[ CLOSED ] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD-_oLjmCGY

[rollin]

Who: the idiots who think this will actually amount to anything
When: IC 11/23 onward
Where: Various!
What: The rescue mission Yata, Sheba and co. discussed at the citywide meeting!
Rating/Warning: at least PG because some people swear like sailors

---

[ Once everyone arrives at the agreed meeting area, the CERES Metro-rail Station at the Residential District, Yata briefs the group on what to do. As discussed in the citywide meeting yesterday, the group will split into six teams that were decided by drawing lots. Everyone should know who they're teamed up with by now. Yata's instructions are simple enough: don't work alone (buddy system!), and if anyone finds anything, report to him. Should the missing arrivals be found, don't wait on anyone's orders. Yata admits that he's not smart enough to call the shots, but if he found who they were looking for, he believes that taking action should be the team's first priority. Anyone is free to protest, but he won't go back on his word.

Then he makes a special shout out to Hiccup and Toothless because look look guys it's a dragon how cool is that okay back to business.

By 9:15 AM, all teams should be on the move! ]

RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT | SHOPPING DISTRICT | ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT | TECH DISTRICT | PLEASURE DISTRICT | VIVID

Comments

[dielectrics]

[ Saying "so like you?" is just too easy. Killua lets it pass in favor of jumping onto a nearby table for a better vantage point. It's not like anyone's going to notice, considering how many other people are up on tables and in considerably lesser states of dress. ]

Huh. What about those guys?

[ He gestures toward a group of incredibly shady looking men loitering by a door at the back of the club. ]

They're definitely up to something.

[rollin]

[ He'd get what Killua was saying, but most of these people are six feet tall if he rounds off to the nearest inch and that simply isn't fair. After failed attempts at craning his neck, he decides to just fuck it and squeeze through the crowd. There may be scantily clad men and women in the way, but he makes it with little incident.

Like, a red mark on his cheek.

But it doesn't matter since he now has a better view from this distance, still safely away from the door. The group of men seem to be harmless, but when one of them reaches into his pocket, Yata holds his breath. Killua, are you seeing this? Not that Yata expects him to since he left him all alone like the great big brother he is...

Well, Killua should be fine. He has yo-yos. ]

[dielectrics]

[ Killua is totally fine. And following along behind Yata again with those handy silent footsteps of his.

Not that he'd bring out the yo-yos for something like this. These guys can't even blow a guy up with their bare hands.

Killua waits, poised and ready to go for the men if it turns out to be a weapon— ]

Are you serious?!

[ He can't help it, the words just burst out of him as the man pulls a fluffy pink stuffed animal from the inside pocket of his jacket. ]

[rollin]

[ It's ridiculous, he knows, but he also knows better than to blurt out his thoughts during a serious (?) mission. Fortunately, he's quick to cover up Killua's blunder and put a hand over his mouth. In a harsh whisper, he berates him. ]

Keep it down, dumbass!

[ But it's too late, since the men are looking this way. They exchange glances, then after a silent understanding, send one of their cronies—a tall, muscled man in a suit—to where Yata is. ]

Shit! Look what you just did.

[dielectrics]

[ Killua is so done with this. So done, he really doesn't care about keeping a low profile any more. Here he thought they'd finally found something — or at least something interesting, and it's a bunch of gangsters with dolls! Lame, this is totally lame.

He pushes Yata's hand off and makes a face at him. ]

It doesn't matter, they're totally useless.

[ The cronies arrive and loom. It's very impressing looming that lasts a few long seconds before the meatiest one says, gruffly: ]

What're you kids doing here? Sticking your nose where it doesn't belong?

[rollin]

[ Yata knows they could take the men on with their eyes closed and one hand behind their back, but it doesn't mean that whatever they're doing is completely irrelevant. That's exactly what they want you to think, Killua! But no, here they are with their chance at a decent lead, ruined. He laments this lost opportunity until one of cronies speaks up.

And makes his blood boil. ]

What'd you say?

[ This time, the henchman cracks his knuckles. "I said beat it, kid."

Silence hangs in the air. ]

... Killua, this one's mine.

[ If Killua thought Yata would stay still for another moment, he thought wrong. ]

[dielectrics]

[ Avoiding a scolding — a totally unjustified scolding, jeez, Yata — in favor of violence? Killua's totally okay with that.

He grins and steps to the side. ]

Sure. I'll take the other two.

[ Killua's fight, at least, is swift and brutal. He has plenty of time after (non-lethally) dispatching his opponents to look over and see how Yata fares. ]

[rollin]

[ Swift and brutal? Then Yata's fight isn't too different. He finishes a couple of seconds after Killua, knocking his opponent unconscious and into a table. Parts of the man's clothes are singed where Yata hit him—Yata considers him done. Killua's opponents seem to be small fry to the kid, to which Yata gives a satisfied grin.

After that, it's back to business. The red shine in Yata's eyes tell the shady-looking men by the door that there's more where that came from. But they're not planning on sticking around long enough to witness it! They break into a sprint, heading for the nearest exit. ]

Get 'em!

[ Because they're running towards their... pink heart-covered motorcycles... ]

[dielectrics]

[ Upon seeing the motorcycles, Killua skids to a stop. No. Just no. This is ridiculous.

He turns to Yata, and says, flatly: ]

Absolutely not.

[ His pause gives the men enough time to corner them. One of them comes up, wheezing, and gasps out: ]

Wait! Wait, were you here for the job interview?

[rollin]

[ Yeah, he had the same thoughts, Killua. Whatever trouble this is, it just isn't worth it. Maybe if there was an actual crime taking place... but no, all they got were toys and Hello Kitty bikes. Yata is about to head back into the club when the question catches him off guard. ]

Huh? Interview?

[ A raised eyebrow tells the men Yata has no idea what they're talking about, but they continue: ]

Yeah! We've been looking for strong guys like you two!

[dielectrics]

[ Killua slants a skeptical glance at Yata. Then he shrugs. Hey, if they're hiring, it's an easy way to see what they're up to, right? ]

What's it pay?

[ Gotta act like they're actually here for it, right? The guy grins. ]

Enough, for what you'll be doing. Come in and meet the boss. [ He looks around, like he's afraid someone will overhear. ] We can't talk out here, not when it's goods like this.

[rollin]

[ When the men gesture at them to follow and turn around, Yata grabs Killua's arm before he can follow. ]

I dunno about this. [ HE'S WHISPERING. ] It's too suspicious. Like, more than usual.

[ The stuffed toys and heart-covered bikes send shivers down his spine, it's true. ]

[dielectrics]

[ Killua glances at the pink motorcycles again, then shrugs. Sure, it's totally suspicious, but it's not like there's anything else interesting going on. ]

You wanted to find suspicious stuff, right? Don't worry, if they try anything, I'll protect you.

[rollin]

[ Embarrassed by how he actually felt comforted by those words, Yata narrows his eyes at Killua. ]

I can watch myself, jackass.

[ Yata, don't call kids jackasses... But whatever. Onwards! Wherever the men are leading them, it isn't that far from the club. They stop at the mouth of a dark, narrow alley; light is scarce and occasionally provided by a pink glow from a door on the right halfway down, opening and closing to let visitors in and vaudeville music out. ]

[dielectrics]

[ Killua's tense as they get to the alley. It's a great spot for an ambush, plenty of shadows and not many people paying attention. Killua's used a set up like this himself on more than one target, and he finds himself glancing up, scanning the roof tops. No one's there, but that doesn't make the uneasy feeling go away.

Especially not when the man, upon leading them a little deeper in, suddenly spins and drops to his knees in front of them. No, not his knees, he's flat out on the ground in a deep bow. ]

Please, join our group! We need your help! We'll pay you anything!

[ Killua stares blankly at the man. Slowly, he turns to look at Yata, mouthing what? ]

[rollin]

[ Yata shrugs, just as confused. What do they need that has them so desperate?

Just then, a scrawny man is thrown out the door and hits the opposite metal wall before sliding onto the ground, unconscious. From his hat and greasy apron, one could clearly tell he was a cook. He reeks of fish.

The man continues: ]

It's our boss, see? She ran into a little trouble with the Pussycats.

[ Yata cuts in. ]

Hold up. Ah... it's not that we don't wanna help you, but what kinda gang calls themselves the Pussycats?

[ The man lifts his head and lets out a stupid chuckle. ] Sometimes we call 'em the Pu—

Save it. Get to the fucking point!

[dielectrics]

[ The man, undeterred by Yata's displeasure, continues: ]

No sense of humor, huh, kid? Anyway, lately we've been having trouble getting our shipments in. They keep getting stolen. We need some muscle to watch our backs.

[ Killua can't believe this. He honestly can't believe this. He turns to Yata, ignoring the man as he drops back to his knees and grovels, and says, conversationally. ]

You know, back home if they wanted to hire me, it cost millions.

[rollin]

[ Yata shrugs it off with a chuckle. ]

Heh, yeah, well they get me for—MILLIONS!?

[ ...and is floored. Stop and drop everything. Forget the job, forget their cover. That's his rent back home times—you know what, he doesn't want to think about it.

(They get him for free.) ]

You said that ass... [ Oh, maybe he shouldn't talk about it? What an awkward place to stop. ] thing was a joke! [ No one did, though. ]