EVENT #5: SOVEREIGN CITIZENS (VENERA)

[aionmods]

Sovereign Citizens

VENERA

In contrast the Aion's last visit, they now arrive in Venera on a completely average day... or so it seems. Unlike Godsblood, Venera has been given no warning as to what's about to befall it; the Kenoma are simply authorized to arrive and begin their bloody work without fanfare. Even their entourage of Achamite soldier don't stick out that much; in the time since the plague left, the city has refilled with occupying forces. Notably, the Hylician ones seem to be keeping out of the way, almost as if they've heard some things and would rather not be involved too closely in what's to come.

As opposed to the ghost town it was during the plague, Venera is now reasonably active, with most attending to their usual business. Shops are open, and its people are withdrawn but superficially friendly when meeting strangers. Initially, the targets of the Kenoma hit list will have no way of knowing what's coming for them, but after the first couple attacks word will begin to spread. Those that have recently been engaging in seditious behavior will become harder to find, leaving their usual homes and workplaces to stay elsewhere, and making other attempts to escape the Regent's attention.

Once those alerts have been raised, the Kenoma will have to engage in more detective work to find their targets, questioning other Venerans and seeking out fugitives in the homes of their family and friends. In the meantime, some of those who believe they are in danger may become desperately enough to seek out the Pleroma directly, imploring them for aid. Unfortunately, seeking out one sect may just as easily draw the attention of the other. Most uninvolved Venerans will be too terrified to intervene one way or another, reluctant to aid in the persecution of their neighbors but fearful of consequences. If your Aion travels openly, it will take some effort to pin them down long enough to hold a conversation.

SEEDS OF DESPAIR

Several days into the culling of Venera, the Aions will have witnessed the city gradually withdraw into itself. The streets become vacant as more and more people decide it isn't worth the risk to be seen outside, abandoning work and play alike to hide out in their homes, refusing to answer their doors to all except the most desperate pleading. Those that can't avoid their daily obligations are quiet and morose, trying their best to remain unseen and unremarked upon.

If your character has been observed as a Kenoma, either now or in their previous visits to the city, the citizens will look upon them as if they are the messengers of death. If you are seen as a Pleroma, they will resist your gaze, as if fearing your presence alone might leave them marked. In rarer cases, you will see those with stronger spirits, with glares of hatred or determination. They are powerless now, but seeds have been sewn, and whether they are the seeds of despair or of action are yet unclear.

By the time the Kenoma's hit list has been fully addressed, several have been killed and several more have been rushed from their homes to flee the city entirely. There have been holes left in the tapestry of the community they were once part of. One way or another, their absence will be felt keenly by those they left behind.

QUESTIONS

What is the best way for Aions to travel to Venera?
Estinien has plans to get an early start for the Pleroma by teleporting to the Lover's shrine and flying somewhere closer to set up a portal from the ocean caves near the Godsblood Lodestone to a spot of farmland closer to Venera. Paul will be setting up a portal directly from Achamoth to one of the Achamite outposts in Venera.

How much force can the Kenoma use while interrogating Venerans?
While they are generally not permitted to kill Venerans who haven't tried to physically fight them, they will be permitted to apply both physical and mental pressure upon those that refuse to provide them with information regarding the whereabouts of their targets. This duress should be proportional to the resistance the Veneran is offering. The Regent is not inviting them to terrorize Venera on a level to a level they cannot reasonably blaim themselves for.

Comments

Barnaby Brooks Jr. | Kenoma | Lover

[hundredpower]

[The Regent's address had confirmed two things for Barnaby. First: that the Regent claims to be the one who destroyed the worlds. That confirmation, whether true or a lie, is enough to provoke a deep, hateful rage inside him, the kind of burning fury he reserved for only one other person. The Pleroma, for all their useless shouting and arguing, had given voice in that courtroom to the feelings he was unable to express.

Second: he knows now that his time is limited. That the Regent was aware some of their recruits were still "faithless". Barnaby had made no secret of his own misgivings -- he had to be forcefully recruited, and even now has behaved more akin to a reluctant hostage than an obedient servant. He can feign shows of loyalty, but following through is out of the question. And so he's reached the realisation that whatever he does, he has to use his limited time in the best way he can. If he joins the ranks of the detained Venerans and is summarily executed for it, if he's saved even one person, at least it will mean something.

So he goes to Venera as assigned, and he begins to work his way through the hitlist, not to arrest, but to save. A race against the other Kenoma, then.]

1. DAWN RAIDS

[It wasn't that long ago, but being back here, crouched on the edge of a rooftop and observing the city, reminds Barnaby all too well of his hero days. He's wearing an ornate black mask -- easy enough to come by, in a city that once placed artistic endeavours above all else -- and has his black hood pulled up over his head and pinned in place to his mask. He's watching a group of city guards, moving in a suspiciously tight-knit group, tracking their movements. Are they heading somewhere in particular, perhaps to conduct a dawn raid? Or, perhaps, they're patrolling with particular aggression just to reinforce the current rule of fear starting settle over the city.

If it turns out to be the former, he has a plan: activate his Hundred Power, jump down when the time is right, take them out, and make his getaway, leaving a scene enough that locals can warn one another to stay well away from the area. He might not have made progress on a lead yet, but more direct resistance is one way he can help.

For now-- he continues to watch and follow. And to keep an eye out for other individuals who might be an Aion, too.]

2. A TIP OFF

[Barnaby had gotten to know a few faces and names in Venera when he'd escorted the citizens to the safety of the hospitals during the Innocence outbreak, and while many were too far gone to get to know them personally, he had spoken with their tearful friends and relatives who had often thanked him for his help. It was those connections he hoped to draw on now.

He finds one such woman he had helped, a young lady called Nola who had previously been infected. She was later reunited with her brother, who explained she had always been in frail health, and if she hadn't been found, she might not have survived. Now, that brother is one of those listed for arrest. Barnaby couldn't track him down, but his familiarity with the siblings meant he could quickly connect the dots on his involvement. Barnaby meets Nola in a back alley at night, hood pulled up to hide his face from anyone who might still be around at this hour, and who might overhear fragments of their conversation.]

I understand that your health is a concern, but the risk of staying is even greater. Tell them you're taking a trip on family business, and travel with only essentials to avoid suspicion.

But how? Where will we go? [She puts a hand over her mouth, her voice shaking, and it hits home for Barnaby just how much the people of Venera have suffered lately. Breaking the news to her has her practically at her wits' end.]

Here. [He says it gently, and takes her hand, secretly sliding some jools into her palm in the same motion. Travel funds, or bribe funds, if need be.] Don't go to Godsblood.

[It's then that he hears movement behind him, so he doesn't have time to elaborate. He urges the woman away with a quiet, Go on. She turns, and walks in the opposite direction, while he looks around to regard whoever has intruded. All things considered, he's calm: if they're a fellow Kenoma, he can pass off the encounter as paying an informant, considering she isn't anyone on the list.]

3. WILDCARD

[If you'd like to plot anything not covered above, feel free to hit up my plotting comment, or feel free to write your own starter.]

2

[hippocarnival]

[Given how things went in Venera last time, Yuya has no idea how many people are going to recognize him as an Aion. So he's trying to be sneaky, using late night hours to creep around the houses to--well, admittedly on his own there's not much he's got. But maybe, if he's sneaky enough he'll overhear some Kenoma, or guards, or even people themselves talking about who the Regent is targeting. And he can warn them and other Pleroma.

If he's sneaky enough. But that ends up being a bit too tall of an order when he slips into the alley at the sound of Barnaby's voice, scrambling for something to hide behind. He doesn't recognize him as a Pleroma, from that horrible court, so that must mean he's one of the Kenoma.

He's almost behind some boxes when Barnaby turns around and he freezes in place. Oh.]

... What are you doing with her? [Great plan, just be aggressive from the start.]

[hundredpower]

[Barnaby recognises Yuya from the court as one of those Pleroma who had spoke up against the Regent, and while he didn't listen to their full conversation, he did admire the conviction it must have taken. Here, the boy's approach leaves him less impressed, and Barnaby shoots him a cold look.]

We were talking. Is that a problem?

[Barnaby's position is extremely precarious. Right now, if he's open with any Pleroma at all, he needs to decide if that will be beneficial to his efforts or ultimately a hindrance. Perhaps by being difficult for Yuya a little, he can establish first whether the Pleroma have any kind of plan at all.]

[hippocarnival]

Maybe. [It comes out less confident than he wants it to. He knows a fight is a losing endeavor, and his body is tense like he's ready to spring--though it's hard to tell if it's towards Barnaby or away from him.]

Who are you?

2

[devilmancrybaby]

[ Luo Binghe steps out of the shadows languidly, staring intently at Barnaby. His enhanced cultivator's senses mean he's overheard most of that conversation, but while he was sure he recognised the voice, he hasn't interacted enough with Barnaby to be completely certain this is one of his fellow Kenoma until he sees his face.

He smiles. ]

Is she a friend of yours?

[hundredpower]

[Barnaby nods, but he doesn't return the smile as he regards Luo Binghe. He's still distracted, hoping above all hope that the woman is able to leave safely.]

She was one of the infected I assisted last time we were sent here. I thought I might call in the favour and see if she knew anything of use.

[devilmancrybaby]

[ He takes another step forward, deliberately reducing the distance between them in case Barnarby decides to run.]

Ah, is that so! Then why is it you're so keen for her to leave?

2.

[subsist]

[ it started out as a hunch that came with a bad feeling. after seeing barnaby how barnaby was acting after the regent's address, kaeya could only hope that he was being too paranoid, too unreasonable. it's not long before that proves itself to be wrong. he can no longer deny it: someone is clearly impeding their efforts, and he can only think of one person right now.

maybe it'll turn out that he's worried over nothing. that's the best outcome he could ask for, but all that is quickly dashed when he watches the interactions between barnaby and this woman go down. he keeps to the shadows where he would be mostly unnoticed, quietly observing, listening.

either way it's not looking good. ]

... Barnaby. [ finally revealing himself, he keeps a smile plastered in place. ] Might I have a word?

[ it's right there and then that the woman is allowed to slip away, making kaeya raise an eyebrow. ]

What are you doing?

[hundredpower]

She owes me a debt, so I'm assisting her in exchange for information.

[Barnaby's response is calm enough; he's telling the truth, after all, even if it's not the entire story. Still, his eyes travel to the woman briefly until she turns a corner and vanishes out of sight. Good. Kaeya is here, but there are no other Aions immediately in the area, it seems.

He looks back at Kaeya.]

What are you doing? I don't recall asking for assistance.

[subsist]

Ah, is she one of those you assisted a few weeks back?

[ it has been more than a few weeks by now, but it's clear which particular event he is referring to. after all, kaeya is one of the few who volunteered to help out with this particular affair. ]

I'd say that's a fair exchange. [ he tilts his head. ] Well? Did she offer anything interesting?

[ no harm in trying to ease into it. maybe it'll turn out that he is worrying over nothing during this conversation. (he can only hope this is the case.) ]

wildcard

[epiprocta]

[ Maybe the timing is purely coincidence. Or maybe it's because Barnaby's working off the same list as his fellow Kenoma, looking up names and hunting down these unfortunate people. But whenever it is that Barnaby arrives at the working studio of a certain sculptor -- he'll find that he's just a little too late to resolve the matter quietly.

It's the sound of hoarse weeping that greets him as he nears the building, the door flung wide open and allowing the sounds from inside to seep out onto the streets. A man's voice, pleading to be released, stating that he fears for his sister's wellbeing if he's taken and leaves her behind. Please, he implores, please let me go.

His breathless words are unceremoniously cut off by a brusque statement: ]

Shut up.

[ It's a familiar voice, Barnaby might note, and for good reason. When he enters the studio, he'll find Gen holding the man from behind, his wrists held behind his back so forcefully he's almost doubled over. The floor is littered with bits of broken sculptures; clearly, the man had put up a valiant struggle before being caught. And the moment Barnaby steps into the doorway Gen looks up sharply, shoulders squared and expression hardened; the pallor of his face is poor and his eyes are hooded, like he hasn't slept well in days. ]

... what do you want, Bunny. [ Even as the man in his grasp continues to quietly plead, Gen ignores him and directs his hard stare at Barnaby, his voice forced flat. ] I've got everything handled here.

[hundredpower]

[Barnaby's heart is in his mouth when he reaches the studio and finds the door already ajar; he'd promised Nola that he would see her brother safe, and now it seems he's already partially failed in that promise. When he enters the studio and sees Gen, of all people, holding the man hostage, that's somehow so much worse. Abrasive as the teenager can be, Barnaby has no desire to fight him. Still, his shock soon settles into a sharp glare.]

You misunderstand, Minegishi. I'm here to help him, not you.

[He moves closer, stepping over broken clay, and as the man in Gen's hold meets his eye, it's evident the two recognise each other.]

The Regent's intelligence is false. This man hasn't done anything wrong.

[He doesn't expect Gen will listen to him, but he wants to at least try reasoning with him before he turns to force.]

[epiprocta]

[ Barnaby's words don't work, of course. But perhaps surprisingly, Gen doesn't immediately brush them off -- he actually listens and responds to them properly, first.

As in, Gen's expession colors with visible uncertainty for a moment before he seems to shake it off, jaw clenching as he doubles down. And the moment the man in his grasp starts to straighten up, clearly having recognized Barnaby, Gen forcefully tightens his grip, yanking it upwards so the man's almost forced to stare at the floor instead. ]

Yeah? And where're you getting this secret information?

[ Is it true? Maybe. He's not sure. A part of him does want to believe what Barnaby is saying, if only to clean his hands of this whole mess. -- but what if he's wrong. What if the consequences for shirking his job here fall back upon him? Gen huffs out a ragged breath as he drags the man back a half-step along with him, weary but guarded. ]

If he's meant to be released, it'll happen later. I'm just doing as I was told. You really think you know so much better than the rest of us?

1

[coerthantorment]

[At some point while scouting, Barnaby will realize that the watcher is being watched. Estinien's primary focus has been on harassing the Achamite guards when there are no Kenoma to chase, and so it isn't surprising their paths have led them in the same direction. Unfortunately, rooftops aren't the best place to avoid someone with wings.

He may notice Estinien's arrival by the shadow of wings stretching past him, spread wide to land, but then folding in more tightly. He's noticed that stealth is being applied in this situation, and despite his clearly monstrous form, he seems to be trying to avoid the soldier's attention... for now.]

Identify yourself.

[His voice is a low growl. The only thing preventing him from having attacked already is that Barnaby's coverings mean he hasn't been able to determine for certain that he's one of the Kenoma.]

[hundredpower]

[Barnaby remains crouched as Estinien arrives, coiled to spring should he try to make a lunge at him with those claws. But he doesn't, and lands, so Barnaby slowly rises to his feet to regard him. He's irritated by the interruption -- the group he was observing might move out of sight if he isn't careful -- but perhaps this is an opportunity he shouldn't be so quick to dismiss, either.]

I'm not your enemy. That's all you need to know.

[Even if the black certainly suggests otherwise, when he looks like he could have stepped straight out of an Achamoth cult meeting. Though of course, that's the intended image, that it might better sow confusion on both sides.]

Why are you here? [Either to talk to him, or in general. Was he looking to take the fight to the Kenoma, or was he worried about the people?]

[coerthantorment]

[He really doesn't think that's all he needs to know, but he's interested enough that he will stay his hand for the moment. The response more or less confirms for him that this person isn't a Pleroma, at least. If they were, they'd have no reason to be mysterious.

So, he decides to make some educated assumptions and see where it takes him.]

To prevent your people from culling innocent civilians.

[He also intends to capture or defeat whatever Kenoma he can in the process, but those two goals are linked, in his opinion.]

wildcard (but a song in the key of 2)

[semicharmed]

[ It's not like Matt started this whole misadventure on good footing, between the Regent's less-than-assuring address and the loss of his hand. But as the days in Venera have passed, the velocity of Matt's misery has decidedly shifted. This sucks. This sucks. The people they're arresting are so small compared to the task that's before the Kenoma. How can any of this matter? They could put all of Venera on a pyre and it still wouldn't hold a candle to the devastation behind them ... and whatever's ahead of them.

By now, Matt has given up on his own spying almost entirely. He turns his focus to everyone else: the few Venerans showing their faces, the other Kenoma as they pursue their own errands. It's easier to do this when he has an invisibility spell up, which both disguises his lack of sneakiness and spares him having to worry about his stump. So on this particular night, he moves through the streets like a miserable breeze, soft and nearly imperceptible--until he hears soft voices from an alleyway.

It's one of those narrow passages that's occupied primarily by back doors and cellar entrances. Matt can hear snatches of sentences--getting bad and can't possibly repay you. It doesn't sound like a conflict, at least. As he pokes his head into the mouth of the alley, he's surprised to see a semi-familiar face. Not someone he's talked to, but someone he knows of.

Barnaby with the field hospital, isn't it? What's he doing? ]

[hundredpower]

[Matt will see that he's engrossed in conversation with an timid-seeming middle aged gentleman, who he's smiling to and doing his best to address in a calm, reassuring voice.]

You don't have to repay me. Just do your best to keep them safe. The more we look out for each other, the more it will help everyone weather this.

[The older man thanks him again and surprises him by even doffing his hat and giving him a brief hug out of gratitude. Unsure of how to react, Barnaby just awkwardly pats him on the back in return, though his smile doesn't falter.]

It'll be all right. But you'd better get going-- I'll hang back and make sure you're not followed. [Little does he know, of course, that there's already a spectator eavesdropping on them, but he does a sweep of the alley all the same to ensure there are no visible threats.]

[semicharmed]

[ Barnaby's gaze passes right over him, and for a moment, their eyes meet.

... Not really. But there is some risk to an invisibility spell if it receives sustained attention. Too much can shatter the enchantment entirely. Matt shrinks back instinctively from the regard, before Barnaby's attention moves on and Matt remembers right, I'm good at magic.

That's only the first complication, however. The Veneran man that Barnaby is definitely not arresting is headed right for Matt, requiring him to scramble back as he passes. Matt gets a good glimpse of his face, and sees in it a man who's ... scared. Just scared. Part of Matt wants to tell him, Don't worry. This'll all be over soon. But at the moment, he can't find the point in what they're doing--the connection to an end goal that'll make it worthwhile.

Lost in those thoughts, and paying more attention to the departing Veneran than his immediate surroundings, Matt bumps into a rubbish bin. Its precariously balanced lid wobbles and knocks a glass bottle, which crashes to the ground and erupts into a hundred sparkling pieces.

Matt hisses, ] Fuck.

[ This spell renders him invisible, but interestingly, it doesn't do anything to make him inaudible. ]

CLOSED - J & MAKOTO

[hundredpower]

[Barnaby is exhausted. After a week of investigating, saving people, fighting, hiding, and finally being exposed as a traitor, what then followed was his inevitable break from the Kenoma itself, the final thread snapping on a tether stretched and frayed to its limits. When he looked at his Shard it seemed brighter somehow-- not shining like a Pleroma's, but no longer tainted by the darkness that had touched it ever since his stay in the lodestone cavern. He was a step closer to freedom, of being clear of the Regent's grasp, now that that foul thing inside him had been purged with his own force of will.

With it, though, comes new problems. He can't access his Hundred Power at all, something that has always been so intrinsically part of him that to lose it is like a lost limb. Likewise, trying to contact even one of the Pleroma is like trying to shout at someone from deep underwater, any noise he tries to make is stifled and too faraway to get their attention. He's nearly defenceless, something he hadn't factored into his plans at all.

But there was one person he had factored into his plans, someone who had already offered to be his escape route, who he had already placed his life into the hands of once and she had spared him: Hayame.

Now he's even more grateful to her that when he had reached out to ask her to set aside her vengeance, she had not shunned him but instead offered her help. Hooded to hide his identity, he sets out in the early evening of the seventh day, first to the canal in the commercial district, finding the street by the water where the jinba had first confronted him. The "x" she had scratched into the ground with a hoof is still visible. He stops, looking around to check he isn't being watched, before he crouches and draws another cross in white chalk on the stone next to hers.

Now for the tricky part-- getting to the west gates, and finding somewhere to lie low until the early hours of the morning. He moves quickly, knowing he has a long night ahead.]

[affal]

( it is early. too early for makoto's preferences, but he had been roused (rather loudly and obnoxiously) by J a short time earlier, seemingly falling victim once more to the demon's mercenary whims. whether it was a flight of fancy or embedded in some sort of plot or scheme of the man's is entirely beyond his reckoning; he has learned over time when to stand his ground and when to bend and acquiesce... or, rather, he's learned that the former typically incurs something exceptionally unpleasant for him, so he now is far more likely to do the latter. he had gotten ready, grumbling, and then accompanied J out into the empty, silent streets into the increasingly abandoned city.

streets that end up a whole lot less empty and silent with the tall, winged demon and the much smaller scrap of a young man tagging along at his side, griping all the while. )

— it might not matter anymore given that most of the city has gone to ground regardless, but you really should at least get familiar with using some glamors. Certain things you can probably get away with — your horns, your height, maybe the tail — but with your wings and your legs on top of that - you shatter any hope we might have at keeping a low profile before it even has a chance to stand.

( and so on...

but what diverts them from the path that their day could have taken, unfortunately for barnaby, is makoto's attunement. they are in a rare silent lull in their conversation (read: argument) when he catches the rare sight of a figure slipping across the road at an intersection up ahead, and where anyone else would have simply seen the nondescript hooded figure, makoto catches the odd sight of a type of aura that he's never seen before. not since he's acquired True Sight. he's seen the different hues of the Pleroma and the Kenoma and how they change based on the progressive shift in attunement, but this figure... he senses the presence of an Aion, but it has neither tinge. inexplicably Untouched, when he was certain there were none left that were unclaimed by either side.

he reaches out to take J's hand, looking up to him and placing one forefinger to his lips to silence him. he gestures to where the figure disappeared around the corner of a building, and then they begin to follow, silently as two demons could manage.

when barnaby places his mark on the ground next to the "x" that hayame had left, he doesn't see any pursuers because he keeps his eyes cast down the adjoining streets. a few stories above him, and a short distance away, makoto stands next to J, eyes fixed laserlike on the figure as it begins to move down the street. ) An Aion, and their shard has lost its attunement. ( just to catch J up on what had drawn his attention — one of the other lovely benefits of having attuned further is he can now draw a sense of superiority from being more highly "ranked" in the Kenoma than his master was (and he could see it clear as day).

his eyes — glamored into the ones he'd had when he was still human — gleam with threatening intent. ) Someone seems to have lost their faith.

[1/2]

[tohell]

At this time of day? Not even the earliest of early birds should be out and about now. [ Arms stretch themselves over his head as J's spine pulls him into a cat-like stretch, mid-stride. Standing on the tipiest of his rounded toes, he takes a momentary pause without missing a beat in his snappy comebacks. ] What are the odds our marks would choose this exact moment to throw themselves at our feet?

[ He only picks up his pace again once the kinks are worked free from muscles still tense from the night prior. With the way he acts, few would believe he'd spent the midnight hours dwelling over what lies unseen and unknown on the horizon and listening to Makoto breathe. Giving proof with every exhale that he is in fact hearty and hale. Safe, for now. ]

You know, I was of a mind that it'd do us good to come out and enjoy a little of Venera's fresh morning air together. [ Doubtful, upon consideration of his insistence that they not loiter in bed any longer. But that's his story, and he's sticking to it. ] Must you spoil our stroll by henpecking me?

Besides, while you may be quite adorable like this, Makoto- That's because it's a recreation of your original self. [ A forefinger draws over to slip under his ward's chin. Affectionate as it is, the touch is teasingly short-lived. Surely meant to incentivize a reaction before J withdraws his hand and the fleeting contact. J makes for a difficult study when little of him has peeked beneath the enigmatic veneer he's worn since absconding with Makoto from life itself to the very heart of a world that would subject him to a trial by fire no other mortal's soul could bear. But perhaps one thing he's accidentally let slip is J's attachment to his physical form. A body that, for better or worse, brought him under the attention of a benefactor that still haunts him in shadow and memory. Perhaps it's one of the few pieces of his past J can always carry around with himself, like a living monument to a man that left him mired in fading memories and lasting heartache. ] But, me? Why would I ever want to be stripped of what makes me who I am?

I'm too much of a whole snack, for that. [ Chin tilted up as the demon proudly crows about his own beauty, J rattles long into the morning with an enthusiastic wagging of his finger and a slew of jargon surely considered cringeworthy by his present company. ]

[2/2]

[tohell]

[ With the touch of Makoto's small hand settled into his, their meandering across barren streets turns into a full-blown chase. They stay linked a moment or two longer than necessary, with J's hand curled over his in a protective reversal of Makoto's touch from a short time ago, on a beach under the warmth of this world's shining sun. Yet the eventual separation is inevitable and so sudden he's uncertain of who let go first. The strange injection of intimacy in the middle of this mission is gone so quickly it might as well have been a figment of the imagination.

In finding himself upon a rooftop, J absorbs all that Makoto says with a nagging sense that all that's transpired in the days leading up to now are a trail of breadcrumbs, spelling out in once indecipherable clues what they're now about to find.

They're too high up and their target well-shrouded in an obstructive hood in ways that keep their identity a mystery. But the Aion's silhouette gives enough away, when it's height alone eliminates any of their shorter compatriots from being suspects. If this isn't one of the younger recruits or any of the women it's most likely a man, whose foundations have wavered to such a degree they've been stripped of even the essence of the Kenoma. The Regent's summons immediately rushes to the forefront of J's mind as the words slide off Makoto's tongue with a thirst for the hunt. 'Someone seems to have lost their faith.' For a moment he gives the barest pause, then J makes a choice he'd already been saddled with, back on that fateful day when the Regent had drawn every Aion into their audience. Whoever this is, he can't allow them to evade his grasp. ]

A runaway, huh? It's quite rude of them to slip away like a thief in the night without so much as a goodbye. [ The canal running along the length of the street provides a natural barricade to prevent escape from that side. Without any trace of the Kenoma left in the traitor's shard, they should be reverted to the same powerless state J had experienced upon his arrival here. In those terrifying moments he'd spent sapped of every strength and ability, before Makoto had force-fed his newly reborn body the contents of a certain vial.

In the best of circumstances, a strong swimmer would still be at a disadvantage against two opponents if they took a dive and isolated themselves in the water. It's even more unlikely they'll take such drastic measures, now. Which means the two of them only need to block off either ends of the street the hooded figure now walks. Barring any side streets that open into that one, that plan of attack should cage their target in and block off the major routes of escape. ]

I think I'll pay Houdini here a visit, and make sure they don't perform a second vanishing act. [ Amusement spreads like wildfire across J's features as one hand raises to give a resounding snap of fingers. The small flame he creates is quick to illuminates every corner of J's expressive face, painting his lopsided smirk in a nearly macabre light. ]

Be a good boy and cover their retreat for me, Mako. [ Instructions the demon doesn't offer, but foists into Makoto's lap. It's just moments before the flame sputters out so that he can softly pat a youthful cheek with the touch of his warm palm. As if this solidifies their plan of action, the full span of his wings opens wide and J abruptly launches himself forward to dive off the roof. Not allowing Makoto the time to rebuke him for any potential flaws in this plan, or the chance to refuse a direct approach without a more complete survey of their surroundings.

And that's how he greets this wayward lamb, broken away from their flock. At first, he's little more than an ominous shadow that spreads out across the well-tended to streets of Venera, gliding over the head of a figure whose eyes aren't searching the skies in anticipation of a strike from above. A second snap of his fingers, this time at a closer range to his target, sends forth a much smaller sphere of light than he's accustomed to. It strikes the pavement several feet behind Barnaby and settles a path of fire there with every intention of blocking off his retreat. ]

Strolls in here 1 week late w/o Starbucks ;; (wildcard ish)

[locumstudentesquire]

[It's early on in the week; Ryunosuke has been working with several of the other Pleroma to figure out who the targeted Venerans are, but as usual they're playing in a game where the deck's stacked against them from the get go. The Regent is the one with the power and the resources to make this operation happen; the Pleroma can only really react. And that's less than ideal, when the reaction can very easily come too late.

They'd come in as prepared as they probably could be though, all things considered. They have the framework of a plan in place, and intend to do everything they can to help. There have been rumors flying about among the resistance, that someone on the inside is leaking the names contained on the Regent's hit list, but the question is... Who? An Achamite soldier? Or could it be someone even higher ranked...?

Perhaps Ryunosuke should leave well enough alone, but if it's one of the Kenoma, it would be worth knowing who it is. If they've gone sour on the Regent's intentions, there may be room enough to reason with them... Perhaps encourage them over to the side of the resistance, or at least convince them of an alliance.

With enough digging, he manages to track down the mysterious interloper one way or another. It's a sufficiently shady scene: night time in a Veneran back alley, while the streets are quiet and most in the city are soundly asleep. As Ryu would like to be, if he weren't out here on a mission. The informant is meant to meet with one of the resistance, but Ryunosuke has managed to convince them to let him go instead.

It's drizzling a bit, which gives him a good excuse to travel with his hood up. He rounds the corner to the appointed location, and stops in his tracks when he sees who waits there.]

...Mr. Barnaby?!

paps gently

[hundredpower]

[Barnaby's standing under the eaves of a building to avoid the worst of the drizzle, with his hood pulled up -- it might not be raining heavily, but there are few things more annoying in this kind of weather than streaky glasses. He's absorbed in thought until the rebel arrives, at which point he's startled to realise they're not a Veneran at all.]

Naruhodo? What are you doing here?

[Although he supposes the man could ask the same thing of him, given he must have come here for a reason and evidently wasn't expecting him. The look on his face says plenty.]

...This isn't a trap, if that's what you're thinking.