurine and look closely at it, you realize it is not exactly plastic, but something a bit harder.  The small face does bear an uncanny resemblance to you.  You hear angel speak, "I have one just like it, see?"  Looking up you see her remove a small figurine of a knight from a pocket of her apron.  "Father made these for us.  I was too young to remember, but Spike does.  She has told me the story so many times that I almost remember it.  Father was a craftsman, a real craftsman.  He could make small things like this and put real faces on them.  He made these and gave them to us just days before they came for him, the O'Reagans I mean.  He had tried to help a couple of families down the street pay the mob boss off and they did not like that.  They did horrible things to the families and took our parents away.  Never saw them again.  They were looking for us, too, but Spike kept us safe.  Just like every day since.  Anyway, Father told us that some day a knight would come to slay the dragons that lorded over this land, just like in the stories he used to tell us.  There are some of his old books about the dragon slayer somewhere.  Spike hid them, but I know she looks at them once in a while.  He told her that the dragon slayer would send a great avatar, a knight beyond measure, to save us in a time of need.  More, he pointed to the faces he had made on the figurines and said that he had been told by the slayer that the knight would have this face.  Your face.  And you have saved us from Aldo and fulfilled the story."

Everyone else in the room is spellbound by Angel's words.  She stops talking and puts her figurine back into her pocket.  As if on cue, everyone turns to look at you.
"Speech"  *Thought*  <Matrix>

Chrome Head

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« Reply #101 on: <05-03-16/1107:27> »
Joe can't believe his hears. Dragonslayer, you never cease to amaze me. Do you really have a plan for me?

"Fine, maybe I am that knight. I try to be a dragon slayer. I follow the path of the Dragonslayer, as best I can. I find it hard to believe in prophecy, but in this world, everything is possible."

Mercy Merchant

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« Reply #102 on: <05-04-16/0055:00> »
The small crowd of people parts as Spike enters the room and asks what the frag is going on.  Several people speak at once and she raises her hands for silence.  Myotama takes Tommy by the hand and pulls him close, telling him to be quiet.  Angel explains what has happened and Spike looks at you.  “Yes, he is the dragon slayer I have told you about and he has killed Aldo and is leaving.”  Some of those present look stunned, but Spike ushers them all out until it is just the three of you and her.  She turns to you and says, “I think that we should be able to move all of you from here in a couple of days.  Your cred sticks should have enough to get you a new life somewhere.”  Her look and voice soften as she adds, “No one is putting pressure on you, Kemo Sabe.  There are lots of dragons out there, many of them much worse than what sits here.  We will just sit out what Tony tosses and go back to doing what we always have.  Maybe you belong here.  Maybe you belong somewhere else.  That is between you and the boss dragon slayer.  What is important is that you were here and you helped and that you will help wherever you go.  Now if you will excuse me, I need to go check the perimeter sentries.”  She turns and abruptly leaves the room.



Myotama puts a hand on your arm.  “What a strange woman.  Almost like she lives in a different age, the way she talks.  I could not understand all she said, but it sounds like we can leave here in a couple of days.  What was she saying about money?  I do not have any that will get me a new start anywhere.  And Tony will be looking for us so we cannot return to my apartment.  Are we going to live with you?”  She blushes a bit as she asks that, but does not look away from you.
"Speech"  *Thought*  <Matrix>

Chrome Head

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« Reply #103 on: <05-04-16/1733:37> »
Joe is a bit stunned by Spike's speech, but there's no time to think about all of that until Myotama and Tommy are safe. I'll have to come back to see her. We need to talk, and I don't want to let all these people down.

He turns his attention to what could turn out to be his adopted family for a while. "Yes, for as long as you need to get your new life in order. I have some money, a steady job, and the means to get a lot more payout too. I'll make sure you two are safe, that's my priority. I think Spike found some money belonging to Aldo when we came for you, and she wants you to have it, I suppose. I don't think that's necessary though."

Mercy Merchant

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« Reply #104 on: <05-05-16/0049:32> »
Myotoma looks relieved and steps up to give you a kiss on the cheek.  “Thank you, Joe-San.  You have been kind and are a hero.  I will try to not be a bother to you.”  She stumbles a bit and takes your arm.  “I will let you talk to them of the money.  I think I need some rest and will lay down for a bit.  Will Tommy be alright here?  I worry.”





"Speech"  *Thought*  <Matrix>

 

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