video • 001 • trouble in the industrial district

[buildingreality]

[Ariadne clearly isn't sure why it's snowing when the camera opens up on her pretty face. It's pretty obvious, just from the buildings around her, that she's in the Industrial District.]So I've been here a little while now. Almost two weeks. Depending on the sedative and the level of the dream, I might have been here twenty minutes, a few days, or

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[forever_captain]

[Jack comes striding up to the group and grabs the native by the arm, pushing him away and putting himself between Ariadne and the man, gun drawn.]

Well, boys, do we have a problem here, because I'm fairly certain you don't 'handle' a lady like that, not even in this place.

action forever

[buildingreality]

[she hesitates, still clearly tensed as she stares at his back. The native doesn't seem ready to back down by any stretch of the imagination, a few of his buddies even standing up straighter despite Jack's gun.]

We were just asking her a few questions. [replies one; if looked at closely, they're not quite the same as the usual natives: they're far more militarised than the usual, and with none of the charms. Meanwhile, Ariadne shifts slightly behind Jack, glancing over her shoulder to make sure they're not being flanked.]

[forever_captain]

Funny, questions don't tend to be hands on if I remember correctly, unless you're asking them in bed, then that's different.

Unfortunately, I don't see a bed and she doesn't look like she's in the mood for questions. Now Run along.

[As if for emphasis he brings his gun level with who he suspects to be the leader.]

Don't try me.

[buildingreality]

[the mention of bed has her glancing towards him curiously, wondering what he's playing at; regardless, she says nothing for the time being.

[The natives, however, back down as another, hidden up in a half-built building, throws a flower pot at them; she shouts for them to stay away from the dreamers, sending the band slowly scattering, and leaving Ariadne alone with Jack.]

I didn't exactly expect that.

[defyantigravity]

[Tsk, tsk, Ariadne. Already getting into trouble without him? On the other hand, one couldn't blame her too much for exploring and all. At least she had given enough clues as to where her location was. ...no promises that he was anywhere close, though.

Also, notice how he never quite bothered to mention that he was around in Somarium. Because, y'know, such information is never really important, right? So don't mind him as he shows up behind her and casually talks to the native.] I do believe that this party here is over.

[buildingreality]

[well, that wasn't expected. And here she thought she was alone. Ariadne glances up over her shoulder, visibly surprised by his appearance; the native himself barely looses his grip on her arms, despite the fact that she's still pulling away.]

Arthur? I didn't know you we- [the native gives her arm another sharp tug, demanding again if the computer was tampered with.] I told you, I don't know!

/forever action since i fail at remembering to initially title it.

[defyantigravity]

I'll mention that later. [Such minor details as his arrival can be ironed out later, when he's not busy trying to find a way to be diplomatic since he doesn't quite want to rile the native any further right away since something about it seems like a horrible idea.]

Of course she wouldn't know. I have that information. [The perfect deflection, right? That way he can claim self-defense.]

c'est cool. /o/

[buildingreality]

[she had no doubt that he would; if nothing else, she's ask him questions until she got the entire story. Instead, Ariadne wisely keeps her mouth shut - for once - and lets Arthur do the talking. It's easy to see that she trusts him to do at least that.

[The grip on her arm is suddenly released, the native pushing Ariadne aside, much to her chagrin, to grab at Arthur's arm.] You? Who was it?

[su_hana_maru]

[Well, that didn't sound good. He's not too much of a hero, but he was in the area, so ... he buzzes her up, reopening the feed. He'd need to in order to triangulate her position.]

Need some help?

[buildingreality]

[it's all she can do to speak loud enough to him to hope it goes through; her voice is still panicked, the muffled tones of the man accosting her ever present.]

Does it sound like I need some help?

[su_hana_maru]

[And that's all he needed for his calculations]

Got it.

[He hangs up abruptly and heads out of a warehouse toward her Dreamberry signal.]

[buildingreality]

[meanwhile, Ariadne is still trying to fend off her attackers - what was once one became three became six. Apparently if you got too physical against them, they ganged up against you: a lesson learned slightly too late.

[They still weren't getting too nasty, but she knew she'd have bruises on her fore and upper arms the next day, as well as a niggling reminder of Mal's projection.]

Dante lives nearby -> action forever?

[_devil_inside]

[The sound of a bullet punching into the brick wall just behind the belligerent's head sprays fine red dust everywhere. A rather drawling masculine voice calls out, probably from somewhere rather high.]

I don't think the lady wants to play, dude. I'd suggest letting her go before things get...rough.

[A swish of fabric swirling through air and a hard thump of bootheels hitting the concrete and Dante strolls from the shadow of the building atop which he was perched, silver pistol still comfortable in his hand. He gives the girl a wink and the barest of nods, then readdresses her assailant.]

...so what's it gonna be, pal? Just how keen are ya on livin' t'pick up your balls if ya don't let her go in...oh, about the next ten seconds?

action forever!

[buildingreality]

[the sound of gunfire has Ariadne more than a little on guard - even more than she was before, in fact. Wondering exactly where he came from, but deciding that was a question for the near future, she takes the opportunity given by Dante's shot to wriggle out of the native's grasp a little bit more, while the would-be assailant turns to glare at Dante.]

I was just asking her a couple questions. No harm done, right?

Ossum!

[_devil_inside]

[The hunter holds out a gloved hand to the girl to pull her behind him - really, he's the safer of the two options at the moment - but never takes his eyes from the "ringleader".]

It ain't the questions that bother me, pal. It's the method I got issues with.

[Icy blue eyes glint beneath tousled platinum.]

We gonna have a problem?

[Dante had no problem solving it, if that was the case.]

[buildingreality]

[after a moment of hesitation, she takes his hand, scooting behind him. He really is the better of the two options.

[The native scoffs, clearly unimpressed that Ariadne is no longer in his grasp.] I have better things to do.