Intro: Roadkill

[Halbarad]

[23:27] <@SageKotono> ----
[23:35] <@SageKotono> The breakfast bagels and jam are excellent today. So is the ambience in this cafe, wood and glass window out to the street. A nice and long black car has just parked, laptop and email out for Chisato. That little notice, the warning that she's just been messaged.
[23:37] <@Chisato> "Mmm?" Chisato hums softly, wiping her mouth with a napkin as a reflexive afterthought, fingers brushed off before her fingers dance onto the computer. A message? And who would be emailing ehr now? It could be many people, really. Hopefully it wasn't Azumi sending text messages on her phone in class.
[23:39] <@SageKotono> The address is a blank, but the message is interesting! "Businees waits in the black car outside." It's very simple and quite to the point, isn't it?
[23:42] <@Chisato> "..." Was she becoming predictable? She doesn't think she'd been in this cafe before... Chisato frowns, tapping her jaw as she looks at the message, then back at the car. She closes the computer while she watches it, still frowning. A living comes not without its risks, dear. And they could've tailed you if they were really interested... She sighs, packing away her computer, capping her coffee, and heading out to the vehicle.
[23:45] <@SageKotono> The vehicle is looked at by a few passersby. It's a nice four door car, black and bright. The driver gets out to open the rear passenger door for Chisato - a tall man in a black suit and cap, face hidden.
[23:47] <@Chisato> She'd pause and give him a franker look, but she doesn't give him any more than a wry one in her pale blue skirt and suitcoat. No, the image she would exude wasn't surprise, rather just a trophy wife being reeled in as she sits in the back.
[23:50] <@SageKotono> In the backseat is a newspaper, neatly folded and sitting on the seat. It's today's, crisp and fresh if Chisato wishes to read it. Meanwhile the car starts, a loud hum of a perfectly tuned engine.
[23:52] <@Chisato> She picks it up, beginning to page through, if a little distractedly. Newspapers never quite gave her information as fast as she wanted it. "Who do you work for?" she speaks casually, finding an outlet for the antsy energy caused by dealing with print media.
[23:55] <@SageKotono> You get no reply from your driver. In the paper is more about that horrible inciden with Dietwoman Hijo - her funeral was today. Even Prime Minister Koizumi went, a long speech about her given. Tokyotechnic is getting sued and it's a big old mess. Past that it's the same old news - the two murder sin the papers have faded as time passes.
[23:59] <@Chisato> Should be an entertaining legal defense, at least. Chisato folds the paper, having little more interest in it as she rests back in her seat. She was a little wound up, but Azumi had been needy all month, and Shiki was dealing with a testing cycle...sigh.
[23:59] <@Chisato> The joys of her life were stripped away for now, and all she was left to do was to review schematics in her mind's eye. Thinking about either of them would just make her more anxious. So absorbed into herself, Chisato waits out the car ride, her only interest past her own mind the variable hum and pitch of the engine and car itself, the way the machine interacts with its own operations in motion.
[00:09] <@Kotono> The ride is long. Neo Tokyo's outskirts are reached - sea cliffs and drizzly rain. Up the cilffs you go, ahead a grand iron gate that opens on it's own. A tall mansion is situated on this cliff, isolated and lonely.
[00:14] <@Chisato> What an utterly depressing place to live. Chisato manages to not sigh, a warm smile still pasted to her lips as she just smooths her hair. Stop zoning out, it'll get you killed some day. Her eyes dim at that thought, or more the thought of Azumi at her funeral. Giving such morbidness a firm shove aside, she waits to reach the entryway.
[00:20] <@Kotono> A fountain and a circular road to the front door. The car is stopped here, the servant getting out and opening the car door. "This way..." He says quietly, starting to lead Chisato on.
[00:26] <@Chisato> "Mm." Chisato agrees neutrally, though her face is pleasent. She follows the servant wherever he leads her, mind settled on finding out what this job is about.
[00:31] <@Kotono> The stairway is what catches Chisato's attention. It winds up and up and up and up, twisting snakes of crystalline chandaliers and white steps all the way up. You can see straight up here, no roof and only four floors looming above.
[00:34] * @Chisato raises an eyebrow at the opulence and emptiness, heading up the stairs to wherever they may go. She didn't have many other options.
[12:31] <@Kotono> <Kotono> The stairway is what catches Chisato's attention. It winds up and up and up and up, twisting snakes of crystalline chandaliers and white steps all the way up. You can see straight up here, no roof and only four floors looming above.
[12:31] <@Kotono> * Chisato raises an eyebrow at the opulence and emptiness, heading up the stairs to wherever they may go. She didn't have many other options.
[12:31] <@Kotono> The first floor seem sto be various sundry and plain rooms, hallways and doors. The second floor look sto be private rooms. It's the third floor where things begin to get interesting. Here is a giant greenhouse, the entire floor a testament to mother nature.
[12:33] <@Kotono> The servant leads on, not noting the unusual design at all. To the fourth, makin ga good clip.
[12:33] * @Chisato just keeps going until she finds a reason to stop, Chisato raising an eyebrow at the trappings, and especially the greenhouse. Wouldn't it be more optimal to have that on the roof? Either way, she heads up to the fourth floor, expecting some form of signal or greeting with how things have gone so far.
[12:35] <@Kotono> The fourth floor is huge! A giant library of gentle curves and well made books is all about. A library of old books and leather seats, of great and tall windows showing the gray sky outside. In this place of infinite knowledge a woman sits. Her blonde hair is loose as she reads, an emerald scale green dress worn as she reads a book. She looks distracted, but her servant bows regardless. "Mistress."
[12:36] * @Chisato smiles, addressing her own, slighter bow to who she presumes is her prospective employer. She feels perhaps a touch underdressed in the sky blue and white business clothing, but she's hardly had time to prepare for this.
[12:38] <@Kotono> "Chisato," The blonde woman closes her book, putting it aside as she gestures to a nearby chair. On the table is steaming tea, brandy and cakes, the latter sampled by her. Yet even as she snackes her eyes focus on Chisato - a hunter's eyes, a cat's eyes.
[12:41] * @Chisato follows the gesture, her briefcase set down next to the chair, Chisato settling into it with a straight back and a professional air and posture. "I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage of recognition, Miss."
[12:47] <@Kotono> "Alexandria. Alexandria Eli Ouruboros." Her voice is tinted with European tones, a rarity in this day and age. She lightly bites into her treat, a tiny bit taken off and two little holes left just past the bite. "In short, I need you to kill someone, quite aggressively no less."
[12:50] <@Chisato> "A pleasure...and that would be my default, yes," Chisato agrees softly, smiling and relaxing enough to be visible, though hardly more. "Who? And do you have any prefferences as to circumstances, civilians, or collateral?"
[12:51] <@Kotono> Reaching down, Alexandria produces a manila folder. It's quite crisp and clean, passed along. "I care not about the circumstances. Let the public know he was hunted down. I would prefer a relative minimum of public destruction and fallout, but do what you must."
[12:52] * @Chisato makes a soft clicking noise with her tongue, taking the older and opening it to check out just who she'll be dealing with.
[12:52] <@Chisato> *folder
[12:54] <@Kotono> The name is Hiroto Tanguchi. A common man from all apperances - he works as a salaryman, spending his nights at home except for Saturdays. On Saturday he goes out to the red light whores, doing his merry thing. Except that...slowly, whores turn up dead. Nothing you've heard about, but whores and whores are whores. "A miserable little ant in the city. Worthy of being openly executed."
[12:58] * @Chisato raises an eyebrow, tapping the pictures. "Power rush, need to dominate and control," she murmurs quietly, her smile twisting wryly. "You want it to look like a professional attack? No artistry
[12:58] <@Chisato> ?" she clarifies, curious sounding more than anything else.
[13:00] <@Kotono> "Make it obvious. Beyond that? Your hit, your risk." With a lithe shrug she smiles, going back to finish her tiny teacake. "Kill him where and when you wish, the rest is up to you."
[13:02] * @Chisato shrugs, not finding anything of particular note in that, sifting through the material. "Does he carry weapons that you know of?" she adds, reading through everything on him.
[13:04] <@Kotono> It's noted that he has no known weapons, and usually uses his hands to do the dirty work. So the information provided to you says, anyway.
[13:07] <@Chisato> "Mmmm. Five million, I don't really get out of bed for less, and as...simplistic as this seems, you're apparently willing to seek out insurance if you bothered finding me."
[13:08] <@Kotono> "Done." Alexandria says without pause, as if it's no great matter.
[13:10] <@Chisato> Chisato shrugs, slipping the manilla folder into her briefcase and shutting it, beginning to stand. "It'll be done in a few days. And so with your leave...?"
[13:13] <@Kotono> "Go on, we'll talk again once he's dead." Alexandria nods plainly, quietly. "I hope someone as well trained and aggresive as you are will do well. Leaving the Yakuza behind is no small feat."
[13:16] <@Chisato> Entirely too well informed for safety, Chisato thinks to herself, a flickering frown. "It's always been the same trouble - to make a weapon, you must understand it. If you understand your weapon, you can use it," she whispers, smiling. "Good day," she adds, before she starts heading down the stairs again.
[13:17] <@Kotono> To this Alexandria only smiles, nodding back and restraining herself. "I await good news."
[13:22] * @Chisato just heads onwards, out to the car, and prefferably back to her own car. She always felt a little icky after these sorts of meetings, and she needed to plot out his pattern.
[13:23] <@Kotono> OOC - Okay, nothing happens. What's your operating plan now, 'taru?
[13:41] <@Chisato> Once away from her employer's manservant, Chisato sheds her normal life. Business clothes go away, as does the luxury sedan, and instead she's tucking her hair under a baseball cap, dressing in jeans and a jacket as she heads out to rent a cheap car and head into the red light district, drifting past all the murder sites, wandering through the areas the dead whores worked, and trying to establish some sort of pattern.
[13:42] <@Kotono> It's easy to see - all the seedy streets are in a six block cluster. A block of loose women, fast cards, quick drugs and vicious men, all surrounded by gaudy clubs.  Money is king here, women only good for as pretty as they look and for how loose their legs are.
[13:47] * @Chisato foregoes most of it, just logging down locations, trying to figure out a pattern to his habits or movements. She'd rather not go free hunting if she can help it.
[13:48] <@Kotono> OOC - Mind check, 2 point bonus.
[13:48] <@Chisato> roll 2d8 target 12
[13:48] <@Chisato> roll 2d8 target 12
[13:48] <+Reikobot> Chisato rolled : 2d8 target 12 --> [ 2d8=11 ]{11}
[13:50] <@Kotono> He prefers real streetcorners - every third street, slowly moving around a circle around the district. By this, his next target should be on Koguchi Street's left side corner.
[13:54] * @Chisato slides past that area, checking the rooftops for height in hopes that none of them are terribly tall, but otherwise not making note of herself.
[13:56] <@Kotono> You get a few leers nonetheless - bad men, the sort who put a money value on your body. But the roofs vary from 1 to 6 stories, nothing too massive here.
[14:01] * @Chisato settles her shoulders down, trying to look inconspicuous, trying to look like a betrayed wife naively hunting her errant husband. Her husband wasn't errant though...okay, they weren't amrried anymore, and there was the vaguest possibility he'd screwed a few of his students, but it didn't bother her at this point. She'd settled that ghost. The boredom before action brings idle thoughts, though. (More)
[14:01] <@Chisato> *married
[14:02] <@Chisato> So she goes on, from red light to downtown towards his work, meandering her way around to not take a direct route from A to B, and run by his place of work in a vehicle to check access.
[14:10] <@Kotono> It's a fairly long trip. He works in a quiet, whitebread sort of situation. It's Tokyotronics - a middling skyscraper with a private underground lot, security station at the start of the downward slope to it. Looks decent, but probably prewar so a little cheap by current standards.
[14:13] <@Chisato> Yeah, not getting into there. She continues on her merry way, stopping somewhere for fast food before heading home. Her best bet is to catch his car at home with a bomb, in the middle of the night, and signal detonate it...or to track him during Saturday Night Fever and gun him down. Either case would have to wait until she could check him out at home.
[14:17] <@Kotono> His house is an apartment - second floor of a nondescript apartmetn building. He parks in a little lot in front of it, nothing of note there beyond mid/old aged cars. It's quite peaceful here, at least.
[14:20] <@Chisato> Mmmm. That part of it settled, Chisato heads home, she'll do the rest at 2am, in full gear. For now? She needs to remember who Azumi's staying with that night, figure out dinner...so many things.
[14:21] <@Kotono> OOC - So you're gonna come back and leave a bomb on the car?
[14:23] <@Chisato> OOC - Not decided yet. I'm going to transform, roofhop my way there at about 3am, settle on top of his roof, and use Supercomputer-tan to determine the security layout of this complex, the lot, etc. -Then- I will likely build the bomb, and rig his car the next day. >_>;
[14:23] <@Kotono> OOC - Okay!
[14:28] <@Kotono> The roofs are a place of freedom and quiet! The night wind blows softly, rain in the air as Chisato reaches the roof of your target's apartment building. Quite predictably no one is up here, but there is an access door.
[14:29] <@Chisato> The door, she doesn't care for. Instead she uses her enhanced vision to scan the parking lot for video cameras or security devices, and the front of the building for that matter, on all the natural vantage points one might post them to.
[14:31] <@Kotono> There's no particular security here. No cameras or the like that Chisato can detect, anyway.
[14:33] <@Chisato> Better safe than sorry, she thinks to herself, taking a different roofborne route home. Tomorrow she build the shaped charges, tomorrow night she can plant them, and the signal she can detonate at her discretion.
[14:38] <@Kotono> OOC - Go ahead and make a check on demolitions(cars).
[14:38] <@Chisato> roll 2d8 target 13
[14:38] <+Reikobot> Chisato rolled : 2d8 target 13 --> [ 2d8=7 ]{7}
[14:39] <@Kotono> OOC - Building the charges goes without any incident at all.
[14:45] <@Chisato> Chisato repeats her reconnoiter, dropping from the buildings to the cement with hyper-enhanced legs that insure a safe landing, moving through shadows and cover to get under the carand -firmly- attach the bombs. One on the gas tank with incendiaries included, and one shaped charge pointing up against the frame under the driver seat, both wired to the same trigger either by remote, or by her own worn computer.
[14:48] <@Kotono> There's no one around in the middle of the night. It's merely quiet and peaceful here, very nice. The car sits innocently, telling nothing about the dark deeds done within it...
[14:54] <@Chisato> She taps her chin, adding a transponder to make absolutely sure she has the right car when she does it. So done, she goes back up the side of the building, looping around to a vantage where she can watch the parking exit under zoom, and track her transponder. First thing in the morning!
[12:16] <@Varul> Said vantage is on a building across the street. So dawn comes and with it time to go! The morning begins - tired citydwellers come out, heading into cars to go to work. A procession of thirtysomething hags and old men, staggering onto work.
[12:17] * @Chisato just waits, checking each car as it goes for her target, and coordinating said checks with the location of her transponder beacon. He'll go to work eventually.
[12:18] <@Varul> Six cars and six misses! A half hour must've passed, cold rain falling. It's going to be a wet, chilly winter at this rate, more suited to Russia than Japan. But life goes on - and your target comes out, going to his car! He looks normal and tired, another salaryman going to work.
[12:20] * @Chisato waits patiently, waiting for him to get in his car, turn it on, start driving. She'd rather get him on the road than in the lot.
[12:22] <@Varul> So he gets in, car starting! His normal morning continues, starting to navigate in the rain.
[12:25] <@Chisato> -Click-. Chisato orders the detonation of both bombs, one aimed directly at him from below, the other set to ignite the fuel tank. Another day's work...but she'd best wait and make sure.
[12:29] <@Varul> The birth of a new sun in a moment is breathtaking. Metal melts in flame in an indadesent moment, a fireball where the car was! The street is turned into the birthing grounds for a new fireball1
[12:33] * @Chisato merely smiles, slipping to the back of the building, roofhopping out of the district before she detransforms and heads home. She needs to see Azumi off to school, and then she can catch some sleep.
[12:34] <@Varul> So this goes! But your dreams are interrupted at some foggy point past noon. The phone rings, so insistent and so bugging. It's enough to disturb even your gainful rest.
[12:35] * @Chisato rolls over in bed, picking up the phone. "Hello?" she asks, groggy and barely coherent.
[12:37] <@Varul> "Well played," Alexandria's voice comes over the phone, smootha nd appreciative.
[12:39] <@Chisato> Chisato takes a moment, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath to wake up. "Thank you," she responds politely, softly speaking to her current employer.
[12:41] <@Varul> "The car awaits outside when you're ready. Good day." With a soft click the line goes dead, silence again.
[12:45] * @Chisato blows at her hair. When she's ready. That was permission enough, though Chisato doesn't dally with showering and dressing, making herself clean and ready before she heads outside. She said the car would be waiting...much as Chisato wished she could take her own car.
[12:48] <@Varul> It awaits. The same black car, the same black suited servant inside. In the back seat rests a thermos of coffee, a bag of lunch food(Fruits, salad, sandwich, all nicely made) and today's newspaper.
[12:51] <@Chisato> "..." Chisato snorts, settling herself into the car. Well, she might as well enjoy it. She eats, slowly and carefully while waiting to arrive, and even checking the paper.
[12:52] <@Varul> Paper's pretty bland today. Mostly just rehash stuff, nothing about your hit. There's an article about the government making another trade deal with Russia and signs of more instability in Australia.
[12:54] * @Chisato just shrugs, nothing concerning her, Chisato leaning back to try and enjoy the luxury offered as she goes.
[12:58] <@Varul> So the ride to the mansion occurs. On getting out in front of the mansion, the servant leads you along. But not to the stairs, oh no. Past them instead, to a door on the far side and relatively hidden. There's a hand press ID machine there, the servant's hand going in and causing the door to open. "This way."
[12:59] * @Chisato raises an eyebrow at that, though she keeps following the servant. Maybe he was leading her to the vault? Only they probably wouldn't take her there, just present her with the cash if that was supposed to be how things went.
[13:01] <@Varul> This leads to a sharp, winding stairway down. Old rock is barren and sharp here, only occasional light fixtures hanging from the ceiling providing any luminence.  Down and and down the stairs go, hundreds of steps to take with no end in sight.
[13:02] * @Chisato just follows, hardly a real concern, or probably anything more amiss than an eccentric employer. Given the amount of information she already has, escape would be pointless if this was a trap.
[13:08] <@Varul> The steps slide downward and to the west, away from the sea. Down and down and down and down they go, long trip indeed! It takes over five minutes to reach the bottom! When you do? (More)
[13:10] <@Varul> It is a strange place. A grand table of pure oak is here, enscribled with English style letters and writing. Several chairs rest around it, enscribed with words as well. It's a large chamber, a hollow in the Earth. Light comes from above, several eccentric crystalline chandaliers providing just enough light. But the light is tinted green, like green snake scales by the green crystals. At the head of the table is the far wall, a great image
[13:12] <@Varul>  a great image of the stars and solar system, overlaid over a giant blue Earth. (More)
[13:13] <@Varul> Rimming the room are several statues - each one is the same. A horned demon, long horns and a grizzled, animalist face of white stone. Slender legs and long, tapered arms are there as well. Sitting in the main chair is Alexandria, high backed and resting. At her sides are two others... (Go ahead and intor yourselves, you two.)
[13:15] * +Ana-chan is sitting to Alexandria's left, turning towards Chisato and the silent servant as the pair enter with a slight look of curiosity. As usual her eyes are concealed by her silver sunglasses, her attire today a close-fitting pink sweater and white slacks.
[13:16] * @Karuma-chan sits on Alexandria's right, idly drumming her fingers on the table. She's a young woman in her early twenties, short pale grey/blueish hair and piercing slate eyes as she regards the new arrival, attired in a puffy sleeved shirt below a black waistcoat, decorated with an aquamarine broch and white bow below her neck.
[13:19] <@Varul> "Sit," Alexandria gestures to the chair far opposite her, looking on with her hands curled up under her chin.
[13:22] * @Chisato raises an eyebrow at the youngsters, almost children, really. "Thank you," she agrees softly, black slacks swishing only softly as she does so, offering small smiles to each of the others, a white blouse completeing the outfit that might be more at home on a girl some years younger than her, though Chisato hardly looks older than her late twenties.
[13:22] <@Varul> "Your payment has been sent," Alexandria begins, as if it's not great matter. She smiles, eyeing you with those green, hungry eyes all the time. "But our business is not yet concluded."
[13:24] <@Chisato> "...Oh?" Chisato asks, curious and laid back as she regards Alexandria. The others have yet to speak, so no need to regard them just yet. "What more business do we have?"
[13:26] <@Varul> "I wish to establish something far more lasting in terms of employment," Alexandria just smiles as she speaks, like a cat toying with it's mouse. "You've proven - all of you h ave proven - that the mundane is simple for you to deal with."
[13:27] <@Varul> The rooms darkens a bit, green light spreading all over. Around you are twelve of those demon statues, each the same.  They are tinted ever so slightly green by the lights above, like lime drizzled stones.
[13:29] * @Karuma-chan wears an affected air of boredom, idly tugging on one of the black leather gloves she wears on her hands. "So now we turn to less mundane tasks?" she asks, tone light yet probing.
[13:30] <@Varul> "We will," Alexandria promises to Karuma, as you notice the servant that lead Chisato here bows, going to stand behind Alexandria, at the center point of the image of the Earth. "Have you ever heard of Magnum Deus 666, Chisato?"
[13:32] <@Chisato> "I try to not dabble myself in employer politics," Chisato hedges, shrugging. "In a few tabloids, but nothing I'd term concrete."
[13:33] <@Varul> "We exist. This truth is what the government of Japan prefers to leave to legend and rumormongering. But the truth does not change...and the truth is that we've had our eye on you for a long time, Chisato."
[13:35] * +Ana-chan turns her attention to Alexandria, saying nothing for a moment. "So... what exactly IS Magnum Deus 666, then?" the blonde finally inquires. "I had not heard of it prior to your... offer, myself," she says, her Russian accent a bit more pronounced than usual today.
[13:37] * @Chisato settles into her chair, dodging the statement of long held interest, and relaxing as the apparently Russian girl asks the question she'd have liked to.
[13:39] <@Varul> "The world ended - or nearly did. From the ashes of the Western World fragments live on. But the world is blanketed in radioactive material, changing humankind. Old spirits and magics stir in the emptiness and devastastion, slipping in. We simply...eliminate these problems and other problems in our way." At this Alexandria never takes her eyes off Chisato. "The four of you ar ethe strongest, most able assassins in all of Japan. The perfect
[13:40] <@Varul> The perfect agents."
[13:42] * @Karuma-chan looks faintly surprised at the talk of spirits and magic, but remains quiet, eyeing Alexandria intently.
[13:44] * +Ana-chan goes rather quiet at that, knowing that her own abilities aren't fully in the realm of the common or canny. She can't speak to the others, at least as yet, but why choose an assassin that uses magic, or something equally unexplainable?
[13:45] * @Chisato just lifts eyebrows at the praise, trying to not snort. She didn't think she was the best, but she didn't keep track of her rivals, or rather, she didn't have many. So she waits for further explanation, waiting and listening.
[13:46] <@Varul> "I move to hire each of you - I need powerful, flexible servants to work as a team. The money is good and...frankly?" Alexandria continues to smile, "I ask of you - do you feel you have a choice?"
[13:48] * @Karuma-chan frowns darkly. The woman is a snake, no doubt about it... "Have a care, Miss Alexandria Ourobouros. Threats do not engender a fulfilling working relationship."
[13:50] <@Chisato> "Quite true," Chisato agrees softly, tapping her cheek. "An indentrue is often the most productive way to reduce an employee's motivation in the underworld."
[13:50] * +Ana-chan frowns at that, but answers honestly enough. "At this point, no," she says, shaking her head. "Mitsurigi-san is correct, however - what purpose does it serve to remind us of this?"
[13:52] <@Varul> "I simply state that I do not wish any undue surprises," Alexandria continues on, smoothing her skirt down. "No undue misunderstandings."
[13:54] <@Karuma-chan> "Oh, then we understand each other perfectly," Karuma replies, masking her own frown. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, is that it?
[13:55] <@Varul> "Good." Your Mistress smiles at that, softer and less hunting as she relents.
[13:57] * @Chisato just hums quietly, smoothing her blouse and glancing from one companion to the next. "You said four, there are only three, unless you mean your manservant."
[13:57] <@Varul> "No, he is...of no importance right now. The fourth is unfortunately delayed by circumstances beyond her control. But for the moment? Chisato, Anastasia, Karuma." A nod to each of them, "I recommend you get to know each other."
[14:03] * +Ana-chan shakes her head slightly, frowning a bit before she offers an apologetic smile to Chisato. "I suppose it can't be helped," she mutters before speaking up for Chisato's ears. "Anastasia Cherenkov - a pleasure to meet you, Chisato-san."
[14:04] <@Karuma-chan> "Karuma Mitsurigi, likewise," Karuma gives the older woman a blithe wave.
[14:06] <@Chisato> "Chisato Kinomoto," Chisato offers back, smiling warmly for effect, though somewhat more reserved. "I suppose we should likely become at least paassingly familiar with each other's methods? Technology and destruction."
[14:07] * @Karuma-chan smiles sweetly. "People have the oddest accidents when I'm around." She glances briefly at Alexandria before returning her attention to her fellow assassins, "Don't worry, I can control it."
[14:08] <+Ana-chan> "Stealth and... infiltration," the pale figure responds, hesitating a bit as she searches for the Japanese word. "I am very nearly undetectable by almost any common method of sensing an intruder."
[14:12] <@Chisato> "Hmmm..." Chisato smiles, nodding. "Interesting, I suppose..." she agrees, shrugging. "Anything else we should know?"
[14:12] <@Varul> "The last is a poison widow," Alexandria supplies. She just continues to smile, "Within days we will begin. I also have an offer - this mansion is open if you wish to stay here."
[14:15] * +Ana-chan shrugs. "You already have my answer on that, Ms. Ouroburos," Ana replies. "Else I would not have been here for the past week."
[14:16] <@Varul> "I know," Alexandria smiles a tiny bit to Anastasia, but awaits otherwise.
[14:17] <@Chisato> "I have my daughter to think of," Chisato murmurs, shaking her head. "I'll stay in the city."
[14:17] * @Karuma-chan doesn't look entirely thrilled, for a moment. She soon forces on a saccharine smile, "I'd be happy to accept your generous hospitality, Miss Alexandria Ourobouros," she replies, inwardly reminding herself the old mantra about friends and enemies. They can reach her easily enough at her home, anyway, after all. Staying here might give her a better chance to hurt them if things go sour.
[14:20] <@Varul> "Very well," she nods to both, not pressing the matter. "A room will be prepared immediately. But for now..." Alexandria stands up, "Come. A tour of the grounds is needed now, I think."
[14:20] * +Ana-chan gives Karuma a smile at that, unable to see the other woman's facial expression.
[14:20] * @Karuma-chan smoothly rises to her own feet, giving Anastasia a wry glance.
[14:21] * @Chisato uncoils from her chair, collected and smiling still softly at everyone.
[14:22] * +Ana-chan stands as well, tugging a bit at her sweater to straighten it as she turns slightly towards Alexandria.
[14:22] <@Varul> So up the stairs you go again! As you do, Alexandria takes the lead, with the servant staying behind. "This is my planning room. I would not worry of it such, entry is restricted."
[14:24] * @Karuma-chan has to admit, it was rather stylish, demon motif notwithstanding. She could almost imagine herself parading around in there and hatching mad schemes of world domination... "I'm sure we'll be making all sorts of interesting plans down there," she offers diplomatically.
[14:29] <@Varul> Alexandria just leads you back upstairs, not commenting directly. Back into the front foyer, the grand stairs snaking all the way up to the fourth floor. "On here is the kitchen and storage rooms, an entertainment rooms and other sundry things." Alexandria moves towards the stairs, he underground left behind. "There's a few locked doors, those are storage for more difficult items. Basic light guns, ammuntion and minor explosives."
[14:30] * +Ana-chan nods, shrugging a bit. Guns are never something she's been entirely comfortable with, but at least she knows that they're available if necessary.
[14:30] <@Chisato> "What does 'minor' entail?" Chisato asks curiously, raising an eyebrow. "Plastic, thermite, grenades, or...?"
[14:31] <@Varul> "Light handguns, bullets, grenades, light chemical compounds. Basics in case of emergency." So she begins to go up the stairs, long ahd winding.
[14:32] <@Karuma-chan> "Have many guards on hand?" Karuma asks, not having seen anyone besides Alexandria and her nameless servant in the times she's visited.
[14:34] <@Varul> "Security is no concern," Alexandria says easily, "Of that I have no doubt at all."
[14:45] <@Varul> So up the stairs you go! The second floor is all rooms, a place Anastasia is familiar with. "Quarters are here," Alexandria says, continuing on.
[14:50] <@Karuma-chan> Sounds rather sparse... oh, well, if she has free run of the mansion, it won't matter too much if her bedchamber isn't up to much, so Karuma thinks as she follows along.
[14:51] * @Chisato is fairly glad she won't be living here, on reflection. She really kind of liked her own house, her child, and her...er...boyfriend. Somethng.
[14:51] <@Varul> The third floor is quite the greenhouse! It's plants bloom regardless of season, bright and cheery. "The greenhouse. Do be careful. Nightshade and other things grow here, so don't eat the plants." The last is with a little chuckle, heading upward.
[14:52] * +Ana-chan snorts slightly at that. It's a pleasant enough place, although she certainly doesn't view it as a salad bar.
[14:52] * @Karuma-chan rolls her eyes. Although it does make her wonder a bit about what you can eat around here... might be an idea to keep doing her own shopping, all things considered.
[14:54] <@Varul> Finally to the top! "The library...tomes from all over the remaining world are in here. Subjects of all types, of all..." Alexandria lights up at this, going to the nearest bookshelf. She just smiles, fondly.
[14:57] * +Ana-chan smiles slightly at the lift in Alexandria's voice. She herself hasn't made much use of the library - while reading books isn't outside of her ability, it requires more concentration than she really cares to use for something recreational.
[15:00] <@Varul> "Feel free to go where you wish as long as it is not locked. I will contact each of you when we begin shortly. Dismissed." Alexandria says absently, bookbound.
[15:01] <@Karuma-chan> "Hmph, I suppose I'll see about moving my things in..." Karuma remarks, turning to leave. She'll have to rent a van, since her bike sure won't cut it for that...
[15:01] * +Ana-chan nods, looking to each of the others. "We can go look at the living quarters if you haven't been through them yourself yet?" she says to Karuma. "They're not bad, just a bit plain by themselves."
[15:04] <@Karuma-chan> "Plain doesn't bother me," Karuma shakes her head. "But sure, I don't mind having a look around." Honestly, part of her hopes to see more furnishings as elaborate as that planning room. It was pretty interesting, in a spy movie bad guy sort of way.
[15:05] <+Ana-chan> "You're welcome to join us as well if you want, Chisato-san," Ana offers. "Even if you're not staying here, it'll give us a better chance to get to know each other, at least."
[15:07] <@Chisato> "Mmm, I suppose," Chisato agrees faintly, shrugging. "I don't have particular plans for a couple of hours."
[15:07] <@Karuma-chan> "So, out of interest, what was your test?" Karuma asks the older woman as they head out of the library.
[15:08] * +Ana-chan gives the other two a smile at that. "Follow me, then - at least I know where most things are at this point." She half-turns to Chisato at Karuma's question, starting down the stairs as she waits for the answer.
[15:09] <@Chisato> "Serial killer, carbomb," Chisato offers, a simple shrug given as she follows Anastasia. "Not my usual method, but he was...mmm, a rather simpleton target."
[15:11] <+Ana-chan> "Mine wasn't too hard either," Ana says, shaking her head. "Some chemical research company guy - I had to take out both him and his bodyguard, but neither were much trouble at all."
[15:11] <@Karuma-chan> "That's what Chizuru said... except for the serial killer and carbomb," Karuma smiles lopsidedly. "I had to arrange an accident for a member of the Diet, myself."
[15:15] <+Ana-chan> "Have you been practicing the art for long, Chisato-san?" Ana asks, heading off at the second-floor landing towards the living quarters.
[15:16] <@Chisato> Chisato snickers, humming and eyeing Karuma. "The steel beam incident?" she guesses, picking out the only Diet death she's heard of recently. "Mmmm..'art'? I don't really think of it as an art. I'm mostly just a toolmaker...I just like using tools, too."
[15:18] * @Karuma-chan nods. "That's the one. So... we have a poisoner, a close in specialist," she nods to Anastasia, "an explosives expert," she then regards Chisato, "And myself, a... well, think of me as an unlucky talisman, I suppose. I can't fault our employer for failing to cover her bases."
[15:20] <@Chisato> "Ah...I'm not really an explosives expert," Chisato provides, shaking her head. "Explosives are a hobby. Guns are my primary forte. And artillery."
[15:21] <@Karuma-chan> "Oh," Karuma blushes, "My apologies. Well, guns would still complement Miss Cherenkov's close in specialty, regardless."
[15:21] * +Ana-chan shakes her head. "I've never really liked guns much, even aside from the trouble I have using them. Far too loud, even with a silencer, and trying to aim is... well, not much fun. I usually stick to my knives."
[15:23] <@Chisato> "Mmmm," Chisato hums, shaking her head. "I started with guns, just stuck to them."
[15:28] * +Ana-chan opens the door to her room, revealing a moderate-sized bedroom decorated in white and pastel tones. No pictures or TV evident, although there's a somewhat battered clock radio on the nightstand next to the bed. A long black case sits next to the bed, and the curtains at the window have been flung open to provide as much light to the room as possible. "Well, this is home - for now, at least," Ana says with a smile. "I'm still getting set
[15:28] <+Ana-chan> "I'm still getting settled in a bit, but it's getting there."
[15:29] <@Karuma-chan> "Nearly as big as my apartment..." Karuma mutters as she steps inside. "I should be able to manage, here."
[15:30] <+Ana-chan> "Yeah, it's a LOT bigger than my old apartment was," Ana says, sighing a bit. "I feel like I should do more with it, but I really wasn't doing too well for money before I took Ms. Ouroburos' offer."
[15:32] <@Karuma-chan> "Really?" Karuma looks surprised. "We can make more on one job than most people make in a year... I know you said you were new at this, but even so..."
[15:33] * @Chisato leans against the doorfarame, blinking and shaking her head a little. Kids. Or youngsters, something. "Even with a child, I bought a house years ago..." she murmurs, frowning a little bit.
[15:33] * +Ana-chan shakes her head. "I wasn't practicing the art myself before she contacted me. I've had... a lot of training in HOW to kill, but I really have no idea how to line up work or any of that sort of thing." She looks slightly embarrassed at that. "I'd only killed once before Alexandria called me, and that more in self-defence."
[15:35] <@Karuma-chan> "Must have been quite an impressive kill to have garnered her attention, then," Karuma notes, shaking her head in wonderment.
[15:36] <+Ana-chan> "I... tend to doubt it," Ana says. "It was in Sapporo about six months ago. She's apparently managed to get information about my training, though, and that's... very, very thorough."
[15:38] * @Chisato raises an eyebrow, simply shrugging after that. "She seems very thorough in her information gathering. Very, very, very thorough."
[15:39] <@Karuma-chan> "Hmm..." Karuma nods slowly, before turning her attention to Chisato. "You said you have a child? I've never even thought about having a family, being in this line of work..."
[15:43] <@Chisato> "A daughter," Chisato agrees, smiling warmly. "Loneliness hits when you're sued to having someone...so I got married, for a few years. The inevitable came of it, not that I'm disappointed," she murmurs, her words happy and soft, almost dream like.
[15:43] <@Chisato> *used to having
[15:45] <+Ana-chan> "I can't imagine having a child myself," Ana says, shaking her head a bit. "I feel like I can barely take care of myself some days, let alone someone else."
[15:47] <@Karuma-chan> "I suppose it takes all types," Karuma muses, eyeing the older woman. "So what do you tell your daughter about your work?"
[15:47] <@Chisato> "Oh...it would be nearly impossible with my job if her father wasn't still around. And his schedule's fairly loose," she hums, glancing at Karuma a little sharply. "She knows mommy goes to work some days, and works in her lab other days...I guess she might suppose I sell what I make."
[15:52] <@Karuma-chan> "Not the sort of thing you want her knowing about? Hmph, I suppose I can understand why - even if she'd be the Queen of the playground after her 'What my Mommy does for a living' class presentation..." Karuma remarks, shaking her head in amusement. "Anyway, I've got packing to do. I'll see you both around." With a short wave, she makes her way out of Anastasia's room.
[15:53] <+Ana-chan> "Take care, Karuma-san!" Ana says, waving to the young woman as she departs. "Is your husband understanding about it, at least? Or does he not know, either?"
[15:56] <@Chisato> "We're divorced," Chisato clarifies, waving to Karuma. "He only knows that he doesn't want to know. He doesn't want to leave us, either. We accomodate each other."
[15:58] <+Ana-chan> "Ah, I see," Ana says with a nod. "The only family I ever really had was Dmitri - my father, in a way - but he was killed about six months ago. I've been on my own ever since - at least you have other people around you." She offers a smile to the older woman. "At least I should do a bit better living here with Karuma-san than I was working for the jazz club by myself. Not to mention that the money is considerably better in this line of work." T
[15:59] <+Ana-chan> in this line of work." The last is said with a smirk.
[16:01] <@Chisato> Chisato snorts softly, smiling back. "Just don't undersell yourself, dear. It's easy to do if you don't incur normal materials expenses...but it's something to be wary of. Mmmm...being alone, I was like that, after I left my mother, but mmm...Shiki and I don't want Azumi growing up like me, so no reason to push him farther than he feels necessary."
[16:03] <+Ana-chan> "I can understand that - I wouldn't want anyone to have to grow up the way I did, either," Anastasia replies, shaking her head. "Although I'm told that my blindness isn't something inherited, so at least if I did ever have a child they shouldn't have to deal with that."
[16:08] <@Chisato> "You're..." Chisato shakes her head, laughing softly. "You manage rather well," she finally says, tapping one knuckle against the doorjam idly. "Yes, it would be nice to grow up 'normal'. And Azumi should get something close to that...just that we have two homes, and daddy doesn't stay at mommy's house much."
[16:19] * +Ana-chan smiles a bit at that. "So far no one's realized it before I said something, so I suppose I do," she says, giggling a bit. "All the same, it's something I wanted everyone to know before it becomes an unpleasant surprise. But it sounds like you're trying to do the best for your daughter that you can, at least. The circumstances aren't exactly the best, perhaps, but when are they ever?"
[16:25] <@Chisato> "Never, from what I've seen," Chisato agrees, smiling a bit more, if a touch sadly. "Mmm...I should probably get home, anyway. Sorry to leave you, but Shiki has an afternoon class to teach, so I need to pick up Azumi," she murmurs, standing. "It was nice to meet you though, Anastasia."
[16:29] <+Ana-chan> "And you as well, Chisato-san. I suppose I'll hear from you next when Alexandria has work for us." Giving Chisato a slight bow, she takes a seat on her bed, picking up the black case sitting next to it.
[16:30] <@Chisato> "Indeed," Chisato agrees pleasently, taking her leave of her 'coworker' for now to return to her pedestrian life.
[16:30] <+Ana-chan> -----