[OPEN]

[kirkhammer]

Who: Vivienne and YOU
When: 3/29 onwards at various dates
Where: Capablanca
What: Vivienne's taking up the ol' Obligatory Beach Episode. She can't swim, so unfortunately, she's staying away from the water, but she's hunting around for leads, and will eventually come across something of worth.
Rating: PG-13 for possible violence? Will change accordingly if the need arises.

A: 3/29

[After a period of skulking around in taverns, back alleys, establishments even Vivienne would consider shady, with no luck, it now seems fortune is smiling upon her, she's been tipped off regarding the attempt to murder "Frankie" Corsi, and now she's hanging around the waterside, waiting. For what, she doesn't know. Maybe for Frankie to appear. Maybe for his lover to appear. Maybe for another Hero who's caught on to a similar lead.

It doesn't really matter, because if you're close enough to her, she'll be trying to get your attention.]

Have you heard anything of interest?

[Because she sure has, and hey... might be a good idea to collaborate on this.]

B: 3/30

[She hadn't been sure what to expect when Feliciano informed her of a "Black Lightning". Vivienne had come to the conclusion it was something like a code name - no assassin would be foolish enough to use their real name, after all - but her's was aptly chosen. She's quick on her feet, much faster than Vivienne would ever have given her credit for. It isn't that she's unable to keep up with the assassin, but bearing a weapon strictly intended for close range isn't much use if you can't actually catch up.

As the two weave through the crowds, Vivienne makes out a flash of white uniform out the corner of her eye, and though the distance between herself and Black Lightning increases as she slows down, maybe having a second person help her out will counter that.]

Come with me. I need your help.

[It isn't much of an explanation, but look, that can come later. Hopefully wearing the uniform of a fellow Hero is enough of a reason.]

C: 3/31

[After the successful chase from the day before, Vivienne's now the owner of one (1) ambiguous clue. Is it the symbol of a cult? One of the families? The symbol of one of the many establishments around town? She doesn't really have any way of knowing, and asking around about it seems a quick way to land yourself in trouble in these parts, so what's she supposed to do?

Poke around the library and see if it holds any greater meaning, of course. So there Vivienne is, seated at a large table with an array of books open. Some are about symbols, some are about language, some are historical accounts and some... seem to be fiction? "The King of the Rings"? That doesn't seem too relevant.]

D: WILDCARD

[Wanna do something completely different? Feel free to hit me with it, at any location in Capablanca, and at whatever date best suits you! Alternatively, send me a PM or a PP at paako and we can work something out.]

Comments

3/30!!

[hoasen]

[Vietnam didn't know that Feliciano has been going around ever since she met up with him and Galatea, but here she is anyway, walking around and trying to investigate for a little bit.

But she swore there were people running and she went over to look, only to see a fellow Hero require her assistant.]

What do you need?

[kirkhammer]

[Not wanting to take her eyes off Black Lightning in case she loses her, Vivienne doesn't really glance at Vietnam. If things go well, she'll apologise later.]

An assassin-- I was asked to stop them.

Can't catch them alone.

[Again, it's brief, but she can't afford to dally too long.]

[hoasen]

[She follows her gaze to see the other figure, and knew that they were meant to catch her. Vietnam nods in agreement.]

An assassin? Alright, I will assist you. When we take them down, do they have to be alive?

[She's already transforming her oar into her sniper rifle.]

[kirkhammer]

[And now, seeing movement out the corner of her eye, Vivienne blinks in surprise. What a peculiar weapon...

She considers that question for a moment, before deciding:]

I would rather them alive. [For possible interrogation purposes.] But it isn't necessary.

Let's move. Flank her if possible.

[hoasen]

[And it sure changed until something different! At least as a rifle, it doesn't look like an odd weapon like it did as an oar.]

Alright. I'll try to aim for somewhere that wouldn't kill her. [Legs.]

When you are ready! [She follows Vivienne's instructions as soon as they are directed to her.]

[kirkhammer]

[Ah, so it is a ranged weapon. What luck that she'd run into someone with range here and now.]

Come then. [A light tap on Vietnam's upper arm, and then she's picking up her pace.] I don't believe she saw you, which would mean we at least have the element of surprise.

Are you able to get to higher ground? Traverse the rooftops? Will your weapon be able to reach from there?

[hoasen]

[Fortune visits the brave, or in this case it was just a great coincidence. She follows after Vivienne immediately, nodding in agreement as she moves.]

If she didn't see me, then yes, I can relocate myself and you try to push her into a corner. [She taps the scope.] It is possible.

[kirkhammer]

[Her knowledge when it comes to firearms is limited to pistols and primitive shotguns - the blunderbuss - and neither of those had significant range, so she'll trust Vietnam on this one.]

Very well. Knowing this town better than I do, she will outpace me, but I will do my best to keep her out in the open.

The rest I will leave in your hands.

[If Vietnam has no other input, she's then dashing off.]

[hoasen]

[No more input other than--] Alright, I will be on the roofs.

[And she makes for the nearest building that has an outside flight of stairs, climbing and racing upwards, until she's able to traverse across the closely situated rooftops.]

[kirkhammer]

[Perfect.

And with that, Vivienne picks up her pace, squeezing past a small group amidst their conversation. They murmur quietly under their breaths - something about rude Heroes - but Vivienne pays them no mind. Her eyes are on Black Lightning.

Speaking of, the assassin glances back over her shoulder, and seeing that she's still being pursued, begins to speed up, ducking in between various stalls in an attempt to confuse. Whether it's an overly simple tactic, or that Vivienne is confident due to having an ally, it doesn't work as intended.

Sweeping up a handful of decorative hair pins from one of the stalls, Vivienne tosses one towards her target, deliberately pulling to the left to urge Black Lightning to the right, into a corridor. She has no way of knowing where it leads, of course, or whether it's a dead end or not, but it is a straight path, and hopefully a clear enough shot.]

[hoasen]

[Through her scope, Vietnam is able to see where Vivienne is going, and it helps her situate herself in a good position. She knows where Vivienne is heading now, so she races there faster, moving to a spot where she can setting her rifle and snipe from afar. It's actually eye-opening to see how Vivienne handles this, leading the assassin towards her.

She can see the figure now, and so with this being a clean and easy shot? She shoots. On a normal day, her target should've went down.

Vietnam frowns. This was not a shot she could miss.]

3/29

[mithrarin]

It's the beach and you're not wearing a bathing suit?

[Dust feels at ease enough with Vivienne to tease her. And it clearly is teasing, because Dust sure hasn't changed his outfit in the slightest.]

Interesting like how?

1/2

[kirkhammer]

I--

[This is somehow upsetting her delicate Victorian era sensibilities!!! Not to mention she'd probably sink like a rock if she got in over her head. Literally over her head.]

2/2

[kirkhammer]

[But a second later, she composes herself with a vague cough into her hand.]

Anything beyond the idle chatter of everyday life.

[mithrarin]

I hear you wear bathing suits at the beach. [....he can't resist. Sorry, Fidget Viv.]

[But now it's his turn to be more serious.] I haven't heard anything specific. But I'm guessing you have.

[kirkhammer]

I've no intention of entering the water.

[Said a little testily. N-not because she can't swim or anything!!]

But I have, yes. Though I'm wondering if you've any intention of hearing me out, or if you'd rather ridicule me.

[Passive aggressive pouting is a go. This woman is like, 30, can you believe it...]

[mithrarin]

I can do both. I'm very versatile. [Considering he certainly isn't wearing a bathing suit and, oh yeah, never takes his hatoff, she can return fire in kind if she likes. Or thinks about it.]

What's going on?

[kirkhammer]

[H-hmph, don't bring her down to your level, Dust!!!!!! It'll happen one day.]

So it would seem.

I was given information regarding an attempt on Francesco Corsi's life.

3/29

[liberal_arts]

That depends, a bit, on what you define as interesting, Strawberry-san. -That was her nickname now. She was never getting rid of it.

Kasen was there on the very same tip, but also a genuine interest in meeting Miss Galatea. Everything about her and her lover intrigued the artist in him, their tale together something truly beautiful, and one nearing a potentially tragic ending that he aimed to stop, as well as get some revenge of his own.-

[kirkhammer]

[She might not ever be rid of it, but she will also never stop trying. To that end, she briefly rubs at her temple.]

Kasen, what will take for you to call me by my name?

[Yes, this is what she's addressing first.]

[liberal_arts]

Changing it entirely would be a good place to start. -He laughs, not being very serious, but enjoying her exasperation anyways.-

[kirkhammer]

[And at that she just... frowns.]

You're not going to give me a choice, are you?

[liberal_arts]

If it really truly bothers you, I will stop. But I don't think it's such a bad thing.

[kirkhammer]

You don't? What if I were to call you... [What's another strange food? Strange to her, anyway.] Vinegar.

[L-Look, she's trying to pick something equally outlandish to try to prove her point. She's trying super hard...]

[liberal_arts]

-Kasen blinked a bit.-

... Assetto doppio?

[kirkhammer]

[And now it's her turn to blink.]

What?

[liberal_arts]

A type of vinegar used as a condiment in most Italian cooking. I'm particularly fond of it with Caprese salads. -So it was just Kasen being Kasen, then.-

[kirkhammer]

[Ah, yes... so at that, she'll just eventually nod.]

It doesn't bother you, does it?

[liberal_arts]

Not a bit. -Nice try, tho.-

3/31

[fadetoweiss]

[ It's in Weissmann's interests to sit and read, both for looking up information about this new world and because he just enjoys reading. He's not exactly allergic to sunlight, but he's certainly more at home in an archive than anything else.

He doesn't even look up when Vivienne piles books everywhere, though he makes note of it. He does, however, make note of some of the books.

He picks up one of them, viewing it with only mild interest. Fiction has never been his strong suit, admittedly. ]

My, are you going to read all of those in one day? You must be quite a fan of literature!

[kirkhammer]

[She goes a little rigid when one of her books is lifted. If at all possible, she'd rather her indulgences remain secret. But ah... best play it off casually, if the worst should happen.]

I-- I am. Yes.

[Nailed it.]

Though today, I am here to pursue a different goal.

[Yep, hence all this unrelated material.]

[fadetoweiss]

[ He puts the book back down, shuffling his own pile of books. It's smaller, but the books are a lot thicker. And all non-fiction, too. History, geography... ]

Ah, are you a scholar, then? Well met!

What's the purpose of your research, if I might ask? [ He's all curiosity and enthusiasm. It's not entirely faked, but his bouncy personality is. ]

[kirkhammer]

No, I am a-- [Hunter, she nearly says, but that doesn't quite apply here anymore.] I am no scholar.

Simply someone aiming to decipher the meaning of this.

[And here, she'll slide the clue that Black Lightning dropped across the table.]