[Open log]

[halfcow]

Characters: Ryoki + everyone
Location: Around Death City
Rating: R
Time: 15th/16th night. It starts at 22pm, ends around 3am.
Description: Ryoki goes mad.

For details please check here (ooc information post).
If you would like to join, just comment to the ooc information post to let me know what your plans are, and join the log.

Comments

Reply here if you want Kanji/Ling/Allen to find you! Hit up my AIM to coordinate if you'd like.

[topgun_textiles]

"Figures..." Kanji stepped out of one of the many convenience stores, scratching the top of his head. They didn't have that boxed dinner he liked, but he supposed he could just grab ingredients and cook something up with what pans he had available to him. In his mild grumping about, he didn't notice anything at first.

Not until he saw the flickering lights... The street lights weren't orange. Didn't flicker, either. Then, he smelled smoke. A fire!?

"Shit!" The tiered layout of Death City let him see that it wasn't just some random house fire... the smoke and lights told him all he needed to know.

Kanji set off without another thought.

[sostaygold]

"Understood." But when Ling made to rouse himself, Allen started forward almost automatically, one cloth-wrapped hand coming up to either support or stop him -- whichever might end up being needed.

"But they may not be on the stairs. I will go into the upper levels and find them." Not 'search for them'; find them. "You are in no condition to exert yourself, sir, and--"

There followed a moment of silence as Allen stopped himself cold. A moment's thought passed before he set his jaw and nodded, firmly.

"And if they may be outside, then milady can help you search the crowds. Please leave this to me."

He didn't wait for an answer before he turned and took off running. No more time to reason with the stranger, who seemed the stubborn sort; he tugged another ragged strip of sweater over his nose and mouth, narrowed his eyes against the smoke, and forged ahead without looking back.

[sostaygold]

The mention of Kanji's name gave him pause -- this must be Ling, and he was probably responsible for the sooty but safe crowds outside -- but Allen had done what he could, and if the other man decided to throw himself forward anyway there was nothing more for it without losing more time. He could only hope that the young woman was able to succeed where he could not.

The smoke wasn't too bad here in the lower floors, but there also didn't seem to be a living soul left -- only the low roar of the fire above and the strained sound of his own breathing, the pounding of his heart.

He stopped a moment, trying to quiet himself. He needed to be able to hear the slightest sound, not huffing and puffing louder than the fire.

[sostaygold]

He'd half expected the voice at his back, but it still made Allen jump a little and whirl around, fist clenching around the pipe at his side and half-bringing it up in a defensive reflex. Even if Ling had said there were no other attackers, his nerves were still worn raw by the earlier fight, and the injured, and everything else.

It was definitely proving to be a pretty jumpy night for him.

Once the initial reaction passed, though, there was just confusion. "But you are not responsible for me -- you did not send me, I just--"

It was perhaps luck that distracted them from that argument right then; Allen froze again at the noise and after a moment, simply shook his head, tapped Ling on the shoulder and took off for the next floor. Still no time to argue -- he was going to be the one feeling responsible now if Ling didn't come out all right, but he didn't exactly have the authority to command an older stranger any more than he'd already tried.

[sostaygold]

He blew out a mildly irritated breath at the man's attempts at persuasion -- did they really have the time for lighthearted jabs and ideal-mongering just now? Admittedly he was pretty on edge, but still.

A moment later, Allen stopped his steps again with a small sigh; there was a certain logic to Ling's latter statements, but at the same time... "You say you saw them before, yes? Would they not be more trusting of you, since you are not a complete stranger?"

He kept his voice hushed, hoping not to startle the children into putting themselves in danger somehow, if they were here. The flames hadn't quite gotten here, but the smoke made moving around hazardous. "The floor is small enough that we can easily keep in sight -- let us each check one side. I still think it's best not to startle them with the both of us at once."

[exploding_kunai]

Ran Fan had tried to judge the best path out of the building and had already started running again when she felt him moving. She slowed a few moments later when she was fairly certain they were in an area that would remain safe for a while longer.

"M-Master?" She didn't fully turn her head to look at him due to...the way she had been forced to carry him, but she tilted her head toward him, waiting for any more movements or for him to say something.

[exploding_kunai]

She frowned in concern at his cough, attempting to wrack her brain for something she could do about that on top of everything else. Reluctantly, she came to a full stop and knelt down so his feet were in contact with the floor. Ran Fan tried to be careful when she released him so she didn't do any further harm.

"Sir."

She stayed in this almost bow, looking at him in concern. Was he really well enough to move on his own...?

[exploding_kunai]

Ran Fan wasn't surprised or offended that he had used her to support himself. She still wasn't certain that he was totally well, but they needed to get out of there so resting for a while wasn't an option.

She blinked at him in surprise when he apologized. Why was he saying that? And anyway, wasn't she the one that was supposed to apologize whenever she did something wrong or unsatisfactory?

"...M-Master?" She didn't know what else to say.

[exploding_kunai]

She followed him, keeping an eye on the burning building. Ran Fan listened to him, but she only grew more confused as he spoke. What did he think wasn't right? Using her for support?

True, there was never any contact between them except for in dire situations, but this would certainly count. And since it was her job to serve him surely it was all right for her to support him if he couldn't stand. She wondered if he was upset about the way she had carried him as well.

"...Furniture...? I...do not understand, Master." Ran Fan already felt her worry bubbling up as she expressed her confusion. She was supposed to be better than that at this point after all. If she was already disappointing him this definitely wouldn't help.