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

[hackles]

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.)

Comments

[hackles]

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. ]

[endoftherepublic]

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]

[hackles]

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.

[endoftherepublic]

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.]

[hackles]

[ 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. ]

[endoftherepublic]

[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?

[hackles]

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. ]

[endoftherepublic]

[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]

[hackles]

[ 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. ]

[endoftherepublic]

[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.]

[hackles]

[ 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?