2072: Game World, IC thread for 2072: Recruitment always open! Options

[Fairy]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

I don't like this one bit... Not at all. No signs of the church staff. No signs of the package. Just a lot of nothing here with a lot of something happening outside. At one side of the building, all the windows begin to cloud over with a white fog. Gas...? Tsubaki hopes not. The whole job was literally going up in smoke and she didn't even begin to know who was friend or foe yet. Staying here for long isn't an option, either.

Tsubaki isn't completely alone inside the Church of Our Lady, is she? The woman is fortunate enough to come across someone, though. There around the corridor, on the floor, in the room with the bench pews is that well-dressed orc who had she didn't have the chance to greet at the door. "Are you okay?" Even if the answer may be a very obvious one, it's still a question that needs to be asked. Out like a light...

Now, to get some information about the situation. To locate any moving lifeforms, mundane or magical, in the vicinity, the silver-haired woman opens her sight to the astral space.

[RdMarquis]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

Mordred's eyes widen as he watches the cloud spread. He couldn't tell what kind of gas that was, but he was in no hurry to find out. But avoiding it was a different matter. Lacking any protection from the gas, the adept settles for drawing his collar over his mouth. He darts around the other side of the car, watching for the attackers. He had to remain unseen. Of course, his eyes are also on the noxious white cloud. If it drifts any closer, Mordred will have to back away.

[JxJxA]

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

When he spots the voyous des entreprises, Gemeaux chuckles silently to himself.

"Quand il pleut, il pleut à verse. Et il pleut un peu dans l'Angleterre...," he mouths to no one in particular. He continues gliding guardedly through the church, considering his options. He can barricade the doors, but that will make it harder for them to escape once the opportunity arises---as escape by now is absolutely necessary. He can get Monsieur Hill to magic up some allies, assuming his silence is merely him taking a piss at an incredibly inopportune moment and not a side-product of him being dead.

<<[Gemeaux]: Vivienne, my darling, can you continue paging our employer while I try and deal with these corporate hounds?>>

<<[Vivienne]: Of course, Damien. Please be careful.>>

<<[Gemeaux]: Ah, I always am, unless it is inconvenient.>>

When he reaches the main entrance, where he last saw Charlie, he is struck by a surprising scene. The slender, silver-haired woman he saw at the door is now inside the church, kneeling next to Charlie. Given the lack of orcish innards on the floor despite the brutally hard hit Charlie took, he suspects that the unfortunate orc is still alive---or at least not dead from a lethal sniper slug. For that, Gemeaux is fairly thankful because they still possibly have their driver. However, he is somewhat disturbed that the silver haired woman---who apparently has matching silver eyes---is staring right at him.

And here I thought I was taking pains to be careful... Damien, you are losing your touch. Falling back on instinct, he wills himself to relax. Stealth is no longer an option, so he turns to charm. For some strange reason, he feels as though someone out in the metaphysical "there" approves.

Since he cannot quite place the woman's presence he decides to speak the lingo of the land as best as he can, although his French accent still gilds his English. Given the dire circumstances, he decides to start by telling a bit of the truth. At least enough of the truth to help him figure out what she is doing here, and how he should handle this situation. He steps into the light so that she can clearly see him but the hunters outside cannot, and chooses his words carefully.

"Ma chère dame, you are either the most compassionate assassin I have ever seen, or you had nothing to do with this man's poor fortune. I understand that my appearance could look quite suspicious, so allow me to offer context in hopes of inspiring trust between us. The orc, his name is Charlie, and was meant to drive the car that is outside for someone who is in here. That "someone" is the target of the sbires who are behind the assaut sacrilège on this place of worship. I am here to stop those villains, so I must ask you this one question. Will you let me stop them?"

He waits to see how she will respond, hoping for the best. However, he also plans for the worst.

<<[Gemeaux]: Vivienne, can you set up a targeting solution for me just in case? I don't think she is a foe, but we can't be too careful.>>

[Fairy]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

A small frown flickers across her face. The condition the male orc appears to be in doesn't make Tsubaki feel any better about leaving him behind... Who is—? She spies a stranger standing across the room, by the door. There is no mana that Tsubaki could see at this very moment, but the dark holes where the individual's body has been changed at are apparent at short notice. Slowly, the woman raises and straightens from her position beside the unconscious orc on the floor. Tsubaki finds some comfort in the weight of the small pistol in her hand as she fixes her gaze on the curious man approaching her. She would prefer not having to shoot. To shoot first, however... Instead, Tsubaki will give the man the benefit of the doubt.

The man's way with words are... colorful, to say at least. Compassionate assassin? Fortune? Villains? He sounds friendly enough... But, harmless? There doesn't appear to be anything pointed directly at her... So, Tsubaki walks on the thin string of trust and meets the stranger halfway through the room. Her shoes make quiet thuds across the carpet that lines the church floor. Then, stopping right in front of him, with her free hand opposite of the one with-holding the Kompakt aside of her, the silver-haired woman will lean forward, extend her arm, and touch the one side of the Frenchman's vision goggles between a delicate finger and thumb. Very gently, she lifts it off his face, letting loose the waves of brown hair around the set of brown eyes there, and rests the contraption atop of his head. Amusingly, she can't help but to liken the large lenses sitting upon his head to a pair of animal ears...

With a playful tone in her voice, "That's much better. Don't you think so~?" The woman smiles at him. There is a faint, almost oriental look around her eyes. To address the man's question, she answers with a question of her own. "What do you have in mind?" She references the well-dressed orc on the floor, "Our Charlie here needs some medical attention soon. We will have to work together and quickly, won't we~?"

[JxJxA]

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Gemeaux smirks charmingly, doing his best to keep his expression devoid of any surprise from the odd woman's actions. While being close to such a strikingly lovely young woman is always a welcome experience, removing all of his visual enhancements right before what is looking more and more like the prelude to a major firefight leaves him feeling naked---and not in the fun way.

She is either a character cut from a different cloth, or one of the most seductively sinister assassins I have ever met. Either way, I am honored by the happenstance encounter. Such souls are so rare in our backwards world.

<<[Gemeaux]: Vivienne, could you be a dear and switch on my contact lenses?>>

<<[Vivienne]: Of course, Damien. I show your goggles as still functional...is something wrong?>>

<<[Gemeaux]: I don't think so, but our mysterious woman has moved them from my eyes. Fortunately for me, I am still wearing my lenses.>>

Once his lens HUD pops up on his vision, he addresses her concerns. Fortunately for him, her question gives him something else to work with.

"I may be able to help with him. If we are in luck, my luggage should still be in the church's waiting room. Inside it should be a fully stocked medkit, along with a few more bits and pieces of firepower to drive back the sbires. As I am traveling, my suitcases are serving as an arsenal portatif." He offers the woman his free hand, dismissing the sniper rifles chameleon setting and lowering it to his side in the process.

"If you would be so kind as to take my hand, ma belle dame, I would be happy to lead the way." Courtesy and candor beget trust and friendship, and in a world rife with megacorp hunters, magical spirits, technological mysteries, and even dragons, Gemeaux figures he can use all the friends he can get.

[Fairy]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Tsubaki watches a sniper rifle appear beside the man, out of thin air. That's quite a cute trick... As he explains to her about leading the way to the location where his arsenal portatif lies, Tsubaki thinks about the Frenchman's hand that stretches out for her to receive. It's very nice and all—gentlemanly, in fact—but, this was no time to seem rude if he was offering his best intentions. Tall, dark, and handsome men stalking through the shadows, speaking the sparkly language, and hiding their faces behind some high-tech goggles are so very trusting at first, after all. Nope. Not very dangerous at all. There are more dangerous things in the Sixth World than one Frenchman armed with an invisible sniper rifle and a killer smirk on his face, right?

With that, a pleasantly amused smile spreads across her lips, and she will have to the respond to gracious gesture in kind. Her hand slips over the man's own, and she will allow him to show her the way.

When Tsubaki finally arrives in the room, the sight of a lone suitcase is more than the indication she needs. Whether the man opens the suitcase for her or lets her to help herself to the task, Tsubaki will be allowed the means to retrieve the medical kit from inside. Politely, "I'll be borrowing this, then." The female shadowrunner will take off with the medical kit, return to Charlie in the other room, and proceed to stablize the orc.

[JxJxA]

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

After politely leading the femme mystérieuse to his luggage, he pulls out a few more jouets mortels from his makeshift munitions dump. He withdraws his customized Colt M23---Le Repartie---from its resting place and slings it over his shoulder. The powered stock pops out as Vivienne begins booting up the gun's smartlink system. He grabs the two spare cartridges for his assault rifle and a pair of thermal smoke grenades, and slips them into his coat pockets. He considers taking out some of the heavier grenades of the white phosphorous or high explosive variety, but decides against it. He would prefer to leave the church as unscathed as possible. Le Repartie is a necessary evil given the dire situation. He might need to hit multiple targets at once or, God forbid, use suppression fire inside the church to help his employers escape.

He is about to leave the woman to tend Charlie and check on the lives entrusted to his care when he turns back to his suitcase. He pulls out his respirator and his chameleon suit. He is not sure if the sorcier technologique is equipped with armor, and who knows if these villains will be using knockout gas or worse.

"Now if you do not mind, mon cher, I must go check on the "someone" that these voyous are here to see. I shall be not more than a moment, but I would advise you to stay on the lookout for trouble. It is, alas, fast approaching."

With those words said and his effects in hand, Gemeaux runs over to the room where Mr. Hill and their guests are waiting. He slips his goggles back on, deactivating his contact lenses in the process. He opens the door, and begins speaking quickly while keeping his voice calm. No need to scare the man or his child. Besides, he is a professional. He has every faith in himself that he can handle this situation.

"Mes amis, I believe it is time for us to take our leave of this place..." He trails off when he sees Mr. Hill sitting motionless. He nudges the priest with his boot, hoping to rouse him. When that does not work, Gemeaux sighs and shakes his head.

"Please tell me that he is not sleeping. Ugh, sorciers, sometimes they spend so much time contemplating the astral that they do not pay attention to what is happening in the here and now. Allow me to be brief. Our pursuers are closing upon this church, the car is ready, but our driver is not. A kind woman is here and doing her best to bring Monsieur Charles back to consciousness, and I intend to buy us the time we need to escape. I brought you this. It is my size, but you might be able to squeeze into it, oui?" He hands the technomancer the chameleon suit before continuing.

"Also, if there is anything you can do to help hinder them...now is not the time to be coy about your technological talents..."

[Aria]

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]

E:PL Mordred

Despite the clouds of noxious smoke, from your vantage point behind the limo, you see three burly guys swing out from across the road and begin a run towards the church doors. They are sheltering behind big ballistic shields and bulky black armour and are moving in a tight group reminiscent of a tiny Roman phalanx…except their spears appear to be the barrels of combat shotguns with stabbing laser sights and they are clearly backed up by some sort of artillery as another double phutt announces more tear gas being launched towards the church

E:PL Gemeaux & Tsubaki

Glass shatters in the main body of the church and you hear the unmistakable hiss of gas canisters being deployed. You dimly see two figures protected by shields approaching the rear of the building using parked cars as cover from any fire from your direction. Mr Hill is still unresponsive, locked in whatever astral quest that has taken him away from you at this critical time…it would seem you need to deal with this threat alone.

[Aria]

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:24 AM; Fawkes’ Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Fawkes gestures broadly to you all and leads you on a tour of his establishment under the careful watch of the orc guards. He ends at a side room at the back of the substantial hall and indicates that here you will have peace and quiet to deal with your preparations…

“and if you need anything for going into the zone be sure to let me know. My traders here can provide anything that your heart desires, for a price, and I wouldn’t want to see friends of Argent go in there” and he nods towards the south “under equipped…it is sadly still a dangerous place…profitable, but extremely dangerous!”

[RdMarquis]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

The attackers were making their move. Mordred glances around, looking for the person shooting tear gas. Whether he finds them or not, the adept turns his attention to the three trying to break into the church. Mordred rises to his feet and steadies the silenced pistol on the roof of the limousine. But at this range, he would need a little more help to hit one of the guys in black. The image magnification system in his goggles zoom in on the armored men. Much better. He squeezes the trigger.

[Notsoevildm]

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:24 AM; Fawkes’ Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Copperhead trails miserably along behind the two orks. She notes a couple of stalls she might want to stop at later in day, when the burning sun has gone down. When, after what seems like an eternity, they finally arrive at the meeting room she perks up quickly as she enters the shaded room. She shucks off the armored long coat and drapes it over a chair that looks big enough to support her then sits down on it with a sigh.

"Dat's better. Hey Fawkes, you gots anything to drink here? Water's good or nukacola. It's a bit early in da day for a beer."

She gulps down the first half of the offered drink, then nurses the rest until Fawkes leaves. Only then does she continue.

"Okay, fore we gets started on da details, youse prolly noticed dat I don't like da sun and it don't like me. Dat means we needs to go in at night and come back out same way. Now, what you knows about dese kids, da location where dey being held, da best way in and out and anything dat we likely ta runs into on da way?"

[Fairy]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Tsubaki picks up the male orc beneath his arms and drags his body across the floor and into one of the side rooms for cover. From the medkit, she produces the stim patch from inside it and slaps it on poor ol' Charlie. As the gas fills the church building, she activates the Chemical Seal on her body-suit beneath her clothing. Better stay out of sight... Right? Now, to locate the package...

[mister__joshua]

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:24 AM; Fawkes’ Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Jess arrived at Fawkes', although anyone who'd seen her yesterday wouldn't have guessed it was the same person. She'd now had a whole night to assimilate her surroundings and it was something she was well practiced in.

The clothes she'd arrived in were squashed into a small pack which was now over her shoulder. Her hair was now a mousy brown though she'd left the blonde roots showing so that it looked amateur and patchy. Her new look comprised a lightly armoured camo jumpsuit and vest ensemble, with some heavy walking boots to help navigate the terrain. She hadn't washed since arrival though she'd had opportunity to, the grime picked up in transit adding to the overall 'local' look she was going for. She arrived at Fawkes' looking nothing like any description he'd likely got of her and so she was going to have to try and find him herself. It shouldn't be too hard. She found people liked to tell her things.

[Fairy]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Gathering Charlie and the man and his son together, there are things like armored corp men and white gas quickly filling the church, so first thing is first. Showing them a single finger to her lips, quietly she tells them, "I am on your side. Hurry." Letting the Frenchman (and whoever else who is up to it, too) duke it out with the fast approaching foes, Tsubaki will lead the orc, man, and his child through the building and en route to their ticket out of the area. Hopefully, the others will provide a good enough distraction at the enemies long enough for Tsubaki will try to see these three people safely and stealthily toward an exit, mostly likely out through a window, one by one. She will stop at the corner of the building to look and see if the coast is clear first before making having to make a run for it.

[JxJxA]

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Ah, and here come the villains now, entering from stage left---the sinister side. Gemeaux slips his respirator over his face, and slides behind the sturdiest point of cover he can find in the church. He glances over, seeing the mysterious woman pulling the stunned orc away from the oncoming soldiers.

Looks like it is time for me to play hero for once...

[JxJxA]

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Once settled into his makeshift cover---a set of fairly sturdy looking pews, Gemeaux peeks over the top and begins lining up a shot on one of the approaching, shot-gun toting goons. With his professional reputation on the line---and a woman to witness his prowess at death dealing, he resolves to make his shots count. He lets the smartgun data play across his vision, and chooses a firing solution that maximizes accuracy plus damage potential. He squeezes the trigger, hears the familiar snarl of Le Dernier Mot, and watches the bullet fatally impact the corporate chien de porc.

The bullet explodes through the armor of the âme malheureuse. The force of the shot knocks him backward. A second snarl and accompanying bullet finish the goon off.

Gemeaux's lips twist into a self-satisfied grin, amused at the macabre display. He allows himself to conveniently "forget" where exactly he is, and decides to greet the second goon in the same manner. Another firing solution and a pair of sniper rifle snarls later, and the second would-be attacker succumbs to the same fate as the first.

I knew this little sojourn would prove interesting...

[Fairy]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

So far, so good... Reaching the getaway vehicle in question, Tsubaki urges Charlie into the driver's seat. She hopes the orc is well enough to drive... Then, she ushers the man and his son into the back seat. The man Tsubaki met before who had turned her into cover at the first sound of a gunshot is here, too. He must be a friend if he is firing at the corp men... "Are you coming with us?"

[RdMarquis]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

"Gladly. After the intruders are taken care of." Mordred fires a burst at the remaining enemy. He then ejects the spent clip and loads a fresh one. "Stay low. There are more of them still around."

[Aria]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]

Although Tsubaki is trying her hardest the package and his son seem singularly incapable of dealing with this situation...the toddler begins screaming his lungs out your group leave the comparative safety of the church and make a break for the limo. You catch a glimpse of your aggressors across the top of the car before you make it to the dubious safety of its armoured sides...you do see enough to know that the attackers shift course as soon as you come into view and begin heading towards the limo.

Visibility is becoming poor as the wafts of white gas circulate in the intermittent breeze...it makes the charging figures somehow all the more threatening. They pause for a second and their shotguns bark in unison. It may be a factor of the gas, the cover you are in or perhaps the cumbersome shields but the rounds spall off the top of the limo or sail over your heads towards the church. The sound is wrong though for shot or solid slug...it would seem they are trying to take you alive as the impact marks on the top of the car suggest stun rounds...of course those will still hurt like a bastard if they manage to clear the car...

The door is open and Charlie stumbles inside and manages to engage the engine. Tsubaki and the package manage to get inside the rear and then there is an appalling sound as a high velocity round punches into the engine block...it would seem not all of their firepower is non lethal...time to leave...but what about the others stuck inside the church...?

[Notsoevildm]

@E:PL/Chi Town / All
[July 8th, 2072, 10:27 AM; Fawkes’ Bizarre Bazaar, Northern Corridor, Chicago]

Copperhead taps her retracted razors on the scratched plastic surface of room's rickety table and hums under her breath, singing a tiny aspect of Snake into being. The tiny snake spirit, a simple watcher, curls around her shoulders in the astral and hisses softly in her ear.

Now that she was out of the sun she was feeling much better, but Ælias had held up a hand at her questions and said they should wait for the others to arrive.

"About dat," she had replied. "Dealer wont be coming. I gots a message from him dat he had some urgent biz to attend to. Haven't heard from him since."

She had shrugged, indicating she didn't know what 'biz' he needed to deal with, and returned to nursing her drink in silence.

While they wait, she looks the ork up and down, even opening her senses up to the astral to get a look at him as he really is.

"I hope dat we got some more muscle turning up coz, no offense, you is kinda skinny for an ork and I is assuming dat jack means you is a hacker even if you aints gots no cyber."

[RdMarquis]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
SIN: Spencer Lovett

They must have been wearing insulated armor. No matter. The time for playing nice was long past. Mordred continues firing, this time using explosive bullets. The adept inches toward the other side of the car. He wasn't overly worried about fighting the men hand to hand. If anything, they would be facing the martial artist on his terms.

[JxJxA]

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

With an assault rifle and a sniper rifle behind his shoulders, a rolling suitcase in one hand, and an unconscious elf in the other, Gemeaux laboriously trudges towards the car, grumbling with each step.

"Je vous jure, vous prêtre peu de graisse, vous feriez mieux de rester en vie. Quelqu'un doit me payer pour mes services. Je ne me mets pas en danger gratuitement," he groans as he bodily hauls Monsieur Hill to the side door. Fortunately, the woman had managed to scramble off with the father and son. That was at least one thing he did not have to worry about for the time being. He lets go of the suitcase a few steps from the door, taking care not to jostle its explosive and expensive contents. He then unceremoniously dumps the seemingly slumbering priest against the wall.

Gemeaux peeks around the corner of the door, watching the outside firefight play out. He notes the incoming megacorp goons, and sizes up the lone gunman by the car. It appears to be the very same person who greeted Charlie at the door before the orc's accident. He quietly clucks to himself when he sees what the gunman is using.

My goodness, he has brought a child's toy to a man's game. This will not do at all. Fortunately for you, my good sir, you have a friend who is willing to join this danse macabre.

He draws his sniper rifle, asking Vivienne to give him a firing solution on the closest cochon d'entreprise. The sound of a slug impacting the limo's engine block underscores the urgency of a timely escape---or at least a timely killing. He sees the smartgun's offered options, chooses one, and pulls the trigger twice...

[Aria]

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]

As the goons barrel towards you there are flashing AROs to go along with their barked commands as they circle towards the limo

"Armed Police...put down your weapons and lay..." and Gemeaux's double tap hits home, sending another of their number to an untimely appointment with the coroner "fuck this!" and they begin to rapidly back away keeping their shields between them and the church...for all the good it will do them

[Fairy]

@E:PL UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN=Active; SIN:Nina Okada

Tsubaki didn't get to see the armored men for very long. She hears silenced bullets cut through the air, the insides of their heads go squish when metal and flesh made contact, and then watching a body or two sweep over their own feet and drop to the gravel and pavement. Tsubaki tries to not frown too obviously. That's too bad. Either way, they appear to be backing off. For now.

The woman reminds Charlie, "We have two more passengers to pick up. Please, could you pull up to the church entrance?"

[JxJxA]

@ E:PL/UK
[May 19th, 2072, 10:15:33; Church of Our Lady, 2 Connaught Road, Fleet, UK]
PAN - Active ; SIN - Maximilien Danton

Gemeaux grins for about a split second before surviving "goon's" words---and the police AROs---register. His face drops.

Police? ...shit...

He shoulders the rifle, and with practiced ease draws a cigarette and his steel lighter. He ducks back behind the cover of the doorway, lights the cigarette, and takes a long drag from it. He exhales slowly before shouting a reply to the fleeing officers.

"Oh mon Dieu, I did not realize you were gens d'arme! Perhaps saying 'sorry' is a bit too small a gesture, but to be fair you did shoot first... I thought my life was on the line."

<<[Gemeaux]: Vivienne, could you please add England to the list of places I should not visit in the near future. Something tells me I am about to be wanted for murder...>>

He looks over at the unconscious Monsieur Hill and shrugs.

"What was it that you and your friends were doing that managed to incite the ire of the gens d'arme, eh? No answer? Typical." He snuffs out the cigarette, casually flicks the butt at Hill's face, and watches it harmlessly hit the elf right between the eyes before bouncing off to the ground.

"Next time, give me the details."