Testrun! It's showtime!

[a_louse]

1. [You're in the middle of some kind of disagreement, or had one recently. Whether it's a big and important thing or a relatively trivial one, it doesn't look like any kind of compromise can be reached. And then, suddenly this guy shows up.]

I am Roger Smith, Paradigm City's top negotiator. What seems to be the problem?


2. [You got into trouble, and a bunch of armed thugs or other human-sized bad guys have accosted you in a dark street. Looks like this is going to end in a mess... But suddenly a smoke bomb explodes, blocking the vision of most of the bad guys and causing them to cough! A man in a suit swings in on a line, landing a kick to the head of the one that escaped the smoke!]

I suggest we get out of here. Fast.


3. [Roger got waken up by some loud noises before noon, which counts as way too early for him. Now he's going down the corridor like a slightly annoyed zombie, trying to find the source of the noise.]

What is this ruckus...

Comments

3

[fermionprincess]

Oh. Hello.

[Alessandra sits in front of the kitchen door. The kitchen in question is full of smoke.]

[a_louse]

What in the name of all that is holy is going on here?

[fermionprincess]

Ah, my most gracious host is awake! Might I offer you some tea?

[Alessandra gestures towards the kitchen.]

2

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Right.

[There isn't even a moment's hesitation before Alex moves to follow him. Whoever he was, he couldn't be more dangerous than these people anyway.]

[a_louse]

Let's go. Third alley to the right.

[As they run, Roger throws another smoke bomb behind him to further confuse the attackers.]

What did you do to earn the ire of these folks, if you don't mind me asking?

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Can it wait?

[She appears to be focused on running, recalling every dimly remembered lesson of how to run the best. Once they're a bit further away and she feels safe enough to slow down to talk she does so.]

They're Flemish nationalists...They want to force me to summon a Sumerian god to fight for them.

2-Batman, meet Huntress

[a_monetized_mind]

[It might take a second or two for Rodger to notice that the cornered woman has now vaulted over the eight-foot fence at the back of the alleyway, and is rapidly vanishing into the distance.]

Thanks, I owe you one!

[...Leaving him on his own.]

[a_louse]

You're... Welcome?

[Roger watches her disappear effortlessly, stunned for a second. Then he starts to get away himself.]

I wonder was this rescue attempt really necessary...

1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Nx17V_k6A

[bratty_savior]

[You've come to an argument in front of a pair of Virtualgern-on machines that seems to have recently blown up from overheating.]

Well, she refuses to pay up even though I was clearly ahead on health when the machine broke down!

[Yes, this is an argument over a money match.]

[dashvectoring]

[Displeased Maria is displeased. More so when she hears this!]

WHAT?!

You need your eyes checked! I was ahead, AND I was wiping the floor with you when we started!

This shouldn't even be a contest!

[bratty_savior]

You need to have your brain checked.

[And being the gentleman that he is, he flicks the red head right between the eyes.]

Because it doesn't seem to be able to process visual information at all.

[For some reason it just felt right to say that to the red haired girl with the ribbon.]

2

[crusading_angel]

[Watching the spontaneous "rescuer" dive in Alison merely gives him a glance before turning her attention back to her pursuers.]

That smoke bomb may work for a moment but those thugs you stopped aren't human so running isn't such a good plan. What will work however is this.

[Alison kneels and places a hand on a painted circle that flares to life around the figures. As the light continues to spread around the figures and grow in intensity they quickly dissolve leaving no trace.]

Nightgaunts. A relatively minor entity summoned to do grunt work and such by cabals of dark sorcerers. A simple banishment circle is enough to get rid of them as long as you can lure them into it. I will thank you for the distraction and knocking the one that had moved too far forward back into it though.

[a_louse]

Alright, let's slow down a little. First thing: are there any more of them pursuing you at the moment? Second thing: when did I leave reality and enter an occult story?

[crusading_angel]

Point one, no, that was all the ones I lured into my trap. As for the second you seem awfully uninitiated to be running around this city like that at night. Though I guess the different cabals have been keeping a low profile until now, what with the various end of the world cults and someone making noise about the time the stars align being nigh.

Overall if you're not certain and don't know enough it's safer to stay out of things. They've been like this for longer than anyone can rightly place and I have a companion who was working on his own groups that I can call in emergencies who can handle these with pretty much a sweep of his hand.

1

[savagelinks]

[A girl is in the middle of an argument with an angry male shopkeeper. But the moment she spots Roger, said girl tries to dismiss the seriousness of the situation.]

It's nothing. This guy just thinks I stole this apple from his store and...

"I don't think! I know you did it! You street kids are never good news!"

[When the girl hears this, she sighs. She's clearly trying her best to stay respectful here.]

Come on old man, I don't look that messed up, do I? It's not nice to judge by looks, either.

[a_louse]

Hmm. I see how it is.

[Roger pulls out a coin and throws it to the shopkeeper.]

That should be enough for the apple, right?

[savagelinks]

[The shopkeeper is very surprised by this. But hey, he isn't complaining as he catches the coin.]

"Yeah...but I'll tell you what: keep that up with all these kids, and there won't be much left where that came from."

[Without another word, he turns around and departs. Crisis averted! That leaves Roger behind with the scarred girl, who is staring at him suspiciously right now.]


...Are you for real?

2

[jianai]

You shouldn't have. It was alright, really.

[Weird person runs away with a light jog.]

Oh, I don't mean to appear ingrateful. Thank you.

[a_louse]

Alright? I'm sure you noticed they're armed.

[And a few bullets start flying, though they're shot blindly and can't hit anything! Still calls for swifter evacuation though, which Roger does.]

...I also noticed you happen to have horns.

[jianai]

Oh, they wouldn't shoot anyone without a good reason. Well, this kind of thinking is a thing of the past now.

[Ren accelerates enough to catch up with Roger. Gotta keep the conversation going after all.]

You noticed? The armed men did too. In fact I think this is why they drew their guns...

2

[mechanic_princess]

[A poor, beautiful maiden has been cornered by a band of ruffians. Ruffians with laser-chainsaws, because this is the future and everything is insane.]

Y-yes, let's do that. Lead the way, sir.

[a_louse]

They don't have guns. Which means... Hold on tight!

[Roger grabs the "damsel" in distress and launches a hook wire from his watch, swinging towards the rooftops! They land on the outside stairway of one of the taller buildings.]

[mechanic_princess]

[Oh god personal space. Once they're safe, Sopp will step back a bit and dust himself off.]

Um.

...Why do you even have something like that...?

1

[delouser]

Oh, it's just you, Master Roger. The Milkman apparently want to increase the price of milk.

[a_louse]

And what are his reasons for that?