[Off Shadowpath] Mystery, part 2: Bank Robbing
Moxon rolls his shoulders. "Cyndre, you're the scary one. You take point?"
Quinlan laughs quietly at that. "No argument from me on that point, but holdups aren't something I've done a lot of..." he stops, thinking. "But I can create a distraction, maybe? Or what would be good?"
Moxon says, "Don't distract, Quin. Scare."
Moxon says, "... make them so afraid they forget to take off their shoes before they wet themselves. We're sharks swimming through prawns."
Quinlan looks down at his scrawny self, pursing his lips. "...I think I'd better play the loyal and maybe crazy lackey. I'd use magic, but that's too much firepower this early." He looks wry. "Thankfully yeah, this is Shadow and I'm stronger than I look. Stupid machismo attitudes...anyway."
Moxon rubs the orbit on his right eye with his palm. "We're not stealing their girl; we're flooding their amygdalae -- overloading the fight-or-flight response to keep them docile, in shock, and unable to do anything reckless at us."
Moxon says, "... such as accurately fire bullets."
Quinlan coughs. "Okay. So...yes to magic? That's not too *much* scary? Because I could totally explode their glass bottle collection, liquor's very easy to ignite."
Cyndre does in fact take point. She says, as they walk along, "If you have any suggestions for getting weapons easily... I'm not familiar with this sort of city. The buildings kind of... all look the same. And these signs don't all make sense." A grin then, "And I can definitely make them afraid."
Moxon nods as they proceed, to both. "Good start, Quin. I'd bet a gun-store owner is a gun-owner, Cyndre. We'd get shot at."
Quinlan notes, "Uh. I *can* arrange for cash to just *buy* weapons, too?" he notes, almost sheepish.
Moxon smirks. "Sometimes simple is best."
Quinlan coughs. "Okay. So. Guns, yes? I can do guns." He smiles. "And Cyndre can get the shopkeep to tell her all about the differences between them. For reference and all. Me, I'll be okay with one that *fires*. I've used them, just not in love with them."
Moxon shrugs. "I'd carry one if I could keep it loaded and operational in Amber, but once you've used it in public people will remember."
Quinlan blinks, his expression going odd for a moment. "Right. Well, Cyndre's probably hoping to grant your wish here, really."
Moxon says, "Small one. Hidden one. Surprise. I mean, I use darts because darts don't require upkeep."
Quinlan nods. "Also, quieter and available with a range of poisons. You'd be extremely dangerous with enough alchemy."
Moxon wags eyebrows. "I'd be even more dangerous. Yes."
Quinlan grins. "I didn't say you weren't now. Just that ...well, maybe it'd help if you knew more alchemists." He shrugs. "Dissecting the universe. Sometimes, organ by organ."
Moxon says, "... watch out for the gall bladder."
Quinlan smiles a bit, and studies shop windows. "Let's get some guns for practice and study. They're up to the fully automatic here."
Moxon frowns. "Stick to semi. Full-auto means instant empty gun."
Quinlan nods, hands in his pockets as they walk. "Also means more scary though doesn't it? D'you think we should find Cyndre a flamethrower?"
Moxon shakes his head. "You want to scare someone proper, you don't unleash a cloud of poorly-aimed bullets -- you shoot once, deliberately, precisely, and resistance-ending ... ly."
Moxon says, "Flamethrower, sure."
Quinlan laughs at the ending. "Right. Believe it or not I think I can do that." He nods toward a window that...seems intriguingly reinforced. There's a picture of two revolvers pointed at each other etched into the glass. "Think we found the store?"
Moxon jokes, "... could be a duelling-parlor."
Quinlan peers at the sign, then murmurs a soft spell that...seems to do nothing at all. He shakes his head. "No screams, no gunfire from inside."
Moxon says, "Gun-shop, then. You sure they have flamethrowers for the ... er ... casual enthusiast?"
Quinlan shakes his head. "No. But I can arrange for one if you think it'd help. It's arranging for a whole *arsenal* that I kinda felt a store might be better for." He opens the door to head inside. "Liam was showing me some tricks with Shadow."
Moxon nods. "I owe him more research, soon. Well, not 'owe.'"
Quinlan smiles. "I get you. I do too. He's been great to work with." Inside is, indeed, a gun store. The vast majority of weapons on display are very clearly behind iron grates, with difficult-to-destroy looking locks on the doors. The shopkeep looks like Cyndre's third cousin; big, burly, and not particularly patient.
Moxon shrugs. "Never hurts to have friends who have Shadows living inside their subconsciousness? You know, just in case." He laughs. "That'd be a heckofun' escape route."
Quinlan blinks. "What, escaping into your own mind?" he asks.
Moxon says, "No, into his."
Quinlan laughs. "Oh...yeah, it probably would. The parts that aren't family-damaged, anyway. He's had a *lot* of close-Family-crazy to cope with."
Moxon nods. "More than most of us."
Quinlan nods, this time a bit sadly. "Yeah." He looks around the store, possibly as a happier alternative to looking around the inside of his skull. There are rifles, pistols, revolvers, and a few tommy guns on display behind their secure bars. "You're the expert. What'll get the job done?"
Moxon considers. "My personal bias is for pistols. Light submachine guns if you have to. Cyndre can probably carry something bigger, but carrying a bazooka inside a compact building is ... kind of a joke."
Quinlan nods, and dutifully turns his attention to the pistol selection. "...All gun shaped," he sighs. "Do you know the differences, or should I get the shopkeeper over here?"
Cyndre has been intently listening to all this, smiling when she becomes the subject of conjecture. Now though, she wanders around the store looking at all the different guns. And it's then she just so happens on a Tommy Gun, tricked out with the large barrel of rounds for full automatic use. "Oooo, what's this one?" she asks.
Quinlan pauses in his studies, taking on a distant look.
To the image of Catriona, Quinlan is standing...surrounded by guns in iron cages, it seems. "What's up?"
The image of Catriona blinks dark green eyes at the image of Quinlan, one singular pale brow shooting up in question. "What are those and is this a bad time?" The Karm is surrounded by the plain white walls of her suite, and she wears a simple gown of lilac.
To the image of Catriona, Quinlan shrugs. "I think we're holding up someplace. It's somewhere between an adventure and a research project, but I've got Cyndre and Moxon with me and they know how this stuff goes. What did you need?"
The image of Catriona lowers her brow and shrugs. "An adventure. I've had as much as I can handle of duty for the moment. I thought I would attempt to persuade you to take me into Shadow."
Moxon says, "It's for quail-hunting."
To the image of Catriona, Quinlan nods. "Well, we may get shot at a few times out here, but if you're okay with that...?"
The image of Catriona chuckles quietly. "I've never been shot at to know whether I would be okay with it. I'm willing to take the chance, though."
To the image of Catriona, Quinlan nods and moves - or at least the background around him does. "Okay. Come on through." He offers his hand.
The image of Catriona accepts the hand, stepping through.
Quinlan moves behind a few shelves - just enough to block the shopkeeper's view of him - and holds out his hand; Trump pullthrough offer.
Cyndre puts it on the counter, grinning broadly as she then continues to go through the arsenal. Out of the mix she picks the largest caliber of everything. She likes them heavy looking!
Moxon's selections are smaller, sleeker. He queries about flechette-rifles.
Quinlan smiles as Catriona appears - out of sight of the shopkeep, but who knows how to explain her presence. "I've got to pick out some weaponry. Um. Moxon seems to be the *expert*, though Cyndre seems to know what she wants, too."
Catriona steps through and then releases Quinlan's hand, pausing long enough to ogle the surroundings. "Are these guns like the lightning guns of Minos?"
Moxon says, "If it looks good, Quin, try it. Listen to your inner psychopath,"
"Aw-right ya brute." Cyndre says as she lays out her selection on the counter. "Now I need ammunition. Crates of it." she says to him. "And none of that funny talk of yours." Nevermind he doesn't speak her language.
Quinlan smiles. "I don't...think so," he says. "I'd need to study Minos a lot more to answer you definitively, but I don't think so. You'll need to choose a few for yourself. They're very popular here." For himself, complete non-expert at guns that he is, he chooses something that looks sleek and holds it up to Moxon for approval.
Moxon nods. "It's fine. Another time, choose something based on what you'd want to inflict on anyone who hurt Cahaya. That's my secret."
Catriona's eyes widen and she begins to look around, fingering the triggers on a few of the models before selecting a Tommy gun. "This looks like fun," she comments. "Is it loaded?"
Quinlan coughs. "Um. If that kind of thing happened I probably wouldn't be bothering with guns, but...I'll bear it in mind? Thanks."
Cyndre wonders aloud, "How is Cahaya, by the way? I haven't seen him since that trip to Ember." as she waits for the 'brute' to get her some ammunition.
"Is Cahaya your boyfriend?" Catriona fires Quinlan's way with a curious smile, even as she selects several smaller pistols.
Moxon shrugs. "Intimidate, intimidate, intimidate. Pick something that looks like it can ..." He smiles to Cyndre, fondly. "... he's well. Keeps to Arden, hoping to snare Julian with one of his cheese-baited lures. I've wound up upside-down and cheseless four times."
Quinlan laughs at the image. "No...I stay out of that kind of entanglement personally," he says. "Cahaya's *his* boyfriend." He nods toward Moxon. "I just throw the little guy through windows now and then. For a properly good cause." He quickly translates Cyndre's request for ammunition to the shopkeep and then puts his own guns on the counter. "...Man, you know I'm not going to be able to keep a straight face if I ever meet Julian, now."
"I've met Julian," Catriona replies simply. "He's very... stern." She takes her guns to the counter next to Cyndre and Quinlan. "Who knows how to load these safely?" She looks from Cyndre to Moxon as the likely candidates.
Moxon says, "... not in the store. I'll show you in a minute."
Cyndre eyes Moxon curiously for a moment, then makes a 'hnh' noise and goes on with the day. "Interesting... Alas, I will never be able to witness Julian being trapped by a cheese lure, as he's banned me from Arden... BUT." She smiles once the ammo starts coming out. "I want to hear the tale if it ever happens."
Quinlan nods agreement, as the shopkeep starts stacking boxes of ammunition by each gun. He gives the group a look that suggests he's got a pretty good idea they're up to no good - but hell, he really doesn't care as long as he gets paid. Quinlan starts seeing to that, too, pulling ...paper money from pockets that seems to be of the right stripe. "Let's get this done and ...onto the next step I guess."
Moxon says, "Yeah."
"I feel overdressed again," Catriona comments to Quinlan, picking up her weapons and following the rest of the gang.
Cyndre collects her weapons, including the tommy gun with the mounted ammo drum, and makes for the door. "I'll get us a vehicle to take us there." she says with a faint smile flashed back at the others. Ut oh, she's up to no good.
Moxon just holsters his chosen weapons and follows Cyndre.
Quinlan gives Cyndre an amused look. "There's an old saying about cats and bags that keeps coming to mind," he notes. Then to Catriona, as they step outside with all their new weaponry, "I think Moxon's the master of the Plan, if that helps. I can't do much about your fashion consciousness though."
Cat glances to Moxon beseechingly. "Can you do anything about this?" she asks, gesturing to the lilac silk of her gown. "I'd rather not be shot right away."
Moxon says, "Uh. Skirt come off? I don't know dresses. Anyone who tells you differently is a liar and a slanderer."
Cyndre strides out onto the sidewalk, and glances around for a choice of vehicle. She finds a nice heavy looking car that will fit all of them, and is being approached by its owner with keys in hand. She takes an immediate vector his way, and the moment the keys are in the door he's grabbed at the shoulder and literally flung into a wall by the giantess. "Come on! Everyone in!"
Quinlan darts toward the car with a wince for the state the previous owner is probably in. "The locals are squishy, Cyndre!" he notes. And climbs into the back of the car.
Cat snorts her laughter and then sighs. "Alas, the skirt only comes off if you want to see everyone here blush. Except for maybe Cyndre." Instead, Cat rips the side seam on both sides for easier access and then climbs in. "Oh, Quinlan, I meant to ask you, in case we get shot and I can't later, do you know anyone who's good with shadows?"
Moxon ducks into the car. "She or I can carry you, if we have to."
Moxon says, "Who's piloting?"
Quinlan points at Cyndre. "I think she's been looking forward to it," he says, then turns to Catriona. "Uh. Like shadow *travel*? Or shadows cast by light shadows?"
"The mundane kind," Catriona responds to Quin with a smile. "I have a mine that needs clearing out. Seems to be infested with shadow hounds."
Cyndre gets into the car, and looks around at the controls. She finds the ignition button, and pushes it. VROOOM, the car roars to life.
Moxon demonstrates the loading process. Never get between a Begman and his machines.
Cyndre grinds gears into place, and the car jerks forward abruptly. Cyndre doesn't seem to care at this point, and lets the thing continue on its course. It isn't long after that she hits the gas, and they're off! "I know they're squishy, Quin. I tried not to hurt him too much, but I didn't want him in a position to cause us delay."
Quinlan gets a firm grip on the seat in front of him as Cyndre discovers internal combustion, speaking in a tone that says he's using answering the question as a means to avoid any freaking out. "Um. You're going to want to talk to Alhambrans for that one," he says. "I know several ghul that worship the Ifrit of Shadows. I'm told some can even *travel* through shadows, though it didn't sound like a lot of fun." And yes, he uses that phrasing even when Cyndre's driving. "If you're polite, and maybe willing to offer a good trade, Gamil's a very reliable guide. And that's if he can't help you himself, which I'm kinda thinking he probably could."
Moxon hands the tommy-gun with the full drum to Catriona. "Madame's firearm. Excellent choice."
"Will-" Jerk of the car cuts Cat's words off but she recovers with a brave, faint smile, "-you introduce me to him, Quinlan? I would appreciate it." The gun brightens her smile further. "Thank you, good sir. It looks like it might kill things until they are truly dead."
Moxon checks his own firearms, and also '... various devices.' These he doesn't go out of his way to reveal, even to his fellow passengers. "Shadow's caught in a ... causality. Not temporal, not entirely, because it's not quite the same every time. We're stepping in to support the Very Bad Man in charge, and thwart his Very Bad rival. Just to see what happens when. We've chosen to rob one of Rival's banks. Now. You ... er ... ever done this before?"
Cyndre does NOT weave. "Speaking of which, does anyone know how to get there?"
Catriona looks at Moxon with a winging brow. "Have I ever robbed a bank? Or been Very Bad? I think it probably unlikely, though I wouldn't remember if I had." She readies her own weapons, carefully testing the weight of the tommy gun.
"Look for a building that looks like a temple to money," advises Quinlan. "You know. Big, but small windows, lots of stone and steel and probably a metal plaque. Guards who aren't paid enough to get bulletproof vests, have clubs and revolvers. Stuff like that."
"Okay..." Cyndre says agreeably, and looks around. "Oh, she's been bad before. And she knows how to hold herself in a fight. Hey Quin, remember the time she and Tessa fought the shite monster?"
Cyndre laughs a bit, "With the poop tentacles."
Moxon triple-checks his ammunition. He looks as though he'd like to shoot something, but they're in a tank. Is very bad, shooting inside tanks.
Catriona looks between Cyndre and Quinlan. "Better to have amnesia, this time, I think..."
Quinlan laughs quietly. "Yeah. I do. Isn't it wonderful, going on jobs for the Crown?" He points. "Check that building out. That's definitely a bank." It does indeed have the stolid, we-let-money-in-but-not-out look common to banks.
Cyndre hmmms. "Okay. SO. Here we go!" she says, and jerks the wheel to head right for the building! EEEEEEEEEEEK! At least she's aiming for the big doors in the front made of glass.
Oh hello building! Catriona cringes in anticipation of meeting the glass doors head on.
Moxon braces himself.
Quinlan curls up behind the seat, apparently hoping the cushions ...well, cushion the upcoming impact. "We are *so* making the headlines for this one..."
Cyndre cries out, enthusiastically, "YEEEEE-HAAAWWWW!!!!" And then *SMASH CRASH BOOM SHATTER SKITTER SCREEEEEECH SCREEAM AAAAAAAAAGH!!! In a flurry of glass and steel, the front doors explode inward and Cyndre slams on the brakes to stop the car inside. "Let's go!" she shouts excitedly, and throws open her door.
Moxon says, "Cyndre, take point. Quin, Cat, shield yourselves with the doors and take opportune shots. I'mma go kill some pigs."
"They keep pigs in a bank?" Catriona echoes, confusion etching her fair brow. Still she opens her door and slides out behind it, using the heavy frame to shield her slight frame.
Quinlan is at least light and quick on his feet. Possibly a lesson learned in mage school: when the beaker starts fizzing, get behind something *fast*. As he roll-bounces out of the car, those flashy looking guns are *out* and pointed at specific targets. "Bravery would be a *really bad* career move right now!" he says to the already-scattering employees and customers.
Cyndre yells things that likely make no sense to those in the bank, so she pretty much decides on non-verbal communication. Suddenly, the air is alive with fire as the giantess throws her hands above her head, and FWOOOOOOOOMMM, snaking tendrils of burning doom slither out in all directions to menace the people in the bank.
RPG: Cyndre declares that she has the Fire Warrior Master (FIR-WM) gift. Use '+gift FIR-WM' to view the gift description. Last edit: 52 months ago.
RPG: Cyndre declares that she has the Fire Mastery (FIR-MA) gift. Use '+gift FIR-MA' to view the gift description. Last edit: 52 months ago.
RPG: Cyndre declares that she has the Elementary War Magic (WAR-EM) gift. Use '+gift WAR-EM' to view the gift description. Last edit: 51 months ago.
The bank's in a mob zone. It's familiar with holdups and people brandishing guns. The sudden gouts of flame are, however, new and people start throwing themselves to the ground even as the bank's sprinkler system tries vainly to put Cyndre out for the few seconds the piping lasts.
RPG: Cyndre declares that she has the Unquenchable Flame (FIR-UF) gift. Use '+gift FIR-UF' to view the gift description. Last edit: 29 months ago.
Catriona watches people grab objects on their desks. "Oh! Those are phones! They're calling people!" The Karm fires a spray of warning bullets overhead of those people attempting to dial out. "Next shots are lower," she warns audibly.
Moxon snarls. "Quin! Cut the phones?!" He charges inside.
Quinlan gives Moxon a surprised look. "I thought we *wanted* people to come?" he asks in Thari, before returning his attention to the matter at hand. He deals with the phones by stalking along the wall, and yanking phone cords out of the wall. Huh. Scrawny mage *is* stronger than he looks, though that's really not hard.
Moxon snaps back, "DO YOU WANT AN EXPERT ROBBERY OR NOT?! I swear, I am /this/ close to turning the wrecked car around. Don't make me ..."
Mission accomplished. Cyndre has them diving for cover, and so she lets the fireworks die off for the moment while she herself GROWS. She turns around and attempts to flip the car up into the door to block it off better.
Catriona shoots off another spray of bullets, ostensibly to cover Quinlan's yanking of the phone cords from the wall. The tiny blonde does her level best to look intimidating, and then watches as Cyndre grows. "Show off..."
Quinlan finishes yanking phone cords out of the walls, and looks to the two experts. "Okay?" he asks carefully. The people are subdued, but probably wouldn't stay that way if he didn't stay supportive of the ringleaders, after all. "Now what?"
Moxon has a teller at gunpoint, having subdued the guards who aren't simply cowering. "Start. filling. bags." To Quinlan, "I swear, this /always/ happens -- are we waiting on the Other Guys? Are we just striking a blow /for/ them? We really ought to diagram this stuff before we charge in."
"Confirm with someone that we're robbing Valentine's coin wash. We tarry long enough so we can leave a body count when Valentine's men show up to stop us." Cyndre replies through a strained voice as the front wheels of the car come up off the floor, and then.... SLAM SMASH CRASH. The car is on its side and spun so the top is facing the door. Cover. "We'll take their vehicle when we leave."
The teller, clearly well aware of the damage guns do and eager to avoid having any perforations, goes at once to get cash to put in the bags.
Catriona is still stalking around with her gun at the ready, watching as the teller goes to raid the vaults. Her dark eyes drift over the frightened staff and she begins to look a little guilty.
Quinlan seems to be saving guilt for later, at the moment. Since Moxon's arranging for the cash, he starts looking through the files. Then blinks and then just points a gun at an employee of the middle-aged, well-dressed male variety. "Who do you answer to?" he asks bluntly.
"Scarface," the man hisses back, in the tone that suggests he thinks Quinlan and friends will pay hugely for this raid.
Cyndre calls out, asking, "What'd he say?" as she reaches down into the car to retrieve her own weapons. These now look MUCH more intimidating that they're sized for a giant. A tommy gun to take out a tank, for example.
"Are you sure that's big enough?" Catriona offers quietly to Cyndre, her voice tense, her body vibrating with the same feeling.
Moxon fends off a headache. "Did we just rob the wrong /fucking bank?!/"
Quinlan sighs. "Yeah. We had a plan B though, didn't we? I think we had one?"
Cyndre actually laughs. "Okay, so change of plans. Make haste; grab everything we can, make good an escape. I've an idea for the rest but for now let's get moving. Go go go!" she says, and strides toward the vault. "I'll help gather the cash. It'll go quicker the more I can grab at once."
Moxon grinds his teeth. It's practically audible. He grabs four, maybe six satchels. Whothefuckcares. He stomps petulantly out of the bank, cursing in Begman.
Catriona looks seriously relieved and stays to brandish her gun with bravado, covering Cyndre and Quinlan.
Quinlan nods, grabbing bags of the cash so that at least there's that. "Sorry," he says to Moxon queietly as they go. 'Out' seems to be something he's happy to go for though.
Moxon says, "Well. Maybe we've got his attention, now."
Cyndre snatches all she can with her massive hands, kicks someone that tries to get brave in the teeth, and strides out, shrinking as she goes and readjusting her satchels. "Yes, we'll have his attention. Let's use our victory here to draw in Valentine's men, and strike a hard blow to his side. We can then return the money to Scarface and explain how it was all part of our plan."
Moxon says, "Could work."
Catriona goes with them, nodding. "And our goal is to break the cycle?"
Quinlan smiles. "I think I see why it's said Benedict *likes* you," he says, hefting bags of cash over his shoulder. "Let's get outta here." He nods to Catriona. "Soon as we're not in danger of being shot at much I'll fill you in on that part of it."
Moxon gestures grandly. "To the hideout!"
Moxon says, "... we do have a hideout, yes?"
Moxon says, "PLEASE TELL ME WE HAVE ONE."
Catriona looks at Moxon, irritation flaring. "Yelling will not get us one."
Quinlan has put up with this for, apparently, long enough. He gives Moxon a patient look and says, "We're *pattern walkers*, man. We walk over two steps and they are *no longer a problem*. The hideout that stays hidden. Okay?"
Cyndre laughs, saying, "And I am growing to like Moxon more and more. So excitable." This, in spite of Catriona's irritation.
Moxon bites his fury down. "I'm a planner. That's all."
Catriona frowns disapprovingly, but she bites her tongue on any further chiding. "So, hide out is where?"
Quinlan smiles and says, "Let's go Walking. And then we can put the loot down and Moxon can plan properly." And if allowed, will lead the group to a short shadow walk to ...a 1928 Ritz hotel.
"Sounds good. I think we've definitely hit the point where a good plan is needed." Cyndre replies easily as they make their way out of the bank.
Moxon says to Catriona and Quinlan, "Room service is on me."