[They'd be forming a strike force, essentially. Three is a good amount of people to get in and get out quick. Even so it would be a lie to say Lighter didn't have reservations. Mostly about his luck staying high where the others met death or worse. He and Hugo were possessed, they didn't need to add someone else to that roster.
And that was provided Lycaon got "lucky" enough.
He's still involved more "formally" in Ghost City and the Aides, factions that pay him to be there. This felt like more risk than reward, more numbers added to what he owed.
But he knew his heart, he would never ever turn down the chance to help someone. There wasn't a shred of honor in that. Anything he could do for Harumasa, he would. And beyond Harumasa.]
I've got "friends" in low places. Places the sun doesn't reach and the mundane doesn't bother to see. They're one of a lot of groups that could use more help in town and will keep us as lowkey as we need.
[Lycaon wasn't a damn cop and Hugo was Hugo so it would track if neither had a problem going down there.]
[ Hugo takes a long, slow drink of his coffee. This was going to be a lot more work, but wasn't really outside his usual to begin with. Hugo was always one bad gamble away from making a huge mess. Still, the stare to the middle distance didn't end. ]
That will be useful. We'll leave the deliveries to you, along with bringing information from those sectors to us. Lycaon's job as a bartender means he hears a lot while others are deep in their cups. And I ... have my ways.
[ All of this aside, it didn't mean he wasn't going to do something for Harumasa in his own way. He'll probably have to switch how he approaches some things, but that should be fine. Hugo will just have to put in effort to find out more ...casual things Haru could do with his health like this.
He missed Vivian at times like this. ]
Either way, it seems we are all on the same page. Help Harumasa. Help the city at large. Schedule training days to learn how our fighting styles have changed.
[Not a day goes by without Lycaon knowing his life is most at risk here. And how it must look to people like Lighter and Hugo, who've toed the line of life and death. He doesn't know that feeling, but at the same time, his confidence is in spades. He won't let it get to that point.
Lycaon's tail swishes back and forth idly, dusting his knuckles against his shirt before pocketing the watch in his back pocket. He nods in agreement with Hugo's summary. Lighter could get the more underground info, Lycaon could handle the upper crust, and Hugo with everything in between.]
Mm. This provides us to perform a wide sweep for information across the city. [His thoughts drift to a possible candidate that could log that information for them. But he'll have to ask later.]
As it stands, I have full faith in both your fighting capabilities--we will just have to find our new normal.
If I recall, Hugo's elemental alignment is different in this world.
[Said while putting his sunglasses back on, tipping them further up his nose to his comfort. That was enough of noticeable vulnerability for the day. He already almost slipped up one time too many.]
Fire's still all mine to play with. So what're you aligned with now then, Hugo?
[ Hugo looked between the two and nodded slowly. That was true. Although he had ice like Lycaon before, that isn't what happened in this life. Instead of saying it like a layman, Hugo held his cup forward, his gaze lowering to concentrate on the object.
The white coffee cup becomes engulfed in shadows that seemed to roll off of it like smoke. ]
All vampires are aligned with the darkness, and I am no exception.
[ Now that he's made the coffee to go cup a lethal weapon... he is going to continue sipping the rest of his drink out of it as if he didn't drench the white styrofoam in shadow made manifest. ]
Besides this, my senses are all sharper than human senses and I can turn invisible.
[Lycaon watches as Hugo extends his hand forward with the coffee cup, ear flicking as the cup begins to drip with smoke. A bit flashy for his tastes, but it got the message across. It made his hair stand on end--that was the nature of the element, after all--but his expression remains as stoic as ever.
None of this is much a surprise to him.]
Similar to my previous life, I am aligned with water, with my main proficiency in ice. Though I have recently been able to manipulate fog.
[As if to demonstrate, he extends his hand and lets the smokey water vapor trail from his claws through the air for a second, only to wipe it away.]
Our elements all differ now, but that should not be a problem. The Spirit Veins favour one element a month, and with three of us covering a separate element, that is half of the year we will have its blessing.
[... what? It was! He'll give the Drama Queen his flowers. But that was interesting to note as well.
Lighter will say the quiet part out loud.]
We're just gonna have to cover for each other during the times one element wanes. With a little practice we'll figure out the rotation all over again, just like riding a bike.
[And while this was a large reason for much of Lighter's internal strife lately, it was useful here. He wasn't gonna deny that just because the blurring line of past and present send a chill down his spine.]
Imagine the drama of fire and ice erupting out of the veil of darkness.
[ Sometimes when you're putting together a performance in your head, you have to share the imagery. It wasn't his aim to make them look 'cool', but he'd be lying if aura farming wasn't an active part of why he made certain choices for appearances and unveilings. Catching the audience in shock made things worthwhile. ]
I'll keep workshopping those ideas. It's convenient that at least two of the three of us remain the same.
The work's gonna stay high quality, no shame in looking good while doing it.
[There are Layers to that comment than a Thousand Dollar VTuber's Latest Model. And Lighter is not aware of a single one, he's just smiling at looking super cool.
And only that and the being able to help the downtrodden out is why he can still smile. Most mentions of their past lives were a bit... awkward for him. But they didn't know that. He'd work through that on his own.]
If we've got the chance to be bigger and better, why not shoot for the moon?
[He sees your tail waggin' Lycaon. He knows how it is as a recent tail haver.]
Could you do me a solid and send me their info? I've got that Combustion Gauntlet again, but I can only tune it so much myself.
[ Hugo could throw in Final Notice to have it tuned up and maybe look into ammunition for the firearm part of the shaft. He fired it so infrequently that he wasn't worried about it, though. No, in his thinking of the spectacle of it all, his mind landed on one thing.
Dressing Lighter.
He didn't have to, but if Lighter was going to work with them again officially, then would it not fit the bill for him to look the part? Maybe that was too much. Maybe it was too fast. Maybe he shouldn't overwhelm the man that barely remembered who he was a few months ago.
No. No. He should resist. It wasn't like he was pulling Lighter into Mockingbird business. He can wear what he likes. ]
I will have to buy a hand blade and some ammunition. When should we plan for these training sessions?
Ah yes, I can put in a word with them for you two, as well. My main engineers are Percival de Rolo III and Viktor. They are employed with Zodiac, naturally, but their affinity lies with us app users first over the corporation.
[Quite literally how Lycaon is able to keep up with so many modifications and maintenance for his legs.]
They're brilliant in terms of modifications. And they love unique technology, so your weapons will likely pique their interest.
[He knows those science types. His gaze does drift to Hugo, who seems lost in his own thoughts regarding this. Lycaon was having similar thoughts run through his mind--Lighter did not need to be saddled with so much responsibility to a group. He knew vaguely what the man had gone through, and what the man didn't have in terms of his memories. Such things would only exacerbate it.
For now, best to leave this as a mutual agreement.]
As for training sessions, I would suggest frequently as time is of the essence. And one of the stable gates might be an option for where.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
And that was provided Lycaon got "lucky" enough.
He's still involved more "formally" in Ghost City and the Aides, factions that pay him to be there. This felt like more risk than reward, more numbers added to what he owed.
But he knew his heart, he would never ever turn down the chance to help someone. There wasn't a shred of honor in that. Anything he could do for Harumasa, he would. And beyond Harumasa.]
I've got "friends" in low places. Places the sun doesn't reach and the mundane doesn't bother to see. They're one of a lot of groups that could use more help in town and will keep us as lowkey as we need.
[Lycaon wasn't a damn cop and Hugo was Hugo so it would track if neither had a problem going down there.]
no subject
That will be useful. We'll leave the deliveries to you, along with bringing information from those sectors to us. Lycaon's job as a bartender means he hears a lot while others are deep in their cups. And I ... have my ways.
[ All of this aside, it didn't mean he wasn't going to do something for Harumasa in his own way. He'll probably have to switch how he approaches some things, but that should be fine. Hugo will just have to put in effort to find out more ...casual things Haru could do with his health like this.
He missed Vivian at times like this. ]
Either way, it seems we are all on the same page. Help Harumasa. Help the city at large. Schedule training days to learn how our fighting styles have changed.
no subject
Lycaon's tail swishes back and forth idly, dusting his knuckles against his shirt before pocketing the watch in his back pocket. He nods in agreement with Hugo's summary. Lighter could get the more underground info, Lycaon could handle the upper crust, and Hugo with everything in between.]
Mm. This provides us to perform a wide sweep for information across the city. [His thoughts drift to a possible candidate that could log that information for them. But he'll have to ask later.]
As it stands, I have full faith in both your fighting capabilities--we will just have to find our new normal.
If I recall, Hugo's elemental alignment is different in this world.
no subject
[Said while putting his sunglasses back on, tipping them further up his nose to his comfort. That was enough of noticeable vulnerability for the day. He already almost slipped up one time too many.]
Fire's still all mine to play with. So what're you aligned with now then, Hugo?
no subject
The white coffee cup becomes engulfed in shadows that seemed to roll off of it like smoke. ]
All vampires are aligned with the darkness, and I am no exception.
[ Now that he's made the coffee to go cup a lethal weapon... he is going to continue sipping the rest of his drink out of it as if he didn't drench the white styrofoam in shadow made manifest. ]
Besides this, my senses are all sharper than human senses and I can turn invisible.
no subject
None of this is much a surprise to him.]
Similar to my previous life, I am aligned with water, with my main proficiency in ice. Though I have recently been able to manipulate fog.
[As if to demonstrate, he extends his hand and lets the smokey water vapor trail from his claws through the air for a second, only to wipe it away.]
Our elements all differ now, but that should not be a problem. The Spirit Veins favour one element a month, and with three of us covering a separate element, that is half of the year we will have its blessing.
[Unspoken: that also meant the opposite.]
no subject
[... what? It was! He'll give the Drama Queen his flowers. But that was interesting to note as well.
Lighter will say the quiet part out loud.]
We're just gonna have to cover for each other during the times one element wanes. With a little practice we'll figure out the rotation all over again, just like riding a bike.
[And while this was a large reason for much of Lighter's internal strife lately, it was useful here. He wasn't gonna deny that just because the blurring line of past and present send a chill down his spine.]
no subject
[ Sometimes when you're putting together a performance in your head, you have to share the imagery. It wasn't his aim to make them look 'cool', but he'd be lying if aura farming wasn't an active part of why he made certain choices for appearances and unveilings. Catching the audience in shock made things worthwhile. ]
I'll keep workshopping those ideas. It's convenient that at least two of the three of us remain the same.
no subject
[While Lycaon's trying to be mature(tm) about this, his tail swishing back and forth is a dead giveaway that he likes that mental image.]
It may not be what we had in our past life, but I think that should only be a blueprint to start from. Our potential is limitless.
[He stops pacing, looking down at his legs a moment.]
I am going to consult my engineers about getting thrusters put into my legs, as well.
no subject
[There are Layers to that comment than a Thousand Dollar VTuber's Latest Model. And Lighter is not aware of a single one, he's just smiling at looking super cool.
And only that and the being able to help the downtrodden out is why he can still smile. Most mentions of their past lives were a bit... awkward for him. But they didn't know that. He'd work through that on his own.]
If we've got the chance to be bigger and better, why not shoot for the moon?
[He sees your tail waggin' Lycaon. He knows how it is as a recent tail haver.]
Could you do me a solid and send me their info? I've got that Combustion Gauntlet again, but I can only tune it so much myself.
no subject
Dressing Lighter.
He didn't have to, but if Lighter was going to work with them again officially, then would it not fit the bill for him to look the part? Maybe that was too much. Maybe it was too fast. Maybe he shouldn't overwhelm the man that barely remembered who he was a few months ago.
No. No. He should resist. It wasn't like he was pulling Lighter into Mockingbird business. He can wear what he likes. ]
I will have to buy a hand blade and some ammunition. When should we plan for these training sessions?
no subject
[Quite literally how Lycaon is able to keep up with so many modifications and maintenance for his legs.]
They're brilliant in terms of modifications. And they love unique technology, so your weapons will likely pique their interest.
[He knows those science types. His gaze does drift to Hugo, who seems lost in his own thoughts regarding this. Lycaon was having similar thoughts run through his mind--Lighter did not need to be saddled with so much responsibility to a group. He knew vaguely what the man had gone through, and what the man didn't have in terms of his memories. Such things would only exacerbate it.
For now, best to leave this as a mutual agreement.]
As for training sessions, I would suggest frequently as time is of the essence. And one of the stable gates might be an option for where.