[Warning: Incoming Game.] (*snerk) (*hits his badge. "REBOOT!") ( *shoves Enzo out the channel* ) [Zeeg gets squished.] [With Alexis and Hanomaru's help, you've freed the slaves with minimal casualties for those on your side and tons for them! One warrior really is worth a thousand! From there, you had a short trek across grasslands to the supply depot, which was overcome easily by your (literal) horde of kinda reasonable might.] [This is where we find you now. There's food, water, some shelter, and plenty of average-quality firearms and swords to go around. The people have dispersed and are looking things over... Hanomaru's got a small group of Injun girls surrounding him, and even though you're across the depot (which is the size of a small village), you can still hear him.] [But that's okay, because you can ignore him all you want! You're situated in the shade of one of the buildings, probably discussing what to do next. It's early afternoon at this point, and John was supposed to be hung by now. Better hope he actually isn't.] [Ready? Set? Go!] ... we've got everyone together and armed. I say we storm the city, get Will and Running Cloud, take a few of these people with us to back up the charges against Will, and get back to save John before his necktie size dramatically decreases. * Jinx wanders around looting, err, looking to better equip our liberation forces. * Millie doesn't seem to be paying attention. Her eyes are lit up as she oogl-- err inspects the firearms. To see what they can best arm people with of course. * Alexis waves her arms. "You can't just storm a city!" ... we can't? I've done it at least once. With only three people. * Jinx nods. "We kick ass." And it's not like I'm planning to burn it to the ground or anything. * Fanfan looks up at the sun, a worried expression on her face. By 'storm', I mean 'go in with overwhelming numbers so as to discourage opposition'. [The sun shines down on Fanfan. It's such a nice, clear day!] That'll just get more opposition! That's a dumb plan! * Fanfan rubs her forehead. "And your idea is....?" * Jinx glances over at Alexis with a thoughtful expression for the moment. Considering that Will prolly has a healthy number of bodyguards, this is the best way to get him to surrender. And we need him alive. * Millie picks up a small little revolver and looks it over. It looks like any ordinary gun but she puts it up against her cheek, rubbing it. "Ooo, you're a cuuute little thing~~ I think Millie's gonna keep ya.." * Mikoto is looking over Random Q. Injured Slave. "I think if we make a show of force, it might work. I doubt Will commands loyalty through respect. More likely through fear. Nobody's going to rush to his aid." * Alexis humphs and folds her arms. "Bet the sheriff will." And the posse. Not if we go in relatively peaceably. And anyone else who feels threatened by an angry mob of Injuns and Shomurans suddenly attacking the town for no reason. * Jinx shrugs. "We could just go save John first, the witnesses might cut it." * Millie goes about inspecting like a kid in a candy store. She's definitely lost it. Again, we're *not* planning on running in, guns blazing, shooting everything that moves. We're marching in, demanding Will's surrender on charges of slavery, along with anyone else involved in it... then leaving. * Mikoto finishes bandaging a wound and gets up, snapping the clasp on his medical bag shut. "Jinx may have a point. I doubt you can refute the testimony of an entire mob of escapees." Unless you're Teckian. ... that reminds me. Are the rest of the higher-ups in town involved in the slave business? Or is just Will and his cronies? Uhhh... I dunno! But I thiiiiiink... they probably just turn a blind eye. * Tairan GRINS. "Well, then they better be prepared to see the light." Anyhow, the point is your plan is dumb. * Millie finishes looking over the firearms, not finding anything else that meets her fancy and goes to look through ammunition. And Mikoto, I thought you said before we needed Will to get John freed, and that just proving Will was a slaver wouldn't be enough? * Mikoto stands up, and frowns at Alexis. "Either help, or go away. We don't have time for know-it-all naysayers with no new suggestions." He then wanders off to find other people in need of attention. * Alexis waves her arms at Mikoto. "It was my idea to come here in the first place!" Or do you wanna go back to "Hey! Let's go tell him John's gonna die, because he's evil and evil people all like to gloat, so he'll come down to the trial just to do that!" * Jinx scowls. "I had a backup plan." * Mikoto looks over his shoulder at Tairan. "I'm not sure. I don't think we MENTIONED Will being a slaver to the sherriff, actually. It might be enough to cast aspersion on his claim of innocence, but I'm not sure." Well, I ain't about to take the chance that it isn't gonna be enough. We're never gonna have another chance like this to grab Will. If we don't grab him now, chances are he'll run for the hills before the law catches up with him. * Tairan points at the assembled slaves. "This is a whole lotta witnesses, and I assume slavery carries a freakin' heavy penalty out here." So do it. But not with a mob! Jeez. The mob is our leverage to get Will to come along. You think he's gonna come with us if we just ask politely? Well. [Millie looks through ammunition! She finds standard, boring stuff, but there's some money hiding in nooks and crannies and off of guards that comes out to about a hundred Teckian dollars.] Perhaps a polite request and a sword pointed to his throat? * Millie hmms and gets a sly grin as she pockets it. She flips through the ammo boxes again just to make sure she didn't miss anything and sighs, then inspecting the rifles again. He might have guards. Enough to cover an escape. This... *points at the crowd* is our best shot. * Jinx looks over at Alexis. "What's the strength of his body guards in town? Last thing I remember, you thought we couldn't take them." [Also, through her thorough inspection of every single bullet because she's *insane*, she finds a heavy revolver bullet that glows blue, and another odd bullet: this one bolt-action and pale green.] * Jinx tones seem to indicate that he's decided annoyance outweighs any marginal hope of getting laid. You won't even get to see him! You'll be stopped at the town gates and then he'll get away and you'll try to chase and the sheriff will tell you to stop and you won't and you'll get shot and then the mob will attack and then the people will attack and it'll be a biiiiiiiig mess! Huh...hey guys? Whatcha suppose these do? ... they won't attack unless attacked. Or unless I... we tell them too. Alexis! How much man power does he have? You said before we couldn't take him. (Okay, someone tell me when Alexis gets her head blown off, so I can play without risk of snapping. >_<) * Mikoto busies himself with medical care, since he is sans Nurse Fanfan. Well, now he can't get reinforcements so easily. See? * Fanfan gives a frustrated sigh and goes off to help Mikoto. * Tairan walks away from Alexis, and addresses the crowd. "Attention, please! Two things. First, we know that your enslaver was a man named Will Rogers. Would anyone who has actually seen Will Rogers directing the slave operation please raise their hand?" [The Shomurans and Injuns look at each other and there's a lot of talking going on. An Injun near the front raises his hand. "I *think* it was him. What's he look like?"] If you can't match the name with the face... well, that's the second thing. * Jinx scratches his forehead for a moment, "Alright, so Alexis, is Will the sort that is willing to surrender when out gunned, or is he the type to go down fighting?" I dunno! * Millie pouts slightly as she gets ignored and keeps looking over the rifles, putting her finger up to her cheek. "There's just so many~..." He'd probably talk you into believing that someone else did it. [A Shomruan woman yells, "I heard his name being thrown around, but I have no idea what he looks like!" Another chimes in with, "Yeah, probably just didn't want to get his hands dirty."] * Tairan rubs his neck. He's clearly a bit uncomfortable speaking like this. "This Will Rogers man is the brother of a compatriot of ours, and has framed this man for murder. Our friend is going to be hanged at any time now, and we need Will to prove his innocence. So..." * Jinx grins. "You see, that's where your wrong. I don't really care if he did it. Anyways.. so, least a fifty percent chance he'll be the go down fighting type, particularly since we're trying to bring him in to hang." Not to mention there's sooooooo many Will Rogerses out there. We want to go into town, get will, and drag him kicking and screaming to justice in Redrock. To do that, we need your help. * Jinx looks over to Sakura. "Alright, you've got bullet resistant armour, do you think you could subdue him without killing him while we massacre his men?" [There's a lot of murmuring again. A Shomuran man near the front, who stays more or less out of it, asks, "How?"] I.. am not very good at subduing without killing. * Alexis sighs. * Millie frowns. "Well..they're all good still. But they're not exactly up with the times. Definitely not keepin' up with Greenpeace here.." Okay.. could you, uh, draw his fire without killing him? If he wants to go down fighting and has skill like John's we'll likely lose a man if we hold back." * Millie stands up and pats the dust off her jeans. We want to walk into town, peacefully, as a show of force. Demand his surrender on slavery charges. That'll give you a good look at him. Once he surrenders, we head to Redrock, and get him hanged for what he's done to you. I want to be clear... we do *not* want to shoot up the town or anything. We simply want to use our numbers wisely. [Someone near the back yells, "Why not? They deserve it for what they did to us!" This gets a number of angry affirmatives.] * Millie blinks at the yells and turns around. "What's goin' on?" * Tairan blinks, and turns to Mikoto. "... I can't really argue with that. Mind stepping in? I ain't really that good at this." * Jinx shouts over to the crowd. "Cause some of you would die and it wouldn't get you shit." He then mutters fairly quietly. "Damn amateurs." ( Mikoto, I choose you! Smooth Talk, NOW! ) * Mikoto blinks and looks up from setting a splint. "Stepping in where? I haven't been paying attention." I tooooooold you. ["Who cares? Revenge!" More affirmatives.] * Millie blinks. "Well, who's they? Who's the one who really did it?" * Fanfan glances up as well, though still holds the splint still for Mikoto. * Tairan sighs. "Nevermind..." *turns back to the crowd* "Revenge is good. But if you just go shooting up the town, the town will fight back. Many of you will die, and never get back to your homes. That's not why we freed you." * Millie then eyes the crowd. "Who cares, huh? What's revenge if yer dead? Ya ain't gettin' no revenge worth nothin' if ya die from it." * Mikoto blinks again, then shrugs and ties the thing off, wiping his forehead. "I think that's about my limit. Should be all the really dangerous things, anyway." (I am amused that you are correcting your way into a double negative.) * Fanfan wipes her hands on a length of robe and sits back on her heels. "Hm." (Triple negative ^_~) If you do this our way, you get your revenge. The sheriff of Redrock seems like a good man... all those who enslaved you will be punished. And any who escape punishment... I'll swear to hunt them down personally, if need be." (It's in character ^_^) * Jinx goes to get Lightning. "This is a waste of a time. Apparently the forces in town are pretty weak. I say we go for it with a small crew." (I know. Was just amused.) * Alexis waves her arms at Jinx. "That's what I said!" [They don't seem to really care, as cries of "Attack!" and "Revenge!" are being heard throughout a good portion of the crowd.] Sakura draws fire, Millie shoots him in the wrist, Mikoto jumps and subdues him from behind, rest of us massacre body guards. * Mikoto stands up and dusts off his hands, then looks at the mob. "What would your families at home rather have? The head of your slaver, or you safe at home to be with again?" Look, which is better? Revenge now or takin' this guy in an' lettin' everyone ELSE know not ta mess with ya? * Jinx looks over to Alexis. "Have you ever considered the idea that people might listen to you if you were less fucking annoying?" All you're doing is getting them more rallied up. (Seconded through fiftiethed) * Alexis grins at Jinx. "You just hate me 'cause I'm right." (No, we hate you because you're god damned irritating.) ... people, please! I hate to put it this way... but we just freed you. Trust us on this. True justice can never be achieved by a mob. * Mikoto goes to look after his horse. He is not Mikoto X. Crowds are not his thing. * Millie eyes Tairan. "Gee, ya really AIN'T no good at this." Nope! He's sure not! [Tairan's drowned out.] * Tairan lets Millie and Alexis know that they're #1. ( *snerk* ) * Millie smirks. "Yer turnin' more an' more Teckian already, Lanky." * Tairan scowls. "Fuck this diplomacy shit..." *fires a couple of shots into the air to get everyone's attention* (*winces*) HEY! We just risked our fucking necks to free you people! I've had to put up with HER *points at Alexis* for over a day! A DAY! * Millie just sighs as she was about to walk forward a bit towards the crowd. Now she's not gonna bother. * Mikoto gets on his horse and stretches his arms above his head, cantering Jinxward. "The truth is, any escaping guards have told Will and by now he's waiting for us anyway. We might as well get it over with, as it's the only chance of saving John. Let them work it out for themselves." All we're asking in return is that you trust us! Not much to ask for in exchange for your freedom, is it? Huh? * Jinx gets his shotgun out and rides a bit towards the entrance and away from the crowd. [That gets them to shut up. Kind of.] We want you to get out of this alive, and we'd like our friend to not get hanged! The only way that's gonna happen is if you trust us. * Millie curses and whispers to Tairan harshly. "It ain't gonna do no dang *good* if we leave 'em riled up like that. There's no tellin' *what* they might do." * Hanomaru pushes his way through the crowd, sword drawn. "GWWOAAAH! I HEAR GUNFIRE! PEOPLE WE ARE ATTACKED! WE MUST FIND OUR COWARDLY ENEMIES WHO WOULD ATTACK US WHILST HIDDEN! EVERYONE, SPLIT UP AND SEARCH! GOWAAAAAAH!" * Hanomaru searches! ... ... that was me, Hanomaru. I shot for dramatic effect. Volume good, right? * Jinx joins up with Mikoto. "Probably. I just can't deal with amateurs. Probably best to get moving. We can pick out witnesses and leave the crowd behind. If they go pillaging later, not our porblem." [And Hanomaru gets them to cover their ears.] * Millie slaps her face with her palm and mumbles into it. "Please tell me this ain't how Shomurans usually deal with things. Please.." * Mikoto shrugs his shoulders. "Sounds like a reasonable enough plan to me." VOLUME IS THE SECRET TO ENLIGHTENMENT! YOU HAVE DONE WELL! NOW, SEARCH FOR OUR ENEMIES! * Tairan points in a direction. "I think they went that way, Hanomaru." * Hanomaru rushes off that way! ... it worked. Dang. * Millie looks at Tairan. "Beat me to it. I'm impressed." * Jinx rides up to Sakura and Fanfan. "Wanna get the witnesses than go take down Will? Not a great plan, but seems to have a decent chance of working." * Tairan waits for the crowd to recover from volume shock, then continues speaking. "C'mon, people. I know I'm a shitty motivational speaker, but give us a chance with this. I swear to ya, everyone who enslaved you will get what's comin' to them." * Fanfan shrugs. * Millie looks back at the crowd. "Look. It's pretty simple. Ya don't know what this guy looks like, do ya? How can ya get revenge if ya don't even know who yer lookin' for?" * Mikoto smiles wearily. "At least if we leave soon, we have a good chance of leaving Alexis behind." ["Darn tootin' they will! Those damn Teckians!"] Hey. Some of the people that saved you are Teckians! ... though, yes, they are annoying. Particularly the women. * Jinx looks to Sakura. "What do you think?" * Millie gives Tairan a glare. "WAIT a minute." * Fanfan demurely hides a snicker behind her hand. Now, if I were you... I'd probably kill myself. But that aside, I think you should take a few people back to Redrock to testify against Will before John gets all dead. Look...that's nice an' all but..we still ain't found Runnin' Cloud. * Tairan shudders visibly, ignoring Millie's rightous anger. "Look, if what I'm proposing doesn't work, all bets are off. You can do whatever you want. You're free now, after all." *pauses* "But we'd really appreciate it if you could help us out with this. This friend of ours... I owe him my life a coupla times over. He just helped me save my clan from rule by a fucking madman. And I need your help to save him." Sooooo? She's not in any danger. Will's not gonna kill a slave. That ain't the point. She's the one that saved John last time. She'll testify 'gainst Will too. Why not? He has many. Why would he hesitate to kill one? * Alexis waves her arms. "He doesn't have many anymore!" And if he was gonna kill someone, he wouldn't pick one that's with him, he'd come here and pick one he doesn't like!" * Jinx looks to Alexis. "Look, I don't know trials very well. Will the witnesses be enough, or do we need to bring in Will alive?" I don't care. I came all this way ta find Runnin' Cloud an' I'm gonna find her. I don't know 'bout this whole feud Johnny has with his bro really, but it's his quarrel. He won't like people jus' steppin' in. * Tairan walks up to the head of the crowd. "Like I said. You're all free now. I can't give you any fucking orders. Hell, I don't wanna give you orders. Just... can ya help a guy out?" *deflates* Welllllll... Probably what will happen is an investigation will be held. And you'd keep John from getting killed. * Millie walks over and pats Tairan on the back. ( Legal advice from Alexis. HA! ) * Jinx comments through gritted teeth. "Thank you for that timely bit of helpful information." ( She is like.. Legally Blond, only dumber. ) * Tairan grunts appreciatively at Millie. * Mikoto looks at Alexis. "So let me get this straight. You feel it's a bad idea for us to take the witnesses back to the Teckian judge who won't believe the witnesses because they're Shomuran or Injun, yet it's a good idea for us to bring back the Shomuran and Injun witnesses because the Teckian judge will believe them." [The ex-slaves talk amongst themselves again. Some of the angrier ones are waving pistols around, but they seem calmer. Not that it's saying much, necessarily.] * Jinx rides over to the crowd and tries to round up some of the competant fighter former slaves. In Redrock they will. I mean, duh! [He finds them!] [After a lot of looking, anyhow.] * Jinx dismounts and speaks in a not too loud tone to them. "Alright, you lot can fight, but you recognize that the rest are in god-awful shape at the moment and probably don't know how to use competently use these new weapons yet, right?" * Sakura sits quietly. Arn't you surprised? * Tairan perks up a bit, seeing that the crowd is responding, if only a little. "If you're willing to give us a chance, please, come with us. If not... hell, I understand completely. But at least let us try it our way before you do it yours. If ours works, then you can just go home. If not... well, then you can take your own vengeance, I guess." * Millie rubs her head and speaks to the crowd. "Look, I know ya want revenge, but we need ta make sure we get the right guy. An' for that, we need yer help. Only one person can identify the guy who put ya here an' he's bein' held in Redrock. We need some of ya ta say what happened an' make sure he gets what's comin' to him." [They shrug, nod, and are generally affirmative to Jinx.] * Millie grins back at Tairan. "That help?" [The general crowd regard Millie and Tairan for a moment. There's more murmuring, but a few voices of, "I'll help!" and "Get the bastard!" are heard, among the whole "Attack/Revenge" thing.] Look, I've got no problem with looting, but anger doesn't bring victory. Maybe this whole Techain justice thing will work, maybe it won't. Either way, you could use a few days, probably a week, of recuperation and training. Experienced warriors like you can do a lot with motivated rabble in a week. [Someone actually asks, "Do I get to ride the train?" This gets a few weird looks, but it's a Shomuran and a kid besides, so hey.] * Millie smirks at that, then regains a serious expresion. "Look. We've got to figure out who's gonna take a few ta testify for John an' who's goin' for Will. I still promised ta get Runnin' Cloud back safe, an' Millie Reinhart never goes back on her word." [One of the folks Jinx is talking to goes, "I'm not sure if I'm that experienced..." Another agrees, and yet another shrugs and says he'll do his best.] Except when she does. ( When I say "experienced" I mean "knows one end of a gun from the other." ) * Millie eyes Sakura. "Ya got somethin' ta say ta me? Say it directly." I thought I did. * Millie lets out a long breath and closes her eyes. "That's it." Arguing more ain't gonna get us anywhere. If you're up to trusting us on this, let's go to town. If not, that's fine. * Jinx shrugs and grins. "Then maybe you've just got some natural talent. But look, right now you've got an angry mob, with these weapons, in a week of training and recuperation, you can have an army. Get what I mean?" * Millie turns around towards Sakura and gives her a steady look, reaching up towards her shoulderstrap for her rifle, walking forward. * Tairan heads back to the group. "Let's go, people. John ain't getting any less doomed." * Fanfan nods. "Right." I ain't goin' jus' yet. [They nod, though one says, in addition, "I've got a family to go home to. So..."] If you try it, I will cut you apart. I warn you now. This is a dumb plan. * Millie unslings her rifle and holds it out. "Someone take this." [Millie and Sakura are getting quite a bit of attention now. Catfight!] I don't wanna shoot ya, Sword-lady. I wanna know what'll take ta prove ta ya I'm not a lyin' coward like ya think I am Proof. Because, I don't like ya. I'm not scareda ya. Fine. Take off yer sword. * Millie yells out harshly. "Someone hold my damn rifle!" * Fanfan very much tries to pretend that neither Sakura nor Millie exist. "So, shall we go, then?" She says that a little louder than necessary, and walks toward Horse. [One of the slaves - the Shomruan from near the front who asked how they could help, in fact.] [Er, takes the rifle. Add that. :P] * Sakura takes off her sword.. and tosses it to Millie. "You wish a duel, we shall duel. A .. fistfight is not a duel, it is a drunken game." * Jinx nods. "That's okay to, but some will want to fight, and I respect that too, you just got to be practical about it. But do what you feel, but I think the others could do with the advice of some fellow ex-slaves who may know what fighting means." * Tairan facepalms. "... are you two actually gonna fight when we're running outta time to keep John from getting hung?" * Millie nods and cracks her knuckles. "Now. Yer sword an' yer armor." She starts slipping off her leather vest. "Ya think it's a drunken game? I'm not gonna kill ya because I don't wanna." That wouldn't be a problem if you listened to meeeee! [A couple of them nod, and the rest are paying attention to what's going on with Millie and Sakura. Distracting!] Tairan, shut up. Go ahead without me if ya want. * Tairan cheerfully ignores Alexis. "Okay. I'll just take your sword and your gun with me." * Millie eyes Sakura. "Ya mean ya'd fight an unarmed woman with a sword? An' ya call em a coward.." * Jinx grins a little and turns to the ones still listening. "Look, tell the others what I said once all this is over." * Sakura draws her wakazashi. "I have alrady set the terms of the duel. Is it not polite for the challenged to set the terms?" (Sakura tossed her sword to you, Millie.) (You have her katana.) I bet I could sell that rifle for a nice profit... *whistles* * Millie looks at the sword. "Yer serious. Yer gonna fight someone who don't even know how ta use the tool eh? Well, that's stupid.." ( Have fun storming the city! We'll just be out here killing each other. Okay! ) Poor John's gonna be killed. Tairan, if ya sell Greenpeace, I swear I'll hunt ya down an' kill ya. This is personal. * Jinx then mounts up and rides closer to the two and tips his hat. "Wish you luck Millie, if you want it." I will allow you to use your gun, if you wish. * Millie eyes the sword. "This ain't a proper dual, y'know. Yer ridiculous. I ain't gonna cut ya." Well, if you wanna stop me, you better hold this off until later. *pauses* Hey, Jinx, you think Crazyfeathers has a shop in Redrock? * Millie then eyes Sakura. "I don't wanna use my rifle." She screams at Tairan. "SHUT THE HELL UP, LANKY! If ya don't get this, I'm gone I swear it!" (Mind check, anyone paying attention to Tairan and Jinx.) (This includes Jinx. ;P) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Jinx (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Mikoto (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Fanfan (2d6) and gets 2, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "A WINNER IS YOU!" I do not duel for fun. * Millie grits her teeth. "Ya don't want Millie 'round, that's fine. I know ya never wanted me anyhow. Ya get people like her instead." She points at Sakura. ... the hell are you smoking? You both drive me fucking insane. But you're both damned good at what you do, and I respect that. I'm not duelin' for fun. I'm gonna bash yer head in. If ya want me ta shoot ya, do somethin' that warrents it. * Jinx looks like he respects what Tairan's trying to do, but like he's pretending he didn't hear the Crazy Feathers question. * Millie whips around at Tairan. "Yeah? Then why ya tryin' ta stop me? She's done NOTHIN' but ride me since we got her. An' ya ain't done nothin' about it. She don't even belong here!" [Jinx remembers that, yes, Crazy Feathers has a shop in Redrock. In fact, they were there before. Fanfan figures he probably does, since she saw something on a sign that reminded her of him while wandering around Redrock. And she could tell you where it is, too!] * Millie grits her teeth. "Don't ya get it? I ain't like ya. I don't kill people jus' cause they irritate me." * Millie addresses Sakura as she says taht. There's a time and a place for everything. This is neither the fucking time nor the goddamn place for this. If I killed those that irritated me, you would be dead already. SHUT UP. You know, if you two beat each other up, we're gonna have a hard time getting this done. * Millie grits her teeth. "Sword-lady, I'm gonna prove ta ya once an' for all. But I ain't doin' it by your silly Shomuran ways." She throws down the katana. Down two competant fighters... don't like our chances as much. * Fanfan turns to Tairan, still ignoring Sakura and Millie. "I believe I saw some semblance of one of the merchant's shops in Redrock. I believe I might be able to locate it as well." We do this, we do it Teck style. Ya don't like it? Go back ta Shomura. Why? You challenged me, I should be the one to set the terms of the duel. It seems like you only want to fight something you have the advantage in. * Millie laughs. "So ya think ya can't hit the broadside of a barn with yer fist, is that it?" * Tairan nods at Fanfan. "If you wanna do this later, fine. I'll referee. I'll buy the weapons. Hell, I'll fucking wave banners cheering you on. But not here. *NOT* now." * Alexis takes off her hat and twirls it around her finger. Tairan, ya jus' don't get it. It ends *now*! Why not? You're already wasting time sending a lynch mob after Will. And if we're too late saving John because you had to do this now? I am perfectly willing to continue our mission, but Millie has challenged me to a duel. To back down is dishonorable. * Jinx wipes his brow and slumps for just a moment. He keeps his eyes on Tairan while riding a bit closer to Mikoto. * Millie grits her teeth, then glares at Sakura, then glares at Tairan, then lets out a hmmph. If you want, after this, you can beat the crap outta me if it'll make ya feel better. * Millie stomps then points at Sakura. "Fine. But this ain't over. We *will* settle this." ... good. Knew ya had some brains in there. *smirks* * Millie reaches down and picks up Sakura's katana, tsshing between her teeth and tossing it back at her. * Fanfan sighs in relief. "I was hoping you had *some* vestige of professionalism in there." * Sakura grabs the sword. "Fine. Simply set the time and place." An' no swords. * Jinx then sits up in his saddle a bit more. "How about first high noon after John is hung or freed?" Unless yer a coward who needs YOUR own advantage * Tairan looks back at the slaves. "Sorry about that people! We're not usually this screwed up... well, yeah, we are. But we're competant too!" Are not. [They look at Tairan very, very strangely.] Tairan. Anyone ever tell ya yer mouth should have gotten ya killed 50 times over by now? At least [The guy holding Millie's rifle, er... pokes her with the non- shooting end.] * Millie takes her rifle, yanking it out of his grasps and hmpphs, restrapping it. * Tairan removes his hat, and rubs his head. "Yeah, hard as it is to believe..." *turns to Millie* "One hundred and seventy-three times, by my personal count." * Jinx then goes back to riding closer to Mikoto, and a bit away from the bulk of the slaves. "Alright. I don't think we have enough control over this group to safely use them. I say either we take the slaves back as witnesses or go for Will on our own. I don't really give a damn which." [He blinks. "You're welcome?"] ( Tairan should keep a Millie-like count of that. ) I have offered you your rifle. * Millie doesn't respond to that, giving one wicked last look at Sakura and swivelling on her feet, stomping back towards her horse. If you choose to turn down your weapon of choice, that is your own choice. A duel without our chosen weapons would not be a fair judgement. * Mikoto glances at Jinx, then at the group. "Take the ones that can fight with you. The rest I'll lead back to Redrock on my own." Ya still don't get it Sakura. If I wanna settle this, I want somethin' we're both on equal footing with. But we are not on equal footing in anything. Even you should be able to realize that. ( Rock Paper Scissors to the DEATH! ) Nothin' but you an' me. No tools, no silly bullet-stoppin' armor. Jus' you an' me. * Jinx looks thoughtful for a moment. "We might need you Mikoto. Think you're the best equipped of us to take a man alive." * Fanfan coughs lightly. * Jinx glances down at his shotgun, and then the range of armaments the group carries. * Millie ignores that comment and gives a deep sigh. "Sakura..." I am willing to remove the armor, but a hand-to-hand fight is not fair. * Jinx looks over to Fanfan. "Oh? My apologies, could you handle it Fanfan?" * Mikoto smirks faintly. "How ironic to hear that. But who among us is going to be able to keep this group together all the way to Redrock? Time is running out for John. His execution is *today*, in case we didn't make that clear." * Millie looks over her shoulder. "It ain't? How so?" I seem to remember someone mentioning that... I am fairly certain I could be successful. But, of course, Mikoto is probably a better choice. Please excuse my brief moment of vanity. There are many kinds of unarmed combat styles, and various people have trained in diffrent kinds. I ain't trained in nothin' * Jinx grins. "Right then, sound plan Mikoto. And Fanfan, I'm counting on you to live up to that false modesty." * Tairan walks over to Mikoto and Jinx. "So?" I know jiujutsu! But if yer that worried...I jus' don't wanna shoot ya dead. It ain't for fun, but if yer gonna be with us, I'm not gonna kill ya. * Mikoto turns to Tairan. "You're talking the combat-capable with you. I'm going back to Redrock with the rest to buy John some time." (Never mind that we'll never make it back before they hang him, but hey! Who needs logic?) * Jinx looks over to Tairan. "Mikoto takes most of the slaves with him, I don't think we have the control or leadership ability to keep them from going wild. The rest of us go for Will, taking some of the warriors if you think we need them." * Fanfan grins slightly at Jinx. * Millie lets out a sigh and turns away from Sakura. "Look...Sakura. I don't like ya. I'm sure ya know that. But I do respect ya." Thank you. Okay. Tell them that. I hate talking. Easier just shooting people. Can't argue a bullet. Right, first, do we want to take the warriors with us? Alexis seems to now think we can take them without that reinforcements, I'd prefer to trust your judgment. * Mikoto takes his reins and turns the horse a little toward the mob. "Pick out who is going with you first. I'll handle the rest." * Tairan mutters. "I swear, my life'd be so much easier if I was just deaf." If I were you, I'd forget about fighting Will in the first place. 'Cause I overestimated you, and you're gonna get beat. ( If we were you, we'd FUCKING SHOOT OURSELVES. =P ) * Millie walks back towards her horse, looking at Tairan. "I'm ready ta go." * Tairan continues ignoring Alexis. "Take some. Some show of force is always good." It is not "ALWAYS" good! * Jinx nods, he goes to pick out three guys as backup that seem like they'd come willingly. Emphasis on being smart enough to keep themsevels from getting killed, not offensive ability. Jinx? Get the guys we're taking. Mikoto? Talk to the rest, please. * Mikoto rides towards the mob. "I'll be leading most of you back to Redrock. We'll have to make good time, but once we've gotten there and rested, we'll come back in force and go after Will. The others are going on ahead to scout and be ready for us." ( The men agree, then break for the hills when they get the chance. ) ( Not that smart!) I am *so* glad I wasn't the oldest son... all this talking to people is... argh. [They talk amongst themselves. Mikoto ends up with general consent.] ( Naw, Mikky is Spartacus! :P ) * Tairan saddles up. "Let's go shoot Will's guards and drag him back to Redrock." Best words I've heard all day. * Mikoto nods, and slips off his horse. "The seriously injured can ride for a time. We'll switch off at regular intervals. We have to move quickly. Someone's life depends on it." ( Jinx get any recruits?) Do we have anything with which we can bind him? [They look at him, and then they get ready to move! Well, most of them.] (You don't. And Jinx, you've got the people you found before.) I'll go back to Redrock, too! We'll buy some rope or something. * Mikoto grits his teeth. "Not with me, you won't." * Jinx takes three of that lot, wishes the rest the best, and gets headed towards town and Will without any further discussion. * Alexis doesn't seem to hear! * Fanfan mutters not too quietly. "Excellent." (Oh, good. I get to slit Alexis' throat along the way.) * Tairan looks at Alexis, looks at Mikoto, then whispers to Jinx. "For god's sakes, ride! Before she changes her mind!" * Jinx does so! * Mikoto helps an injured woman into Nami's saddle, then begins the Trail of Tears. [The three Jinx picked out grab their stolen booty and get scrambling. They, uh, don't have horses. Oh well.] * Fanfan gives Mikoto a "sorry, pal" expression and follows Tairan and Jinx. * Alexis hops onto her horse, and follows the mob back with Mikoto! ( Er, wait. I get on Horse! Yeah, that makes more sense. ) * Millie blinks as they're riding out. "Hey wait!" She puts her hand on her forehead. "Geez...boys." She rides out. [And so, you rode your seperate ways. And the slaves walked and ran their seperate ways. Go figure.] [Session End!]