Spooky Goes the Night (HFE, P, IO)

Tue Oct 15, 2019 11:18 am

Mission Details:

The restaurant business wasn’t far off from the crime business. You had to get product, move the product, get paid for the product, and there were always others that wanted the people to buy theirs instead of yours. Perhaps that’s why he’d taken a flair for it, and hadn’t missed a beat in setting himself up. Now that he had the lads running some of the shadier sides to keep himself above others, well it only made it all the simpler.

Now back in his “home” village, the night air was cold and that families feeling of a job needing done chilled down his neck. Jack.......Jack was a good guy, a guy that had given him several missions back in the day, and it appeared not much as changed. When Maku and Youka has known him, he had kept to the shadows cowl drawn down. A mysterious stranger, but in the years following the exodus of Iwagakure, Maku had learned his name and kept in touch. He had always been the sole proprietor of Maku’s missing ninja missions, and in the land of waterfalls the call had found him unexpectedly.

He’d lured him in with prospects of business intrigue, and a black market friend who wasn’t much of a friend. He’d brought Akihana along, mostly for the company, and because he doubted there was much old Jack or anyone form the old days that could hurt them. There first mission was to find the pop up bar known as “Christmas Town” that moves night after night selling a variety of “goods” disguised as Christmas paraphernalia.

That is where we find the duo, Maku letting Aki lead in search of the bar. As for Maku, he was whistling a song, still fully outfitted in his Akatsuki chef coat, weaponry, and headband just as he had been for the party.

TWC - 308

Tue Oct 15, 2019 11:49 am

The night at the ball had ended on an… interesting note. One which Akihana didn’t particularly wish to ponder upon as she exited the kitchens, once again wrapped in her warm red cloak but this time for other reasons than warmth. Her ruined costume now lay bundled in a soggy pile in one of the industrial sized sinks. Luckily after the events of the night, she had gotten friendly enough with the on-site staff to get a change of clothes. The Kunoichi had gratefully accepted the first thing given to her, not pondering the practicality of it as they were in a party and her cloak was still safe.

The night had continued on, showing only slight signs of slowing down at almost three in the morning. The music still rang through the ball though it was slower, people still danced though they waltzed mreo than fox-trotted and the fireworks continued but somehow grew quieter. Children outside in the gardens didn’t play quite so loudly and an almost peaceful gleam began to down on the scene.

Until Maku appeared by her side, asking her if she would like to go for a walk. Her hesitance was completely ignored by the male who set off ahead of her without even waiting for a response, forcing her to quicken her pace and catch up. After the horse trick of earlier, the blonde wasn’t letting him win again. The purpose of their walk was explained to her amidst whistles and hums and somehow, it made her understand him better.

“There, I think there’s a neon light behind those buildings,” she pointed out, leading the way. Her vision paid off. The two took a short cut through an alley and found themselves at a store proudly announcing sales on Christmas accessories.

“I guess this is Christmas Town.”

Total Words: 303

Claiming: 500 ryo and 1 AP, 100 WC

Tue Oct 15, 2019 12:12 pm

Same claim for mission rewards, first one complete.

Tue Oct 15, 2019 12:13 pm

Approved

Tue Oct 15, 2019 12:29 pm

“Nice one Akihanna...”. Maku would say patting her on the back. Walking up, he’d give the door a quick knock before entering anyway. Upon entering the door, a volume of noise and excitement attacked him more than any Shinobi could have. Eyes quickly adjusting and looking around he saw a myriad of faces, costumes, food, and all manner of fun. “Wow....” would escape his lips as he tried to take in the massive scale of the scene. Making a gesture to Aki to follow him, he’d enter the building, just to be clapped on the back by Jack himself. “Maku my boy, it’s so good to see you, saved any baby seals lately?” He’d ask, booming laughter escaping his wide toothy grin. Jack was y’all and lanky, all most disturbingly so, with a costume of a skeleton to match adding to the effect was a skull painted on his face.

“O you know Jack, I don’t do that any more......but if any grandmas are bothering you I’m your guy.” Maku would say giving Jack a friendly push. The next couple minutes where filled with the low criminals Maku had met coming and greeting him. It was as though he’d stepped back a hundred years. Turning he’d shout without thinking “Youka looks its Timmy Two foots.....” His smile would be beaming, but the sight of Akihana’s golden eyes instead of the eyes of his friend set him back a moment. For a second......just for a moment he’d forgotten.

Clearing his throat he’d pull Aki into the fray and have her be subjected to the same rounds of hellos. Introducing her to all the people he knew, he’d finally leave her with Cough a Lot Sally and Winnie Two Noses.

“So what’s going on Jack......ain’t heard from you in awhile, and to be honest I was fine with that how’d you find me?” Maku would ask honestly, sipping on a vibrant green drink.

“That’s fair I guess.........but Maku, you can’t just announce yourself with a bingo book at a bar in the black market and expect me not to hear. Can you?” His voice was deep now, more business like.

“I guess that was stupid, but Sake and Women, what can I say...”. Taking another drink he’d watch as the party of “Christmas Town” continued. “Nice place you got, but I don’t need the money anymore. I’m out of that game for now.” His voice was still serious, lacking the sing song as he spoke with Jack. Not wanting any delusions that he’d be working for the man in the cloak again.

“O Maku, none of us are ever really out of the game, we just take time outs. Now it’s a party, enjoy yourself, you deserve it after all the hard work you’ve done for me....”. He’d laugh again before skulking through the crowd. For his part he tried to enjoy it the best he could, but something felt off, wrong even. This was one ghost he’d never have expected, and possibly one of the more dangerous ones around.

WC for this mission - 508
TWC thread - 816

Tue Oct 15, 2019 1:01 pm

“Nice one Akihanna...”

The kunoichi froze at the praise, though not so much the praise as the usage of her name the way only Maku used it. For a while now he had been referring to her by her given name. And there had always been a difference between her given name and the name he had given her. The touch on her back was light and fleeting and it made her want to extend her own arm, to hold him back, tell him her name was “Aki-Hana” and that he didn’t get to do this on a whim. He didn’t get to pull her close and alienate her whenever he felt like it. The blonde wished she was strong enough to give him the ultimatum of all or nothing. She wished she believed in herself enough to be able to exist away from him.

She wished for a lot of things but in the end, she did what she always did.

Nothing.

The inside of the shop… was not a shop at all as they soon found out. But Maku had known all along. In fact, he seemed more at home here than most of the people partying. Not unlike the ball they had just vacated, everyone in Christmas Town was also celebrating Halloween in their costume and with their drinks and music. Akihana was jolted out of her surprise by Maku as he pushed her towards the center of a circle, introducing her to people whose named sounded like they were out of a story book. The kunoichi said nothing of course, only politely greeting each one and offering her own name in return. It sounded quite boring compared to their monikers.

“Yeah, that won’t do, we’re gonna call you Aki-Gold Eyes, on a count o’ them eyes, where’d you get them hun?” A woman known as Winnie Two Noses asked.

“Got them?” Akihana asked confused as Cough A Lot Sally added “And where’s your costume. There ain’t no cloak’n’daggers in here, we’re all friendly like.” A pause before she casually threw in. “Except on bingo night and that’s mostly Timmy, that bastard.”

“Umm I-“ before the blonde could protest, Sally had reached to pull off her cloak, revealing the shimmering rose gold gown underneath. If Akihana’s sun kissed gold halo and topaz bright eyes had not been enough to make her stand out before, the thousands of tiny crystals covering her entire dress did the trick. A few whistles sounded from around the room, making the medic blush a soft pink.

“May I please have my cloak back?” she asked timidly to a grinning Sally and Winnie.

“Okay, but you gotta tell us all about how you met yer fella first,” Winnie proposed, making Sally shake her head.

“Oh come on, like he’s hard to land,” Winnie would interject before Akihana had a chance to respond. “Give ‘em a few drinks and a warm pair of br-“

“I really need to go,” Akihana squeaked in a panic, not wanting to listen to the rest of the conversation. Maku was nowhere to be found but that had never been a problem.

Few things in this word were inevitable, and one of them was her always managing to find him.

Total Words: 541

Claiming: 1000 ryo, 3Ap, 200 WC

Tue Oct 15, 2019 1:12 pm

Same claims for this mission.

Tue Oct 15, 2019 1:20 pm

Approved

Tue Oct 15, 2019 3:26 pm

Apparently he wasn’t destined to get much time in the ways of reflection. As Jack stalked back into the crowd, Maku shortly felt a bump in his back. Turning he found his golden companion, at odds with his black and red scheme. “Having fun?” He’d ask her causally drinking form the cup of lime green liquid. It had a certain sweetness that was dangerous to be sure. To properly know the danger though, he grabbed a second plastic cup from a passing tray that Timmy the Bastard held.

“Why don’t we get out of he.....”. Just as he was about to finish the statement Jack took to a make shift stage. Tapping a microphone he pierced the party atmosphere his voice demanding attention.

“Ghouls, and Gals......allow me to introduce why I’ve brought you here........no more skulking and hiding from the hunter nins, I’ve got the tool we’ve been dying to get....”. His voice was hollow, clearly going for a full Halloween theme. Taking another drink, the speech had grabbed enough of his attention to keep him in place, he did love a showman after all. “It’s thanks in part to a guest of honor....” A black light spotlight was used to pierce the scene framing Maku in the purplish light. Causing his red and blacks to glow eerily. Giving a wry smile he waved around to a chorus of shouts and screams. “It was his techniques that gave inspiration to.......The Christmas Door!” He’d shout as they pulled out what appeared to be a large doorframe in the shape of a Christmas tree, done up with all the tinsel and ornaments.

“What the hell.....” Maku would whisper, more and more confused by the absurdity of the situation at hand.

“Allow me....to demonstrate....” Jack would say with all the proper pauses. Opening the empty door, he’d walk through and close the door behind him, only to vanish and appear walking through the front door. “Escape, with me and you will see, this is our world, and they will not catch thee!” He’d let out a cackling scream at this, and the crowd answered, clearly this was the culmination of a grand project to allow them to maneuver villages and the underground world without being captured.

Before the cackling had died down there was suddenly the sound of breaking glass, as 3 smoke bombs erupted near where Jack stood, and then another three behind him, causing the room to quickly be enveloped by smoke, obscuring everyone’s vision. His own eyes out of habit swirled into their final stats, searching for a source, the voices of three newcomers could be picked out by those with true Shinobi training, which if he recalled correctly was only himself, Akihana, and Jack. The rest being just petty criminals at best. Maku would step forward, hands would move to his back to grip the Tanto, another hand drawing out two Shuriken. They weren’t his go to tools, but he was still trying to lay low with his abilities. Jack being around presented a new trouble, he might have taken jobs from him, but it wouldn’t surprise him if Jack our a couple jobs against him.

Third mission WC - 527
TWC - 1343

Tue Oct 15, 2019 4:12 pm

She didn’t find him as much as bumped into him, almost knocking the drink from his hand. Luckily, most of it was gone anyway and what little that remained was gulped by the newly reinstated blonde in the next move. Akihana could neither tell nor wish to identify what he was drinking; she had chosen to abstain herself because the kunoichi doubted her alcohol tolerance had improved over the years. She meant to ask what they were doing there, and if he planned to leave soon before their hooded, skeletal host from earlier took the stage.

What followed was a display of what the blonde could only imagine was an impressive feat of space time jutsu. She had been panicked slightly when the spotlight happened upon Maku, highlighting Akihana and her glittering dress by default but when it became apparent that no one was paying attention to the two ninja in the audience in favor of the spectacle on stage, she found herself paying attention too.

It took a moment, perhaps a moment longer than Maku, but the puzzle finally clicked into place.

These people were not… they were going to use this jutsu for ill. The talk of bingo books and being caught made it clear they were missing ninja. And the kind of missing ninja who had no qualms about crafting jutsu to trick other people and defy the law. The idea made her finch as Jack ushered his followers into the future of infiltration. No one voiced a concern. No one raised the moral issue of sneaking up on someone undetected.

And he had said the inspiration was Maku. Maku was a missing ninja.

Was she one too now? Not being attached to a village system hadn’t caught up with the blonde until now. And as much as she could have pondered on her own life right now, there was no time. The smoke bombs that went off in unison flicked on something inside her,. A lifetime of training making the kunoichi activate her golden eye and reached for the first solid thing she could find .

“Maku, they’re kids,” she called out, laying a hand on his arm holding out the shurikens ready to throw. If he would stop for a moment to see the people behind the masks, he would note their short height, their uncertain stance and their hesitant chakra. The smoke bomb was the only trick they had up their sleeves and when that had failed to dissipate the crowd, they were trying to improvise.

And no kids were more dangerous than the ones who made things up as they went along.

Looking at Maku, he golden eyed medic silently sought permission before stepping out from behind him and towards the three newcomers. One looked terrified at the weapons in Maku’s hands while the second stared at her stunned, either dazzled by the sequins of her dress or just dazed by the situation. It was the third that was harder to read. With the weapon still trained on them, Akihana moved to the children, slowly, cautiously, with a kind look on her face.

“Hi there,’ she greeted them with a smile. ‘Did you want to join the party?”

(535)

Spooky Goes the Night (HFE, P, IO)

Spooky Goes the Night (HFE, P, IO)

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Re: Spooky Goes the Night (HFE, P, IO)