[The day: Today. The time: Just after sundown. Our protagonists are right where they left off: facing Akira, near a cell with a sleeping Mary Anne, and a buncha pointy sticks about ready to poke your eyes out. Some kids never listen to their mothers.] [Session Start.] * Mikoto raises an eyebrow, nonplussed. "What brings you to that conclusion, my lord?" * Fanfan 's mouth drops open, and she stares at Hoshimoto indignantly. "What honorless dog? And how dare you threaten a Ryuugen envoy on a peaceful mission?" ( We're headed to Alderaan on a dipl... oh dear. ) ( I haven't insulted him *yet*. ;P ) ( Good envoy, bad envoy. ) ( On a lighter note, that means the tablet's been in Mary Anne the whole time, and we just need to jam loose the thingamabob keeping the hologram projector turned off. ) ( Excellent. It's probably her head. Sakura can do it. ) ( Excellent. *lightsaber turns on* ) * Millie quickly intakes her breath and brings her hands up to her face, letting out a little shriek at the scary blades. One hand hides in the sleeve of the kimono. Akira shrugs. "I need not reveal that to the likes of you." He turns to his guards. "Sieze them, and take their weapons." [Three of the many numerous guards move forward to do just that, and if you're resisting, tell me now.] * Sakura places her hand on her sword. "Are you accusing me of being a bandit?" * Mikoto raises an eyebrow. "I had no idea my lord would detain an official messenger without stating cause. I had hoped your reputation as an honorable lord would be deserved." This is dishonorable behavior! We were led to believe that Hoshimoto was beyond that trash! * Mikoto doesn't resist being disarmed (he's not armed), but he stands in front of Millie protectively. * Fanfan places her hands on her sword hilts and GLARES at the guards. * Sakura does the same, and she is probably a lot creepier then Fanfan. If you wish to detain us until the matter is settled, my lord, it is a reasonable wish. But we have no reason to flee your palace as we are guilty of nothing. I would think our own recognizance would suffice. House arrest in guest quarters if need be. ( I am *not* getting pulled into a Creepy Contest. ) ( As you shouldn't. Sakura would win. ^_^ ) (It's the mask. ) ( And the borderline psychosis. ) "If you are indeed an envoy, then I will most certainly be interested in what the Imperial Court has to say of your aiding a known criminal." * Fanfan sputters. "What matter? I see no matter here but the treacherous behavior of a man making empty accusations under our flag of diplomacy!" [The guards grab Mikoto and attempt to move him out of the way. Body roll if you're resisting, Mikoto.] ( Well, maybe that too. ) * Mikoto remains totally placid. "If we have aided a known criminal, my lord, it is without our knowledge, and we would be most pleased to help you bring him or her to justice with whatever information we can provide." "My men report otherwise." 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6) and gets 9. [The men move Mikoto out of the way and attempt to search Millie.] * Fanfan lifts her head defiantly. "Your men must be lying, then. I have no idea what you speak of." And what men would these be, my lord? The same ones who will callously manhandle an innocent woman on baseless suspicions? * Millie looks at Akira for a moment and then the guards. She's trying hard not to glare at them, really she is. But she takes a step back, putting her hands in the air. ( ... picturing Mikoto as Jacky Stiles, the lawyer from Seinfeld. "It's ridiculous, preposterous, and absurd!" ) "Those who saw you with the criminal, of course. Those who saw you summon a familiar to send the family sword away to save your own skin. You managed to get away that time, but did you think they wouldn't remember you? How foolish." [The men make to grab Millie, who needs a body roll at +2 if she's resisting.] * Mikoto raises an eyebrow. "Your men are mistaken, my lord. I remember no such situation." * Millie isn't resisting. She is trying to make sure they don't grab anything they're not supposed to though. I do not remember escaping from anybody. I do not run. * Fanfan sneers. "As if a Ryuugen would run from anything." "Oh?" He laughs mockingly. "Well, since you say so, I guess they must be wrong." Why would an officer of the court lie on such a matter? If you can produce proof, I will willingly place myself in your custody. Or perhaps they are lying. Perhaps they are trying to cover their miserable selves from the humiliation of having let whoever you accuse us of being escape. [The men search Millie. Two of them miss the pistol, but the third one feels it behind Millie's kimono and retrieves it. They look at it with faces of disgust.] "Perhaps you're wasting my time." * Mikoto raises an eyebrow. "We shall see, then. I demand the court be notified of my detainment." [The men move on to Fanfan and Sakura, who need body rolls at +1 each if they're resisting.] 2d6+1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2d6+1) and gets 10. ( Shit! *Fanfan falls over instead ) (*snerk*) [Fanfan struggles uselessly, as two of the men grab her arms and the third one takes her swords.] * Millie looks a little sheepish for a second, then whispers into her sleeve, trying to muffle the accent by whispering too. "I don't know how that got there.." * Fanfan spits in their faces. * Mikoto puts up his hand. "Don't. We'll enjoy the Hoshimoto hospitality for now." He fixes his gaze on Akira. "I am certain that in the end, justice's virtues will prevail over artifice." ( This is also Sakura. You HONESTLY think she'll let someone take her sword and mask? ) "As am I." I ask you leave my bodyguard her mask. She is... scarred from the war, mentally and physically. It's harmless. * Millie mutters under her breath to herself, again into her sleeve, except this time trying not to be heard by anyone. "Artifice..what tha hell makes ya any better, bug-eye?" ( I have acid spit. They don't realize it, but I just burned their faces off. ) ( *snicker* "Report to the bioship 'Meat Goddess' for extradition, dickweeds!" ) * Mikoto says, sharply, "Sakura! Stand down. There is nothing to be gained dying here." They will not have my sword. ( Are they still holding on to me, by the way? ) * Millie glares at Sakura but doesn't say anything. It's not certain they know she's a westerner yet and she'd like to keep it that way. It'll be returned in short order, Sakura. Trust me. ( No, they've gone to pointing things at you again. ) * Fanfan makes like she's going to lunge at the guards with her bare hands, but glances at Mikoto and subsides, growling. * Sakura holds her blade. As soon as one of the soldiers approaches her, she draws it, slashes upwards and sheaths it again, to no apparant effect. * Mikoto sighs. "This will be settled soon, Sakura." He turns his gaze to the guards. "I am sure that an accursed blade, such as yours, won't be any trouble. Provided they're wary." [The sleeve of the man's shirt falls off very suddenly. He looks down at his arm in surprise, but there's no wound.] * Fanfan mutters something under her breath that might or might not be "It'd serve them right, honorless bastards." I will come along if they wish, but they will not touch my blade. * Mikoto turns his gaze to Akira. "It's not as if it will help us escape a fully-guarded palace when we have no reason to leave." [The guards by Sakura gaze at each other uncertainly, but one look from Akira has them shifting their spears towards her.] * Millie boggles at Sakura-logic (TM) again but fortunately tries to mask it. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-2) and gets 0, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "I wish I got to hand out more of these, really." Akira shrugs. "I don't care." He turns to the guards. "Take it. If she resists... well, that's her problem."] A sword will not allow me to break out of jail. I would rather not kill, but you will not take my blade. * Mikoto looks at Sakura. "What's more valuable? Your sword or your life?" ( Is it her family sword? ) ( Or just hers? ) If I let them take my sword, my life is worthless. * Mikoto raises his voice. "It's not worthless to me! Sakura, please. I swear it will be returned to you." [The guards move towards Sakura anyhow, weapons ready this time. One of them reaches for her. (And that'll be a body roll or an attack roll, depending on what you want to do.)] ... * Mikoto says, in a low tone, "They're counting on you. You saw." .. if my sword is not returned... I will hold you responsible. Are you willing to accept this? * Mikoto nods. "Fully." * Sakura removes her sheath, sword still in there, and glares at the man she hands it to. "This is a warning. Should anything happen to this, your suffering will make Mikoto's pain look like nothing." (She really is a sweet girl.) [The man takes the sword. He looks at it, then Sakura, then at it again, and promptly hands it to the guy standing next to him.] ( *snicker* ) * Mikoto adjusts his hat. "Now then. Can we get on with this?" [Akira moves towards the stairs, the important-looking guys following him. His guards move to the side to let him pass. "Show them to their new accomidations. You know what to do."] 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-5) and gets 5. * Mikoto makes a show of taking Millie's hand and patting it, then looking at the guards. "Our cells, please." * Millie lets out a sigh, gives Akira a disgusted glare to his back, though she maturely avoids sticking her tongue out at him. She turns back to the guards and walks wherever they lead. * Fanfan clenches her fist and stalks along, face pale with anger. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6) and gets 9. [The guards nod. The one with the sword walks off with it, though he seems a bit eager to hand it off to someone - anyone - else. Another produces a key ring and proceeds to open a couple ever so roomy cells for you, near the one with the sleeping Mary Anne. Mikoto and Millie are urged into one, while Sakura and Fanfan into another.] * Fanfan whips around and treats the guard with the keys with one last glob of spittle before she enters. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 5. ( Such a polite child. ) * Mikoto has a seat on a pallet or bench or the ground or whatever's handy and helps Millie sit. "A not unexpected result. Fortunately," he says, taking off his hat and flipping it over, "I am an unexpected man." [He looks disgusted and flicks it off onto Sakura before closing the cells and locking them. "I hope you enjoy your stay," he comments, completely seriously, before walking off.] * Mikoto surreptitiously starts tearing the lining of his hat. "A shame, this looked rather good. But desperate times call for desperate measures." ... * Fanfan reverts back to quiet and reserved the second the door closes, and draws out a clean white cloth from her robes, handing it to Sakura. "My apologies. I did not anticipate that." * Millie sighs and sits down in the corner. She looks to see if the guards are there, before growling slightly and folding her arms across her chest. "That guy's got a real attitude problem." (He's Tairan's dad. Surprised? ^_^) [Mary Anne stirs.] * Mikoto tears the hat silk with his teeth and starts extracting the brim wire. "If we had more time, we could adjust it for him. For now, we'll have to settle for getting our things and escaping." He is of course speaking NICE and QUIET. ( Are there any guards around, or is Akira as overconfident as I think he is? ) * Millie shakes her head and lets out a forlorn sigh, tugging at her kimono. "I was kinda gettin' into it too. What tha heck IS a geisha, anywho?" ( Can we punch Mary Anne to knock her out again? ) ( "Is she coming around" "Uhh" *PUNCH "No. Out like a light." ) ( Plus, then she can't give us away! ) * MaryAnne sits up. "Don't you dare lay a hand on my- ow!" She holds the back of her neck and looks around. "My goodness." (Go ahead!) [There's one guard that patrols from time to time, and two more at the foot of the stairs.] ( Do I actually need to roll an attack roll for that? ) (No gracious on the end of that. She must be an imposter!) ( Are we visible to them clearly, or what? ) (Yes. Mary Anne will break out her mad defensive skeelz.) * Millie notes that when the guards patrol, she lowers her voice. She's still trying to hide her accent. ( .. Hey, they took Sakura's sword, right? ) (Yes.) ( I don't recall you saying they searched her. ) * Mikoto frowns and starts bending the wire a little bit. "A private performer. Some consider them prostitutes, but it's an unfair distinction." He glances at the lock on the cell door. "This is going to be tricky." ( Excellent. I love when something works. ) [They'd have taken all visible weapons.] ( Because Sakura, my dear, has another sword. Wakizashi that she keeps in her kimono, remember? It's not Personal Space hidden, but it's also not visible. ) ( S'not the same as patting her down for concealed ones. ) (And Millie's not so visible one.) ( Thus, Sakura must still have her wakizashi. ) ( Being scary has come in handy for once. ^_^ ) * Mikoto gets up and walks to the door, stowing the wire in his sleeve and watching the patterns of the guards. * Millie coughs slightly and blinks twice. She almost yells and it catches in her throat as she croaks. "A...a what??" * Mikoto responds without looking back. "Geisha are above prostitution. But men who are spurned by them start nasty rumors." ( Spoken by someone who grew up, then immediately moved to Teck for three years on assignment. ) * MaryAnne looks around and gets to work on straightening her hair. "Miss Reinhart, geishas are a staple in Shomuran culture." She blinks. "You are Miss Reinhart?" * Millie grumbles slightly, folding her arms but looking at Mikoto out of the side of her mouth, gritting her teeth. "You an' me....we're gonna have a little...talk later, Mikky." ( Okay. When no guards are looking, gonna try and pick the lock. NOT swing the door open or anything, just trip the lock. ) (Is Mary in the same cell?) (And if not, are we visible to her?) (Nope. She's across.) ( My dagger was concealed, but they got that. :P ) ( Yeah, but they never checked Sakura. ) ( Point. Damn! ) * Millie looks up and if a guard's looking, she turns her cheek aside bashfully. If not, she waves her palm frantically in front of her mouth and shakes her head, putting up a finger to shh her. ( Did they take the tessen? ) ( She handed over her sword! She made such a big deal, they probably didn't even think of it. ) (Fanfan has her... er... fan. Yes.) ( Iron fan. Important distinction. ;) (One fan or another. :P) [Ahem, whether the guards would've taken Fanfan's fan if they found it remains unknown, because they didn't.] 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6-5) and gets 1. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Tairan (2d6) and gets 4. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for John (2d6) and gets 8. * Millie whispers over to Mikoto. "So what are we gonna do after we make it outta here?" * Mikoto studies the lock as surreptitiously as possible. "Get our things and escape. We can't do much else." * Fanfan leans against the side of the cell nearest to the one with Mikoto and Millie in it and murmurs casually out the side of her mouth to them. "Will you be able to manage it?" * Millie whispers back. "Yeah, but how? I mean we don't know where they would take 'em...plus I bet there's a lot more up there...an'...uh..." She blushes slightly and shakes her head back. "Nevermind." * Mikoto frowns. "I don't know. It's a very old, very crude lock. Those are easy... but all I have is some hat wire. Something like... a dagger or letter opener would be better, but hopefully this will be enough." * MaryAnne watches, looking from the guards to her 'rescuers' and back. * Millie grumbles. "Gettin' out ain't the problem...it's stayin' alive once we do that is." * Millie quiets and backs off whenever the guards approach. * Fanfan winces. "They took mine, I'm afraid. But..." ( Is our cell next to theirs, and is there space between the bars enough to hand things to people? ) (Millie and Mikoto are across from Mary Anne's cell. Fanfan and Sakura are next to.) (Next to Mary Anne, not us?) (Next to Mary Anne, yes. There's stone between the cells, so no, Mary Anne can't see Fanfan and Sakura.) ( Any way to slide things over to people? ) ( This Mary Anne must be fake. She's entirely too silent. ) * Mikoto takes a deep breath and waits for the guards to pass. "Here goes nothing." (...drat. Thought it was the other way around.) (Slide? With guards there? You nuts? :P) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6) and gets 10. * Millie frowns and starts tapping against the bars and walls a little, listening closely. * Mikoto frowns. "Wire's too light..." He keeps at it, though. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 2. (Only a little nuts. Residual effect of hanging out with Sakura. ;P) [The wire slides in nicely, but proves a little too flimsy, as it snaps while in the lock. Fortunately, Mikoto managed to angle it just right so he can actually get the piece out.] ( I hope I still have my hairclips at least. ) * Mikoto frowns. "Need something heavier." 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-3) and gets 5. * Mikoto stows the wire in his sleeve and sits down before he starts looking suspicious. "A nail file, a letter opener... those would work. Ah well." ( *Millie empties her pockets, "Hmm... No nail file, no letter opener... All I got are these durn lockpicks..." ) ( Millie has chopsticks in her hair. ) ( And yes, millie's got two lacquered chopsticks in her hair. We put them there in her disguise. ) (She has chopsticks, yes.) ( Don't twist enough, I'd think. But unless they pawed through my hair, I *should* still have clips. ) (Hairclip-style good quality ones, too, not, like, disposable takeout bamboo. And if a letter opener will work, a chopstick will.) (It's certainly better than nothing.) * Mikoto sighs and hugs his knees. "I'm not sure how we'd escape. I can fight unarmed, but not three on one." (Good call Mikoto. Group 2 has actually reached Teck at this point. ^_~) (They took the money and ran.) (Well, we *said* "If we don't come back, don't rescue us.") I am not unarmed. * Fanfan smirks at Mikoto. "Don't be so quick to assume that everyone else is unarmed as well." (As a matter of fact, you did!) * Mikoto drums his fingers on the ground. "Damnit. I should have thought ahead on lockpicks. *Anything* more sturdy than wire would work. I wonder if there's any thick wood splinters on the floor..." He inspects the floor for these so- called "wood splinters"! * Millie shrugs and looks up from her knuckle-rapping. "If all else fails, I'll jus' try an' slug 'em.." She watches Mikoto for a moment, "Whatcha doin'?" * Fanfan sighs and pulls a clip out of her hair. She waits for the guards to not be looking and tosses it over. Looking for something to use as a pick. This is an old lock. It doesn't have to be *flexible*, it just has to be narrow and dense. All you're doing is pushing up a pair of tumblers... ( God, this is like a console minigame. ) [The splinters vanish as soon as he looks for them! They must be ninja. Damn Shomuran splinters.] ( Relatives of the raccoons, I see. ) ( "Time your throws! Make sure the guard isn't looking! Hurry Cloud, the Shinra soldiers are coming!" ) ( At least we're not making you tiptoe to get the key... ) * Fanfan hisses across. "Mikoto!" ( Did she actually throw the clip? Did it actually land in our cell? Can we actually get the hell OUT of here? ) * MaryAnne looks a bit woozy, then collapses again. ( I actually threw it. At you people. ) * Mikoto frowns. "Damn." He blinks at the mention of his name and looks up. ( Fanfan, gimme a thrown objects roll, -1 bonus ) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2d6-2) and gets 2. * Millie frowns slightly and stops tapping, looking up. [Said clip lands in the cell] * Millie looks over at the position of the guards at the stairs as Mikoto's busy. Where are they in relation to the cells and who's in sight of them? * Mikoto eyes Fanfan, then follows her gaze and smiles faintly, retrieving the hairclip. He stands up, stowing that in his sleeve too. "Something like this." * Millie whispers to Mikoto. "Great. Now how do we get THEM out?" * Fanfan shoots a small grin back, then turns to Sakura, speaking quietly. "What was that you said about not being unarmed? * Mikoto shrugs his shoulders as he moves to the cell door and attempts, once it's safe, to open the lock a second time. "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." I am not unarmed. ( Once again, just want to trip the lock, not swing the door open. ) * Millie sighs and adjusts her hair slightly. "Ya know..I jus' KNEW ya'd say that..." How so? * Mikoto shrugs as he studies the lock. "If we can't even get out of *our* cell, it's academic. We might have to take down all three guards and steal the keys." * Millie peeks back over at the guards. "Not sure how many I could distract, but I could try..somethin'. Even the odds." I have a weapon. Excellent. * Millie blinks slightly and whispers quickly. "Hey wait...that guard wanderin' down the hall have a key?" ( How many other prisoners down here? Out of curiosity? ) * Millie tries to watch as the guard comes close enough to spot. ( Not counting us 4 and Mary Anne. ) (In this particular cell block, just you guys. Might be more elsewhere. Or maybe they just executed them all. >.>) (And I really am trying to pick the lock again. ^_^ I said it in a roundabout way, sorry.) (We're trying to keep up with two channels. Okay. What're you using?) ( Fanfan's hairclip. ) (Roll lockpicking, no additional modifiers.) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6-2) and gets 6. [It takes some doing, and Mikoto nearly loses his grip once or twice, but eventually there's the telltale click of a lock been picked.] * Mikoto smiles faintly and pulls the clip back into his pockets. "Excellent." He goes and sits down. "Did the wandering guard have the keys?" * Millie narrows her eyes slightly, trying to watch him. "I...can't tell...see if you can spot it, Mikky." * Mikoto does so! * Millie smirks slightly. "If he does, I have an idea..." * Millie whisper to Mikky. "Jus' shout for help when I give ya the signal...or somethin' like it.." * Mikoto nods and continues to watch to see if said guard has said key. * Millie whispers again. "Think ya can stop the guards up there from runnin' up an' alertin' 'em?" She points to the ones at the stairs. * Mikoto furrows his brow. "We might be able to." [It's too far and too hard an angle to tell if the guard has the key or not.] * Millie nods and suddenly falls forward, staggering and holding onto the bars of the cell. She hangs her head a little limply and half-closes her eyes and groaning a bit. [That one just plain doesn't have it.] * Mikoto sighs. "The one guard moving around doesn't have the key, Millie," he whispers quietly. * Millie whispers back. "Well, they'll have to open it ta get in somehow..." * Mikoto says, a little more fiercely whispered, "It's *unlocked*!" ( Then again, they don't know that. ) * Millie glares at Mikoto pointedly, trying to gesture her head to the guard. "They don't *know* that." * Mikoto frowns and stands up, moving toward the door. "Which is why they'll lock us back in if they use the key." He clears his throat. "Excuse me!" * Fanfan watches Mikoto and Millie carefully, playing idly with the fan tied to her wrist. * Mikoto whispers, "When I give the signal, pull the door open as hard as you can." * Millie whispers at Mikoto. "An' ya don't think I wasn't already PLANNIN' to...yesh, yer slow.." She smirks slightly then goes back to her acting faint. * Mikoto continues to be conspicuous. Which he has to work at. ( Well, if we can't escape, maybe this will end up like Die Another Die. We get tortured for a while, and then surfing. ) ( Ooh. Surfing. ) ( And with a torture music video ) ( So, do the guards notice this or what? ) (I'm sorry, but we're both very tired. Give us a moment.) ( I'm surfing right now. ) ( Oh, sorry. ) [The guard lumbers over. "Ah, shaddup."] * Millie looks up slowly with her eyes at the guard. She flutters her eyelashes and tries to look too pretty to ignore. * Mikoto stays nice and neutral. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6-5) and gets 1. [The guard eyes Millie in more ways than one] * Millie notes the guard looking at her and groans again, folding a little against the bars of the cell-door, gripping them with her arms. * Mikoto sighs unhappily. "She has been like this ever since we rescued her near the border. I fear the Teckian bandits who were abusing her must have injured her severely." ( "And she needs a big strong man to comfort her!" ) ( Certainly...may I present my other son, Lazar Hoshimoto.) ( *snerk* ) ( Yep. Pity you guys have to fight Togo Hoshimoto, too. He's badass. ) ( And you REALLY don't wanna meet up with 'Chibi' Ethan Hoshimoto. ) (Yeah, but normally he's just a doofus.) [The guard looks Millie over again. "Oh, really?"] * Millie puts her sleeve up to her mouth and coughs weakly, whispers into it softly to mask her accent. "Please..." * Mikoto nods sadly. "It's a shame. I was hoping to find a suitable husband for her once we returned to the Empire." ( .. Sudden image of Mikoto in pimp gear. ) [The guard moves closer, a goofy grin on his face. "I can help with that."] * Mikoto is just awash with happiness. "Truly? How blessed for us! A soldier of the honorable Lord Hoshimoto would be a most suitable groom!" * Fanfan restrains herself from gagging. * Mikoto also gets himself a good grip on the door, he's so happy. White-knuckle happy. I pity someone getting that cowardly girl as a wife. * Millie looks up slowly and softly out of her eyes, turning her eyes to Mikoto enough to give him a mild glare. [Session End.]