- Location
- Earth
- Pronouns
- He/Him/They/Them
A Rat's Guide to Glory
- Thread starter Naron
- Start date
Grade 7 - 6; Trusting is Hard - Knowing Who to Trust, Even Harder
- Location
- Earth
[] Intervene
You shift minutely, trying to get in position without tipping Monroe off. Regardless their reasons, you have to worry about being next; this is what Giano meant about a Fixer's reputation, nobody trusts a known backstabber.
Their plan is so straightforward you get it even while half asleep: disable Harumi and throw her outside for the Sweepers to take care of. Easy and foolproof, assuming Harumi does not wake up in time and you do nothing.
But Monroe stands in a straight line between you and the window.
You snap up and punch the air to let loose a gale, taking them by surprise. They barely manage to turn their head before being taken off their feet; glass breaks noisily and Harumi makes a startled sound as she is carried halfway to the broken window. Another scream joins the now more audible sounds of death outside, only to soon cut off.
"Wha-What's going on?! What...."
Harumi is on her feet with weapons extended, staring about wildly. You raise your hands placatingly in response. "Monroe tried to take you out, so I took them out."
"Huh." She relaxes somewhat, looking between you and the broken window. "Thanks, I guess."
"Any idea why they'd do that?"
A sneer is the answer you get. Harumi plops back down onto the couch before even saying anything, her voice tinged with annoyance: "Greedy bastard is what Monroe was."
And that is really all there is to it. You go back to sleep as best as you can with the broken window, then sort through Monroe's stuff in the morning. Their glaive and a few trinkets go onto the pile while their money is split evenly between you and Harumi. After that you have to explain the broken window to the hotel staff, who are not amused. It takes some apologising and a fine that makes you wince, but then things are alright. They call someone who will fix this in a few hours, probably before you get back.
"I'll go and hide the others' stuff," Harumi tells you quietly after that conversation is over. "You go ahead, I'll catch up with you."
It is a good idea to not have valuables lying around in plain sight while someone else is let into your room, so you nod and get going first. Your destination is that Highlight Heroes safehouse you heard about.
Once you arrive however, the place is ransacked; there are pockmarks and incisions across the entire front and blood still dries. Two dozen corpses lie stacked at the walls and String Office Fixers carry canisters of a teal liquid outside.
You take a moment to stare at the completed crackdown before hurrying over to talk to them; it turns out that the Hightlight Heroes got a new delivery and String Office took the opportunity to take down not just Syndicate members but also some of their suppliers. Several were taken alive and are being questioned right now.
"It was kind of weird," one of the older Fixers explains with a mild frown. "Not a single one of them was augmented, but we identified several high-ranking members among the lot. None like that fire slinger your group met. Actually, where is the rest of them?"
It is about now he seems to notice the absence of others nearby. You can only heave a sigh at the reminder and summarise in short: "Our group leader got a visit from the Claw for tax evasion and another member tried to kill someone last night. The last one stayed back to take care of something, she will catch up."
"Wow, talk about shit luck."
He chuckles at your predicament before grabbing another box. "It happens from time to time. Can't rely on anyone but yourself in the end."
You hum in agreement and move to help carry stuff around. The work is mindless as always, though a nice change of pace right now. Hard to mess anything up with this.
It is a little weird how Harumi keeps you waiting for so long. She at least answers a quick message via phone, saying she got turned around and needs to retrace her steps. All in all it takes her four hours to finally show up, at which point everything is about done. The prisoners were interrogated and data is passed on to other Offices that deal with Enkephalin trade in the District.
Moreover, you have the main hideout and the leader's name: Harry.
From there it is a little surreal as Fixers congregate to the target destination; it reminds you of the time you went after The Thorns, only this is even more weird. A line of String Office Fixers takes center stage, advancing with their bows moving at a rapid pace; the weaponised noise slices through an entire group of gangsters without issue while a large force of Fixers surrounds the hideout. You do not do more than killing a single straggler trying to sneak out the back.
"What is this?" you complain quietly, more to yourself than Harumi. "Did we catch them at the one time their heavy hitters aren't there?"
"Guess so?" she calls over the noise from the front, though she seems not the slightest bit upset. "I'm not going to complain about easy work!"
"Not the point, I don't want to track down-"
Your response is interrupted by a message to your phone. Harumi gets it too and so do various Fixers across the area. Gasps sound as you still flip yours open, but you understand pretty quick when you read the message: 'String Office under attack, Highlight Heroes'.
"Shit."
A bunch of people repeat your curse or add their own. You flip your phone shut and look around. "Who's in charge?!"
Your voice does not penetrate the sudden wall of conversation. The irony of this timing is not lost on anyone; your enemies probably had the same idea you did and went to attack your base. But you can not just leave your post without the Fixer in charge allowing it, so you stay in place.
Part of you wonders if reinforcing String Office is even your business, but you guess the rest of Highlight Hero leadership is there; which means you can nail them down there.
Then a String Fixer runs by and waves at people along the way, including yourself and Harumi. "You, you, you, you. Come with me! You, you, you-"
You snap to attention and follow just like everyone else he points to. Harumi falls into step at your flank while a small wave of Fixers forms behind the one in charge. He leads the way at a rapid pace, leaving behind several that have weaker speed augments; the streets feel familiar enough, but you could never navigate this maze yourself at this speed. The goal is clear enough, though: String Office.
Seconds turn to minutes in anxious silence, broken only by the stomping of boots on the pavement and rooftops. You take the most direct route, eyes fixed on the lead Fixer's back lest you lose them. The crowds part in a hurry whenever they see you coming, even the occasional other Fixer makes way. You spot a few gangsters watching the rush, but they do not intervene.
Devastation is visible from many blocks away; you crest a highrise building and behold the entire neighbourhood turned to rubble. People dig themselves out of the debris and violins screech amidst it, shockwaves of impacts blasting mortar and steel in every direction.
Corpses are strewn everywhere, Fixers and civilians alike. Crimson streaks coat the area as far as you can see, but the fighting is only where String Office used to be. Everyone sees the Operator slicing into another man, his violin's bow so fast it blurs to your sight; the attacks barely nick their skin, though most clothes are long gone from the furious assault. His opponent is thin and lanky yet weathers the blows without more than a few drops of blood. He takes step after step toward the Operator, advancing.
There are no other Fixers left from what you see on the race to reinforce him; neither any junkies. Their corpses in particular litter the area, easily sliced in two with mighty swings.
You almost fail to spot the glowing flower growing from in-between the rubble. The String Fixer in the lead is too focussed on reaching his boss and passes right by it, causing the rubble to explode. A woman bursts out of it and tears right through her victim with vicious, needle-thin claws. Blood flies every which way and coats the flower growing from her head, but she is too slow to evade the mob of Fixers that follows the first; a dozen weapons including yours hammer into her in passing.
You wave for Harumi to fall back and focus on the ambusher, so she splits off alongside a number of other Fixers. It quickly turns into a beatdown there.
The Operator is stumbling away from his enemy, who you now see bears brown furred paws and a lot more body hair than you are comfortable with. He walks with his arms spread wide, uncaring for the constant barrage of cutting noise.
"Come now, don't be shy!" he calls fervently, then turns around as others reach him. His lips curl into a smile similar to Samuel's while swords, spears, hammers, glaives, and the occasional orb slam into every inch of him. "Ah, more friends! Let me hug you!"
His arms blur and take a hold of the next Fixer to come at him; the woman screams as she is drawn into a bone-crushing embrace. Others use the opportunity to attack to little effect and you can only watch the victim pop like a balloon.
"Stay out of his reach!" The Operator bellows. "That's all he's done so far, stay clear and you'll be fine! Focus on slowing him down!"
A wave of acknowledgements sounds, your own voice among them. People regroup while the handful of String Fixers line up with their boss. Everyone else runs interference, nobody has a gun at this level. Rocks are thrown and you use the galeforce ring to slow your opponent or disorient him. Others with trinkets like it help things along, twisting the ground beneath his feet or compressing space between his steps to trip him up.
"Now that's not very nice," he chides with something that may be good humour, somehow perfectly audible over the incessant noise. "Maybe we got off on the wrong foot. The name's Harry and I came to talk about stopping this unnecessary fight between your and my people."
A number of expletives answer and screams from behind announce someone dying to his buddy. Harry hears it too and laughs. "Oh, how fortunate that Louis enjoys herself as well. Now let's just stop this and make up with a nice hug!"
Nobody even considers it.
You chance a glance to the other fight, but can not spot who got killed. Louis seems about as durable as Harry, but tries to dig into the rubble as you watch; someone grabs her by the ankle and pulls her back out before everyone else keeps hitting her.
It may sound ridiculous if it were not so dangerous. These people are just so damn durable that you can not laugh about it. Harry reaches another Fixer who strays too close and hugs them to death, though the damage slowly adds up. He scowls now.
"Alright, fine."
The next time he moves it is not with slow steps but a fast dash; right through the hail of rocks and toward the line of String Fixers. Half of them including the Operator manage to scramble away, but the other three get introduced to a set of rapidly growing claws and sliced to ribbons.
Everyone retreats while Harry investigates his bloodstained paws. He retracts the claws and heaves a sad sigh before turning to the rest of you.
"See, this is what happens if you don't engage with others. What a waste."
You somehow get the feeling he actually means this nonsense. Another dying scream from the fight with Louis breaks the flabbergasted and wary silence, but nobody turns away from Harry. He is fast and strong, but the important part is how ridiculously tough he is. How much money did he make to afford this?
Actually, maybe you can buy time for more reinforcements.
"Quick question!" you call over to Harry, well aware of the confused looks thrown your way by the other Fixers. "Which Workshop did you buy your augments from?"
Harry arches a brow at you, confused rather than upset. "How do you mean?" he asks, pointing a single claw at his other paw. "These? They came on their own as I grew happier. You should try it too, it makes the world so much more bearable."
You do not believe a word he says. Taking tons of Enkephalin does not suddenly give you superpowers. Yet Harry seems convinced of it, so maybe someone else got him these and made him think it is true?
"I have to pass on that!" you call back, to which he shrugs.
"Ah well. How about a nice hug? This is much nicer than attacking each other, isn't it?"
"And the way you hug people isn't attacking them?" someone else adds from the side to divide his attention.
"No," Harry tells her with a faint tilt of the head. "Why would it be?"
Either he is the best actor you ever met or absolutely bonkers. Probably the latter when considering the Enkephalin.
The momentary lull in combat ends with a screech of the Operator's violin. Everyone spreads out, now aware of Harry's speed and unwilling to let him capitalise. His next sigh is drowned out by the noise before he dashes forward and slices another Fixer's arm off.
"Did you call Maria?" you ask the Operator while Harry dashes in the other direction. She is the only one you can think of who can do this. He almost drops the violin's bow in his haste pull out his phone and send a message.
So reinforcements will arrive, but you do not know when. Is there anything else you can do before these two kill most of the Fixers here?
[] No, just hold out until reinforcements arrive
[] Try to make Harry and Louis hit each other
[] Risk close combat and go for weakpoints, the throat and joints in particular
[] Try to help kill Louis so everyone can focus on Harry
[] write-in another strategy
Two-hour Moratorium. Do not vote for 2 hours!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDDMv6mPk2o
Highlight Heroes
Current Classification: Urban Legend
Number of Opponents: 2 (Happy Harry and Lantern Louis)
Goal: End the hostilities with String Office for good
Displayed Strategy: Slice 'n Hug (Harry), Surprise Muthafucka (Louis)
String Office & Co.
Number of People: Several dozen
Current Grades: 7 (most), 6 (some), 5 (only String Operator)
Goal: Kill Harry and Louis
Situation
-Rubble and corpses everywhere, String Office is in ruins
-Harry and Louis are engaged separately
-Both Highlight Heroes are exceedingly durable and notably strong, though their speed is not up to par
--Harry can only do short bursts of higher speed, Louis relies on ambushes
-Ciel's Wealth changes from "Okay" to "Barely Afloat"
-Removed Contact: Monroe
MiracleGrow
Miracles for only $19.99 [They/Them]
- Location
- DOOR STUCK DOOR STUCK PLEASE I BEG U
Ahh ego corrosions out of the arse here. Best bet is Harry and Louis hitting each other. But someone gotta get a brain genius plan to pull that off.
Dybbukpossesed
Falling Somewhere
- Location
- California
Piss off bear arms and trick him into charging at us while we're in front of his buddy, maybe blind him with a gust enhanced pocket sand attack?
- Location
- US of A
Plenty of rubble at hand, so grabbing a handful of powdered concrete shouldn't be a problem.
Kalibrius
God of reflection
- Location
- The other side of the mirror
Meat lantern and happy teddy bear
Avoid close range
AVOID
That's where those 2 are at their strongest play keep away and watch the feet as seen we can and will be ambushed
Likely to be tough as nails so they need to be rundown in likelihood
Attrition and swift step will be the road to victory here in Likelihood
And has no one ever heard don't poke the bear?
This is an instance of that
Avoid close range
AVOID
That's where those 2 are at their strongest play keep away and watch the feet as seen we can and will be ambushed
Likely to be tough as nails so they need to be rundown in likelihood
Attrition and swift step will be the road to victory here in Likelihood
And has no one ever heard don't poke the bear?
This is an instance of that
I think it may be best to have them attack each other, if they're this tough. Use the EGO to destroy the EGO and all that. Perhaps we can convince Harry to give a friendly hug to Louis, or trick Harry into walking near Louis somehow
For instance, perhaps we agree to let Harry hug us and let him run at us. At the same time, we stand near Louis's hiding spot and jump high out of the way at the last moment. As in the traditional method of dealing with charging bosses, we bait attacks and dodge and let them run into danger themselves.
Aside from that, while fighting, perhaps we can probe for information from Harry. He may be crazy, but is also willing to talk. For instance, we might try something like "Man, I'd like to meet your other friends too. Know where I could find them? What are they like?" to gather intel on the other Highlight Heroes, "Hey, are there any other big events planned by the Highlight Heroes? Any big things happening soon?" to learn about any other attacks or big plots they're going to start, "The Highlight Heroes sound pretty interesting. Any cool things you guys have done or found recently?" to determine anything big that's happened that may have resulted in this current state of affairs with EGO and whatnot, and so on.
For instance, perhaps we agree to let Harry hug us and let him run at us. At the same time, we stand near Louis's hiding spot and jump high out of the way at the last moment. As in the traditional method of dealing with charging bosses, we bait attacks and dodge and let them run into danger themselves.
Aside from that, while fighting, perhaps we can probe for information from Harry. He may be crazy, but is also willing to talk. For instance, we might try something like "Man, I'd like to meet your other friends too. Know where I could find them? What are they like?" to gather intel on the other Highlight Heroes, "Hey, are there any other big events planned by the Highlight Heroes? Any big things happening soon?" to learn about any other attacks or big plots they're going to start, "The Highlight Heroes sound pretty interesting. Any cool things you guys have done or found recently?" to determine anything big that's happened that may have resulted in this current state of affairs with EGO and whatnot, and so on.
Dybbukpossesed
Falling Somewhere
- Location
- California
I just realized that Harumi robbed us...
Basic plan here for suggestions and improvements.
[ ] Plan Bull fighter
-[ ] Try to make Harry and Louis hit each other
--[ ] Grab a handful of dirt and lure Harry into charging at you while Louis is behind you. When he gets close throw a blast of wind at him and dodge.
Basic plan here for suggestions and improvements.
[ ] Plan Bull fighter
-[ ] Try to make Harry and Louis hit each other
--[ ] Grab a handful of dirt and lure Harry into charging at you while Louis is behind you. When he gets close throw a blast of wind at him and dodge.
Kalibrius
God of reflection
- Location
- The other side of the mirror
We can deal with that later
At least it's robbery and not straight up murdering us
As long as she can keep it to that level then she deserves a clunk on the head not much else
Better a theif than a murderer watching our back
And that's why reputation matters, even without morals, just, look, the guy was known to be shady, and we killed him with applause, if he had not acted greedily, then she would think us suspect and we would have had a fight on our hand.
Remember people: evil is inefficient and unproductive, be good and everyone benefits more than if you where evil.
Shit luck indeed.
But the second thing is false, you fan rely on others, thing is to have people that trust you as much as you trust them, that you know well enough to cover your back. Teamwork makes the dreamwork, and a group of two people who trust each others is better than a group of four who don't.
However, I fear that the whole rest of the group was rotted in our case, and she just hid everything so that we won't get any more….
At least you won't have to search for their biggest hitters?
Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
…Sorry, LoR gave me a deadly fear of violins.
Also, does confirm the junkies get abnormalities themed bodies, first scorched girl, then probably snow white's apple, and this guy is Happy teddy bear.
Ah, fu….
Afford? He didn't pay for this.
That pun was bad and you should feel bad.
*Awkward laugh*
Yeah, about that….
Guess that answers that… great.
Oh yeah, makes more sense than the WAW.
Yes:
Yes she did.
At this point, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that our other teammate was the trusty one but forgot to tell us like a moron, but most likely they both were thinking of double crossing us.
[X] Try to make Harry and Louis hit each other
-[X] Start up conversation and bait Harry into hugging or getting attacked by Louis
--[X] Along the way, get Harry talking and fish for more useful intel about the Highlight Heroes's members, plans, etc.
- Location
- This miserable sphere of dirt and water
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Her readiness to put herself on meatshield duty is admirable, yes.
Kalibrius
God of reflection
- Location
- The other side of the mirror
Is it wrong I want her to survive so we can call her out afterwards and give her a simply smack
And a simple insult
"Even Rats know not to betray eachother when survivals on the line, you're almost as bad as the other two. If you betray the trust of your coworkers, then who will have your back when you need it? The answer is no one, you saw the other two die due to Greed, why follow the same road towards your own?"
A bit dramatic but hey it'll be interesting and ultimately will spark something down the line
- Location
- Earth
The Wealth change is because Ciel had to pay a fine for the Window they broke, not because of anything Harumi did. Property damage is not cheap in the City.
[X] Try to make Harry and Louis hit each other
-[X] Start up conversation and bait Harry into hugging or getting attacked by Louis
--[X] Along the way, get Harry talking and fish for more useful intel about the Highlight Heroes's members, plans, etc.
Property damage, in a hotel, said hotel is in a city with things called sweepers that kill people at night, usually not a smart idea to break even a window with that kind of context, but hindsight is 20/20.
-[X] Start up conversation and bait Harry into hugging or getting attacked by Louis
--[X] Along the way, get Harry talking and fish for more useful intel about the Highlight Heroes's members, plans, etc.
Property damage, in a hotel, said hotel is in a city with things called sweepers that kill people at night, usually not a smart idea to break even a window with that kind of context, but hindsight is 20/20.
Thanks for the explanation, she's still suspect, we'll see past the job if we see our loot or not then.
[X] Write-in: fight defensively, diverting attacks way when they get close and ; meanwhile and state "back on hugs not being attacks, a chokehold technically is hugging some ones neck, really really hard, so it stands to reason that some hugs are attacks. If you really want to hug someone, do it gently and with great care, and embrace them if they're the most delicate thing in the world, not that bear hug your doing those get really uncomfortable."
-[X] continue explaining that he is not your enemy, but that he and his friend are the aggressors in this conflict, like she just clawed someone to death a few moments ago. if he wanted the fighting to stop, then stop fighting.
-[X] continue explaining that he is not your enemy, but that he and his friend are the aggressors in this conflict, like she just clawed someone to death a few moments ago. if he wanted the fighting to stop, then stop fighting.
Not sure he would be able to see the logic about the hugs, he's high on *Happy teddy bear*'s reasoning, and this abnormality doesn't care that some hugs kill, that just makes sure the target cannot abandon you after that.
RamChops
Has Too Many OC Spreadsheets
- Location
- a place of love
- Pronouns
- He/They
You get a TETH, and you get a TETH, and you get a TETH... Every single one of you gets a TETH-class Corrosion!
[X] Try to make Harry and Louis hit each other
-[X] Start up conversation and bait Harry into hugging or getting attacked by Louis
--[X] Along the way, get Harry talking and fish for more useful intel about the Highlight Heroes's members, plans, etc.
EDIT: I confused the Happy Teddy Bear [The Forgotten] (HE) with Faust's Hurting Teddy Bear [Hex Nails] (TETH) Whoops
[X] Try to make Harry and Louis hit each other
-[X] Start up conversation and bait Harry into hugging or getting attacked by Louis
--[X] Along the way, get Harry talking and fish for more useful intel about the Highlight Heroes's members, plans, etc.
EDIT: I confused the Happy Teddy Bear [The Forgotten] (HE) with Faust's Hurting Teddy Bear [Hex Nails] (TETH) Whoops
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