Player Plot: It's Die Hard on a Ship

[desertbloomed]

Who: Closed to those who (before this posting) signed up for the plot. Feel free to comment to the Job Interview thread even if you haven't!
When: On or around early-mid November.
Where: In the sky! On the Pravoka Interviews take place at Ashelia's apartment in Lavode.
What: It's Die Hard on a ship.
Warnings/Notes: Violence, cussing. Okay, all done! Tag in, y'all! Please reemeber to tag yourselves :) Yippie ki-yay, mofos!

Loading up the ship seems to be going smoothly enough, despite the harried look on Lady-Captain Ashelia’s face. She walks to and fro, Kupozencrantz struggling to stay by her side, as she refers once, twice, three, four, more times to her iMog slate. She makes a call - and after a short discussion, appears to acquiesce. Loading and boarding seems to proceed apace. The crew is signed in, inventory is checked and double checked, and the maiden voyage of the Pravoka under Lady-Captain Ashelia B’nargin Dalmasca is on her way.

The atmosphere on the ship is calm and easygoing; there’s a lot of cargo to guard, but a lot of people to guard it. The meals are generous, just on this side of lavish, the mattresses in the (albeit cramped) bunks are surprisingly soft and fluffy (is that memory foam? Does memory foam exist on Vaikuntha?) and the air circulation would put some spas to shame. It’s a more or less pleasant time. Until it isn’t.



Shortly before midnight, with the crew scattered about the ship, the lights are cut. Radar and monitoring equipment just shuts down. The ship shakes and groans and, depending on where you are, footsteps can be heard. Hushed voices. Then, you smell something. Or do you? Before you can react, everything goes black. Blacker. More black.

When you come to, you have no idea where you are for a good couple minutes. The room spins around you. You try to move, but find you can’t move your arms. They’re tied behind you, or to the arms of another one of your companions, or above you...are you in the brig? No, you realize as you feel yourself sinking into the plush mattress beneath you. Not the brig at all. Regardless, your next course of action is clear: get free, figure out who did this, and make them pay.

Comments

[topgun_textiles]

Nobody really needed the backstory, but he just shot a look to Gladio, face bright red. "The hell's that supposed to mean!?"

But he felt something- or someone- against his back and ceased the struggle. No use squashing this person, but he needed to get this situation hacked out sooner rather than later. Wait, they missed someone! It was too dark to see, though. He needed his eyes to adjust.

"My jacket! I got my sewing kit in the inner left pocket, s'got fold-up shears in it." Hmm. He curled his fingers and touched the material he'd been bound with. Considering how often he maintained his crafting tools... yeah, that should work.

[wind_in_my_ears]

Klonoa blinks blearily, but now that he's awake, he's starting to get a better understanding of the situation. Folded.. shears? Sewing kit, huh? He turns his head slightly, just trying to gauge his position against the person he's tied behind, and focuses... as he reaches his right ear down, feeling around slowly in Kanji's pocket.

It's a much better idea than just using his teeth. That fluffy ear would probably come as a bit of a surprise, though.

"Nngh.. Almost.." He pulls his ear back out, wrapped around an object. "Mmh. Is that it?" He says, blindly from behind, just holding out whatever he's managed to snag.

[topgun_textiles]

Wh-what was that...? It was like a long black arm with a fluffy white tuft. Was that a paw or something? What was stuck to him?

Shit! Focus! He squinted to get a better look, and confirmed with a nod.

"Yeah, that's the one! Should be tucked right in the box, but watch the blades, I keep 'em pretty sharp!"

[modelcivilian]

"Right... that's why I don't feel my sword..."

That makes sense that they'd take their weapons - of course they did that and now they were unarmed, and for a second, he almost panicked again. Fingers rubbing, they left his ring. Huh, guess it wasn't like that. Glancing down at his shirt collar, he noticed small green eyes looking back. Looking back up, he shifted himself so his arms were out of sight and Plagg could do his thing.

"We gotta get whoever did this before the cargo's taken!"

[hashtagdaddy]

It doesn't matter if they have his sword, though he'll be taking it back from them once he's finished beating these assholes to a pulp, because his body is weapon enough. Through the untied girl waking up and someone digging for a sewing kit, Gladio's been working frantically at the ropes binding him.

"Hurry up and undo these ropes!" He's gotten used to seeing in the darkness, but he can't make out every detail. Muscles flex and Gladio grunts as he keeps straining against his ropes. It feels like one is fraying, so he continues his struggle. Reno was right - having an outlet for his frustration and anger is helpful.

"Gonna knock some heads in once we're free." His growl is almost feral. These poor strangers get to see him at his angriest. How unfortunate. Maybe once the cargo is safely delivered they can all sit and have a beer and he can be something closer to his usual self.

But they have to get out of here first.

[wind_in_my_ears]

Klonoa slowly shifts his ear, and then sets the box down on Kanji's knee, trying to push it open. It's more than a little awkward. "Manya.. Can you.. help me open this? I can't see where the latch is or anything!" He says. He doesn't want to take the box out of Kanji's sight--that might make it even harder to find what they're looking for if it shifts the wrong way. Folded-up shears might be hard to spot, after all.

[modelcivilian]

It took longer than Adrien would've expected of Plagg, but maybe - just like how he couldn't phase through things - another aspect of his power had been reduced. That's a bit more annoying - power limitations hadn't been a real issue, but this was going to push those boundaries. But he felt the ropes loosen up and slipped his hands out, sitting up to undo the rest himself while Plagg went back into hiding.

"There's gotta be a reason behind this..."

Or was it just weird that someone who attack the supposed 'Heroes of Light'? Coincidence? Maybe he was thinking too much after last month, taking a moment to rub his wrists.

[topgun_textiles]

"I doubt anybody ties up a buncha people for shits n' giggles." He huffed, and bent down, lifting his knee to his mouth. He bit into the latch and worked it undone, then used his nose to nudge open the door.

"One sec." He grabbed the folded shears and pulled back.

"It'sh in my mouf...!"

[ladytakamaki]

"I got it!" Ann helps Kanji and Klonoa out by grabbing the shears from Kanji's mouth.

"Okay, I'm gonna try to saw through these ropes--Adrien, mind helping me out?" It would be easier with two people to get everyone else untied, after all. "Get Gladio if you can! I'll work on freeing these two!"

She starts trying to cut and saw her way through the ropes. She's trying to be extra careful so she doesn't cut either one of them.

[modelcivilian]

"Leave it to me!"

Shifting, he quickly moved over to Gladio to get at the ropes still binding him. He could see that the guy had been trying to get out, but the ropes were pretty secure that a second pair of hands could be needed for some of these knots.

Ann had shears so she'd get Kanji and Klonoa free sooner. Another minute or so after those two were free, Gladio would feel the ropes come undone.

[wind_in_my_ears]

Klonoa starts working on his own ropes to make it easier for Ann to shear through them. For the first time, those in the room get a look at how terrifyingly sharp Klonoa's teeth are as he chomps and gnaws against the bindings to whittle them down significantly.

"Phff, phlehh..!" Agh, he's got the fibers on his tongue...

"I think they used these ropes to tie up.. fish or something." He complains. "Is anyone injured?"

[hashtagdaddy]

Great, tied up with ropes used for fish. Gladio hopes the smell doesn't linger on them, especially not on him though. Ravus would be so displeased...

He feels the ropes giving way more easily and turns to look at the kid - Adrien!


As soon as the bindings finally fall away, Gladio rolls his shoulders and makes quick work of the ropes around his legs. "Thanks Adrien, appreciate the assist." To the weird cat-looking thing (he calls it like he sees it), he responds, "No injuries on my end. If anyone's muscles or joints are locked up, come to me and I'll do what I can. Back home I trained in physical therapy."

It's more than he's said since waking up, but if they're going to find and wreck whoever tied them up it's best if everyone is at full form. And expending any energy or using potions to cure something as simple as a cramp is a waste in his mind.

[topgun_textiles]

He felt the bonds coming loose and sighed in relief. He was getting real friggin' tired of getting surprised and hauled off somewhere. He'll have to repay the kidnappers with a solid fist in the face. He didn't need asterisks for an ass-whoppin'!

"Thanks," he nodded to Ann.

"Now let's get outta here and kick the shit outta whoever did all this."

[wind_in_my_ears]

Klonoa chomp chomps through the ropes, gnawing and chewing until he finally manages to get one of them snapped in two... which helps, but is less of a triumph than it could be considering the other set binding his wrists to his waist.

"Nngh.. Little.. help please?"

[ladytakamaki]

"Sure, hold on."

Ann moves over and cuts through the rope binding Klonoa's wrists to his waist. That should do it. She returns the shears to Kanji and nods.

"Alright, we ready to go?"

[wind_in_my_ears]

Klonoa rubs his wrists, and then checks himself over before giving a firm nod and holding out his hand.

"Alright, let's get going!" Says the fluffball, throwing up a Protective barrier that forms all around the entire group before fading from view.

[hashtagdaddy]

Casting Rampart on himself and the others, Gladio nods and heads towards the door.

"Who wants to take point with me?"

He's eager to bust some heads so he doesn't really wait for anyone to join him and simply exits the room they'd all been stuffed in, turning in the direction he remembers the cargo bay to be.

[topgun_textiles]

He took back the shears and packed his things. He stood and brushed off, ready to go on a rampage like the good old days- all he needed were his fists after all, and-

Whaaaat is this bunny dog thing? Had he been tied to this little dude the whole time??

Kanji squeaked, unsure of how to proceed for a minute, but it's Gladio that snaps him from that distraction. With an awkward grunt and a nod, he hurried to take point.

[modelcivilian]

"I can help too. I'm not really classed for anything unarmed jobs here, but I studied some martial arts back home."

It looked like Kanji would mainly fill the point, but Adrien kept pace with the other boy. More hands taking down these guys and they should succeed... unless they used something to knock them out again.

[topgun_textiles]

He nodded to Adrien. "Got it. Gimme a holler if you need some extra back-up."

Yet how did they all get jumped like that? He had to get to the bottom of this. He was no detective, but he could knock the answers out of people if he got the chance.

[desertbloomed]

As soon as Gladio opens the door, he'll be greeted by the backs of two sitting sky pirates. They've been talking and quite distracted, apparently. The pirate on the left has an ax propped up on the leg of his chair - a berserker. The pirate on the right has a bow resting on his lap - a ranger. On the floor beside the berserker is a small pile of what looks to be iMog slates.

The pirates turn around when they hear the door open, surprised. They jump to their feet almost immediately, weapons in hand. "Shiva's tits, they're free!"

"Get the shit and run!" the ranger yells, already more than halfway down the hall to the galley.

The berserker stoops down to grab the slates, barely managing to hold both them and his ax, before he starts running for the door to the galley himself.

[topgun_textiles]

...Uh oh.

Well, he wagered there were people outside but they reacted pretty damn quick. He wondered if they were too loud inside. But that didn't matter, as they quickly gathered up the slates and began to scatter.

Kanji visibly bristled. "Hell no ya don't! Get back here!"

He grabbed the nearest chair and took off after the berserker, before he wound up and hurled the furniture for this fucker's head. If Kanji Tatsumi had a 'preferred weapon' class, it was furniture. Suck it.

[modelcivilian]

Adrien was just as startled as the Beserker and Ranger outside, but his eyes narrowed as they began to flee.

With Kanji going after the Beserker with a chair (woah!), the blonde teen darted around and gunned after the Ranger. If he got away, he'd likely alert whoever else was behind this - also, if he got distance, he might start shooting arrows. Good thing he had Swordmaster active and Ninja passive because the boost to speed and parkour helps.

Just needed to get him before he actually entered the galley.

[ladytakamaki]

"Hey!"

Ann is pretty fired up herself. She joins Adrien and chases after the Ranger. She's got Black Mage active, but using an elemental attack on them seems a little cruel. So...

She does the only other thing she can think of. She grabs a wooden crate and uses it as a shield as the Ranger starts to shoot arrows.

"I'll cover you!"

[hashtagdaddy]

Seeing the pirates ignites Gladio's normally well-controlled rage.

These assholes managed to disarm them all, take what he assumes are their slates, and tie them all up. Anger at other things has been simmering inside of him and that only adds fuel to the fire.

Gladio sprints after the berserker and, since he's currently without his sword, aims well-placed kick to the back of the pirate's knees in an attempt to take him down. Once the jackass is on the ground, he plans to beat the man bloody and steal his axe. While not his preferred weapon, he can at least swing it around if he needs to.

"Who the fuck are you and why'd you tie us up and take our slates?"

He needs his slate, if only to assure himself that one name remains un-greyed out. And he's pissed about the other stuff too.