RED HOODED GUNNER

Don't come any closer than that. I already gave you a warning.❞ Citizen Apt. G - 4 Toy Rifle

[scarlethooded]

third time's the charm.

It had been awhile since he had promised a certain someone he would try and socialize. Despite "socializing" being the most foreign concept to the young mafia allied member, he would attempt it. Not for the scientists of this city, but as a promise given to someone he deemed important to him. He had even researched this -- though at the time the things he had to look up made him even more embarrassed and uncertain about this entire ordeal.

Still, he flipped through several flashcards he had jotted down, brows furrowed in contemplation if not growing frustration. He tried to approach someone but before he could even get into an arm's length, he faltered and quickly turned around. Adjusting his hood, he tried to pump himself up for this -- and tried again. But the second target was gone before Scarlet was able to even take a step in their direction. He was growing exceedingly exasperated. The third time, he hurried to the nearest person and called for their attention with a sharp tone - not what he had intended but really, Scarlet sounded like this practically all the time.

❝Excuse me. ...I --❞

He forgot everything as soon as he opened his mouth. For a moment he froze up and thought he should say something, anything, at this point was better than just remaining quiet.

❝...I need your help.❞

It was a start.

[scarlethooded]

✉

[marblesque]

Sent: 9/28 @ 12:50AM To: Scarlet I'm sure you'll do brilliantly. Charles and the other members are all good people ༼ᕤຈل͜ຈ༽ᕤ

Sent: 9/28 @ 12:59AM To: Scarlet And no, it's... ༼ᕤຈل͜ຈ༽ᕤ I had an agreement with Kano that I would use this... face, I believe, in text for a week if he would behave himself for the same amount of time.

[scarlethooded]

1:06AM SAT, SEPT 28 TO: Chief FROM: Scarlet

Yes...I trust your judgement. I'll admit I'm a little nervous, aha. I don't really typically...talk to a lot of people outside of business. I don't know how to have a normal conversation. . .

. . .

1:10AM SAT, SEPT 28 TO: Chief FROM: Scarlet

Oh? I haven't been checking in the cafe that much but it does seem quieter than usual. It must be working! Great thinking, Chief!

[scarlethooded]

✉

[marblesque]

Sent: 9/28 @ 12:43AM To: Scarlet Ah, Scarlet. I'm relieved to see that you are feeling better. There actually is something that you could do for me. With the launch of the Alliance nearing, I would appreciate it if you could find a way to promote interaction between the other members. Or possibly intermingling with those in the X-men. Groups will be necessary for this and I would prefer it if team members had some familiarity with each other. ༼ᕤຈل͜ຈ༽ᕤ

[scarlethooded]

12:46AM SAT, SEPT 28 TO: Chief FROM: Scarlet

Oh! I'll get on that then, maybe..I'll talk to your friend? Professor, right? It doesn't seem too bad, though I'm not exactly that social! I'll do my best! ... Wait. Chief what is that...at the end...? Is that French?

[scarlethooded]

✉

12:24AM SAT, SEPT 28 TO: Chief From: Scarlet

Chief...I feel like I've been slacking in my work lately! I wanted to ask if there's anything you have for me to do? I want to get right back into the swing of things as soon as I can!

[scarlethooded]

❝I think that Chief is. . . a really groovy person too!❞

[scarlethooded]

❝Did anyone even bother to check what the group is actually about? Or are you all just blindly assuming you know what it is without the proper information?❞

[saintism]

▬♔: we fricked up, {closed}

Rarely had she used her cellular phone, so it would not be a surprise to see her face light up in mild bewilderment. Not only for the fact that she had been contacted through it, but from the sender in particular. Clicking a few buttons as an adept Servant should with modern day machinery, she could not say it was a… delightful message to be received.

"Zut alors," she muttered under her breath as she began to click away at her phone.

Sent: 8/24 @ 12:38PM From: Jehanne To: Enjolras

... je suis désolée, mon meneur.

Finally pressing send after staring at the phone for a good forty minutes, brows furrowed. Certainly she would not leave it at that, the young saint feeling bothered that she had upset him as much as they did despite their good intents. An idea sprouted in her mind, however, as she made her way to step forward. Scrolling through the contacts, she finally found the citizen that she was searching for.

Lifting the phone to her ear as it began to ring, a sigh was given as she awaited the answer from the other attendant.

[scarlethooded]

He wasn't a sociable person really, so when he received a text, Scarlet was surprised. His expression remained rather unmoved until eyes scanned over the contents of two texts. Fingers tapped against the keys in contemplation, unsure of what to say. An apology seemed best for now, though one in person would be given later.

Sent: 8/24 @ 12:49PM From: Scarlet To: Enjolras

Boss. . .I'm very sorry. I understand, I'll return to home with a proper apology in person.

❝Is that alright?❞

Fiddling with the phone a bit, Scarlet did eventually send after trying to think of what else he could write but nothing more needed to be added. The boy exhaled in a crestfallen nature - jolting to attention when his phone gave a musical tone. Oh, he rarely got calls too. Though he had set his ringtone -- 

Once red eyes caught sight of the caller's name, he figured that his fellow attendant must have gotten a similar message or two. 

❝Jehanne? Ah, are you calling about Boss? Did you get messages from him as well?❞

[marblesque]

Black - the plight of a dark plague;

It started with a migraine. Nothing too out of the ordinary; in fact, it was a common inconvenience that Enjolras suffered whenever he lost himself in his work. His friends never approved of it, always insisting that he take a break before it ever got to that point. The same thing happened with his attendants in the Hive, actually. But the revolutionary paid it no mind. There was no reason to when he was capable of working through it.

Only the migraine was just the beginning. In an almost rapid progression, his ailments multiplied to include a terrible cough and dizzy spells. There was a taste of copper in the back of his throat. Even in his worst cases, he’d never felt this terrible from stress or lack of sleep. When the announcement buzzed throughout the city an hour later, it became clear that this malady was the Hive’s fault rather than overworking himself again. Enjolras wasn’t entirely sure if that came as a relief to him or not. 

Blue eyes trailed over to the room where his youngest attendant stayed. He had to check on Scarlet. Although the scientist mentioned the chance that people would be feeling better, he couldn’t risk it. Not with the possibility that the boy’s sickness was worse than his. With a shaky breath, the chief pressed his hands against his workspace to push himself up. He let out a small gasp when his knees buckled under the sudden wait. A sharp curse slipped between his teeth. This vulnerability was out of his hands, but that didn’t stop him from loathing every second of it. 

Once Enjolras made his to the foot of his bed, he looked down to see if he could spot any ailments that may have befallen on to his sleeping friend. He couldn’t remember if he heard anything from the living room earlier, but it was possible that he missed it due to his own sickness. Hoping for the best, he placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder and shook it lightly. 

"Scarlet. How are you fairing?"

[scarlethooded]

When he had gone to sleep the previous night, he wouldn't have expected to be waken like this. Usually, since they now shared an apartment thanks to Enjolras' kindness -- Scarlet would try and rise earlier than the older man. He would attempt to get the day started for him, prepare his paperwork and his breakfast and such things. It was something that Scarlet was used to doing and frankly, he enjoyed it. Doing work like that for someone was what Scarlet liked to do, even more so for his 'Boss' for Enjolras was a respectable man.

When he had been awakened this morning, Scarlet initially felt fine. He sat up and glanced to the other curiously, for a moment he thought everything to be fine. Until the sleepiness wore off and he took in the view of his Boss in such a state. He shot out of bed and hurried to support Enjolras' ailing frame, a look of worry on his young features. What could he do for him like this? Enjolras wouldn't have taken so little care of himself that he would become this sick -- and over night seemingly! It was too far fetched for Scarlet to believe it was natural. 

In the midst of all this, he found it amazing that despite Enjolras' own condition -- he worried for his attendant. 

❝Why do you ask? You're the one who is like this, Boss..!❞

Truthfully, Scarlet didn't feel as best as he could have but he pushed aside these groggy feelings, this headache that he hoped would come and go. Right now, his boss was his priority over himself, eyebrows furrowed as he thought on how to best help the other. For now, he tried to usher him over to sit, being careful to take him due to the height difference as well -- 

❝Boss...how did you get this sick exactly? What happened?❞

[marblesque]

私はそれが必要だとは思わない。本当に宜しいですか？  フードなしであなたを見たことがない。

[scarlethooded]

CG GET!

❝I'm sure, honestly, I only wear it to appear intimidating, or I did back home. It worked actually, but it's not as if I'm trying to be intimidating to you.❞

[marblesque]

あなたは物事を想像しています。どのように誰かがもっとキラキラだろうか？

[scarlethooded]

❝No...you definitely are. Boss, maybe you should wear my hood for a little while until this goes away? It's fine if you do!❞

[marblesque]

scarlethooded replied to your post: ikanotbelieve replied to your post: you believe…

Boss…what are you doing……….

どういうこと?　何をやっていないよ。

[scarlethooded]

❝Are you sure? You seem...more...sparkly than usual --❞

[scarlethooded]

the first warning {Enjolras

[marblesque]

As Enjolras continued to watch the boy in confusion while he fiddled around with floor, the blond prayed that there was a reasonable explanation for the other’s supposed fascination with the ground and that his growing concern was misplaced. From speaking with the people of Hive City, Enjolras came to the realization that most of its inhabitants were from completely different origins. Not just a different year or country, but from different ‘worlds’ as well. That was a rather difficult thing for him to wrap his head around, but after seeing so many people with such unnaturally colored hair and eyes, he found it hard to deny the possibility. For all he knew, the streets back in the boy’s home were made of cotton and colored pink.

Once the boy shifted his attention away from their surroundings to ask a series of questions, the revolutionary offered a small smile and a hand to shake.

"It’s Enjolras, and it’s a pleasure to meet you." He wanted to say that it was unnecessary for Scarlet to pay him back, that the deed wasn’t something which called for a reward other than his safety, but refrained. The last thing that the hooded boy needed was a petty arguement in his time of perturbation. He focused on answering the inquiries given to him instead. "As for the ‘marked territories’, I haven’t heard or seen anything about those. And I’m afraid that I don’t know what you mean by ‘mafia family’."

[scarlethooded]

Wait. Did he just say that -- ?

Scarlet entertained the notion that he had somehow gone back in time, that would make sense. The lack of marked territory, the fact that this man wasn't aware of what a "Mafia" was. But it didn't add up given this setting either. None of this made any sense and the boy couldn't find a logical conclusion, all he could do was go with the flow, he supposed. Not that he was someone who really was able to just do that like anyone else, he was already beyond frustrated from just this small sliver of information. 

❝Hey...❞

❝Do you really not know?❞

Maybe this man was someone who joked around like Kyrie? No, when Scarlet gave him another look over -- he hardly appeared as a trickster type. A slightly hopeless expression took his young features and he tried to find the best way to simply explain what a Mafia was. At least from where he was from and how he regarded the notion. 

He began by stating that there was of course, a Boss at the top. Then there was usually an Underboss, or the second in command, then usually 3 Caporegimes, and so on like that. Though where he came from, he usually undertook negotiations and the paperwork that came along with being a Boss despite his rank beign that of a Caporegime. More or less, he shouldered a lot of the responsibility as he was the most capable of the three Caporegimes in the Grimm family, his Mafia family.

Lastly, Scarlet explained that where he was from, often times, one would be branded with a mark somewhere on their body of the family they belonged to. And that once you belonged to a family, you were in it for life. More or less. You could go into another family but that process was...painful. Quite literally. But that was another story. 

❝Also, the grounds in my home, were marked with colors to signify that a certain Mafia family owned that territory. It's...really odd that there's nothing like that here.❞

[marblesque]

Meet the newest members of the ABC

[scarlethooded]

the first warning {Enjolras

[marblesque]

"Please, it’s no trouble at all. You needn’t apologize." A brief look of confusion passed Enjolras’ expression once the apology slipped through the young boy’s lips. Never before had the revolutionary heard a person say sorry to someone for saving them. He gently put the cloaked boy down, his eyes following the other’s line of sight to the ground only to find nothing out of the ordinary. He didn’t pay that detail any mind as he glanced back to focus on the boy. The question made it obvious that he was a newcomer—Enjolras supposed that the disorientation caused by coming to the city might explain what the boy was doing falling off of buildings. 

"You’ve seen the… video, have you not?" The blond asked, hesitating only to taste the foreign word on his tongue. He watched the boy to gauge his reaction. After the help Enjolras received from Jeanne when he first arrived, he realized how important it was to have someone as a support while things were still fresh.

"We’re in the first sector of Hive City. I believe they call it the ‘normal’ sector, but it isn’t. Really, nothing about this place could be considered ‘normal’." From what he could tell, the buildings seemed to move on their own every few hours. It didn’t take very long for the revolutionary to realize that it would be unreasonable to hold any ABC meetings within Sector One.

[scarlethooded]

In response had Scarlet given a curt nod, the soles of his shoes lightly pressing into the cement as he walked in a circle around the taller man. No bricks, no colored road -- then was this really unclaimed territory? The hooded boy gave a look towards his savior, a faint pout on his lips. He admitted to not really believing all that he had seen in that video just now. It wouldn't have been very odd for him to go somewhere new -- and the encircling walls of the city was not unlike his own home, really. 

Pausing, Scarlet knelt towards the floor and touched his small hands to the surface. Confusion set in on his features and he could only quickly stand and look around once more. Eventually, his eyes fell on the tall buildings, eyebrows furrowed together as he saw no distinct colors to them either. He really wasn't imagining all of this, was he? No matter how logically he tried to put the pieces together, well, there was no way to logically solve this. For someone like Scarlet this was a little more than jarring, worry soon being expressed as he turned to his savior once more.

❝This place really is somewhere different, right?❞

❝There's no marked territory either...is there no mafia family around?❞

He had to take a second and breathe, rubbing his temples and unable to stop himself from thinking about what could possibly be going on back home without him there. Rather than really worrying about his own situation, stuck in this city, he could only fret about everyone else first. About his mafia family -- about Fuka -- he hoped that she would be alright even if he wasn't there. Not that they were particularly close but...for whatever reason, he thought about her. Though his mind soon turned back to the matter at hand, expression softening. 

❝I..will have to find a way to repay you for helping me. My name is Scarlet by the way, can I ask for yours?❞

[scarlethooded]

the first warning {Enjolras

[marblesque]

Enjolras stepped out of a small café with a sigh on his lips. ‘I’ll think about it’ was all the owner said after he asked whether or not she’d be willing to rent out the backroom for meetings. Not an entirely promising start. He supposed that the rapport that he had with Madame Hucheloup couldn’t be replicated so easily. Though she always appeared displeased with them whenever they got too rowdy during meetings, the older woman was always the first to lend a hand in crafting patches and offered bread and wine whenever he stayed late at Café Musain. He kissed her work-worn hands the night before the revolution, and those same hands were probably among the few that had to scrub their blood off the streets. 

It was the sound of metal crumbling that teared Enjolras from his thoughts as he looked up to see the source. Eyes widened once they spotted a flash of red falling from the sky, a cloak billowing in the wind as they curved over the contours of a slim body. A sharp curse hissed from the revolutionary’s teeth before he took off in a sprint, stopping directly beneath the falling figure. He held his arms out and braced for the impact of the other’s weight colliding into him, staggering by only a fraction once he did catch them. 

"Are you alright?"  

[scarlethooded]

If he were back home, Scarlet couldn't have relied on anyone to save him really. Not even those in his mafia family. It's not as if they weren't close, they were -- to a degree, but Scarlet couldn't rely on them completely. Luckily, or unluckily however you looked at it, this was not his home and thus, Scarlet was caught before his small frame impacted roughly with the ground below. The little bundle of red shifted around in the stranger's arms, wondering for a second if he really had been caught before he opened eyes and pushed his hood up, seeing the man whom had saved the young mafia member's life.

At his question did Scarlet exhale a sigh with a following nod, wriggling around and adjusting his hood once more before promptly answering.

❝I am, thanks to you. ...I apologize if I caused you any trouble.❞

Perhaps it was a reflex for him by now -- Scarlet always had to apologize for whatever trouble Hansel and Gretel caused the other families. Maybe he had just gotten used to apologize if there was every anything that would inconvenience another. Still, despite that he was really grateful someone had been kind enough to help him. Even if deep down inside he was wary -- really, he was wary of everyone to a degree. That's just how his mind worked when you were in a mafia family. Though that notion brought Scarlet to another thought, and he looked around from where he was held, looking at the ground for signs of color. Only to not see any colored brick roads.

Was this just unmarked territory? He had to ask, not one to leave things to speculation.

❝ ...Exactly, where am I?❞

[scarlethooded]

the first warning {noiz

[djnoiz-e]

Traversing through Sector 1 was a different experience compared to the others, simply because Noiz had come to realize that as time passed by -an hour was his estimate- all buildings changed location randomly. All but one that is, and it was the towering apartment structure placed in the very center of the area, as was in every other sector. Because of this Noiz used it as a reference point to maintain his bearings along with the streets.

He was at present rounding the sidewalk leading up to the complex doors when the rattling sound of crumbling metal met his ears, sensing a shadow passing overhead by the darkened skylight. Gut instinct and reflexes demanded that Noiz look up, his expression immediately turning dire and promptly bracing himself to break the fall. Impact came within seconds—his arms outstretched enough to catch the falling person safely against his chest, the force taking him down on the concrete with a hard thud. 

“Gh………”

Recollecting himself and his thoughts Noiz pushed up into a half-sitting position, loosening his grasp and glaring down at the red bundle atop of him. 

‘Che, they never warned us against falling bodies.’ He was fazed little by the event and would be fine, but was this person even alive?

“Oi, what the hell were you doing ?!”

[scarlethooded]

The landing was soft. Well, not completely but softer than he had thought.

Previously, his eyes had been shut tightly as if to brace for the impact but when he felt the arms under him and the subsequent frame against him had the hooded boy allowed eyelids to flutter open. When he had been caught, he noted how his entire red cloak had obstructed his small frame -- it was only when the one whom had caught Scarlet shifted, that the mafia member found himself able to move as well. He wiggled a bit in the other's arms, pushing his hood up and glancing towards what could only be dubbed as his savior. 

Lips parted as he prepared to thank and likewise apologize for the trouble but the other had beat him to the punch. In a sense. Adjusting his hood once more, Scarlet knit his brows together and thought how to answer. He had been only trying to get a survey of the area, but in hindsight...he should have thought more clearly. Usually, he wasn't so reckless. 

❝Trying to get a better look of things.❞

❝I don't really believe all of what I was told just now. More over, everything here is unmarked territory from the looks of it. Unless you know of a Mafia family around here?❞

If there was an opposing family then it could be trouble. He wouldn't focus too much on that for now, since there were no direct indicators of such. In any case, he proceeded his words with a soft tone, looking up towards the nameless man who still held the hooded boy in his arms.

❝If I caused you any trouble, I'm sorry but...thank you for catching me.❞

[scarlethooded]

the first warning {arietta

[eiennourei]

She was still new to this city, and so she continued to walk through the sectors together with her Liger, Ein, and her Hraesvelgr, Aerin. Not that Arietta went anywhere without them, the city was huge and it was a bit scary and difficult to navigate. If it weren’t for her friends, she would be constantly getting lost. In any case, she had been feeling weird lately. Flashes of memories that she didn’t remember having and strange dreams that felt incredibly real. A place called Paradise that was once Paradise, had disappeared, and then again came back but not the same as before. It was weird…the place started with a Z but that was all that came to her. Then all of a sudden Aerin and Ein made noises and she looked above.

Someone was falling.

W-what should I do? I should move out of the way, shouldn’t I? But before she did a voice spoke as if from the deepest recesses of her mind. "Not all people are bad." She didn’t know who it was but they seemed nice, like Ion, and books they must have liked books. And so instead of moving out of the way she attempted, with her small and slightly fragile body, tried to catch the falling person or at least hoped to cushion their fall about. She had healing artes, any injuries could be fixed.

[scarlethooded]

The impact wasn't what he had expected. It wasn't exactly the easiest fall to the floor by any degree, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. Naturally, he was quick to apologize for the trouble he might have caused to the other -- blinking bright eyes when he realized who exactly he had landed on. The hair had thrown him off for a second, he almost thought it was someone else. When he confirmed that it wasn't who he thought it was, did he quickly get off -- offering the girl his hand to help her up.

❝I miscalculated...thank you for catching me but,❞

❝I'm sorry if I caused you any injuries.❞

He hadn't ever seen her around, then again, he had no idea where this was at all. Unmarked territory? From where he was, the ground would usually be marked with a color pertaining to the mafia family that held that territory. But when he looked at this ground...it was gray. No red bricks dictating it was for Oz, or green to dictate it being Grimm -- it was interesting to think about unmarked areas like this. They were so rare for him to see. He'd perhaps ask about that...the mafia that ruled here, or if there was one at all. -- He really had a lot to learn about this place.