15940/Guns in the Kitchen

Guns in the Kitchen
Date of Scene:	25 September 2023
Location:	Hell's Kitchen
Synopsis:	Jacen Knight and Wiccan prepare to enter a gun runner hideout.
Cast of Characters:	Billy Kaplan, Jacen Knight

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Billy Kaplan has posed:
The rumors have been going around for weeks now that a crew of small-time arms dealers have managed to get a big score: military grade weapons. And they're working out of Hell's Kitchen. Typically this would work for the Defenders, but Billy has had some stuff going on in his personal life lately that have left him anxious and hyped up, so he decided to go to the Kitchen and check it out for himself. As Wiccan. Plus it's Yom Kippur and he can't eat or drink anything, so this is a good way to blow off steam.

He is in an alley next to a tenement house, squatted down next to a window. He couldn't look more out of place in his Wiccan uniform, but it's nighttime and the locals of Hell's Kitchen are experts at minding their own business.

There is a shade pulled in the window and Wiccan can't see inside. He twirls one finger and incants, "Open the shade, open the shade, open the shade." And just like that, magically, his hood pulls back. "Dammit."

Billy's magic doesn't always work 100% of the time, especially when he is distracted like he is tonight.

Jacen Knight has posed:
Jacen heard similar rumors. Tonight he is on site with a few other medics and one doctor doing his residency. Immunizations are not his favorite thing. The needle doesn't bother him, the contents do. There is enough First Nation in him to influence his opinions on such things.

So it is, Jacen is watching the area around him and taking people in one at a time, able to give the shots after some class certifications.

When his line empties for a few minutes, he settles onto a stool and takes an eagle's feather from the strange bag on his right hip. He settles his breath for a moment and then his vision goes wide, appearing to stare at nothing.

For those with spirit sight, a spirit eagle appears before him, crying into the sky silently. His perception goes wide and looks over the current block, but listening for another patient.

Billy Kaplan has posed:
With just a little irritation, Wiccan pulls his hood back up over his head. He seems like he's about to try again but he stops and looks around. He absolutely senses the arcane energies in the air. Someone new is here and invoking some serious magic. Standing up, Wiccan extends one arm a bit and summons his staff. Just in case. There are a lot of different possible explanations for this, and some of them are Not Good.

Floating slowly off the ground, the mage watches the spirit eagle soar upwards. "Well that doesn't seem that bad," he mutters to himself. "Never seen an evil supervillain use that kind of magic." He moves forward, still up in the air, to try to find the source of the mystic energy.

Jacen Knight has posed:
Jacen remains in the tent, waiting on patients, but the eagle makes its way over the area and after a moment starts to circle a building. Back in the tent Jacen smiles grimly and mutters,"Gotcha."

The eagle continues to circle a few times over the building and then fades into the night as if it was never there. Jacen moves to the main desk and tells the doctor he is stepping away.

Normally a doctor would objecet, but this one "accidentally" saw an I.D. badge on Jacen's belt. It is the paramedic badge now, it's an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. identification and the doctor has the good sense to not question.

When he appears, Jacen is dressed in a hospital polo, medic pants, boots, and on his right hip is a strange leather pouch. It can't be a coincidence he starts in the direction of the building.

Billy Kaplan has posed:
"Gotcha," Wiccan mutters when he sees Jacen exiting the tent, the aura of recent enchantment still on him. "Let's find out who you are."

"Hey, doc," Wiccan calls out as he starts descending from the sky slowly until he sets down directly in the line that Jacen must travel to get to the building. "How's tricks tonight?"

The red hood and cape of his uniform twists and swirls gently in time with some unseen, magical wind. He rests both hands on the top of his staff and rests his chin on his hands.

Jacen Knight has posed:
Jacen glances up at the sound of the voice. He turns towards the sound of the voice. The badge on his side is obvious to him now as well, but Jacen doesn't point it out yet,"Not a doc, justa medic." he replies.

He smirks as he realizes the one infront of him probably saw the eagle,"Maybe little more'n that too." he tells him. He considers the man for a moment and he asks,"Why I gotta feelin' you're here lookin' f'r th' same thing I'm lookin' for?"

Billy Kaplan has posed:
"You're tracking the gun runners," Wiccan says. He blurts out "Wicked!" as he snaps the fingers of one hand. "I *knew* I found the right building." He narrows his eyes, though Jacen wouldn't be able to see that past the enchanted hood. "I.../did/ find the right building, right?"

The young mage looks over his shoulder at the building then back at Jacen. "See I think they're on that ground floor apartment with the windows overlooking the alley," he starts talking excitedly. One might get the impression that beneath that uniform, Wiccan isn't exactly a grizzled, old veteran at the heroing business. He seems to be having a mini nerd-out right now. "It would give them plenty of points of egress if they had to get out of there really quick. And this building gets a lot of Uber eats deliveries at night."

Jacen Knight has posed:
Studying the young man for a time, Jacen finally nods and replies,"Normally I chase th' supernatural troubles'n all, but I reckon since I'm here anyway'n found th' place, might's well have a look."

He considers the man for a moment and asks,"You're young, not that I'm all that old, but ya had any time'n a dust up? Don' wanna end up in trouble in there. Not tryin' ta mess ya 'round, jus' don' wanna get both o' us shot ta Hell."

Billy Kaplan has posed:
Wiccan's body language suggest he's taken aback by that question. "Wait, what? You don't...you don't recognize me?" His tone of voice sounds...let down, like a kid who was expecting a PS5 for Christmas and got a Switch instead. "I'm Wiccan? Second in command of the Young Avengers?"

After drawing in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, the spellcaster shrugs. "Never mind. Not important. So tell me how you wanna handle this? Straight attack? Intel gathering? Infiltration?"

Jacen Knight has posed:
There is a hint of a smirk and Jacen gets out of the work polo, a black tank top under it,"Sorry. I dunno a lotta th' super hero types. Met an X-Man'r two. Few others, bu' kinda ain' my crowd d'spite m' powers."

He looks at the building and says,"Keep'n eye open f'r a few minutes." He takes the eagle feather in hand again and the spirit creature flies again, swooping around the building while Jacen stares blankly at the building,"Recon'll take a coupla minutes'n we c'n d'cide where ta go fr'm there."

Billy Kaplan has posed:
It seems apparent to Wiccan that perhaps Jacen isn't aware of his surrounds while that spirit creature is flying around. Maybe it's some form of magical reconnaissance. So Wiccan takes up a position where he has a good view of the surrounding area.

But we've already established that the young magic-user is anxious and filled with too much energy tonight, so he keeps talking anyway.

"See, Kate...she's our team leader...is busy with a lot of stuff she leaves a lot of the day-to-day to me. We've got a good team. Lotta talent and heart there. Sometimes my brother, Tommy, hangs out to do missions and...well, he's not my biological brother. He's like my magical brother. It's a long story involving a witch and a demon and even I don't really understand it all myself."

He's a damned chatterbox.

Jacen Knight has posed:
There is a smirk on his face, so Jacen isn't bothered by the chatterbox. When he pauses to breathe, Jacen mutters,"Three'n th' main lobby, armed. Two more upstairs, patrollin' th' buildin' a floor't a time. Seven more on th' gound floor packin' guns inta crates. Reckon we call that twelve potential hostiles. Reckon you could fly's both ta th' roof? I could get there, but it'd take time."