Catchall Catchup (Various)

[notquitedracula]

Alchemical Aptitude (Trunks, maybe Bulma?)
[True to his word, Soma managed to show up at the Capsule Corp building in Nova the day after his conversation with Trunks. He's wearing his usual attire - long white coat, jeans, boots, and black turtleneck - but doesn't seem to be wearing a sword, for once. Not that that means anything, necessarily, but it's generally considered to be bad manners to go armed to a friendly meeting.

He's carrying a folder with a stack of what looks like loose printouts as well as a smaller pamphlet that looks to be handwritten.]

My Demons (Dante)
[Dante's invitation to demonstrate his capabilities put Soma in something of a tight spot. On the one hand, he was pretty sure the hunter would agree that he had all the control he needed to work with them on Attleton turf. On the other, his methods were... decidedly not normal, and might be a bit off-putting. Hopefully Dante won't object TOO violently when he finds out he's playing host to a soul eater.]

Uptown Downtime (Open)
[It's the weekend, and Soma has a whole entire day to goof off. What better way to do that than spend time shopping around, talking to friends, and generally trying to seize a few hours of normalcy from a world that's been dedicating itself to making his life as abnormal as possible? About the only place he won't be spotted is probably Attleton. Feel free to chat up the dhampir!]

Comments

Uptown Downtime

[innocent_royal]

[Since it is the weekend, Anastasia is somewhere cozy with plenty of room with all her Pokémon. The weekend also means bath time!

She was still setting up a collapsible kiddy pool when she spotted Soma strolling nearby. She waves and calls out to get his attention.]

Soma! Good morning~!

[notquitedracula]

[Walking around town was, admittedly, probably not the fastest way to get around. Not for most people, anyway. But when you can jump over buildings and run at highway speeds, well... you have options. Half of Nova probably thought he was some kind of speed-happy 'borg.

He doesn't spend ALL his time running, though, and so he's really just walking along when Anya hails him. He waves and walks over to the fence, leaning on it from the outside.]

Hey, Anya. Bathtime for the furballs?

[innocent_royal]

Yep! They got to play a lot this week so they need a good cleaning.

[Her Nidoking made a disapproving roar as it turned and tried to walk away.]

Now, don't pout, Nido. I'm just going to brush your armor.

So what are you up to, Soma?

[notquitedracula]

Taking a walk to clear my head, mostly. That castle gets WAY too stuffy sometimes, especially when His Lordship is in a mood... which is pretty much all the time.

[He considers his options for a few minutes, shrugs, and hops the fence to make conversation a little easier.]

To be completely honest, I'm bored out of my skull.

[innocent_royal]

[His Lordship?

She needed a moment to realize he means Dracula. Well, moving on.]

Well, do you want to help me with the Pokémon? Six of them is quite a handful.

[And spooking about into visibility was her Mismagius, who seems to be giving Anastasia one of those, "You are mistaken" stares. One the girl did notice.]

...Five are a handful.

[notquitedracula]

[Soma gives Nido a dubious look, before turning his attention to that Mismagius. Having one of his own, he knows exactly how much trouble they can be.]

Sure, why not? If nothing else, it's one more shot at making peace with the big guy.

[He takes his coat off and drapes it over the fence, trusting it to take care of itself while he prepares to do glorious battle with superpowered fuzzballs.]

Alchemical Aptitude

[light_of_willpower]

[The building entry area is clean and sparse for now, with a potted plant or two for décor and a comfy couch for guests. There's a front desk, with some boxes over it and something being installed on it besides the computer system.

Trunks looks up at the footsteps, from behind the desk. Part of that whole 'helping his mom' thing, in terms of being free labor. Not that he minds at all. Soma is given a wave and directed to the couch to sit.]

Give me a minute okay?

[Then back under the desk, and there's a faint whirr of a monitor activating along with some more subtle beeps indicating active connections. It's not more than a minute or two, before Trunks lets himself out from behind the desk. Normal black combat pants and boots, with a black shirt and his blue Capsule Corp jacket over it.]

Sorry about that. Wasn't sure what time to expect you.

[notquitedracula]

[He takes the indicated seat, sprawling a bit. After a couple months of stiff formality, it feels nice just to relax for a minute.]

No problem, my fault for not calling ahead. How are things shaping up here?

[light_of_willpower]

Most of it's automated, but I know Mom plans to have more employees eventually. For now, that's what I'm doing though. Besides just helping wherever she needs me to. It's going well enough, considering Torchwood has been one of our biggest buyers of storage capsules.

[notquitedracula]

Free labor. The greatest privilege of parenthood. [He smiles, just a bit.] What are these storage capsules you've mentioned?

[light_of_willpower]

[There's a grin from Trunks.]

Guess you missed seeing 'em at the party huh? From what I can tell, Capsules are kind of like the pokeballs, except we can't store living creatures in them. They're used for all kinds of things back home, but for some reason here we can't store anything bigger than a car.

[Turning, Trunks gestures for Soma to follow him. Down a hallway, into a clear Employee's only area, and to a small room set up as a 'break' room. Table, fridge, stove, and water cooler. Along with some storage counters and cabinets. Basic, but good enough for now.]

Uptown Downtown

[priceofmagic]

So~mah!

[Satou does not have this particular day off, but she’s doing rounds about Everglade as a precaution. Though she knows she can’t stay long, she does wave Soma down when she spots him.]

Goo~ood afternoon! Whatcha up to? Haven’t see you out in a while!

[notquitedracula]

Hullo, Satou.

[By happenstance, they've met near a sidewalk bench. Soma takes one side and gestures at the other; a bit of conversation used as an excuse to take a short break won't hurt, right?]

I've been trying to keep Vlad from going off the deep end. I think we might be starting to make some headway, but I don't want to jinx it.

[priceofmagic]

You certainly work very hard, don't you? I wish there was more I could do to help you with that.

[She takes her seat and then stretches her arms over her head.]

It's such nice weather! It's probably not gonna last forever, huh?

[notquitedracula]

Work isn't the word I'd use. The guy's a living minefield, and his anger dial only has one setting. Genocide. Between the Scarlet sisters and I, we've just about got him penned up.

[He shakes his head. Best to leave that subject, for now.]

Nothing ever does. Not even immortality. Best to enjoy it while we can, I think.

Uptown Downtime

[lunarlegionnaire]

[Sand Gym, 8:20 PM. Another day, another successful capoeira class. Marc's feeling almost as good as new after a long rejuvenating shower. All that's missing is a good dinner. He slings his gym bag over his shoulder and turns to Soma, holding an ice-cold bottle of water to his forehead.]

So here's the thing: I've got coupons for this Thai place a block away. They expire tomorrow and I'd feel weird using them up all by myself. Wanna come with?

[He downs said water in a single gulp and tosses it into the trash bin without really looking.]

I'll make it worth your while, promise.

[notquitedracula]

[An impressive feat, that gulp. Ice water is tough to chug. Soma doesn't have a gym bag - his coat makes them superfluous - but he does have a towel around his shoulders, which he's just finished using to dry his hair.]

Good food for cheap? I'm in.

[He finishes up his post-practice cleanup and takes a bottle of water for himself, though he doesn't down it in one. The big wuss.]

[lunarlegionnaire]

[Considering who he really is, would Soma even have a hard time? Marc gives the younger man a rare, almost invisible grin, leading them both through the door and onto the street.]

Then I hope you like phad Thai because---

[Across them, the door to a local deli suddenly bursts open. Four burly men in black jackets and bright red ski masks emerge, one of each their hands bearing burlap sacks. Their free hands keep pistols trained on the cowering clientele inside, shouting for them to 'stay on the ground or we'll blow your heads off!']

Soma, take cover!

[And right on cue, two of the robbers whirl and begin firing into the evening crowd, prompting them to scream and scatter. Their shots are purposefully high; after all, they're not really aiming to hurt anyone. Just discourage pursuit so they can reach their getaway sedan a few steps away. Marc peers around the bumper of the car he'd dropped behind, dialing the GCPD as he recognizes the gang's colors. They'd been heavier armed back then, but he'd stopped them almost two years ago. These four are most likely the leftovers.]

Not these guys again.

[He hasn't realized it's loud enough for Soma to hear, even above the gunfire.]

[notquitedracula]

[Your average human - or even your above average human - hears a gunshot and goes for cover, or at least goes prone. It's a reflex from the days when loud noises automatically meant mortal danger.

Soma, not being human, still went for cover, because Marc told him to, and he's spent the past several months learning to do what Marc told him. That does not, however, stop him from remaining calm and considering the situation. Or from hearing Marc's grumble.]

Friends of yours? I can't say I'm a fan. We need to do something about those guns before someone gets hurt. I'll distract them - I can block their shots and I'm more durable than I look. While they've got their attention on me, you come at them from behind and knock 'em cold. Sound good?

[Said, of course, only where Marc can hear him.]

[lunarlegionnaire]

[Marc's breath hitches a moment, though any attempt at explaining is quickly forgotten. While he'd rather not put his friend and student in harm's way, he's come to know what he's capable of over the last few months. Soma can take it. And who's Marc to stop anyone from doing some good?]

Love it. See that lightpost? [He points a short way down the street, away from the car's rear end.] I'll cross over from there, so try to draw their fire till I'm right on them.

[Staying low and using other cars for cover, Marc scoots towards said lightpost. A single stray bullet shatters the window of another car and sends broken glass tinkling around his shoulders. The voice of a GCPD operator comes over his videophone right before he reaches his waypoint.]

Genessia City Police Department, please state the nature of your emergency.

Four armed men just robbed Ingrid's Deli at Aspen and 11th. No one's hurt but they're shooting into the crowd. Hurry.

[Despite the civilian urgency in his voice, the nod he gives Soma from beside the lightpost is decidedly collected and professional. He's ready.]

[alwaysimpaled]

[As Soma arrives, Dante is at his desk, practically buried under paperwork, though there is an open bottle of whiskey within arm's reach. When he glanced up at the arrival he let out a sigh of relief. Any excuse to get away from it.]

C'mon in. I take it you're Soma?

[Pardon him a moment while he drains the rest of the bottle.]

[notquitedracula]

[He winces a little at the sight of Dante downing the remainder of the bottle. He's never had a taste for the stuff himself, beyond the odd cup of sake.] If I'm not, he's going to be pissed at me for stealing his shorts.

[He finds a seat someplace, clearing it of any debris it may be holding.] I should warn you up front - my methods are... a little different.

[alwaysimpaled]

Kid, I've been hunting demons for most of my life. It takes a lot to surprise me.

[He shrugs, tossing the bottle into a bin behind him without even looking.]

Show me.

[notquitedracula]

[In the space between seconds, that bottle he threw is going to end up back on his desk.]

For the most part, I don't summon at all. I also hunt demons... and when I kill them, I take their souls. I've taken hundreds of abilities from them - and used some of them to forge weapons, as well, though I had some help with that part. Unless you want this place on fire, flooded, frozen, or just flat out wrecked, I suggest we step outside.

[alwaysimpaled]

[He quirks an eyebrow at the bottle.]

Alright then, if that's the case, let's step outside and do this.

[With little pomp and circumstance he will stand, and in the blink of an eye vanish, reappearing at the door behind Soma. Never let it be said Dante isn't petty.]

You coming?