pawnstorm | (semi-closed) let me tell you about a little situation

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(semi-closed) let me tell you about a little situation

Who: Hallelujah & a bunch of people.
When: April 01 - 04, before the rescue.
Where: Around Capablanca's entertainment ring.
What: Sniffing out the traitors! This clue is happening.
Rating: PG-13 for mentions of sex, stalking, and the torture of a Noir vampire for info.

(ooc. i will be doing personalized starters! most active plot-relevant stuff is spoken for, but if you'd like a thread to swap clues or generally slink around with a rude guard dog, leave a comment or pm me! hallelujah is icly sharing his clues - that alessandra rambaldi is fraternizing with noir vampires, who have been helping with the smuggling effort in capablanca - here.)

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[ With day one's exploration closing on an important, ahem, lead, Hallelujah is none too slow in getting a move on to tail it. Boy, did he hit the jackpot in delivering him from the abject boredom of tiptoeing around a brewing war. Alessandra Rambaldi... Hallelujah hasn't even had to get in there and dirty up his hands yet to find out a little bit about that name. Seems her tongue gets away from her after a few drinks, in more ways than one. With back door deals in contraband that sent the Narcissa Expo up in smoke and information on a murder waiting in the wings, her little rendezvouses might just yield something important.

Evening is falling on Capablanca when he arrives at the heart of the seaswept city. Gaslights and torches have sprung up along the contours of the streets, the air alive with the smell of salt and ozone, the sounds of people, and singing by the water. Hallelujah is used to a more sterile environment, even if he'd carved up Earth's slums pretty well. People of his time liked to hide their garbage and pretend it didn't exist, so long as they weren't affected by it.

That they don't here, at least not so quickly, is a thrill. Approaching the entrance to the entertainment district, he finds a familiar figure looking about as dark, somber, and uptight as he remembers. ]

Yo. [ Hallelujah stops short of Hux, squaring himself and putting a hand on his hip. ] You sure you should be running around out here by yourself?

[ CLASS ACT GREETING. ]

[well, he'd be hardly recognizeable if he wasn't as dark, somber and uptight as ever, right??? Anyway, he didn't really expect to see Allelujah here. The greeting has him turning his head, but the tone of it has his eyes narrowing, gaze flicking over Hallelujah until he seems to come to a conclusion. Then his expression falls back into impassivity.]

Do you have reason to believe I shouldn't? [raising an eyebrow. It could be an honest question or it could be sarcastic; it's hard to tell with Hux sometimes. Either way, his expression isn't giving anything away one way or another.]

[ Hallelujah simply smiles. Not the one he was expecting — that's always a nice edge to have. ]

You just didn't seem like the type.

[ Which is really a question as much as it is a statement, though Hallelujah honestly doesn't care one way or another. Curiosity just tends to snare at him now and again, especially when he accidentally stumbles upon something worth thinking of as interesting. He's not the first Hero to come sniffing around the darker parts of this district, but a bookworm like this guy? Hallelujah studies him, expression chillingly even. ]

Well. Neither do you, at first glance. [light, casual, and his gaze moves quickly over Hallelujah again, briefly assessing, this time with a bit more curious interest] However, it can certainly be advantageous to be underestimated. Particularly when one is seeking...information.

Yeah. I'm aware. [ Hallelujah won't deny the obvious. He's never had much stake in being secretive about his existence, nevermind his motives. There's a reason that for all of his blunt force, Allelujah remains the dominant one. He shifts; from beneath his jacket, the hilt of the Alfersan dagger taken from Salamanca shines. ] So, just going where the wind takes you? Or is it something else?

[ Depending on what he has to say, Hallelujah has a trail of his own to offer, should he want to tread it. ]

[the handle of the dagger glints and the corner of Hux's mouth twitches upward in what, if continued, might have been a smirk, brief and sharp. However, it's quickly schooled back into casual neutrality.]

I never allow the wind to take me anywhere. [or, every action serves a purpose. He would hardly be here if it was not for a specific, important reason. So now may be a moment to temporarily stop beating around the bush.] I'm here to follow a lead.

[ Parsing people is something of an interest for Hallelujah. It's easier to take something apart if you know how it ticks, after all. This man knows war, or at least the brutal technicality of it. That's what allows him to be so concise, a little too rigid. He seems to finish out the smirk that Hux wisely forgoes. ]

That's too bad, in a place like this. [ Something that seems to feed off of the raw energy here claws at him. But he is entirely instinctual, trusting wind about as much as anything else. ] Still. It sounds like you've sniffed out something worth chasing, as far as our little traitors go.

[ Worth sinking teeth into. ]

I would hardly bother coming here if it wasn't worth chasing. [Halle pls. Hux turns his attention to the alley he was about to head down and moves to complete the action, starting off into the dark]

[ He's so like Tieria that it brings a sharp smile to his face, flickering through the more mild expression. All work and no play. ]

I'd be careful. That way's a regular rabbit hole.

[that causes Hux to pause for a moment, before turning back, slightly, and looking at Hallelujah over his shoulder. He arches an eyebrow, briefly]

Then you'd best follow me down it. [that's as much an invitation as Halle's gonna get before Hux turns, continuing to move down the alley.]

Roger that.

[ Despite the lick of condescension in his tone, it's a practiced saying, with no foreign implications. Back in the dungeon, this man had made it clear he was among the few who were acquainted with the level of technology he is. Spacefaring, implied war. It's interesting, and Hallelujah likes to stay occupied. ]

The farther down you go, the less these Othellian guys like to play nice. Word has it, anyway!

[the condescension is noted but not responded to. After all, he is following the order. Besides, he's worked with others far more...obstinate than Hallelujah has been, insofar.]

Well. Playing nice only gets one so far.

[Hux casually straightens his cuffs on his jacket as he continues down the corridor]

In every well-ordered society, there has to be one willing to make the...difficult decisions for the sake of the whole.

Difficult? [ Hallelujah snorts, all loose movement by comparison. ] Sure, if you like the sound of pretty words. They gloss over bad shit real nicely.

[ But that's none of his business. ]

Either way, about the only order the mafiosos down here understand is the one where they come out on top.

Do not underestimate the value of, how did you put it? [Hux pauses, briefly] "Pretty words?" They may not have their merit down here, but they can certainly be a useful tool.

[anyway]

As for the mafiosos, that does not come as a surprise to me. Any back-water, low-brow crime organization such as this only care for their personal goals, rather than the good of the whole. It is simply a matter of...readjusting their priorities.

[About halfway down the alley, Hux stops at what seems to be a blank wall. He turns to it, studying it for a moment.]

Sure as shit, they can. [ Hallelujah's shoulders arch pointedly. ] They're weapons of war.

[ A well-timed word can do as much damaged as a well-timed shot. Despite himself, Hallelujah swivels opposite of Hux, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings. He works best as the converse to a cause, and falls into it naturally. A brief flicker of a glance tells him they're not exactly alone, but not exactly in real danger.

As of now. ]

Effective ones. [the words, that is, as weapons. But he's reaching a hand up, gloved fingers trailing over the wall until they search out a groove. It's at that point he's slipping two fingers in to press a switch, and the wall shifts and shimmers like an illusion before disappearing, revealing stairs down. The stairs are unlit, and that whole 'not exactly in real danger' thing might about to be upgraded to 'actual dangerous danger' status]

A rare thing, when people like to hear themselves talk so much.

[ Wartime rhetoric is his favorite, can't you tell. But that's for another time. Hearing the pointed shift and shimmer behind him, Hallelujah is quick to notice a suit on his peripherals, lingering in the alleyway behind them. His hand strays to his hip, a gesture that could be as innocuous as it is pointed. An instant is all it takes for his demeanor to shift from languid to threatening, running on a thin wire of anticipation. ]

Cute. Gonna take the plunge? Because we have company.

I'm considering it. [He briefly glances back at Hallelujah] I am rather curious to see how deep this rabbit hole goes. [and with that, he's turning and stepping down into the darkness.]

[ Heel scuffing backwards, he flashes the most shit-eating of grins at the shadows in the distance. ]

That's how it is, then.

[ Hallelujah steps backwards, eyes aglow like a predator. He doesn't take his attention off the outside surroundings until he's down the first step after Hux. Just like that, the barrier reconstitutes in a flicker of light. He hums. ]

Interesting trick. You didn't seem like the type to flush out rabbits.

[ Usually that's his job. ]

[his boots click on the stone as they descend--it gets darker the further they get away from the street, and Hux lifts a hand, snapping his fingers, causing a small flicker of flame to appear, hovering at the tip of his index finger. It doesn't give much light, but perhaps it gives enough.]

Oh? Well, now I'm curious. What type did I seem to be, then?

Straitlaced military. A real stickler for the law. Likes having the power to make others get their hands dirty for you.

[ Hallelujah shrugs, descending the steps after him. ]

Not everyone gets there the same way, huh.

[ Some get the silver spoon, others get a shovel to start digging. Whatever the reason, Hallelujah suddenly stills, his mana curving violently in the dark. ]

Hey, do me a favor. Duck.

[ Because there's a sudden pounding of footsteps up the stairs at them, accompanied by a battle cry, magic and weapons flaring. ]

[Hux is about to respond to that--but he doesn't pause to comment or to ask why he needs to duck; years of military academy and a month here have made him react automatically, doing so just as footsteps start coming towards them. Hux's free hand goes immediately towards his gun, the flame on his index finger flickering wildly. It takes enough concentration for him to hold it in the first place, and it's certainly not a focus now as he starts to swing his gun up and aim down the stairs. He'll shoot off into the dark if he has to, make no mistake. Hopefully Hallelujah won't get in his way.

He can hear them coming closer and so, without another thought, aims down the darkened stairs and pulls the trigger. The gun fires with a slight recoil, three bullets bursting from the barrel at once. A moment later, there are reactive cries of pain, surprise--Hux has no idea how successful his hits were; only that they made contact. Which, he supposes, is a start]

[ A start that Hallelujah intends to finish. Hux's shots ring out and he's off right after them, sleek kinetics illuminated by the bursts of muzzle fire in the dark. As soon as the echo of gunfire ceases, physical violence rushes in to take its place — the sickening sound of a fist impacting flesh, the crack of bone, a quick whisper of steel through muscle and the resulting gurgle of a man bleeding out. Hallelujah is indulgent but quick in his work of the men who'd been so kind as to come and greet them. There is nothing else in him but the swift, coursing instinct to survive and thereby destroy anything that stands in his way to do so. Bodies crumple, one after the other, and there's a brief laugh, the scuff of a boot on stone. ]

Sorry, there. [ Hallelujah drawls pointedly. ] But I'm only gonna need one of you from here on out.

[ A guide might be useful, after all. Even if Hallelujah's driven his dagger through the lucky contestant's shoulder to pin him for the time being. ]

[Hux keeps crouched as Hallelujah goes past him, listening to the sounds of what is perhaps a quick and effective silencing. He pushes to stand, the flame on the end of his finger regaining some of its strength as he takes in a slow breath through his nose; an attempt to calm the racing of his heart. Even now, being in such proximity to this sort of fighting makes him twitch. It is irritating.

Despite this, he effects a calm cover, moving down the stairs to join Hallelujah just as he drives the dagger further into his captive's shoulder.]

Ah, good. You've kept one.

[It's said idly, looking at the man. Hux tilts his head just slightly, taking a step closer.] Good evening. We would very much appreciate it if you would show us around your, ah...charming den. [as expected, the response he gets is less than kind; a snarled retort with some...rather colorful language. Hux's expression of mild disinterest doesn't change through it. At the end of an almost impressive and imaginative description of what they could shove and where, he simply just hums a little.]

Well. That's rather disappointing. [he turns to walk a couple steps down the corridor, then, but doesn't go too far] Hallelujah, perhaps you can...convince him. I am going to check these walls for any possible passages we might otherwise miss.

[a pretense, mostly--he's more interested in seeing what Hallelujah can do.]

[ Interesting, interesting. Despite the fact that Hallelujah laughed raucously through their enemy's tirade, and Hux's lofty demeanor, that his delightful little follow-up comes as a suggestion and rather than an order makes a world of difference. Hallelujah's grin is nearly tangible in the dark, and from his kneeling position, poised like a beast over prey, he drives his knee into the man's ribcage. ]

Hahah! I'm very persuasive. [ He reaches to take hold of the dagger from where it's embedded in flesh and bone. ] Educational, too. Humans are great...

[ He gives the hilt a borderline playful tap, watching the ripple of shock it sends through the body. ]

Two of mostly everything! Ears, eyes, nostrils, hands, kneecaps. They learn real quick what's possible to live with.

[ Hux's footsteps still register in his ears when he rips the dagger out sideways, tearing the flesh ragged and making him scream. ]

...and what they just can't do without. What'll be first?

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(semi-closed) let me tell you about a little situation

02 | hux.

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