[EVENT] THE GREAT MADNESS SALE

[soul_mods]

Characters: OPEN to all agents taking their missions in America
Location: All over the United States of America
Rating: PG
Time: December 20
Description: America is in the grips of a special sort of Madness. Event Summary Here

Comments

C09: Ontario Mills

[soul_mods]

The doors to Ontario Mills have been jammed, and people are turning against each other in panic as they try to find a way out of the circle-shaped mall. Not only are they violently attacking other shoppers, any rescuers arriving at the scene are targets for fear-fueled lashing out.

[usedforcepalm]

It was the first mission Hanabi had ever gone on, in Death City or in Konoha, since she was still two years away from graduating from the Konoha Academy. Still, she had the time and it seemed wrong to let things get out of hand when she could try to help. She wanted to prove that she was worthy of her position in the Watch, and worthy of any Weapon partner she might team up with one day. Respect was something a person earned

[flowering_tea]

Disturbed by the deaths reported in the news, Shuurei had put on her Censorate uniform that morning and gone to take a look at the mission board to see what she could do. She had been told that, although a few people had already left for Ontario Mills, more help would be needed

[usedforcepalm]

Hanabi was somewhat surprised that one of the clerks was here on a mission, but she wasn't going to disregard her help because of something like that. For all she knew, perhaps Shuurei simply didn't like fighting and could manage just fine in a combat situation. If not, Hanabi would handle the fighting. She nodded in response to her first question.

"My name is Hanabi Hyuuga. It's nice to meet you, Shuurei."

She regarded the mall. She didn't know exactly what to say that would help to calm people down, but they could try.

"We should try to take care of the doors - in places that people aren't looking so that they don't just charge the doors. If they can get out, maybe they won't panic as much."

Back from Hiatus! Sorry this took so long! ._.;

[flowering_tea]

Shuurei had been a bit surprised to find there was someone so young working for the Watch but she wasn’t going to judge based solely on age. Her friend Eigetsu had passed the Imperial Exams and become a government official at only 13, so ability was more important.

“Nice to meet you, Hanabi.”

Looking towards the mall, Shuurei nodded in agreement. “Let's look for other doors.” Hanabi’s suggestion was certainly a sound one. With the huge crowd and people desperately rattling the stuck doors as if they were trying to escape from a prison, it looked highly unlikely they would be able to get into the building here. “Or maybe, a window…” She had resorted to going through office windows in the past when other officials refused to see her. While she wasn’t very graceful at it, she could manage to climb a tree or wall if necessary.

[usedforcepalm]

"We might be able to find an employees only entrance that shoppers can't get to," suggested Hanabi. "Or maybe somewhere where trucks drop off products."

That seemed like the easiest way. If she had to, she could make do with shallow footholds and scale up the wall with her kunai to help her. Ideally, neither of them would have to resort to awkwardly climbing anywhere.

"Let's take a walk around and see what we can find."

Underneath the underneath. It was an odd expression, but one that was taught in Konoha. Students were taught concealment arts and to see through other people's techniques.

[flowering_tea]

Shuurei nodded. Marketplaces in Saiunkoku were typically outdoors so she had never seen a mall before arriving in Death City and wasn’t sure how they were normally laid out. But things would definitely be easier if they could find a way to get in without resorting to climbing the walls.

She could only see solid walls for a good distance to the right so she pointed the other way, towards a corner of the building. “Let’s try this direction.” She rounded the corner and started around the building’s perimeter.

[usedforcepalm]

As they walked, Hanabi noticed a garage door. No one seemed to be pushing to try to escape from it - it was quiet and unattended.

"How about this door, Shuurei?" she asked. Trying the latch, she discovered it was locked. Seconds later, she had a couple of pins in hand and was carefully fiddling with the lock until she heard a tiny click a little under a minute later.

"Why don't we see where it leads?"

[flowering_tea]

Shuurei blinked in surprise as Hanabi picked the lock; she wouldn’t have expected such a young girl to know how to do such a thing. But it was certainly helpful in this case.

“Yes, let’s see.” She nodded and pushed open the door. Beyond, there was a dimly lit garage housing a couple of parked vehicles with markings that indicated they belonged to mall security. “It looks like there’s no one here…” There was another closed door across the room and she moved to it, trying the knob. “It’s locked, too, Hanabi.”

[usedforcepalm]

Another minute passed while Hanabi picked this lock with the pins in her hand.

"The mall security probably ran away after everyone started rioting," she remarked. "Or maybe they're in the mall rioting with everyone else because of the madness wavelength."

Either way, once she had the door open, she looked around the garage.

"Before we go in, let's look around and see if we can find any keys or anything here...that might make it easier to get around everywhere else."

[loverslink]

Yukari hung back as well, watching as her stomach twisted into nervous knots. Even knowing that she might as well be useless without knowing her weapon form, she had signed up purely because she couldn't sit back and do nothing. Sitting around in Death City while people were getting hurt was worse than rushing into something that would put herself in a dangerous situation.

Had it not been for Souji agreeing to go with her, she wouldn't be here at all and part of her hater herself for that. What a coward, unable to help people on their own. A deep breath was all it took for Yukari to push her negative thoughts and nervousness, letting that fighting spirit take over.

Eyes set forward she gave a single solid nod of her head. "Okay, I'm ready. Let's go." With only a quick glance as Souji, she marched towards the chaos.

[socialinking]

"Are you okay?" Souji asked quietly as he walked along side her. Things had been bad, lately, and that was an understatement, but Souji was glad to be away from it all. Not something he would tell anyone, but something he felt a little sick to think about. So much had happened, but he needed a break from it.

Even if that meant potentially getting hurt somewhere else. But he was here with Yukari, and he wanted to make sure she was okay as well.

[loverslink]

That seemed to be the theme for the month-- the need to get away, to take a break, even if it meant putting yourself in line of danger. When it came down to it, Yukari was sure it was worth it. Of course, she'd hoped she'd be okay, but she'd know the result of that in just a few short hours.

"Yeah, I'm just a little nervous. Y'know, this being the first time I've done anything like this." Like this here, anyways. It wouldn't have been the first time she rushed in stupidly to something she wasn't entirely prepared for, though. "I'll be fine," she half-smiled at him. "All we have to do is clear out the people and avoid any of the--" she caught herself before she said shadows purely out of habit.

"What were they called again?" she asked, hurried in an attempt to cover her tracks.

SORRY THIS IS SO LATE ><

[socialinking]

"Kishin?" Souji offered with a small smile. "We'll be fine. Just remember to take deep breaths and be strong. They can't push us aside if we're in control."

Souji put his hands into his pockets for a moment, glancing around. There was so much on his mind right now, but he focused only on the task at hand; helping these people get out of here. It was all he could focus on.