Called to a Hunt!

===> COH <===> 2/28/2020, 9:43:40 AM <===

	Mo had invited Suzume back down to the hidden city. This time? Instead of diving down the mine shaft blindly? Mo will show off his recent mastery of Jade Shintai. He motions for Suzume to climb onto his back. "C'mon, I'll run us down!"

	Anything that saves her from the awkward climb into the mines is appreciated, certainly. Suzume utters a soft sigh of relief at Mo-san's offer and bows her head before she gracefully climbs onto his back and holds fast. She's careful about the hang of her ever-present bag; it's no good if it hits him or flies off during the journey.

	Mo offers a small grin, "Hang on tight. I like to go fast," he says. And then? He puts his faith on the magic of the wan kuei that is his birthright and the shintai of earth and heads on over the side of the mine shaft! True enough, his feet will cling to the side of the mine shaft, allowing him to run down the wall with Suzume in tow. The air blows past their faces as he descends at a furious pace before coming to a graceful stop and hopping onto the ground at the end. "Well! That was a fun time!"

	Though she no longer fears death, Suzume still shuts her eyes when Mo-san starts his sprint down the wall of the mines. Her grip on him tightens and, while she doesn't need to breathe, there's a definite sense of her holding her breath until the mad ride is over. One eye opens, then the other, before she utters a relieved sigh and slips off of his back to dust herself off and push any stray strands of hair back into place. "Many thanks to you, Mo-san," she says, once she's assured that everything is properly intact. "That is a very helpful new trick!" Fun? The jury's still out on that, as far as she's concerned.

	Mo nods. "I figured its a little more reliable than counting on my joss every time I visit here."

	Mr. Fu blinks into views. "Actually, Thomas - it was my suggestion that you learn the Jade Shintai in an effort to help you become more grounded in general." The dragon gives Suzu a small smile. "Welcome back."

	"That is a very wise choice," Suzume agrees, then turns to properly bow to the dragon when he manifests. "I am pleased to see you again as well, Fu-sama." She straightens, then looks askance at Mo-san again. "I think it might take more than a little Jade Shintai to ground this one, ne?" One corner of her mouth pulls, a flicker of playfulness that fades just as quickly. "What is the plan for tonight?"

	Mo sighs and reaches into his own small messenger bag, and pulls out a stack of papers and maps. "I have been given a task to complete. But I'm not yet quite ready for it." He lays out the various documents and then unfolds a marked up map. "An agent of the thousand hells has been terrorizing a community, and I've been asked to put an end to it." Mo motions for Su to come and join him.

	Her nose wrinkles visibly at that. "Is this something that Hotsuin Karasu-sama tasked you with?" Protocol is important, even if there's a constant voice at the back of her head just nattering away in protest. She glances to the small dragon briefly. "Or is this your doing, Fu-sama?" Teasing, without the burden of callous accusation. She approaches to study the map and whatever other documents are laid out, clutching her bag to her hip all the while.

	Mo shakes his head, "I'm not part of the Autumn Lotus court. And besides, the community in question isn't Prospect."

	Mr. Fu looks over towards Suzume, "We came down here from San Francisco, and still have friends up there. But the community in question is Los Angeles's Chinatown. Or Koreatown, to be more specific."

	A shallow duck of her head follows and whatever concerns Suzume might have had appear to be assuaged. "I see," says she, and she looks over the paperwork again as if to make sense of it. "What disruptions and disturbances is this one causing?" Lips press into a thoughtful line and she casually taps fingers on the bag at her hip in consideration.

	Mo looks over to Suzume. "We believe it is an agent of the Demon City of Rakshasas. A facechanger. They have been creating strife between various scarlet screens in an attempt to sow discord and chaos."

	There's a slight shake of her head, barely perceptible. She's silent, though, as if processing the situation thoroughly. Suzume's forehead eventually furrows. "I will read the stars and signs, Mo-san, but this is-" she measures her words "-perhaps beyond the reach of my roots and fragrance."

	Mo nods. "The spirits of some of his victims have lingered on in the wake of their passing. We could stand some assistance in communicating with them, and their loved ones, combing for clues."

	"Mm." Suzume sits and digs out her oft-abused, spiral-bound notebook and withdraws a pencil - wrapped in tape - to make notes in it. "So shall it be," she replies, the quick jotting done in a sort of shorthand. "Their stories will be heard and told, so their families may remember when the spirits cannot." She glances up. "When do we depart?"

	Mo makes some markings on the map, using his golden luopan for guidance. "Hmm. Good question. I need to do a reading of the stars. This rakshasa is dangerous prey - we will need to lay out the destiny path if we want to have any hope of success without further casualties." A hand comes up to brush back errant locks of hair from his face. "Perhaps tomorrow evening? Taht would allow for some time to make proper preparations."

	"I will consult the cards," is her contribution; Mo-san can take the sky and she'll handle the earthly route. Which deck? That's another decision that will have to be made. "Yes. Tomorrow evening, I will bring some things and prepare as well." Suzume glances to Mo-san, head tilted at a birdlike angle. "Is there anything you would like me to bring?"

	Mo gives Fu a sidelong glance, muttering a reply to Suzume's question. "Mr. Fu says its imperative that we bring a good yet sober attitude to these matters."

	Fu gives Mo a /look/, then looks to Suzume. "We will happily accept recommendations from you on what offerings we should be prepared to acquire, or to bring with us." The little dragon pauses, "Any wholesome snacks you can bring so that we don't have to consume the atrocious choices Thomas makes for nourishment in the field would also be appreciated."

	"Fu-sama speaks only wisdom. When dealing with spirits, it is best to be prudent and mindful of one's actions." Suzume pauses in her note-taking, only to angle a look to Fu-sama when he speaks again. More notes are made. Little scribbles of food in a chibi-style are added. "Offerings will be a necessity, of course. Jade and Chi are traditional, but-" she trails there, the tip of her pencil tapping on paper. "I will consider other options, considering the location."
	It's at the last that she offers a small sliver of a smile. "Ah. It has been a long time, Fu-sama. But I will do my best to find something appropriate."

	Mr. Fu gives Suzume a grateful look. "Thank you. Your continued association with us has proven repeatedly auspicious, and for that, I am thankful. And the gratitude of a dragon is no small thing." Despite his current size, is likely the unspoken corollary.

	Mo gives Su a grin and a thumbs up, "Yeah, we totes love the balance you bring to our little team. I"m ah, too much Yang." Oh, right, Mo, because no one who spends more than a minute with you would have any clue as to that little fact! "I think once we narrow down the rakshasa's stalking grounds, I can put the squeeze on their ability to draw from the dragon lines. Flush'em out so we can tackle them on our terms."

	"You humble me with your words, Fu-sama. This flower is grateful for your notice and will surely flourish under your guidance." Suzume inclines her head to the dragon - another note is made, along with a stylized scribble that might well be the dragon, if with some artistic license. The notebook is closed and her palm presses to it.
	Another smile for Mo-san follows, perhaps despite herself. It can't be helped; his enthusiasm is infectious, crossing boundaries like nothing else. "Balance is a blessing, Mo-san. I am grateful for your energy as well. It is a good reminder." The notebook is put away. She hums thoughtfully at the mention of dragon lines, but says only, "I will hope your terms are more forceful than mine."

	Mo nods, and reaches into his overshirt with both hands, then produces a set of vintage matching heavy revolvers. "Very forceful. These were given to me by my mentor, Captain Levinbolt. They're not like his omni-gun, which channeled aetheric energies, but when I channel my joss through these pistols, their bite is as fierce as the omni-gun's was." He looks at the revolvers wistfully, and then carefully puts them back away.

	"Incredible," Suzume replies when the guns are displayed, though she's mindful to keep her hands to herself. The revolvers are very 'look but don't touch', especially with the significance and potential power behind them. Her expression softens some and grows distant for a moment. "I am certain he would be proud of the deeds you are undertaking with them."

	Mo gives a small nod. "We sorta got him back, recently. But not really him, a hollow version of him. Tied to his ship. Have you ever been on a zeppelin? We're getting it restored. Maybe you could come up with us sometime, when we launch it anew?"

	"Oh?" Suzume looks a little confused, but that fades with further explanation and transitions into, "Ah, I see. Would you like me to see if his spirit is truly bound to this zeppelin?" To his questions, though, there's a slight shake of her head. "I have not, no. Most of my travel has been on foot or by train or car. I would be happy to go on it when it is restored, Mo-san."

	Mr. Fu looks over to Suzume, "What Thomas means is that there's a hologram, or holo, of the Captain bound to the ship. Sort of ... like a spirit of lightning, as it was explained to us by one of our other compatriots who understands such things. Its all still very mysterious to me."

	Mo looks over and nods. "What Mr. Fu said, yeah. Its not like the real Captain, but for now? Its all I have left."

	"Ah," Suzume sounds vaguely disappointed - though not on her own behalf. It's a sad thing, truly. She reaches to briefly press fingers to Mo-san's shoulder if he'll allow it, though the touch will be brief by necessity. "Understandable, yes. The idea isn't an alien one, but I had hoped-" she trails there, leaving it to the wayside with a flick of fingers. "When it is ready, I will be glad to see it and to see this hologram of your mentor."

	Mo smiles, then leans over and briefly touches his forehead to hers in a gesture of appreciation and affection. "Thanks. I try'n look onna bright side, y'know? That maybe, since its not his real spirit, he's still out there somewhere, lost in the celestial heavens. Or maybe bringing righteousness in the yomi wan." A small shrug. "Lots to do, little time to do it in."

	Her skin is cool and he will briefly feel the hard swell of something on her forehead, otherwise hidden by her bangs. Dark and glinting; a small, smooth jewel. Suzume doesn't shy away from the contact, though no explanation is offered, either. "Perhaps so. If his spirit is strong enough," she trails there, the thought allowed to spin its own tales, unspoken. "Mm. I have duties to tend to; the dead are restless and I should tuck them in. But, tomorrow night- yes. We shall see when will be best to take care of this situation in Koreatown."

	Mo grins and nods, standing up to show Suzume out. "For sure. "I'll take you back up." And with that, the dhampyr escorts the bone flower back out into the "real" world, leaving the trappings of the lost necropolis behind.

===> Log ended by user <===> 2/28/2020, 12:27:46 PM <===