poly_chromatic | one fallen star

Entry tags:

darker than black - mao

one fallen star

[action]

MREAAAOW!

[Splash! That, my friends, is the sound of one unhappy cat landing in the fountain.

Mao claws his way out, looking drenched and miserable. He shakes himself off and looks around, the fur on his back sticking out like porcupine needles. It's clear that this is no ordinary cat, even before you see his purple eyes.]

Hei?

[His voice is soft. There are too many people around for him to risk speaking louder, but if the other Contractor is around, Mao is certain he will hear.

Nothing.]

Damn it.

[some time later]

[voice]

[Wherever he is, he's cut off from the Syndicate's network. Not a good sign. Even worse, he can't find a way into whatever network exists here, except through this extremely cat-unfriendly device. He's going to have to do reconnaissance the inefficient way…once he figures out how. Keyboards weren't designed for cat paws in mind. Sigh.

But eventually he figures out how to turn on the audio function.]

Where is this place?

[Not very smooth. He's spent so long pretending to be a cat, he's no longer sure how to pretend to be human. But it's a start.]

[ooc: Action for anyone near the fountain! Keep in mind that he will pretend to be an ordinary cat, except over the network where people can't see him.]

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[The Welcome Center had been a nice change of pace, but Mao was too unsettled by the peculiar circumstances to remain there for long. He'd go back there periodically to check for any replies, but he also went exploring.

And got wet. Again. He was beginning to hate fountains.

But luck isn't entirely against him -- Hei approaches him. Mao butts his head against Li's hand, purring as he reads the name of the location, and then strolls off. He's a cat, man; he's a free bitch, baby.

And he will see you there, Hei.]

[ Hei waits outside a shut-up building in the City's industrial zone. In the distance, the ratcheting of drills and equipment echoes. Seated on a cement stairway, book in hand, he looks like someone trying to get on with his reading, but instead having an unscheduled reflective moment. ]

[ It's all a ruse, of course. There's a white carton of steamed clams in garlic sauce resting next to him. Ostensibly his lunch for the day -- but actually a snake-charmer's scent for a certain cat. ]

[And a good thing, too, because Mao is still unfamiliar with the layout of this place.]

Hei.

[He pads closer and sniffs at the carton, looking for all the world like a normal cat.]

Where are we?

[ He continues stirring the pages of his book, offering Mao a token glance. His voice is pitched quiet and past barely moving lips. It's remarkably reminiscent of back home, despite the City's surreality. Situation Abnormal Normal. ]

In a place called The City. It -- or whoever is behind it -- abducts people from various worlds and timelines. It brings them here for unknown reasons. [ Illogical, yet delivered in the most deadpan manner. ] It's completely hermetic. No exits. No escape routes. [ Hei would know. He had Yin search for exits during that Visitor Weekend. ]

[Mao's eyes narrow. He's seen plenty of weird shit as a contractor; the situation Hei describes isn't beyond the realm of plausibility.

But a Contractor doesn't trust so easily. Not even a teammate.]

Where are Yin and Huang?

[ Self-interest is a Contractor's prerogative. He wouldn't fault Mao for it. Even if their team was more cohesive -- irrationally-so -- than most can afford to be in the Syndicate. Sometimes they functioned better for it. Sometimes they screwed up as a consequence. ]

Not here. [ At least not yet. ] The City seems to choose people at random. [ He pauses, mid-page. Regards Mao from the corner of his eye. ] What's the last thing you remember before coming here? [ He needs to determine if they're not from the same timeline. So many That Weekend were not. ]

[Mao hesitates, considering how much detail it would be wise to share. This could be some elaborate trap.]

There was an unfortunate incident at the docks.

[ Hei's face is a study of casual neutrality. But the snippet of info rings no bells. ]

I'm afraid it left no impression. [ Obliquely stating that he doesn't remember. The event hasn't occurred for him yet. He pauses, then volunteers a factoid of his own. ] I was dealing with Dolls and gangsters at my end. [ Helping Kenji make his escape. Mao was privy to the insubordination. He ought to recall it clearly enough. ]

[Mao's hackle rise. That was awhile ago.]

You know quite a bit about this place.

[ Hei turns his head as if trying to rid himself of a crick in his jaw. ]

I've been here for five months now. [ A Contractor's prerogative in any unknown territory: Learn everything you can. The implicit message that is always stapled to that: And stay alive at any cost. ] Not that it matters. City-time works differently from normal time.

Eh?

It's true.

Months can pass here. But when you return home, it's at the same point as before. The City doesn't function according to the time-space continuum. It's similar to the Gate. [ He hesitates. ] Didn't you notice? You can't feel it here. [ It's unsettling -- for any Contractor. It's never stopped being unsettling. ]

[He had, but not knowing what it meant, he had put it aside. This new information has alarming consequences.

His eyes go blank as he tries again to access the Sydicate's network.]

[ That's a nugatory, Mao. There's no Syndicate here. Hei has followed all the stratagems and procedures to contact with them upon arrival. To no avail. But on the off-chance that Mao might have some luck, Hei watches. ]

[ And waits. ]

[Nothing and nada.

FUCK.]

This isn't good.

[ He remembers Mao mentioning that he needs to link periodically into the Syndicate's server to retain human consciousness. Otherwise the feline brain takes over. ]

[ Tough shit, bro. ]

There's a possible solution.

[Mao's ears perk forward. He's listening.]

[ Information is a commodity in their world. And reconnaissance is Mao's specialty. Hei offers only the basics as a semblance of professional courtesy. ]

Those in control of the City call themselves 'Deities'. You can trade with them for anything -- tangible, intangible. They may be able to solve your problem.

[ At a price. But Contractors are already familiar with that concept. ]

[Mao appreciates. But...a trade with beings who consider themselves gods. An extremely risky proposition. Mao has always made it a point to deal with people in power as little as possible. He learned very early on in the Syndicate that the more you attracted the attention of people in power, the more danger you placed yourself in.

He would rather find another way. Fortunately, he still has some time.]

Have you dealt with them before?

I haven't. [ For the same reasons that govern Mao's caution. Paranoia can be useful in the correct doses. Especially with an enemy you know nothing about. ] The City has its share of hackers and techs, also. [ In case Mao prefers an alternative. Most of them are so fucking helpful. It's ridiculous. ]

Hnn.

[Mao makes note of that. He has the technological know-how to fix the problem himself, but he lacks the hands. It'd be better to have hands with a brain attached. Using them has its disadvantages as well, of course. Exposing vulnerabilities to strangers.

It'll require time to plan. In the meantime, he still hasn't broken through the styrofoam to the clams. Trust Hei to make things more difficult than they had to be.]

[ Sigh. Haven't the goody-goody Citizens fed you, Mao? Hei sets his book aside and opens the styrofoam container, picking out a handful of steamed clams. Usually you'd have to pry food from his cold dead hand. But it's a special occasion of sorts. ]

You arrived at the Fountain, right? [ Getting access to a server is, primarily, Mao's problem. Hei will lend a hand if necessary. But the rule, Every Man For Himself, holds true for all Contractors. There's a more pressing issue of cover in the meantime. ] Did anyone talk to you? [ More importantly, Did anyone have reason to suspect you're more than a cat? ]

[Canned tuna and a bite of a hamburger don't count. Just because he has the body of a cat doesn't mean he wants to eat like somebody's pet.

He spends a moment eating delicately before he answers.]

A few people. The lonely cat lady who runs the Welcome Center. Two teenagers. [His tone indicates that these people are not a problem. All they saw was a sad, wet cat.

But...]

There was a man with silver eyes and a pet rat. He seemed to think I was a fairy cat.

[His tone is both scornful and irritated. It had been a brief encounter, but the silver eyed stranger was potentially trouble.]

Lonely cat lady? [ Oh. ] Penny. She's harmless. [ The stranger with silver eyes, though... That rings bells. ] Theodred Sammeth. He's a necromancer. Magic is normal in his world. [ For his own interest, Hei keeps close tabs on Citizens with supernatural abilities. Each one is filed away into the part of his mind that does these things on trained instinct. He pulls his Network device from his jacket, casually angling it so Mao can see the usernames. ] Do you want a run-down of which individuals to be cautious around? [ Expect a neat list. ]

No, I want to walk into potentially dangerous situations unprepared. [What a stupid question.

He licks his paws to disguise the fact he's watching the screen.]

one fallen star

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