Chapter 2: The Scissormen
Medda: *finishes up her last song for the night and floats off stage*
*slowly people drift out of the bar until only the employees remain*
Julianna: *dumps her pouch onto an empty table and begins counting her earnings*
Jillian: *drying off the last glass, putting it away* *sighs* So how did you do, Julianna?
Julianna: Ehh, not as great as last week, but it'll get me that corset I've been eyeing.
Jillian: That's good news then!
Julianna: Indeed it is. *gathers up her coins, then helps finish cleaning the place before leaving for the night*
Medda: *sits in an empty chair, now in work clothes instead of her performance clothes* What a night.
Jillian: You can say that again. I'm off to sleep. Wake me up in the morning?
Medda: *stands and extinguishes all but one lantern* You assume I'll be up! *carries it out of the main room*
Jillian: You always have been before!
Garnet: *wiggles a little under the covers, kicks Aiden a little* Hey, listen, just because we have to play the part of a couple and get this single bedroom, doesn't mean you can try to get all on me!
Aiden: I'm not, you're just fat and take up the whole bed!
Garnet: *mouth drops open* AIDEN! *whaps him* Am not!
Aiden: *rolls over on side, and curls up* Yeah right, fatty.
Garnet: *harumphs, then turns to curl up away from him*
Jillian: *in a deep sleep, dreaming* *mumbling softly* Party, party, party...
*BOOM - a loud explosion right outside of Luminescence*
Jillian: *is startled awake* Omigosh, what was that? *frantically tries to light her bedside lantern*
Aiden: *falls out of bed at the sound of an explosion* *jumps up in a half-asleep state* Wha-what was that?
Garnet: *scrambles out of bed, and runs to the window, looks outside to see smoke* A... fire?
Medda: *flings open the door to Jillian's room* Jilly, are you okay? What happened?
Jillian: I don't know... *stumbles over to the window* Ohhhhh, the jewelry store! It's on fire!! *runs to change into something not her night clothes*
Medda: *runs to the window* There's men too! They're tearing apart the store... with.... scissors?
Jillian: *jumping, putting her boots on* Don't be ridiculous, mom, you can't tear apart a store with scissors. *runs into the hallway towards the front room*
Medda: Jillian, where are you going? *runs after her*
Jack: *in the front room already, firing a long, black pistol at shadowy men* *sees Jillian enter out of the corner of his eye* Jillian get out of here, go back and stay with your mother!
Scissorman: *takes one look at the young girl and jumps into the air, closing his scissors as he begins to fall towards her, with their point aimed at her torso*
Jillian: *gasps and jumps to the side, out of the path of the blades* *softly* She wasn't being ridiculous... *spins to the wall and grabs the first weapon she can reach: a long staff with a narrow blade at one end*
Scissorman: *spins to face Jillian, taking this scissors in one hand and swinging them towards her*
Jillian: Eep! *spins the staff somewhat awkwardly, somehow managing to deflect the blades*
Jack: Jillian! *aims and shoots, hitting the scissorman squarely in the back of the neck* I told you to stay away from this!
Jillian: I'm not going to stand back and watch my friends be mutilated! *swings the staff, slicing a scissorman in two*
Garnet: *quickly straps on her sandals, and kicks Aiden* C'mon, we have to see what's going on! Roxas is out there, and I'm worried!
Aiden: *yawns, and puts on his boots* Yeah, yeah... *stands up and brushes himself off a little*
Garnet: *goes to the bags, and opens a long, thin case to reveal and unsual looking weapon* *slides it gently out and stands up* *looks towards the window* This looks like bad news.
Aiden: *grabs sword* You're telling me. Let's go.
Garnet: *runs outside the inn* *yells loudly* ROXAS! ROXAS! WHERE ARE YOU?!
Roxas: *barks loudly, comes bounding through the alley*
Aiden: *comes outside, looks at the many people fleeing away from the smoke* *makes way through crowd* Garnet!
Garnet: Aide--*stops in speech, looks as three scissormen come gliding towards them* Oh shit...
Scissorman: *swings arm down, blades aiming for Garnet*
Garnet: *dodges the blades, watches as they hit the ground right between her and Roxas*
Roxas: *growls and attacks the scissorman, fangs digging into its arm*
Garnet: *puts a number of bullet into the scissorman, flips blade over the gun and runs it through the torso of the scissorman, lets it falls to the ground*
Aiden: *slashes down the front of another scissorman* *looks at Garnet* Garnet, you all right?
Garnet: *sighs* I'm great! *runs towards him, in pursuit of another scissorman lurking behind him, Roxas follows closely behind*
*Garnet, Aiden, and Roxas simultaneously leap at the scissorman, each delivering a blow so hard the scissorman flies back into a nearby wall and goes limp*
Garnet: Good boy, Roxas!
Roxas: =D
Aiden: What the fuck are those things?
Garnet: I don't know. C'mon, let's go. I see people up ahead. *runs ahead, followed closely by Roxas and Aiden*
Jillian: *hears a high pitched scream from outside* Callie! *runs the blade through a scissorman then sprints to the door, looking around for her friend*
Jack: Jillian, it's not safe out there! *runs after her, putting bullets into the scissormen that get in his way*
Jillian: Callie, where are you? *runs into the street*
Callie: *screams again, being pulled down the road by several men in black robes*
Jillian: Callie! *runs down the street after her, dodging and deflecting blows from scissormen as she goes*
Jack: *runs after her, shooting not only scissormen attacking him but also several attacking her*
Garnet: Look, there's a whole swarm of them up there! *points towards a group of scissormen*
Aiden: *notices that they have ahold of Callie* Oh, fuck, they got our target!
Garnet: What?! Oh no, now I'm pissed. *flips blade back over gun and fires rounds into the group of scissormen before her*
Callie: *manages to wriggle out of the grasps of the men, breaks out and runs towards her friend* Jilly!
Jillian: *runs and stands in between her and the group of attackers, poised ready to defend herself and her friend*
Jack: *also stands defending the girls, shooting rounds into the mass of shadowy men*
Garnet: *flips blade back over gun and charges towards the scissormen, slashing several of them down*
Aiden: *backs me up, stabbing the surrounding scissormen*
Roxas: *runs around in circles around the scissormen, barkly violently and growling, sees Callie, Jillian, and Jack and barks at the three*
Jillian: *looks over at Roxas* *softly* A husky.. *gets stuck between two scissormen* *shifts nervously, unsure of what to do*
Scissorman: *prepares to lunge at her.. only to have a pair of giant scissors close around his neck, causing him to slump to the ground*
Callie: *stands shocked just behind where the scissorman fell, holding the pair of scissors* *blinks*
Jillian: *looks confused for a moment before impaling the other with her blade*
Roxas: *lunges at a nearby scissorman, pinning him to the ground and sinking teeth into its head*
Aiden: *rubs hands together a little bit, then gently blows across his palm, producing a small fireball* *clenches fist and punches a scissorman in his stomach, lighting it on fire* *smugly grins and runs to help me with a few scissormen*
Garnet: *swings leg around and kicks several scissormen into a wall* *notices Jillian, Jack, and Callie* Hey! You three alright?
Jack: *fires off 3 more shots, flooring the last standing scissormen within sight*
Jillian: Yeah, we're doing okay... all things considered. *breathes heavilly* What a way to spend your anniversary.
Garnet: *looks at Jillian, confused at first* Wh-OH. Yeah. Anniversary.
Aiden: Nothing like a little sparring to help set the mood.
Garnet: Heh heh, yeeaaaahhh... *peers at Aiden*
Roxas: *barks as more explosions hit the town* *flinches away and runs to stand behind Garnet's legs*
Garnet: Shit, where are these explosions coming from? I don't see anymore of those Scissormen... *looks ahead intently*
Jillian: *looks around* I don't either... *frowns*
Callie: *drops the scissors and moves closer to Jillian* What were those things, Jilly?
Jillian: I don't know.. *suddenly looks worried* Ohhh! *sprints off towards Luminescence*
Callie: Jilly, wait! *runs after her, followed by Jack*
Garnet: *looks around at everyone* Uh, er... *shrugs and runs after Callie and Jack, followed by Aiden and Roxas*
Jillian: *runs into Luminescense* Mom? *looks around for Medda*
Medda: *groans from a corner, legs beneath a toppled table* Ughh... Jilly? Is that you? Are you alright?
Jillian: *runs over to her, uprighting the table* Yes, I'm fine. Are you okay? Are you hurt?
Medda: Oh, no.. no, I'm fine... *starts to stand, but falls back to the floor with another groan*
Jack: *runs into the bar and over to the girls* Miss Larkson, what is wrong? Where are you hurt?
Roxas: *gets inside Luminescence before Garnet and Aiden and runs straight to Medda* *paces around her uncomfortably*
Garnet: *walks inside with Aiden* Hey, is everything okay? What happened?
Aiden: *looks outside the window into the streets* Listen, guys, those Scissormen could come back anytime. I don't know if it's safe to stay here.
Medda: *smiles at Roxas* Hey there.. *moves arm to pet him, but winces in pain, revealing a large wound on her side* *groans again*
Jack: *frowns and grabs a towel from the floor, pressing it on her side* Miss Larkson, you should just rest. We need to get you to a bed. *looks to Aiden*
Jillian: *looks on very worried and quiet* I.. I can keep watch for the scissormen.. I guess..
Callie: I'll help you! *wraps arm around her* *looks to Garnet*
Aiden: *walks over to Jack and Medda* Here, I can help...
Roxas: *sits down next to Medda looking concerned*
Garnet: *looks around the bar, trying to find another towel, finds some coins instead* ... *looks to see if anyone is looking, then puts the coins in her top* *finds another towel and brings it to Jack, squatting next to him* I have some medicine in my bag at the inn, but I don't know if it'll be enough. *looks up at Aiden*
Jack: *nods* Thank you, but I'm afraid we'll need more than just medicine. Let's get her into the other room and then we can talk more. *with Aiden's help, lifts Medda and carries her into another room*
Jillian: *frowns*
Roxas: *follows Jack and Aiden into the other room*
Aiden: What do you think she'll need? Are you some sort of doctor? *gently sets Medda onto the bed*
Medda: *lays in bed, closes eyes, drifting into a sleep*
Jack: I've seen this sort of wound before. Granted, not caused by scissors.. but still similar. There's a wild plant only found south of here, just outside of the town Luca. It works not only as medicine but also as a paste to seal the wound.
Aiden: Gar-er... Lilica and I were planning to head to Luca after our stay here in Greenleaf. How soon does she need this herb? We may be able to pick it up for you and send it back here...
Callie: C'mon Jilly.. *leads her towards the door of Luminescence*
Jillian: *follows Callie, distracted* *looks into the streets to see other townsfolk now putting out the fire at the Sparkling Gem*
Garnet: *stands up straight and follows Callie and Jillian outside* *clutches gunblade in defense* I wonder why they came and left so quickly... were they after something in particular? *looks towards the Sparkling Gem* *thinks to self - I wonder if they were after the pendant too...?*
Callie: Maybe they were after a piece of jewelry.. *frowns* Though I don't know why they would want me.
Jillian: *finally smiles a little* Oh Callie, you know you have the finest jewelry of anyone in the town. They probably thought that if they had you, they would have whatever it is they're looking for.
Garnet: *listens to Jillian and Callie, then turns back to head into Luminescence* Hey Jonathan, I need to talk to you... *looks to Jack*
Aiden: Hold on a minute, babe. *looks at Jack as well*
Jack: We'll need it soon. I will travel to Luca tomorrow to get it.. it is very hard to find, but I know of a man that has a supply. If I can find him, I can get it quickly.
Jillian: *peers into the room* Jack? Is.. Is she going to be okay..?
Jack: *nods* She'll be fine, Miss Jillian. Do you want to join me in getting the herb?
Jillian: *nods, silent*
Callie: *pops head in* And I'll go too!! *smiles warmly to everyone, hoping to bring some happiness into the room*
Jack: *pulls blankets over Medda to keep her warm after wrapping her side with cloths* Callie, can you run and fetch Julianna and Morrigan? They'll need to stay with Miss Larkson while we're away.
Callie: *nods* Sure thing! *runs out of the room, past Garnet and Aiden, and out into the streets*
Jillian: *holds Medda's hand in her own* *a tear slips down her face* If only I hadn't gone after Callie..
Jack: *puts an arm around her* If you hadn't, she might be lying in this bed instead. Assuming she was not taken completely by the men.
Garnet: *pulls Aiden out of the room and into the main bar area* *softly* Listen, Aiden, I think we should go back to Luca and talk to Baku more about this pendant because if it's really that big of a deal that creeps like those Scissormen want it, we should know what power it holds.
Aiden: What? Are you scared or something? *chuckles*
Garnet: *punches Aiden hard in the shoulder* NO. I'm just saying we should be careful.
Aiden: Ow... *rubs arm* Well, you heard them, they all want to go to Luca too... and if that Callie girl is our target, we might as well kill two birds with one stone.
Garnet: *walks back into the room* *puts hands on hips* So when are we heading to Luca?
Roxas: *barks* :O
Jack: *looks up at her* Tomorrow morning. You should get some rest tonight, though. *looks to Jillian* As should you.
Jillian: *nods and silently walks to her room*
NEXT MORNING
Garnet: *sleeping soundly in bed* *stirrs slightly to see an arm wrapped around her*
Aiden: *spooning with Garnet from behind, sound asleep*
Garnet: *elbows Aiden off of her* Hey, stop it! What did I say before?
Aiden: *awakens suddenly* Ow, hey... I was just trying to cuddle. *turns over and goes back to sleep*
Garnet: *looks outside* It's morning, we should get ready to leave for Luca. *begins getting her things together*
Aiden: *yawns* In a minute...
Roxas: *barks loudly in Aiden's face* =D
Aiden: *jumps up* Shit, alright, okay, I'm up, I'm up! *gets up and begins getting ready*
Jack: *peeks into Jillian's room to see if she's awake*
Jillian: *laying in bed* *looks up at him*
Jack: Did you sleep at all last night, Miss Jillian?
Jillian: *shakes head no*
Jack: *frowns slightly* Come on, get your things ready for our travels.
Jillian: *stands and picks up a bag, already packed* I'm all ready to go.
Jack: *hides a smile* Let me check in on Miss Larkson and we can head out. Callie went to get the young couple from last night.
Jillian: *nods and sits on the bed again*
Callie: *knocks on the room door* Hello? Lilica? Jonathan? Are you ready to go?
Aiden: *answers the door, shirtless* *leans against the door frame* Why hello, we were just tidying up from last night... *glances back at Garnet* Are you all ready to go, then?
Garnet: *finishes putting things into her bag, then stands up* *looks at Aiden* *gasps* Honey, put a shirt on! *grabs Aiden's bag and shoves it into his stomach as he turns around* C'mon, let's go.
Roxas: *bounds out the door and towards Luminescence*
Callie: Eheh... ^^;;; *walks with them towards Luminescence*
Jack: *in Medda's room* Be sure to change her wrappings every few hours, and try to give her as much water as possible.
Julianna: I know, I know. And make sure she rests. I can take care of people, Jackie-boy, you needn't tell me what to do.
Jack: *smiles a little* Thank you, Miss Julianna. We'll be back as soon as we can.
Julianna: Go on, get out of here.
Jillian: *hangs a sign on the door of the bar saying "Closed until further notice", then begins packing food from the bar stocks*
Roxas: *walks into Luminescence and barks*
Garnet: *follows Roxas in* C'mon everyone, let's get a move on! It's not a short trip to Luca.
Jack: Aye. Let's go. *begins walking out of town, followed by everyone else on the journey*
This chat was completed on Friday, August 26, 2006.