genessia | Bounty Hunting.

The salesmen shot her a glance full of greed and intrigue. He crooked his finger, and beckoned her to come hither.

"Certainly, young miss! Come closer. I am no ordinary monger, for I possess rare and mystical artifacts that only a select few have the privilege of owning. For instance, this drum."

He holds out a tribal, primitive-looking drum, ornamented with bits of metal, bone, and wood. "The swift drum of the architect. Tribal beasts from ages past used it to construct their war camps and shelters, setting structures overnight, and raiding by morning. Or this..."

He holds up an instrument, made of a wood dark and purple. The bridge is pointed. "The void mandolin. No ordinary guitar, I assure you. When this is played, sound will leave the area. Good thing to have when you desire some peace and quiet. But these items can't go to just anyone, oh no. I get the feeling something more...particular is in order. What say you, girl? Perhaps you'd like to see what curiosity might choose you, for a change..."

Meanwhile, a blonde ~~idiot~~ hero was stalking through some nearby undergrowth, causing some faint rustling. It would seem he too had been waiting to strike. At last, a partner would come. Only fitting; two villains deserved two heroes to vanquish them.

Edited 2014-11-07 04:59 (UTC)

Yuuki tried her best to keep her interests up to an extent as she listened to what he had to say. Honestly in her mind they simply just looked like normal objects with no real value or merit, but she knew if this was the guy then there really was more to this. So she knew she would need that proof before actually doing anything.

"What curiosity might choose me?" She paused, somewhat confused about what the salesman had meant by that, she had to admit it did make her even more curious. "I mean, how does something choose me?"

He gave a grim chuckle. "Curious, eh? You should be. It'd be mighty irresponsible to give these items to people what ain't pleasing to 'em. They're finicky little buggers. So, with some money and some fate, I think we can arrange something suitable to both buyer and merchandise. Trust me, something always calls, no matter who you are."

He assumed an air of nonchalance. "But, I mean, if you're not interested, my mundane wares are good too.."

She new she had to find out more, so she knew she had to take him on that offer. "Alright, I'll bite." She had hoped that this would at least help and was wondering just what on earth could there be.

"Though, I think it would be pretty hard to find something that calls to me."

"Mm, that's whatcha get for thinkin'. Fate brought ya here, and it'll be fate what picks you out something fitting. But come in with me, and we'll take ye for a spin."

Once the heavily clothed shopkeep had got her inside, Ted's tension increased. She looked street-smart enough to not be taken in by stuff like this, and could only hope that she had a plan.

"Now, this part's a bit spooky, miss. Just stretch out your hand, like so..." He gets a bit handsy and extends her arm himself, towards the edge of the goods from the center. "Lot like a metal detector, really. Somethin' 'il 'beep', trust me on that."

A lot of strange noises would appear should she play along. The rustling of packages, rumbling of shelves, and even some broken glass. "That one must've not liked ye much. Plenty of fish in the sea, right?"

One was more persistent than the others, and the merchant looked far too pleased with himself when he picked up on it. "Oh, excellent choice, that one. You'll love this, 'm sure."

He crept over to the noisy package, delicately unwrapped it, and brought out a silver choker. There was a red gem at the end, connected to the chain that had thick coils, almost snake-like in appearance. If one spent a long time looking at it, a skull pattern would suggest itself.

"Ah, that's a peculiar one, that is. An actual, honest-to-goodness maturity charm. The wisdom of the elders is locked up in that gem, believe you me. Ya ever feelin'...not so grown up, miss? A little lost in the world? This'll set you straight just like it was yer grandma."

Edited 2014-11-09 18:22 (UTC)

She kept going over her idea over and over in her head. While the man was talking she at least played along, each time always keeping an eye out for hopefully the other person that was suppose to be part of this bounty. After all she wouldn't get it if she only brought in this one guy.

She followed what he said and did what he asked, but she knew the truth behind the items... even if some wee more creepy than others and she wished that she didn't know.

"A maturity charm? I never knew something like that actually existed." But she had to admit it was like he was reading her mind or something because sometimes she did think like that, but she knew what it was, it was some thing that a witch had made, but she had no idea where that witch could be if close by.

The necklace, for now, lay dormant in the merchant's hands, though he was eager to make the sale.

"Mm, it likes you miss. I can tell. Most girls yer age think they got the world all figured out, but not you, I'll bet. I think you'll give it a happy home, that I do. Care to try it on miss? 'Try before you buy', in't that the way of things? Ya ought to see how it looks on ya. It's a bargain, really it is, to get something that's good-looking and good for you. I get the feelin' that red's yer color."

Ted, meanwhile, could no longer restrain himself, and pressed his ear against the door to hear the goings-on. As a result, he was getting clammy.

Yuuki couldn't help but look at it for a moment, she wasn't going to fall for the try before you buy simply because she figured something would happen, with her something always seemd to after all.

"I don't think I need to try before I buy. I usually just know and I have to admit I am a little bit interested."

After all she would need evidence, right. She couldn't do this she knows she could. Take a small breath and carry on.

Man, teenage girls were both the merchant's favorite and least favorite marks. It was so easy to make them feel special and unique, which usually buttered them up for a cold read or two. But on the other hand, they tended to take a long time before parting with their cash. Or their parent's, more likely.

" 'A little bit interested'? Hah! I think ye hurt its feelings, miss. It's a lotta bit interested in you, and that's the truth. I don't rightly know if I can keep it here, in me humble shop. More like a dog shelter 'n a shop, really; if 'n you don't like it here it may sit and whine at me for ages. Why, 's like I'm playin' matchmaker, and if ya don't mind me sayin', I think I found the perfect match.

So, young miss. What's a humble merchant like me got to do to decorate a pretty young thing like you?"

She couldn't help but tilt her head slightly. The mercent really knew how to get the money they wanted from people. In this case she knew she wasn't getting drawn into it but was putting it on so she could get what she needed. So with a smile and her hands behind her back, reaching to put it into her pocket she knew what she and to do next.

Once it was in her hands she will start asking questions. "Alright, I think you will have a deal."

He rubbed his hands together. "Excellent miss! You won't regret it, 'm sure." He seemed oddly unconcerned that she pocketed the trinket; maybe he was too caught up in the ecstasy of a successful transaction. When she did that, she'd find that no matter how she handled the gem, the chains would near-imperceptibly, gently wrap themselves around her wrist. If she had a sense for magic, then she would feel it activate, albeit dimly and with yet unknown effects.

More sinister yet, if she tried to do anything else with it other than place it somewhere else on her person, preferably the neck, then it would latch on and resist as if it were a handcuff.

"Now, as for payment...normally, a maturity charm of that caliber would go for a pretty penny. But you go so well together, I couldn't rightly bear to sell it for more than [insert modest sum here]."

She had to wonder if one was selling it for that price then what could really be wrong with it? She knew what that could be and as it attached to her wrist for the time being she had already gotten the bills and held them out. She knew what she was going to do the moment he took it, she would start to ask questions.

"I'm sure you make a lot of money doing this right? What do you use it on?"

The shady merchant tried to hide the minor irritation in his voice. He'd handed the cursed item, and gotten some cash. Why was she still here? Didn't she have some friends to gab to or something?

"Oh, not so much, miss. Most people don't care for magic items, 'specially when they rustle 'n shake. Can't say I blame 'em; sometimes I think they're more trouble than they're worth. I oughta thank ye, really, for taking one of these buggers off me hands.

Oh, I won't bore you with the finances of an 'umble merchant. I just try and keep me wife and children fed, clothed, an happy. O' course, I don't make all these meself, so there's the suppliers to consider."

Yuuki glanced around once more, her hands now moving to her sides for the mean time. It idn't take her long to seem interested in actually looking around a little bit. Couldn't hurt anyone. As she takes a couple of steps she pauses before turning her head and looking at him once more.

"You... don't make them by yourself? Who does?"

The shop was typical of its kind in Everglade. In a word: creepy. Not like a garish Halloween display, but the architecture was old and falling apart at places. The inventory was stored haphazardly, with no apparent order. No apparent look either; some of it was stored in boxes of varying sizes, some of it hung off the walls and ceiling. The merchant did sweep, but you wouldn't know it. Dust and spiderwebs were a persistent feature.

"Ha! Of course not! What, ye think I like havin' me windows broken? Plus I ain't much for handiwork." He holds up a gloved hand, and you can see the pinky was a stump.

"I said they were like dogs, din't I? Well, one of 'em bit. No, me gift is gab. You should hear me wife; the only woman unlucky enough to be married to a man that talk more 'n she does! Hohohoho!"

"People 'at make 'em? Oh, they're strange sorts. Hermits and such. Ain't all right in the 'ead, I expect. Don't tell 'em I said that, or they'll shrink your 'ead. Still, decent sort as far as they go, and I don't ask too many questions. Stiff about money too, so I got lots of appointments to keep. Speakin' o' which, it's gettin' late miss. You ought to go home, show off that trinket to yer mates. Send s'more business my way; gods know I could use it. Wouldn't want the werewolves to get ya, eh?"

Okay, he had ran his charming routine. That should be enough to pack up for the day, right?

Yuuki just stood there and listened, at the same time she walked around. It seemed like they weren't going to be very open about the other and she couldn't leave now, she had to bring him and, she had to do it to prove she could do something and not feel so helpless.

Her hands soon moved to her thigh, her fingers tracing something. "Question. Did you know about someone whose been mentioned in the news?"

Uh oh. Did she...? Well, maybe she's just making idle conversation. Probably not, but at least he could stall for time.

"Mm, not so much miss. Dull stuff, that is. Tellin' you all about who died when no one rightly knew who lived. I got enough dirty laundry to deal with, thank ye very much. Weather reports come in handy, erry now and again. Why, somethin' important?"

She crossed her arms slightly as she paused to think about what she was going to say next.

"Yeah, they mentioned someone around here that they wanted, but I find it's rather hard to figure out who those two people are/ It's like they purposely made it hard for people."

She figured he might put two and two together rather quickly so she started to move her hand back to her thigh for the moment.

Okay, no doubts about why she was here now. Still, maybe she was just playing vigilante. Or having a laugh; no one would seriously wanna mess with a witch and her associate, would they? He tinged with he said next with a sinister tone.

"All right, miss. I've got to be packing up soon, and I think it's about time you leave."

She shook her head slightly before pulling out what appeared to most people to be a metal pole. Sure it was a weapon that is mostly effective against vampires, but it was all she had. Extending it so it was a little longer she held it firmly.

"I'm sorry, but I can't just let you do that."

He placed his hands on the edge of a table to his back. He voice rang with a false indignation.

"What, you gonna beat me with that there stick? You ain't no stall inspector, least not one I've ever seen." Still, he didn't really plan on being this close to assault and battery. Normally this would be the time he'd cut and run, but if he did, the witch would never let him hear the end of it. Guess he'd have to get desperate, and bluff.

Quickly, out of his pocket, he took out a sack of power. "Stand back, miss! This is salamander powder! One dash o' this, and we both be blown to bits! What say ye to that, eh? I'd run out of here as fast as me feet could carry, miss. By the look of ye, yer not gettin' any younger, hehehe."

It was true; the charm had refused to let go from her wrist, and it had made her more "mature", all right. Specifically, wrinkles were forming around her wrist, and spreading outwards. If she checked for them, she might even find a few gray hairs.

Ted, meanwhile, was sweating. He had planned to rush in and catch the two-faced shopkeep as soon as Yuuki started to get serious. Not anymore though; if by chance he was serious about his act of magical suicide bombing, the last thing he'd want to do is startle him.

A powder one could use as a bomb, she wouldn't have excepted something like that... Who was she kidding she assumed things like that would be pulled off, but she wasn't sure if she would be afraid to let him do it or not.

She gripped her staff lightly before she noticed her wrist didn't look the same as it had only minutes ago. Okay, that wasn't good to say the least. She didn't fully understand what was going on, but it did meant she would need to get it off and soon, but she knew she still had to deal with the guy.

"I say why don't you. if I don't look any young I probably wouldn't be able to get out quick enough anyway."

He stammered. "Well, that is, I mean...neither of us wants to be blown to bits, right?"

He let go of the table and the powder bag, which contained little more than pepper.

"Fine, ye got me miss fair and square. Not that it'll do ye much good; the witch and I, we're an 'item'; neither's much good without the other. And fer yer own safety, miss, I wouldn't mess with her; nasty old crone, she is. So, what'll it be miss? Walk on home, forget about all this bounty nonsense, or do you want to be twice cursed in the same day?"

"No one wants to be blown to bits, but sometimes it cannot be helped."

She couldn't help but give a small shrug at that, gripping her rod even more tightly. She really was not going to let this guy get away so easily, even though she knew what that thing was doing to her right now.

She had an option go home and unleashed Kaname when he sees her or try and do this herself. She opted to go for the second option because having an angry Kaname is probably the most horrible thing one could do.

"It doesn't matter, someone would eventually bring you in anyway and I'd rather not go home looking like this. I mean unless you want someone I know to come after you and honestly... Even I think that would be a horrible idea."

"One of yer mates, eh? As you wish, miss. It's your funeral."

From there he walked back and forth across his store, picking up odd reagents here and there. "I warn ya, she don't like to be disturbed this time of day. But if you insist..."

He had finished, and chalked a circle that encompassed them both. "Just stay put; you'll meet yet witch soon enough. Ahem. One for me and one for you; take us to the witch's brew. Her powerful magics we implore, let us knock upon her door. Now we travel mystic roads; take us to her dark abode."

Ted knew that he had to go now, and burst in to the ritual through the door. The merchant shot him a look of surprise, but it was too late. Their forms began to shimmer, as they winked out of the store to the place of the witch.

Those who weren't used to magical teleportation would find themselves on their posteriors, as Ted did. The merchant looked nervous, either at the one they were about to meet, or the fact that a second person had burst in on the scene.

"Gah! Just how many of you dolts are looking to bring me in, eh? Well, the both of you will regret it soon enough. Just give me a minute while I try to rouse her from her tower."

Ted and Yuuki found themselves on top of a stormy hill, covered in dark green moss. The sky above was dark and cloudy. The witch's tower prominently stood out, a spire of stone rising fifty feet high. Foul odors tinged the air, no doubt the dark scents of the witch's brew.

Ted, standing up, regained some composure. "Terribly sorry to surprise you like that; I had figured you had some plan to draw out the witch, and it seems you have." He extended his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Ted Satchel. And it would seem our lives are in each others' hands, for a time. This bounty is thornier than my last. Speaking of which: whom would you like to bring in? It seems only natural to 'partner off' in this dance. If you don't mind splitting bounty, that is."

Yuuki couldn't help but be really surprised at what happened. She should have expected it but at the same time it was still surprising. Never the less as they arrived she landed on her behind silently looking around. Okay she didn't expect this of all things, but it seemed like she was going to be able to get them both.

As she spotted the other finally she looked at them, staring at them for a moment before holding up a hand with a smile. "I'm Yuuki Cross. I guess I would have to bring in the easier one but..." She looked at the thing still firmly attached to her wrist. She felt like it would be a good idea to find a way to get it off before they came back out.

"Do you know how to get this off?"

"Cross. Now that's a significant last name. As for that..." He paused when he looked at the hand the cursed charm was affixed to. It had taken on a few more wrinkles and spots in the last few minutes, and it was spreading up her arm.

"Thankfully, I'm not much for sorcery." If she signaled permission, he would try and yank it off. It didn't seem to care for his methods, as even getting his fingers inside the chain was met with harsh resistance. "Damned trinket! It won't even let me pry." He reached into his bag and pulled out a swiss army knife, being careful not to cut her as he slipped it in-between the chain. He pulled with all his strength, but it wouldn't budge.

"*huff puff* To undo this curse, it would seem we'll have to ask its maker to undo it. Towards that end, perhaps you will nab the witch, and I the crooked salesman? The sexes match, and I haven't yet struck a woman, nor do I wish to."

They were cut short when a group of stones blasted out of the spire. Clearly, the witch was upset.

"Bumbling shopkeep! At whose behest was I made to suffer guests? Ruin may come, my plans demised! Our whole arrangement jeopardized! I'll scream, I'll holler, my voice gone shrill, to shoo these interlopers off my hill!"

There she was, an ugly old woman mounted on a broom, flying off through the crack that she'd made, in anger, in her tower. As she circled around the pair, she watched them. Like a Hansel and Gretel they were. The merchant also came out, looking humiliated since they last saw him.

"There they are, one boy and girl. One stupid dupe and yellow-haired churl. My maturity curse hangs on but one; a magic spell that will make me young. With spotty skins and wrinkles that creep, soon your youth will be mine to keep. Now remove yourselves from this witch's door, and let me curse forever more. Or else I'll kill this girl and knave, and send the both of you to your grave!"

Yuuki tried her best to help him get it off, but to no avail. She gave a small sigh as she looked at it once more. Didn't seem like it was coming off any time soon and she wasn't sure how long she could keep this up for. But she knew that she had to try anyway.

When she saw the witch on her room all she could think about was the fact the witch in question was honestly... a walk cliche. She was everything one would think of from a witch and that in some way was kind of amusing.

"I'm not stupid..." She muttered slightly to herself her extended rod ready for her to deal with them should she need to, he was determined to fight and not run away. She wanted to be of use and not useless.

"I think you already know the answer to what you just said. I'm not going anywhere. Not until I bring you in and get this problem sorted."

"A problem, am I? You I hate. Now your greed has sealed your fate!" The witch took out a wand, and shifted her gaze to the merchant. Upon seeing her fury, his hands went over his head and he trembled.

"Stupid husband, now you'll pay! You'll regret inviting these two this day! I took you from your wretched bog. Now turn back into a frog!" A glitz of magic sprang from the wand's gnarled tip, zapping the merchant, and changing his form. His limbs became fat and stumpy, skin warty, and his eyes turned into dull slits. In moments, he had indeed been polymorphed into a giant toad, easily 2,000 lbs. He let out an impotent croak.

Ted was glad that Yuuki, the rapidly aging young girl, was amused at this, because he clearly wasn't, and had a few small tremors of his own. He was glad that the witch was acting relatively silly; it took the edge off how evil he believed her to truly be. Perhaps he had spoken too soon, when he offered to take the merchant.

Nonetheless, he steeled his resolve, and made a heedless charge towards the beast. "Foul frog! Taste steel!" He ran, unsheathing his swordstick, before a large pink tongue shot out of the monster toad's mouth, sticking onto Ted and yanking him inside. A few punches and kicks of protest rang out, poking from within its fleshy interior.

The witch, once her transformation was complete, turned toward Yuuki. "As for you, you wretched girl, now you'll taste my magic's whirl! Now I'll rise higher and higher, and ash your bones with arcane fire!" True to her word, she soared up into the air, spun her wand around, and conjured a ball of explosive flame at its tip. Once it had reached about the size of a gym ball, she stabbed her wand towards Yuuki, and let it rip.

Yuuki seriously didn't know what to do so the moment so the moment when she saw what had occurred in front of her she wasn't exactly confident she would be able to dodge the fire ball in time with the way things were going, but it didn't stop her from trying as she jumped to the side to dodge. Her skills she had been taught were useless to her at this rate as the fireball managed to burn her ankle as she collapsed on the floor.

Slowly getting up she kept her hands around her rod as it was her turn to do something. She figured she should try and help Ted, but knew that the witch wouldn't let her have the chance so now was the time when she charges towards the witch hoping to catch her or at least hit her with her rod.

The witch cackled as the blast grounded her. She had no intentions of being grounded herself, and rose higher as Yuuki ran towards her.

"Silly girl, I'm out of reach! A lesson in stonework I will teach. My flames against your leg have brushed; with these stones, you'll be crushed!" She wove her wand in a circle again, and as she did so, the broken stones from her outburst began to levitate. Then, one by one, they hurtled towards Yuuki.

The witch didn't really mean to kill her just yet, not while she felt she was in the superior position. Kinda hard to suck the youth from someone who's dead.

The toad merely sat there, looking content or bored. Ted's flailing had died out.

Edited 2014-11-28 15:40 (UTC)

Yuuki had started to hit some of the stones away before noticing things had died out from the toads area, so using her mind for one she started to run towards the creature and jumped over them to use them as protection from the stones in hopes that it would hit him hard enough to help.

Crack, plonk! The witch didn't expect to face off against Babe Ruth down here, but was having her wicked fun nonetheless.

The stones bounced off the big frog's slimy exterior, perturbing it, but it was for now immovable. Digesting, presumably. This would be the night Yuuki regretted standing next to a frog.

It's eyes widened, and its stomach rumbled. Something was wrong deep inside its toad guts. Its cheeked suddenly swelled immensely, and it looked to be in pain. Finally, it expelled Ted, and with him a large amount of slime. Most of all, a mountain of trash came out as well.

Ted struggled to get up, coughing and spluttering, reeking of odors most foul. He flicked his hands, hoping to shed off some of the organic nastiness that had collected on his clothes. A bath would be welcome after all this; if they saw the end of all this, anyway. Yuuki, unfortunately, would be a second party to the toad's sick.

"That...*cough* was...an experience. Not quite like Jonah in the whale, I imagine. How do you fare, Ms. Cross?" A familiar, rhyming tirade gave him his answer.

"Now I'm ticked, and in a very foul mood! What kind of frog can't hold its food!? Bah, no matter, I'll end you as well! Time for you both to taste the fires of hell!" The witch was back to her old tricks, conjuring another fireball.

Yuuki really hadn't expected what happened to happen so it was soon obvious that she was pretty disgusted in being hit with what she could only described as revolting. It was the worst smelling thing she had ever smelt and she wished she had brought a change of clothes.

"Gross..." She muttered moving to rub off some of it on anything that was near by. She would going to need a wash or two later. Or seven, but right now she knew she was meant to be getting back to work. Moving to dodge yet another fire ball she looked over at the other.

"Do you think if I threw you with my pole that you could get close enough?"

Ted's eyes widened when he saw the fire come down, and how expertly the (former) teenage girl managed to dodge. She must have taken track; Ted hadn't, and had his doubts that she could launch him that far. Then again, now wasn't the time for doubt.

"I've never aimed myself, but I'm willing to try, if you believe you have the strength." Yuuki seemed to him a mere teenager before, and was rapidly aging even now; neither age seemed suited to the feat she proposed. But then, Genessia was full of wonders. Who was he to say what was possible and what wasn't, as they sought to bind a real-live witch?

"Remember, we need her to end the curse; I wouldn't want to knock her out while that thing is still on you. Here..." Luckily, he still had his bag, and from it he pulled out some blue padding. Oddly it looked bigger than any carry-on could really contain, but now wasn't the time for explanations.

"I have no idea what may come of a clash upon a broomstick. If there's time, please place this to break our fall."

He gripped her weapon firmly, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath. What a night, trusting in the strength of a woman who intended to fling him into a hag. He let out a pitiful laugh, then braced himself. "On your mark."

Yuuki made a note as she held it to use it to comfort the fall and so far she hadn't a clue as to where they would land if they were to collide. But she knew she didn't have much time and with what little strength she had left she managed to put it down on the floor and move to set him up.

She moved her eyes, keeping a track as to where the witch was. Okay, she had her eyes set, she was ready. With the last bit of strength left she swung the rod with the other on it as hard as she could towards the intended target. She just hoped it was dead on.

"So long, you fools! You're out of luck! For far too long, you- WHAT THE -" The witch's wicked rhyme was cut short, as Ted was catapulted onto her wooden vehicle.

He tried to be brave, but even Ted couldn't hold back a holler as he sailed through the air, arms swinging wildly in a desperate grasp to hold onto something. That something turned out to be the end of her broomstick, and he clutched it for dear life. His weight made the broom vertical, and it sunk, the witch not at all appreciating the change in alignment.

Ted clutched his eyes and grit his teeth as the crone's boot stamped on him repeatedly. "Idiot man, get off my broom! It was made for one; there's no more room!" Despite her protests, it was clear that they were going into a tailspin. Yuuki's maneuver had broken whatever concentration kept her airborne, and it was only a matter of time before the crash landing.

Edited 2014-12-05 14:36 (UTC)

All Yuuki could do for the moment was watch what happens an when it went like she figured she would she started to make her way over, but not as fast as she would have liked, but fast enough to get there just as they crash land.

When she managed to arrive finally she walks up to the witch with her rod held out, the end just lightly poking her on the chest.

"You should give up now."

Ted would take a moment to get up, rubbing his backside. "Owwww...." he moaned. Not his best day. Nor the witch's; though she took longer to grasp what had happened in the tumult, when she did, she was as furious as ever.

"Pesky girl and and rotten boy! I'll stay old; you've robbed my joy! I could've been gorgeous, like I was back then. Now I'll never be pretty agahahain..."

The sound of a witch crying was an experience that would keep Ted up at night. It was as if black magic itself was being wrung out, and all the arcane moisture seeping through her bloodshot eyes.

True to her wailing, the witch's spell broke, and Yuuki's trinket clinked on the ground. A large puff could be heard in the background, which was the merchant turning into his normal self again, albeit is lot messier with bits of garbage sticking to his clothes. He ran over, and tried to comfort her.

"There there me love, it'll be all right." He shot a nasty glare over his mask towards the two of them. "Now look what ye done. Is this how kids have fun these days, eh? Beatin' up old ladies and makin' 'em cry? Ye ought to be ashamed of yerselves!"

As much as Yuuki would probably feel a little bad later, she knew these people were wanted for a reason. It meant they weren't exactly in the right and she was going to make sure that they were brought in.

"I will admit I do not get my kicks out of this, you have a bounty on you for a reason. If you were to go and pay for what crimes you have done then that would be enough for me to leave you alone once you've paid your time."

She was at least glad to have that trinket off, but she figured she should check her hair for greys later. She thought they might linger around a bit longer.

Ted had had just about enough. "Fun? I remind you that not five minutes ago I was currently inside your warty hide! And now I think I'll return the favor. Yuuki, would you turn around please?" Assuming she acquiesced and gave him some privacy, Ted would proceed to stuff the two criminals inside his bag. "Hey, what are you doing! Get your hands off me- mmf, mmmf!"

A few moments of rustling later, Ted would appear a bit more satisfied, hoisting his satchel over his shoulder.

"Finally we can say goodbye to this long night. We have a long road ahead of us to turn these two in; witches don't tend to live close to civilization. Thank you for your help, Yuuki. I'd shake your hand on a job well done, but mine isn't very clean."

She didn't know what exactly that man was going to do, but she choose to turn around for the moment. When she knew she could turn back around she did and she couldn't help but wonder what exactly he did since they were no long there. It was just confusing to say the least.

"I'm fine with walking, but... You're welcome but how exactly did you..." She paused slightly, watching the thing he just put over his shoulder. How does that work. She can't figure it out.

"Oh, magic, probably. A kind tamer than the nasty stuff that hag was using, hopefully. Just know that these criminals are well and truly bagged. Best not to stick around a dark and stormy hill longer than we need to. Let's be off."

"okay..." She still wasn't sure if she was truly satisfied by that answer but she also knew lingering around here wasn't the best of ideas. They needed to be handed in and dealt with and she could tell Kaname that she could protect herself if she needed to. Although by now she was pretty certain that he still won't be happy about it.

As she started to walk she looked back slightly. "Let's get moving then."

And lo, the two set off on their journey back to the police station, with many miles ahead of them. They sang traveling songs to lighten each others' spirits, skipped across meadows, leapt across babbling brooks, cut their way through forests brimming with bramble and briars, all in a heroic effort towards civilization. At last, they had arrived.

"Goodness, Yuuki, I had no idea how woodland creatures took to you! If I never hear a squirrel make a noise like that, it'll be too soon. One moment while I avail ourselves of these miscreants; please wait here." If Yuuki let him, he'd go into the office alone. He shook out his bag, and the two of them came tumbling out. There was some mumbling, a few tired shouts of protests, but in five minutes everything was sorted, and Ted came out with the bills.

"Half for you, half for me. Very well done. I'd say something to the tune of 'let's do this again', but in truth I'd prefer any future outings of ours be one-hundred percent witch-free." The sun had come; their journey had taken them through the night. Ted yawned. "Good morning."

Bounty Hunting.

Here he comes to save the daaaay (also is it k if I play bad guy at points)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

INCOMING ACTION SCENE

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Swing batta' batta'!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject