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 Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:59 pm
Great Singapore Sale Horror
Rank: 1
Antagonist: Ah Mei
NPC Accompaniment: Yes
Souls available: 
Mission: SUCCESS/FAILURE
A soda in hand, because there was nothing wrong with having a bit of fun before the mission officially started, he casually sipped from it as the long-haired man neared the meeting point that had been chosen. Arashi stopped at a small café and casually seated himself at one of the vacant tables. His gaze flickered over to the various clothing stores that dotted the surrounding area, paying particular attention to the mannequins.
Mind flashing back to today’s mission specs, he sighed and continued to idly drink his soda as he waited for the designated pair to arrive.
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Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 11:39 pm
{ Mytha Grenville } Touchdown at Changi had been... hectic. The plane itself had seemed comfortable enough when Mytha and Tristan had been boarding, but the hours of flight-time had given the pair plenty of time to get a closer look.
A much closer look.
Maybe a little too close.
Tristan could swear that he could see the seams, and a completely irrational part of his mind had half-refused to look out the window, for fear of seeing there some kind of badly-costumed gremlin tearing at the metal skin.
Of course, he'd looked, and there'd been nothing out there. But Tristan had caught Mytha's quizzical look as he'd settled back into his seat, and Tristan had been quietly irritable since that split-second two hours ago.
Mytha wasn't exactly happy with the flight either, but then she'd never actually been in a plane before. Well, not for this long.
She was hoping that Tristan wouldn't notice the faint furrows her nails had dug into the worn upholstery of the seat's arm-rests.
So it was a relief when they'd finally felt the plane lower itself to the tarmac, but then they'd been stuck for another hour and a half while security guards armed with assault rifles had searched throughe everyone's baggage and finally arrested a pair of Swedish tourists. Tristan had muttered a comment under his breath that had made Mytha's lips quirk in a smile, and at last the two - obvious foreigners, eye-catching enough with their blond and streaked hair respectively - had made their way past the numerous shops and hailed a taxi.
A dark glass separating the students from their driver, Mytha and Tristan took the opportunity to refresh themselves on their assignment. Their heads bent over the binder from Tristan's messenger-bag, they conversed in low voices, anxious and anticipatory in equal amounts.
... Well, maybe they were both a little more nervous than anything else, but they were so busy keeping their mind on the mission that neither noticed anything odd about their partner.
The ride was swift, smooth, and surprisingly efficient, and soon enough they were pulling up to the street named on their mission-briefing. Tristan gathered their luggage and stepped out onto the sidewalk, unwilling to risk losing their bag and backpack just in case, as Mytha leaned over into the front seat to pay their driver in Singapore dollars.
Tristan shifted impatiently, one foot to the other, until Mytha stepped from the vehicle and closed the door behind her. The white-painted taxi took off in search of its next fare, and Tristan handed Mytha her backpack. They exchanged a glance and took a near-simultaneous breath before stepping over the curb and towards the man they'd been told to meet. Tristan had seen Arashi around before, and as they walked - looking like any other pair of young tourists - their eyes scanned the surrounding boutiques for anything... strange.[ Tristan Fairmont ]
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Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2009 5:41 pm
Immune to the sun’s heat, Arashi continued to coolly sip on his drink and sit at the table. Glad to have the weight of his violin case off of his back, now standing against the table and directly where he could protectively see it, he would have been delighted if the pairing did not show up at all. After all, the Death Scythe liked to relax whenever he could and the mission would be unable to start unless he saw them. A few seconds later after his selfish thought, he realized that would then mean that their targeted murderer would be running loose even longer and would result in more deaths. Plus, it was just irresponsible. Now there was some food for thought.
Catching a fleeting glance of brightly colored hair within the crowd of natives, Arashi turned his head towards the pair that stepped towards him. Finally, Myth and Tristan had arrived. A quick glance at his watch and he shot them a lazy grin. “Well, well, well. Looks like you two made it here right on the dot. How punctual,” he remarked and then waved them off, allowing them to wander the streets in hopes of catching Ah Mei.
At first the pair would have noticed nothing peculiar about the boutiques, just mannequins that donned the latest styles. However, if they were lucky enough they would notice one particular mannequin at a popular shop quiver and wobble. A head popped up, supposedly a female worker, who suspiciously glanced around with a delighted grin before darting back behind the mannequin and hauling it off and out of sight.
Seconds later it was replaced by another mannequin that looked incredibly lifelike. However, a double take would reveal that it was not a mannequin, but a human. The female worker psychotically smiled before darting back into the shop, presumably to make her escape.
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 12:19 am
{ Mytha Grenville } Mytha and Tristan exchanged another glance, this one somewhat confused; their eyes, blue and red, glanced back to their 'instructor' before nodding out-of-synch with each other and turning away. When they were more-of-less out of earshot, Mytha murmured under her breath, "I'm sure he'll be watching us anyway. He's... supposed to be really good, right?"
Tristan gave a little shrug, then rolled his eyes. Privately, he thought 'He kind of reminds me of Ashley,' but instead he said, "Just keep your eyes on the surroundings, all right? There has to be something."
Mytha bit back a report, then shook her hair away from her face and nodded. She turned her gaze to the glassed-in display windows, scanning the slim forms of mannequins and noting them intently, her attention drawn by the clothing. Most of the articles, she noted, were unfamiliar brands, but--
About to ask Tristan, What if the killer isn't around?, Mytha caught a flicker of movement in the window of a shop across the street. Just a window-dresser, Mytha thought, but then Mytha wondered if its plastic skin didn't seem... powdered enough.
And the shop-door's sign said CLOSED. And...
"Tristan."
The whisper was urgent, catching Tristan's attention immediately, and Tristan had almost turned when Mytha caught his arm with hers. Mytha pulled Tristan across the street, ignoring the cars which stopped on a dime to avoid them, and Tristan would have shaken her off before he realized that they were in the middle of a busy, teen-heavy street, and they would get points docked if they attracted a crowd to their... mission.
Mytha was dressed fairly normally, but eye-catching as always, and with her decal'd backpack she looked like any tourist, dragging her boyfriend across the street. Tristan could feel Mytha's breathing quicken, the stress affecting her as well; he pulled her closer under pretense of helping her up the curb, and whispered quietly "Don't lose it, Mytha." They didn't need her spontaneously turning into a linked scythe right there.
Mytha nodded, and with quickened pace they ducked into the alley which led behind the store, separating and breaking into a sprint to follow the tall-lined back-alley.[ Tristan Fairmont ]
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 5:45 pm
Noticing their puzzled looks, Arashi grinned at them, eyes crinkling and shining with amusement. Brushing his bangs out of the way to let both of his eyes watch the two merge into the crowd, he smiled the entire time. This wasn’t the first time a pair of students was put off by his nonchalant attitude towards the mission. He hoped they had at least a pinch of faith in him, though. As part of school staff it was his duty and responsibility to watch over new students on their first mission and that was what he intended to do. After all, being killed on their first mission would not do! Especially when under staff supervision, that would do no good for both the students and Arashi. His gaze always diligently following them, they began to eventually wander out of his field of vision and he sighed, discreetly and reluctantly following them.
At the back of the boutique was a single door, hidden in the darkness. The rusty doorknob creakily turning, the door flipped open to reveal the same worker from earlier. Long hair was suspiciously shorter as if by magic and small eyes were now hidden by thick-framed glasses; she stopped in her tracks at the sight of the foreign teenagers. After the initial surprise wore off, she slyly grinned and crossed her arms, confident that she could easily slip away with relative ease. If things came to it, she could also always turn them into another “mannequin” to proudly show to the streets of Singapore. Foreigners were a rare sight to see, after all.
Waltzing towards Mytha and Tristan, she purred, “So what brings you two foreigners here in such a dark and dirty alley, hmmm?”
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:38 pm
{ Mytha Grenville } Without missing a beat, Mytha stepped nodded, a hand brushing her tri-colored hair away from her mis-matched eyes. "We were hoping there was a back entrance," she said frankly, her smile sheepish. "I mean, the displays in the windows were so amazing, and the clothes, but the shop was closed out front so... Oh, it's so embarrassing!"
She reached out to Tristan, standing not a step or two away, and took hold of his arm; burying her face a little in his sleeve. If Tristan was startled he didn't show it, instead resting what seemed to be a reassuring arm across Mytha's shoulders.
"My girlfriend here, she's a clothes-horse," explained Tristan, a little embarrassed but clearly tolerant of his significant other's eccentric behavior. "And the sign said that shop hours ran longer, so we thought that maybe if there was a new shipment or something, and the employees could let us in--"
"Just for a little?" asked Mytha, turning her unique eyes to the Asian woman. "Not for long, but there was a blouse in the window, with the mirror-buttons..."
"Mi, come on," whispered Tristan, casting a red-faced glance at the shop worker as well. "I'm sure she's busy-- She probably doesn't even have anything to do with the shop, or the clothes either." Hurriedly apologetic, Tristan said "No offense, it's just that our tour bus is leaving in--"
"Oh please!" burst out Mytha, stomping her foot a little and being sure to show off the avant-garde cut of her own clothing. "We'll catch a taxi or something!" And turning conspiratorially to the woman, Mytha said "Ignore him, okay? I have to pick out his clothes." She made a face, then said "We'd really appreciate your help; I don't know much about Singapore's new labels."[ Tristan Fairmont ]
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:55 pm
Indeed, their act was flawless. Ah Mei was unable to glean even the smallest hint of a well played lie. Rather than become suspicious of the two “tourists” peculiar behavior, as it was not often people had the audacity and stubbornness to come marching in through the back door when the shop appeared closed, she plastered on a saccharin smile as she flipped back her short hair.
“Oh don’t worry your pretty little head, darling! Mi, was it?” she chirped, dark intentions gleaming behind her sparkling eyes. As she spoke the murderer’s mind was already whirring with ideas, formulating her next kills, the planned targets already standing in front of her.
Inching towards the back door, her pale fingers twined around the cool metal while she beckoned for them to enter inside. “Please! There’s no problem at all. I’d be glad to let you two in and have a look around the store. Why turn down potential customers, after all?” the woman added with a giggle.
Once stepping inside, she let the two idly look around the racks of clothing while she rummaged for her weapon of choice. Lips twisting into a sinister smile, she turned around and wildly leapt at the couple, a knife in each hand.
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:21 am
{ Mytha Grenville } Mytha had always figured that, once partnered, you were bound to learn a lot about the other half of your Pair.
She's also been told that she'd learn a lot about herself, although she hadn't quite believed it as much as she believed in the other old SHIBUSEN chestnut.
But now, what do you know? Mytha had learned something. Specifically, that no matter how well she thought she was handling chasing a serial killer, working with Tristan, pretending that she and Tristan were far closer then they'd likely ever be, and then being in an enclosed space with said serial killer...
It was a good thing the timing was fortuitous, because as Mytha abruptly blinked into her WEAPON form, she didn't think she'd have been able to stop the change anyway.
Tristan thanked whatever gods listened in Singapore that Mytha still had the presence of mind to dash towards him; her momentum, when she transformed, hurled the double-headed kusari-gama right into Tristan waiting (gloved) hands. The metal shafts stung his bare palms on impact, but Tristan shrugged it off as he dove under the nearest rack of clothing. Rolling as he hit, he straightened up two circular racks over, with a clear diagonal shot at the target; managing to right himself on one knee, Tristan his own momentum to gain a little extra punch as he flung the blue-patterned head towards the woman's knees, Mytha's silver-black blade glittering in the dim light of the store.[ Tristan Fairmont ]
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:48 pm
She gleefully dug her blades into what appeared to be the couple, but was dismayed to discover that it was merely another rack of clothes. Snapping her head to glare at them with wildly shaking eyes, Ah Mei noticed the lack of the woman who was replaced with a gleaming weapon. She screeched at them, “What? What? You, a foreigner, carrying around a weapon? Why? Why?”
Outraged at this sudden turn of events, her lips twisted into a sneer and her eyes warily gazed at the kusari-gama in Tristan’s hands. Now faced with a difficult opponent, the murderer grimaced before grinning. All the more joy she would receive from killing them. The blades surging forward to slash her, she stepped out of the way with relative ease.
Slinking towards him, she stopped once there were a couple feet separating them. Seconds dangerously ticking by, her arms moved speedily as she threw one of her two knives.
PLEASE ROLL A 10-SIDED DICE TO DETERMINE THE SUCCESS/FAILURE OF YOUR ATTACK. 2 THROUGH 10 IS SUCCESS. 1 IS FAIL. GOOD LUCK!
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Apathetic Nonchalance rolled 1 10-sided dice:
10
Total: 10 (1-10)
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 12:49 am
{ Mytha Grenville } The line-of-sight was, as it had previously been in Tristan's favor, had now become a clear path for the madwoman's blade.
... It was amazing, but apparently things really did go in slow-motion when your life was potentially at stake. Not that Tristan really thought it was, of course... But still.
Closer.
Closer.
Three-o'-clock!
Tristan parried, for once listening to Mytha's instruction as though it were a thought of his own. (Which in some ways it was, telepathy being what it is... But that was really an aside.) There was a metallic clatter as the knife rebounded harmless off the scythe-head and landed somewhere to the left, and Tristan found time for a triumphant grin and a cocky mock-salute.
Move in, now!
'I know, I know.'
Dashing down the narrow alley, Tristan ducked low and threw high, slinging the red-marked scythe-head in what he hoped was a clear, true arc. Forget messing around; now that they were inside, away from prying eyes, Tristan was going for the heart of the matter in the most literal sense.
Mytha tried not to think about how disgusting that could be, and didn't entirely succeed.[ Tristan Fairmont ]
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:08 pm
Ah Mei was unafraid of the possibility that the knife would never meet its target and she would be left with only one weapon to fend off her opponent. She was not weak woman; she was a murderer adept at using knives. Besides, she doubted that the young man had much experience with killing hers, unlike herself, she thought with a scornful and haughty look.
The clang of metal ringing against metal resounded through the air and she took it as her cue to swoop in for her counterattack. Catching a glance of the other also moving into motion, she was determined to squeeze in her attack before his could hit her. Luck was not on her side today. Before she knew it the blade cut into her body, damaging her heart.
Eyes bulging wide, her breath hitched and she stumbled backwards, knife sliding out of her fingers. “Beginner’s . . . luck . . .” she meekly whispered before collapsing, a pool of blood already collecting around her.
Their supervisor smoothly stepping out of the shadows, he didn’t even so much as give the corpse a glance. Gesturing towards the red soul that bobbed above the body, Arashi said, “Congratulations on completing your first mission. Please collect your soul and we can both leave this place.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:54 pm
{ Mytha Grenville } Tristan couldn't help wrinkling his nose as he tugged Mytha free of the body, hastily flicking the rapidly-cooling blood from the woman's corpse and pausing a moment to make sure that Mytha had herself together again. Then, with a casual flick of the wrists that seemed almost entirely unforced, the kusari-gama went flying. In another split-second, the weapon was gone, replaced by a young woman who seemed a little pale beneath her otherwise-healthy tan.
Looking almost shell-shocked, yet strangely calm for what had just happened, Mytha reflexively smoothed a lock of hair behind one ear. Then, spurred by the instructor's words and Tristanprompting glance, Mytha took the few steps forward that brought the soul within her reach.
'... Is it weird that it has a face like that?' thought Mytha, mind still clear but apparently focusing on the most inconsequential things. For a moment, as her hand closed around the soul, there was a fleeting sense of utter cold... And when she opened her hand again, there was nothing there.
"Come on," said Tristan, pulling impersonally on Mytha's elbow and guiding her away from the pool of blood now grown still on the floor. "We've got to get back to campus and make our report.
"That was a lunatic, right there. There's no shame in doing our jobs."
Tristan had expected Mytha to be a little stunned, if not worse; he himself was beginning to feel a little queasy, although it set his jaw and bit back the urge to be sick, at least for the moment. After all, killing someone, even a lunatic, was...
But Mytha didn't seem all that hysterical at all, although it was difficult to discern Mytha's normal emotions from any that might be unusual. She seemed fine with letting Tristan usher her towards the door, and all she did was nod and say simply, "I know."
Somehow, those two words didn't help Tristan's roiling unease at all.[ Tristan Fairmont ]
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Syusaki generated a random number between
1 and 100 ...
86!
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:30 pm
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