If you're tired of the same old story (Ch. 6: Day 1)

Sheff · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 12:30 pm

Through most of Casey's explanation, a sort of frustrated frown remained with Geoff. It wasn't a disbelieving look, but the hedgehog obviously had a comment already to spit out by the time the boar was only halfway done. Still, he allowed a small silence to fall between them before finally shaking his head in a disappointed manner.

"...ya should have just told us," he muttered. "Could have gotten the word out ages ago. I might still be on G.U.N.'s $%@& list, but they're the only power around anymore that I'd bother with, sad as it is."

Geoff sighed, his gaze wandering out to the nearby ocean.

"What am I even kiddin'? Knowing a name isn't going to do much, anyway."

psikeout · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 5:10 pm

Casey watched Geoff with some measure of concern. He actually ceased what had previously been his wild rush to distribute (probably more like sell) the information, and instead paused, and stepped up next to the hedgehog with some assuring disagreement.

"It will make a difference," he said contrarily. "GUN may not have the best track record, but you underestimate how cutthroat they can be. See, it gives'em somebody to investigate. If the story checks out, they'll go after'im the second he shows his face somewhere. Failin' that, they'll probably go after his family. Either way, they'll smoke'em out into somebody's crosshairs eventually."

He set his hand on the wooden railing and leaned on the elbow of his other arm, slouching over the dark waters.

"Them, or a few thousand bounty hunters," he added, quietly trailing off.

Zaka51 · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 6:49 pm

"Um...sorry, miss, I don't know any of them, myself," Pax replied, mirroring her glancing around at the others on the boardwalk. "All I know is Mr. Casey over there--in a pure business sense. For everyone else, this is the first day I've known any of them...heheh..." The dog seemed a bit restless as he talked. "I was, uh, hoping to learn a little more as we worked together, since it seems like we're gonna be one big task group for this Li Fang problem..."

He shook his cup, a quiet sloshing indicating it was almost empty. "Hope all these people can take care of themselves well enough..." he muttered to himself.

Seafarinhare · Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:44 pm

Ivan had stuck his arm out, but it seemed that the speeding puffin managed to duck under it like a game of high speed limbo. Too bad. Ivan didn't pay it any more attention before he continued down the boardwalk. Right up until he came to Mako, and his conversation partner and without much thought, cut in on the conversation.

"Ahoy!" He said as he wandered over to the two of them, "Mako was it?" he asked, but without waiting for a response, he continued, "Ya like seafood? I love it. I always be wonderin' what shark meat taste like," he said, eying the shark strangely.

Sheff · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 1:04 pm

"I don't think you understand," replied Geoff as he joined Casey at the railing. "Rock is smarter than that. He's proved he's smarter than that." He paused for a brief second. "...but I suppose you're right. I doubt he's going to confine himself in a spaceship for the rest of his days. His girlfriend would probably kill 'im."

The hedgehog rested his hands on the wood, watching as a few waves lapped against the concrete down below.

"...and sorry for all the suspicion," he said a bit more quietly. "I... I'm just sick of always having to put trust in the wrong people."

Rachel · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 4:14 pm

"Just Jack is fine," she said to the agent with a smile. "He doesn't look like a GUN agent or solider, he outside help then?" Hired gun made sense, looking at the pig.

"I can assure you I wont be a disappointment, Agent, Geoff can carry his weight as well, and Mako's like a torpedo underwater. I ain't seen anything like it before." she said, skipping around the part where Mako was clumsy and accident-prone on land. "As far as the others, I'm gonna have to go with the hopes they wouldn't be stepping out against Li Fang unless they had reason ta think they'd win."

"But we all could be gettin' in over our heads given we know next ta nothin' about whats goin' on or why. But I think we ain't lackin' for tenacity, given they've already come all the way from Chu-nan to see this gets done," she said, watching Ivan as he made his way over to Mako. She was sure the drunken hare was up to more shenanigans, but couldn't hear him asking how shark tastes.

psikeout · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 6:22 pm

Casey was quiet for a good ten seconds. His gaze shifted from the water to the hedgehog again, and he snorted a very quiet laugh.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say I'm the right kind'a person to trust," he admitted, "but I'm pretty dang bad at lyin', so it cuts down on the temptation, if y'know what I mean."

He sniffed a breath of salty sea air and sighed.

"I won't do you guys wrong," he declared soberly. "I'll help you get'cher friend back. Just hope you won't think too poor'a me if I happen to... y'know,... make a lil' money doin' it."

Casey glanced back over his shoulder, as if to make sure Paxton wasn't in audible range. He had a suppressed hint of a grin.

Zaka51 · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:24 pm

"You make a good point," Gardyner said with growing cheer, a genuine smile on his face. "I'm sure we can handle a bunch of gangsters if we all just work together on this. Hopefully we can go after them before they cause any damage here..."

For a moment, Pax peered past Jack, catching a glimpse of Casey and Geoff in the distance. He gave the hog a small, casual wave when he noticed Casey was glancing back towards him.

"We just need to figure out where to start looking," he continued, turning back to the griffin. "GUN's intel network is still a...bit skewed, especially in this region, but maybe they'll catch something. But we need to work on our own investigation too, search for leads and info."

Sheff · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 7:50 pm

If Geoff was at all perturbed for Casey's method of gaining a salary, he didn't show it, only replying with an indifferent shrug.

"Do what ya have to do, I suppose," he muttered as he pushed away from the railing, standing straighter. "Just keep to your word, 'cause for once it's nice to know someone is actually tryin' to help."

He threw a glance back towards the boardwalk, spotting Jack and their new G.U.N. friend.

"Would ya do me a favor, though? Try to keep me out of whatever you're going to tell your contacts. I don't need to know if GUN still holds grudges, even after all this Eggman business."

psikeout · Posted: Mon Jul 16, 2012 11:38 pm

Casey shot a subtly ugly look at Geoff when he delivered that ominous-sounding 'keep to your word' line, and the geniality he had exhibited prior in the conversation drained away, replaced with a glum sort of indifference. Something about the phrase rubbed him the wrong way, but the only hint the hedgehog would likely get was the puff of air that came out the hog's nose as he too shoved off of the banister and turned to wander away, back toward wherever he'd last seen Latika loitering.

"Don't worry too much," mumbled Casey dismissively. "Hearin' it came from you might help convince'em you ain't on his side anymore."

As it turned out, Casey was indeed aware of Geoff's role as "hired help" back during the Granite Island mission, or so the remark suggested. He said nothing more of the matter, though, and just slowly plodded off.

Rachel · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 6:33 am

"I hear'ya." Jack knew they needed leads, and frankly she didn't have one either. "Li Fang musta had some sortta plan to get here ahead'da time not ta stir up trouble movin' out here. It don't matter though, we'll find 'im and get this sorted out."

She noticed Geoff was finally without company. Spotting her opportunity, she offered the Agent her hand in parting. "I'm lookin' forward ta workin' with ya, Agent Gardyner."

Zaka51 · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 3:38 pm

"Likewise, Jack," the agent replied, accepting her hand in a friendly, if somewhat stiff, handshake. "And, uh, you can just call me Pax, if you prefer." As soon as he had his hand back, the agent also wandered off aimlessly, tossing his cup in the first trash bin he passed. He checked behind him, as if to make sure no one was paying attention to him. After assuring himself that no one was looking for him, the dog withdrew his PDA from his pocket again. The device gave off a dim glow as the agent silently worked with it, walking down the boardwalk alone.

Mie · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 9:01 pm

Even barring the mounds of bagged pier fare on her person, Latika was sort of hard to miss. Mind you, she wasn't engaged in any crazy shut-in foreigner shenanigans, or anything of the like, but there was just something a little off-kilter about the loris' presence, quiet and understated, though it was.

She sat cross-legged on the ground next to a completely vacant bench, which she seemed to think made a nice, general purpose "stuff holder," while she buried her nose in the now well-worn pages of a thick paperback. Her posture was impeccable, and her sandals sat tucked neatly under the bench, as her head oscillated back and forth like a hyperactive typewriter.

Engrossed though she certainly seemed, an astute eye might notice hers peering up over the top of her book with increasing frequency as she took in what, and more importantly, who was around.

Sheff · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 10:27 pm

As Casey lumbered off with his (somewhat) reassuring remark, Geoff visibly relaxed. Too many questions for one little answer. If that's what it took, he really couldn't blame himself for getting that much into the boar's face about it all, but the hedgehog now knew, for better or for worse. At least he was aware everyone was still on the right side.

Following that long conversation, Geoff would now only return to leaning against the barrier keeping him from plunging into the water, letting his busy mind be calmed by subtle noises of the ocean, eyes staring out to the dark sea.

Rachel · Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2012 11:22 pm

Jack tipped her hat the Pax, as she turned and headed towards the tall green hedgehog. She headed over to his side, and leaned her back against the railing, looking at the spectacle of lights and activity the board walk often was at night. It reminded the griffin of vacations as a child with her family, back when they went on vacations.

"Ya know, you don't got to feel guilty shootin' the breeze." She said to the hedgehog, watching their group, as lively and in some cases intoxicated, as they where.

If you're tired of the same old story (Ch. 6: Day 1)

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