A Meeting of Hunters [Pirate-Hunter's Plot][Closed]

The Great Huntress Inn wasn't usually too popular of a place, as far as pubs and bars go, but today it was packed, with all the tables in the main room pushed together to form a large table, surrounded by fairly comfortable looking seats, many of which already had people seated in them. By the doorway stood a man holding a small book of names. As one man walked in, he gave his name to the doorman, who checked it off on the list and allowed him to walk past, to be seated by the table ((OOC: Feel free to control the doorman. If you joined in the last thread, your name is on the list)).

A few servers were going on handing out drinks, both alcoholic and a few non-alcoholic (Though mostly alcoholic), to the ones currently waiting. The barkeep himself stood at the bar, preparing drinks when needed, but mostly watching over everything to make sure nothing bad happened. You could never tell what these freelancer navy types were going to do. One moment they might be happily drinking together, the next they might be swinging chairs at each other and smashing tables apart.

On the table, in front of every chair, lay a folder, each being identical to the last. Inside the folder lay a multitude of files, useful for the new crew. Mostly, however, the files were made up of a history of the recent increase in pirate activity, the current known pirates and information on them, along with some basic information about the role of the task force. Mostly it's purpose was to give the new crew and introduction to the pirate menace. In addition, each folder contained half a year's salary of Lien, paid in advance.

Yuuka herself sat the head of the table, idly flipping through the files as she waited, despite having already read them thoroughly, and in fact, she had helped to write them.

Zangretor walked in, arms crossed. He bumped his way through the doorman saying his name as he passed. Spotting Yuuka, he walked to her table. "Looks like you've attracted a decent sized team. Guess that means there's only less money for us, huh?" Zangretor sat in a chair next to Yuuka before staring up at Maverick. "So you looking to get paid like me, or are you one of those 'helpful' people who wants to make the world a better place or some crap?"

Aurelia again arrived at the Great Huntress Inn, again dressed in her 'other' uniform. She stared at the inn for a moment. And so it begins, huh? She took a deep breath before walking into the building, giving her name to the doorman in the process. She watched as he checked off her name. She looked around. Well, they seem to have moved things around a bit. She shrugged and walked over to the bar and asked for a bottle of rum like usual. After doing so, she would find an empty seat and flipped through the folder that was in front of her.

Kasumi entered, giving her name to the doorman. She looked around as she walked in, seeing a couple of people she recognized from the recruitment last week. She noticed the recruiter...Yuuka was it? Talking with a couple of other...pirate-hunters. She sighed and walked over to the bar, ordering a White Russian. As she waited for her drink, she glanced around, observing the room.

Zangretor was visibly disappointed with Maverick's answer. He began speaking to no one in particular. "Geez, anything but goodie-goodies on this mission? I don't get people in this country. It's like they all have some skewed understanding of the world." Turning back to Maverick, he continued, "Oh well, I'm Zangretor. You'll probably meet Taabrea later. Since we're working together I guess we should know each other's names."

"Well, since you seem so interested in us, I guess I'll have Taabrea explain how we view the world." Zangretor says before staring directly into Maverick's eyes. The strange anomalies in Zangretor's pupils come together and form a star shape. As he speaks, his voice is noticeably lower. "I am Taabrea, the god of all malice that fills this world. Zangretor is my vessel and together we seek to fill the world with hate and conflict. Is that an informative enough introduction?" Taabrea grins as he sits up straight in his chair. "We view the world as something to be twisted and contorted, to awaken the primal essence of humanity, it's lust for conflict. There were many who worshipped me and those included in my pantheon, both angels and demons, however they're mostly all dead now, thanks to the deities and their vessels. We were all simply fed up with how they used us to their own advantage." Taabrea pauses for a moment, considering the situation. "But I haven't given you time to adequately introduce yourself. Please, tell us what you think of the world. Tell us who you are and what you stand for."

Taabrea smiles at Maverick's answer. "Yes, it is very easy to be confused by the unnatural flow of this world. I feel like you could have also acted as a vessel for one of my brethren. I am aware of how inherently... evil I may seem, but as I said, my order gave patronage to both demons and angels. We tried to find some balance between the forces of this world. Too bad all the worshipers are gone, you could have secured a lot of power with them." Taabrea thinks before continuing. "Oh, but what would you even want with some strange religious order as that? You are the head of a large corporation, you would not be swayed simply from tales of angels of fortune or demons of greed. One who prefers hard evidence over beliefs I suppose."

Aurelia stopped reading her folder for a moment and took a sip of her rum. After doing so, she stared at the folder intently. I wonder which of them have my sword...I guess I'll find out soon enough. She sighed, and as she looked up, she realized how much was actually going around her. She quickly sat up straight in her chair, placing her bottle near a leg of her chair in the process. "I am, uh, doing fine. How about yourself?"

Intrigued by Maverick's assessment, Taabrea tilted his head in consideration. "A very interesting and well-thought assessment. Perhaps this mission will be bearable after all, having someone like you certainly makes it more fun." Taabrea thinks again for a moment. "Though, I think you've failed to understand one thing. Even if a large group of my followers was still out there, I would have no interest in controlling anything. The largest theme of our pantheon is balance. There is a god for one thing and an equal, opposite god at all times. Should one rise, the other will bring him back down. While I, myself, seek to cripple the world, my order seeks to keep everything in perfect balance. Peculiar, isn't it?"

"Indeed, your order is quite commendable. Not only do they worship chaos but also peace. Such as how justice would not exist without crimes and vice versa. A balance..."

Though he gave out a final suggestion.

"But right now, among the other gods of your pantheon, you are the only one who has manifested physically in this world. Wouldn't that tip the balance and would make things in your favor?"

He then surveyed the area to see if how many had already arrived.

"I would really like to continue our conversation but it seems that not everyone is enjoying this gathering unlike us", he said as he tilts his head to the direction towards Kasumi. "As a gentleman, I can't allow any woman to feel alone in a fine gathering such as this."

"It was quite refreshing conversing with you, Sir Taabrea and Sir Zangretor. May we continue our talk sometime in the near future", he said as he gentlemanly bows with a sincere smile on his face. "Also, keep the business card I gave you. I could offer you a high status job with a high pay after all this is over". He then headed to where Kasumi was.

"Excuse me, miss, might I ask if you could spare some time for a simple chat?", he asked Kasumi with a sincere smile on his face.

She tilted her head as if she were thinking, a finger placed upon her chin while simultaneously examining his robotic hand. I suppose I haven't. Her tone was intrigued with a hint of playful. "Was it something you asked for or..." She paused there, looking at him expectantly.

Yuuka casually brushes everyone that tried to approach her off, not even turning to look at them as she directs them elsewhere. Continuing to stare at the files, in reality she would be deep in thought about other things. Deep enough in thought that she didn't notice the identity of the people bothering her, her mind instead just unconsciously getting rid of the intrusions to her focus.

Kasumi sipped her drink, watching the man approaching her intently, Great, now it's a bloody social gathering. She thought. She put on a friendly smile as the man approached her, "Of course I can." She replied, Goodness I hate pleasantries... holding out her hand, she said, "I'm Kasumi, and you?"

"Nice to meet you, Maverick." She said, shaking the man's hand, That is an...interesting name... She thought. And it seems yet another person is wanting to wonder why a little girl like me wants to fight... She found out as he continued talking. "Not nosy at all." She said, "However I do have my reasons. All you need to know is that I have signed up to do a job, and I'm am perfectly capable of completing that job, no matter what it takes."

Taabrea retreated back into quiet meditation as Zangretor regained control. "Heh, well he seems like a pretty cool guy. I was seriously worried about this whole thing. And he'll give us a job too? Looks like we've made a pretty close new friend in a very high place." Zangretor kicked up his feet on the table as he waved to the bartender to fetch him a drink.