Ashes to Ashes (Apocalypse World)

[WlfSamurai]

Casket (@Stormtrooper996),


Just some follow-ups:

• Who was the last person to crawl to you for help?
  
• How did Tweedie and Robin come to work for you?
  
• Do you have a special deal setup for Zarani for him and his men?
  

 

[Stormtrooper996]

Who was the last person to crawl to you for help? - A bandit known for quite a long list of horrible crimes, injured after a skirmish with Longinus. The man traded me a collection of old CDs and a few boxes of bullets to fix up his shoulder unfortunately for the bandit Longinus caught wind of where the bandit was and after an intense dispute that may or may not have ended in my getting my ass kicked. I handed over the bandit.


How did Tweedie and Robin come to work for you? - I frist met the twins while carrying out a drug deal with their boyfriend at the time. Things went smoothly and I enjoyed talking to them but during a follow up deal Robin dropped the joint and burned the boyfriend's sofa enraged he struck her. Enraged by the man's actions I beat him bloody and loaned my pistol to Tweedie who then shot the man for stirking her sister. Impressed by their actions and fond of then anyway, I took them in where over the years we grew quite close to one another.


Do you have a special deal setup for Zarani for him and his men? - In exchange for him looking the other way in regards to my illegal activities, I provide greaty discounted treatment, charging just enough to cover the cost, to him and his men.

 

[Grey]

The Moon's Spawn





Fucking Philip. I owe him damned near anything he asks. He found me delirious and wandering in the wastes, when I first discovered the use of the fungal blooms. To keep that secret of my lapse, and for saving me from myself, I owe him. But I do not like him, nor fully trust him. Still, vulnerability is a tool in itself, and if he does become Longinus' creature...

 

[DreamingofRoses]

Cassia


I'm grateful. There's far worse that can be found in the dark


I'm going to go down the hallway to the source of that noise as quietly as possible, keeping the torch to the back, my back to the wall and the stun gun sitting within easy reach of my free hand.

 

[Napalm on Toast]

Mouse


Hell yeah I wanna talk to Odessa. Don't suppose her route outta town will take her past the schoolhouse so I can wave her down?


The place ain't much to look at. I never got much schooling. Didn't need it. I know how to hit what I shoot, and in the Evergrey that's really all you need to know. Cep's here, like usual, and some girl too. Linori? Lanura? I don't care, some shitty name like that.


I rap my knuckles on the doorframe as I come in. "Cep. You got plans tonight? I gotta job." I stare hard at the girl the whole time. So far as I know, she's no good with a gun, so she's no good for me. I don't need her here listening in. No telling who will squeal to those slaves to try and earn their favor.

 

[WlfSamurai]

Casket (@Stormtrooper996),


All right.


We'll start like everyone else.


It's mid-morning.


You've woken up however you normally would.


Now, you're well into whatever you do in the morning.


So, what are you doing now?


And what are the twins doing?


 
Moon (@Grey),


Interesting.


Well, through your followers, before you leave,


you've caught wind that something is up with Phillip.


Seems like Zarani is heading to pay him a visit this morning.


Seems like he might be a in a bit of a jam.


You want to head there and find out what's going on?


Or do you want to ignore it and continue out on the Pilgrimage with Juuka and Mu?


Or something else?


 
Cassia (@DreamingofRoses),


Makes sense.


If you don't want her to notice you,


you're going to have to act under fire.


The fire being whether or not she sees you before you want her to.


Do it.


 
Cep/Mouse/Odessa (@DeusExAlice/@Napalm on Toast/@Teh Frixz),


Cep, what do you say?


You can tell Lenora is very confused.


Odessa, are you stopping buy Cep's classroom when Mouse is there?

 

[Teh Frixz]

Odessa


Sure am. I almost can't leave the car as I pull up. I don't want to step back into the world of blurred pains and sirens exploding behind my eyes but dammit I will. Because I'm my own goddamn person and I'll do what I want when I want.


I slam the door and slide to the back to double check my lock. Still there.


I start up to the classroom, having to bite and tear at a strand of hair falling in my face. I swallow it down, ignoring that bitter almond taste and gritty texture. I don't really know why I stop here before trips out to Dog Head. Maybe I come to see if there's any side job I can do. Maybe I just come by to see the children learning before I haul their probable parent off to a slave camp.


Either way, I'm here. I knock on a metal sheet with my foot three times, letting the tinny sound ring and confirming that the engine sound and door slam they heard was just me.

 

[Grey]

The Moon's Spawn





Aha. An opportunity for conversion.


I can take the time to investigate before the harvest.

 

[DreamingofRoses]

Cassia


It can be difficult to go unnoticed with an actual burning torch.


[dice]9759[/dice]


+ 1 (Cool) is 8

 

[Arlet]

(apologies for the delay)


I look over the six of them and give them a soft smile. I take a moment to get out my pistol, making sure a round is chambered to make my point before speaking it.


“I heard we had an issue with Phil. I intend to go and bring him in to resolve this issue. You're all here to make sure he doesn't try to make a scene. And if he does, well.. I already sent word to Longinus that this could go poorly.”


I leave it at that, ignoring much else and making my way to Phil's usual spot. I make sure to keep myself at the head of the group.

 

[DeusExAlice]

An unexpected arrival. Not even a flinch, we kept our hands from going for a weapon too. Teachers shouldn't do that on impulse.


It's the woman, Mouse. The killer for hire, murderer. One of the few people I feel is close to how we want the world to spin.


Carefully now, I took a moment with my words. It is harder now with someone else present. Killing two people at once while unarmed is difficult. With one a seasoned fighter, it would be an interesting contest.


"Of course. I'm sure Longinius and Odessa made sure nothing bad happened to you out there."


That was the truth, but the intention of keeping her safe might not make her happy. We had left her there in the wreckage of that fight with purpose. We knew those two were close by and would find the girl.


I'm not even certain Mouse is, or was, aware of the girl existing but I would rather not leave any direct suggestion I was at the scene. If in a surprose Mouse decided to investigate my words.


Her hard stare at Lenora is making us nervous. It could be nothing more than a vague dislike of life so early in the day. It could be she was memorizing the girls face to interrogate her later on, outside of our presence. The question on the matter of putting the child down or not still lingers.


"Lenora, could I ask you to please step outside while I talk to Mouse? It'll just be a minute."


Patiently waiting. It was quiet, the silence before a bloodbath. We could feel our blood SINGING at the prospect of it with this woman.


I cross my legs, resting my chin on one hand. The other one waits to throw a nearby chair if need be.


"I am going to be tutoring Zek in math after the school day. Depending on the time and nature of this job, I may be able to be of assistance."

 

[Napalm on Toast]

Mouse


There's something going on here, some sentimental drivel that I frankly don't give a shit about. I'm here because I've seen Cep in a fight. She's good. Not as good as me, but still better than most the layabouts in the hold. She gets rid of the kid, which is good, coz that itch has been getting worse and worse all morning. Nearly capping Vickers just added fuel to the fire. If that girl had stayed I might have just shot her, damn the consequences. "You see..."


Before I can say much of anything there's banging on the door. The shotgun's in my hand without a thought. I fight down the urge to fill the person on the other side with lead and wait for them to come through. Today must be my lucky day, coz it's Odessa that come strolling in, grease stains and tangled hair and all.


That doesn't make it easier to take my finger off the trigger. Car-loving bitch left me behind on a job once. Only reason she's still breathing is I need a Driver from time to time and no one else in this shithole qualifies.


"Good. You'll wanna hear this too. Foster has a job. The job is killing some Camp Dog Head assholes. I need firepower," I point to Cep. "And wheels." I shift my finger to Odessa. "Queen of the Narrows has promised to pay. With all her tolls she's got the denari to spare. You in?" (read a person x 2)





[dice]9913[/dice]


[dice]9914[/dice]


Using my hold to ask both of you:

• how could I get your character to help raid Camp Dog Head?
  

 

[WlfSamurai]

Moon / Zarani (@Grey / @Arlet),


Zarani, the the assholes nods their heads.


They don't say much.


Before you can leave, Moon strolls in.


What do you say to each other?


 
Longinus (@SephirothSage),


Do you want to go see Zarani or head to see Phillip?


I think now would be the perfect time for you to stroll into Zarani's office.


Or do you want to do something else?


 
Cassia (@DreamingofRoses),


You turn the corner and see her.


Last.


She's standing over a body,


bloody knife in hand.


You can't see who it is.


You're right, though.


However quiet you may have been,


the dancing torchlight gives it away.


She slowly turns toward you.


There's blood all over her.


Even so savage, she'd be so beautiful,


if it weren't for her missing eye.


She hisses and demands to know what the fuck you're doing here.


There's a wild look in her eye.


She's not going to fuck around here.


She means biz.


What do you say?


 
Cep / Mouse / Odessa (@DeusExAlice / @Napalm on Toast / @Teh Frixz),


You guys got this.


Let's see what happens.

 

[SephirothSage]

I think I'll be strolling on into Zarani's office myself, as I push the door open and stroll on in- coat flapping about me.


"So what's this 'bout my boy Phillip making a damned fool of himself?" I begin to say- then I pause, as I notice Moon's in there with him. My eyes narrow suspiciously, then I sigh as I look on. " 'Pologies, didn't know you was engaged."

 

[Grey]

The Moon's Spawn





I bow, hands clasped.


"Blessings of Luna upon you, Zarani, that you may be wise."

 

[DreamingofRoses]

Cassia


"Easy," I say, doing my best not to look down, since lookin' at the body might set her off. "I found an entrance to an old fallout shelter tunnel on the surface. I was curious so I came down here to look around and heard you. How about you? How'd you get down here? The tunnel I saw was covered with a boulder from the outside."

 

[WlfSamurai]

Moon / Longinus / Zarani (@Grey / @SephirothSage / @Arlet),


So, Moon says his(her?) greeting.


And then Longinus strolls in and says what he says.


You're all together.


 
Cassia (@DreamingofRoses),


She seems to ignore your question and asks if anyone else knows you're here.


She takes a step toward you.


What do you do?

 

[DreamingofRoses]

Cassia


"Yes, they do, now back the hell up and drop the damn knife, Last."


I pull the stun gun from the holster and aim, and I will go aggro.





[dice]10222[/dice].

 

[Arlet]

Before Longinus steps in I bow my head and smile respectfully to Moon, stumbling over a few thoughts before politely saying, “I'm never quite sure how to respond to that. Maybe at some point you could teach me.”


As Longinus walks in, I become a bit less gentle, however. My smile is quite thin at his question, and I look over the assholes before deciding what I want to say.


Screw it, it's too early in the day to be too-polite.


“Grace is under the impression he tried to kidnap a girl. I would like to offer you the respect of coming along to determine if this is true with me. If it's an issue, I will defer to your opinion on how to deal with the boy. You know him better than I do. If it isn't an issue, we all get to have a better day for it.”


I finish by crossing my arms. Might as well let the both of them speak their piece before possibly going to bury someone.

 

[SephirothSage]

I force my eyes away from the she-devil, to focus back in on Zarani and smile wearily- nodding slightly at his words.


"I see... Well, seems to me, I'll be giving him a trial same as I would any one in this town who decided to play loose with the law- and if he's found guilty, he'll hang. Don't matter who he is, just whether or not he did it." I insists calmly. If the boy fucked up, he done fucked up- and I don't need a deputy who doesn't entirely play by the law. Justice is Justice- and kidnapping ain't acceptable. It just ain't.


"So how about we head on over and get to the bottom of this, then, yeah? Your town, you lead the way. Mrm." I rumble quietly- adjusting my hat to angle it up. I keep my hands away from my sword on purpose to avoid unsettling anyone- but it's there, hanging tight against my belt in it's sheathe; burnished silver pommel shining bright.

 

[Teh Frixz]

Odessa


"I'm going to Dog Head."


I interject, already starting to regret leaving my car.


"I've got a package to drop off and then I'm heading to Rice City for a job. The Denari is sweet and I figured I owed you all enough to offer in."


It's all on them now.

 

[DeusExAlice]

I'd help if you'd just leave before making things with Lenora anymore complicated than it already is.


We'd help you by tearing out your fucking throat with our teeth. No more worry, no more anticipation. Just a rotting corpse.


Odessa's declaration of her destination amused us. She was offering help, to a degree, while at the same time intending to profiteer off of the very people Mouse wanted help killing. That hunger for want always seemed to make such interesting situations, like this.


Still, any package to Doghead isn't something I can endorse. Not especially after the troubles with Lenora. The driver though, looks all settled as to her course of action.


"I do not want denari. I want those books at the camp and first pick of the children there."


The words came out colder than I meant, a brief slip in the mask. I cover it with a sly smile. They might not be the sharpest ones in the hold, but even a prey animal can get spooked if it senses something is off.

 

[Teh Frixz]

Odessa


"How much do you think my dropoff is worth? It's not worth kids, probably worth books though."


She gives a quizzical look, similar to the one she wore nearly constantly when not behind the wheel. The gathered group confusing her.

 

[Napalm on Toast]

Mouse


For an instant I see it. The killer, not the schoolteacher, sharp and deadly as an unexpected knife in the back. I shift my hips, rotate my wrist, and the shotgun is pointing more towards her than it was a second before. My hand's shakin' a little. She'd be a good fight, a good kill. The temptation to just pull the trigger is there: waste her and Odessa both, drive that ugly rig to Dog Head myself, kill the camp on my own. Slaughter and bloodshed. Dreams like that are half the reason I bother going to bed at night.


I don't do it, of course. But it's a nice thought.


"No need to buy the kids. We'll take em." I stand up. "Vickers is gathering up some other people. Enough to make this fun instead of stupid." I put the shotgun back in its hip holster... but only so both hands are free to cradle my true love. The mg sits close to my chest, like a swaddled babe... except no babe has ever been so cold, hard, and goddamned beautiful as this gun. My fingers melt to the handle, finding the grooves I've put there over the years. It'll do some good work today.


"Odessa, mind lifting me over to the gates? Vickers will meet us there." I look at Cep. "You can too. Say goodbye to your kiddies." I sneer a bit on those words. It's hard not to. I hate to see a killer pretending to be a worthless schoolteacher. If she should be teachin' those kids anything it's bullet trajectory and external ballistics, not useless shit like history and spelling. The Evergrey doesn't care if you can spell D-E-A-D. It just kills ya.

 

[Teh Frixz]

Odessa


I shake my head.


"You know Dog Head is like....a thousand or so people not counting slaves. I'm not starting war with them. They got a purpose"


Hair for seat cushions. Fat for gear grease. Sweat for salt. Skin for Oil.


Humans make so much shit to keep ourselves alive and Dog Heads been breeding specialized slaves for nearly a decade. I've been using it as a rest stop on my way to other locations forever. It's a shit place but they follow rules.


"Dog Head keeps more people alive than you do. I'm not starting shit. I'm driving prowlah. Can only idle him fer a few more minutes before he explodes, so make up your mind on what kind of suicide run you want to make."