Round 84: The Kidnapping of Tiffany Jamesson

[midpointmods]

PLAYERS: Isamu Fuwa, Quicksword Irene, Hajime Aikawa VS. Bucky Barnes, Daylight vis Lornlit, Inara Serra
LOCATION: Tycoons' Depot
GOAL: Assume and maintain custody of Tiffany Jamesson
WARNINGS: Kidnapping, attempted murder, sex work mentions
OTHER: OOC post for plotting and questions!

After traveling most of the day, the sun is starting to set when the two teams reach Tycoons' Depot. Who arrives first depends on how quickly the teams get up and organized that morning, and how hard they want to push their horses.

The active portion of the round doesn’t start until the next morning, anyway. After scouting around and making plans, everyone can enjoy a room at the Bullion Inn under the watchful eye of the Madame (for a crisp points price, of course), camp rough just outside town, or bully or bribe one of the locals into letting them borrow their home for the night. Looking around proves there are, in fact, a number of possibly empty houses around the town’s outskirts, if the players would like to brave one of those.

In the morning, it’s time to go. Tiffany Jamesson, a sixteen year old girl with a brilliant smile and auburn hair done up in ringlets, has horseback riding at nine in full-on cowgirl attire, lunch at noon and piano lessons at one in a yellow dress of frothy lace, a nap from three to four when the day is at its hottest, and then dinner with her father at six in a pretty pink affair before retiring for the night afterwards. When will the kidnappers strike? When will the protectors show their hand? The teams have three days in which to accomplish their goal. The clock is ticking.

Comments

[chalicejoker]

[I - Arrival]
Ryo's a bit tired when they get into town, but that's fine, he's done a good job being a pony, and now it's Hajime's turn to carry the mantis on his shoulder. The Undead vibe he's been getting has been getting stronger and stronger as they've traveled, and he's tried very hard to behave. Wait for it...wait for it...

And as soon as he thinks he can get away with it, he's going to try to make an absolute beeline for the Bullion Inn without realizing exactly what sorts of services it offers. That. That place is where the Undead energy he's been sensing is coming from. FINALLY.

"Whee!" He's moving fast enough that Ryo, clinging to his shoulder, thinks it's fast enough and fun enough to comment on.

[II - Evening]
After Hajime emerges from the brothel looking far more settled down and completely failing to fully grasp the implications of this, he'll...go seek out the rest of the team. Why not.

"Hi!" Ryo says once they encounter one of his teammates. "We were scouting the area! Definitely just scouting the area!" They did not discuss this beforehand, but honestly, it's going about as well as if they had.

[III - Morning Of]
Hajime's dressed as inconspicuously as possible and is trying very hard not to attract much attention. There's even no sign of Ryo...because Ryo is currently a ball python hidden in Hajime's shirt. Time to keep an eye on this kid without anyone getting shot, he supposes.

[ragingwolf]

[I. Arrival]

Fuwa had told his team last night, that they're going to be leaving early - he wants the greatest chance possible to scope out their target, actively protect her, and be prepared for whoever might be trying to steal her from them.

They leave as the sun starts coming up over the horizon, and arrive as the worst of the heat starts baking into their clothes, before the sun quite sets.

And Fuwa's first task, once he gets his horse situated in the local stables, is lead his team and approach their mark with all of his usual brusque politeness. "Miss Jamesson? You're the kidnapping mark for this round - we're your bodyguards."

[II. Evening]

Funnily enough, being someone's bodyguard was exactly what Fuwa was doing before he got trapped in all this mess. It's not exactly fresh in his mind anymore, but the point is he has formal experience, which he sorely feels like Hajime is missing. Which means he's taking the time, late in the evening, to explore the young woman's schedule in advance.

Every now and then on his patrol he stops, holds a hand to the Bluetooth-style earpiece he's constantly wearing, and seems to be... talking to someone. Which is markedly unusual, since no one else has a second earpiece like that.

"How about around here? ...really, not even that one? ...got it." And then he moves on.

[III. On Guard]]]

Fuwa has claimed an abandoned house as his base of operations. He can't afford the Bullion Inn for an entire round. He's stashed his usual coat in there, trading up for a dark brown leather vest and long coat, black shirt and dark chaps over his slacks, and a hat to hide the worst of his wavy hair. He still has his earpiece on, his ShotRiser and its belt tucked under his vest, and is trying to keep a subtle distance from his mark while still keeping a clear line of action if he needs to access her quickly. It's going to be a tricky two weeks, but he thinks they've got this.

Honestly, he's more worried about the other team trying something on them rather than them going for Tiffany, so he's keeping an eye out where he can. He's only human, though - he can't keep an eye on every direction at once.

Bucky/Soldat - Kidnappers Team, Part I

[worthallthis]

I. Tycoon Depot

The town is nicer than Midpoint, for all it's quieter, and not as spread out. All the buildings are clustered around the train station, and it's clear which ones are the homes of the wealthy. Also clear, which one is the Bullion Inn, as it looks almost as nice as the manor houses.

"We can stay at the inn," Soldat says as they ride into town (or walk and lead his horse, in Daylight's case, if he hasn't tried out riding yet). "Or find the servant houses on the map and see if we can stay there. Or find an empty house. There are some. Won't be able to do anything important until tomorrow besides scouting."


II. Bait and Switch

Soldat is in their preferred position at first, staked out on the roof of Booker's General Store, with their rifle and scope. The plan is to catch Tiffany on her way out of her residence and on her way to her riding lessons, Inara acting as the diplomat to win her over with their story and Daylight to make it more believable and Soldat keeping watch for her protection detail, but right away it's clear... something's not right. That's no sixteen year old girl (or even a female type person at all, for that matter).

They whistle the "call it off" signal immediately, before anyone can get close enough for a fight, and swing down from the roof to convene between the buildings. "Decoy," they say, disgusted. "Fuwa's team got to her first." How do they know it's Fuwa's team? Because that was Hajime, under that bonnet and frilly skirt. "We have to find where they've put her."

Late Week 1

[ragingwolf]

It's Fuwa's turn to look after "Tiffany". He and Irene had swapped just a few hours ago, and now the real Tiffany was off with Irene on the other side of the town at horse riding practice, while Fuwa was taking his stubborn charge for a walk through the local boutiques.

(At least the Tiffanys had that in common.)

He's not staying immediately close to his mark, instead staying a few metres back; until he decides to walk up beside Hajime in his pretty wig and dress, so he can ask quietly, "You seen any of them yet?"