977/A brace of Foxes

A brace of Foxes
Date of Scene:	04 April 2020
Location:	Bronx
Synopsis:	A compact between foxes is formed.
Cast of Characters:	Chizue Nakamura, Alopex

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Chizue Nakamura has posed:
    She hadn't really intended to get into a fight today, but they'd made themselves entirely too obvious. They'd added insult to injury, by being obvious right infront of her without so much as noticing her. It was insulting, as far as she was concerned because well when you're ripping your way into a cell network you're not exactly -that- well hidden. So of course she went after them, a trio of foot Ninja running when they should have turned and fought.

    She cut one down a few blocks back, before taking the high road and vanishing into the night. The two remaining yokels had stopped to catch their breath, and she punished their weakness all but immediately. A blur of every bright color falling from the sky light a meteor, and cutting another down in a single quick motion before drawing still. Her form blurring into the background, and all but vanishing. The last foot should have stood and fought to the end by Owari's measure, but he turned to run and this too she punished. Erupting from seemingly thin air in a blast of color, as she jabs that blade directly under the base of his skull and lets him hit the ground in a pile.

    Slowly she lifts a hand to sweep her hood back, revealing that polygonal fox mask rendered in brilliant white before slowly fading into a deep dark blue. "What a pity, you fellows seem to have abandoned your honor."

Alopex has posed:
    It wasn't every night that something so unique occured in the streets of a city another fox knew very well. Alopex had stopped on a three story roof to have a quick bite, but something caught her ears. Panic voices, fast and heavy foot falls, yelps of help, pain... that could only mean one thing.

    The meal is rushed, her scrappings are cleaned up, and Alopex is on the move again, darting toward the source of the sounds. What she sees is entirely unexpected. Rather than criminals enacting a mugging, she bore witness to Foot ninja being struck down. ... Huh. The ease in which this is done is stunning. Training is clear, movements are swift, the colors are striking, but it's the final moment, the mask, that really catches her attention.

    Without hesitation, Alopex drops to street level without a sound. At present, a hood hides her mutant nature away from all but the sharpest of prying eyes. At her back, the hilt of her blade waits, as do the kama at her waist. She has a very simple question. "Who here is also on the hunt for the Foot?"

Chizue Nakamura has posed:
    She rolls to the left to sweep that mask around, eyes flaring with a dull violent for a moment as she studies Alopex. Her cloak is just waist length, then it's leggings and some sort of tabi style sneakers. All of it just drinks up the light, it's blacker than black. That sword too is somewhere between a Katana and a Ninjato, though the guard is decidedly minimalistic and the blade itself is made from what is that carbon fibre?

    "Friends of yours?"She gives that blade an artful little flourish as she bounces on the balls of her feet, before slowly sinking down in a ready stance. "I am the Chunin Kunoichi known as 'Owari', of clan Haga. Member of the Tokyo Justice Association, and the Imperial Jade Court of Heaven. Who are you, to wear the hood and Kama?"

Alopex has posed:
    The fox takes no stance. Instead, her hands are out, open, with palms facing the assassin, "I am no friend of the Foot Clan. Quite the opposite," she points out, taking in everything in 'Owari's' appearence.

    "I am hunted by them. A refugee. A former tool that took offense to everything they do which was at odds with everything they said they stand for. I have no lengthy title, perhaps simply a ronin at best. I am just Alopex, nothing more."

Chizue Nakamura has posed:
    "A ronin, in America?"She eases up her stance at that at least, resting one hand casually on her brace of swords for the moment. "A former tool, you know many back home would suggest that once you wear the banner once it brands your very soul. I believe there are exceptions to this, particularly where trickery or mystical manipulation are concerned."She lifts a glove to peel that fox mask away to reveal, well an armored eyeless faceplate. It does bear a circle, populated by three neat blue diamonds.

    "Lower your hood, and explain your connection to these outlaw in detail please?"And finally she lifts a mask back up, letting it click into place. It's a fox's face again, only this time the ears are erect and it's polygonal expression could be read as neutral at worst or curious at best."I apologize for being rude, but these are rather critical matters you understand?"

Alopex has posed:
    Normally she would not be so swift to show her face, but in this situation, with someone so well trained and clearly an enemy of the Foot, Alopex decides it may be the proof she needs to show why she was just a tool. As the thought slips through her mind, Owari may notice the moment of hesitation. It passes, her hands lift, the edges of the hood are tugged at, and a face will appear that is clearly not human.

    "They made me. They told me lies. They insisted they were a family. They burned my home to the ground. They imprisoned, beat, and looked down upon another similar to myself. They saw us as tools. They do not know what family means. They know only control, power, intimidation, fear. The blade at my back was to be my final proof that I would serve them forever. Instead, I stole it, rescued my friend, and have stood against them ever since. .. Again. I am Alopex. I weild the Tentetsutou. And I will forever be a thorn to the Foot Clan."

Chizue Nakamura has posed:
    Silence, for long moments. "Then we are sisters in this endeavor, Alopex. I apologize I cannot remove my own face plate, My clan believes our obscurity is essential to our custom."And so she reaches up to pull that fox mask free again, tucking it under her short cloak and replacing it with another. A Raccoon dog, complete with a polygonal green leaf upon her head.
    "I'm human only in appearance without my mask never the less, so you are not alone in this."Theres a glance towards the rooftops yonder. "Let us sit and discuss, as sisters?"

Alopex has posed:
    To Alopex, there's tension in that silence. When it is relieved, she only gives a nod, returns the hood, listens, and glances upward. "That is ideal," comes her reply before she's headed upward via the means available. Walls, fire escapes, windows, all a silent endeavor thanks to the 'quiet' night in the city that never sleeps. Atop the building, she'd simply wait for the other.

Chizue Nakamura has posed:
    All but runs up that coarse brick, scrambling up over the edge finally before taking a breath and letting her shoulders slump. "I will answer whatever questions I am allowed to, though in turn I confess I am curious. You've said many interesting things."She circles around once, before dropping down and setting her swords casually aside. One hand reaching under the back of her cloak to produce, oh hey a double layed bento box! Carefully she sets the box out infront of her, Green tea flavored red bean cakes, and a whole lot of eel rolls. She offers those chopsticks towards Alopex without hesitation.

    "Genetic manipulation is something only the Haga clan is supposed to do, so your nature is of great concern to me obviously. Do you remember how they made you, or who was in charge of any of that?"Lifting a gloved hand to tap at her own temple. "I'm built up from Tanuki stock, though my mother and father were both Fox types. Most of the clan members of that age are, though you'd never know it to look at them."

Alopex has posed:
    A .. lunch box? Bento box. That wasn't expected by Alopex. With the chop sticks offered, the mutant kneels before Owari, sets her own weapons aside, and accepts the offered utensils and meal.

    "Ah, I apologize, I remember none of it. Blurred images, memories of pain, are all I can recall. I was never human, I started my life as a fox far to the north near Fairbanks, Alaska," she informs, slowly taking a bite from the food given. She did -just- eat, but she wasn't going to deny the hospitality offered.

    "I mentioned earlier they destroyed my first home. It was on a mission to destroy the lab I was made in, so, if you had interest in that place, you may only find dust and cinders. What education I received, I did from the Foot Clan. They were very specific in what they allowed me to know. I can't say I am familiar with your clan, let alone the country of your origin beyond the customs and mannerisms I was allowed to be taught." This is clear in the way she eats and the way she enjoys the tea. "I only know of one other mutant from the Foot. The one I rescued, though.. they did not go through the process as well as I did."

Chizue Nakamura has posed:
    "There are five noble Ninja clans, all of which comes from either Koga or Iga Village. Koga and Iga Clans in their respective territories, and the Haga Clan to the north who left to ply their trade in the capital. The Foot and Hand were further North still, but both came from Iga I believe."She reclines comfortably. "When Westerners came and wanted to influence the emperor, they hired the Foot and Hand clans. This is against the Law of our tradition. So they were cast out, I believe it was thought they'd never survive outside of Japan."

    "They felt their exhile freed them of all remaining laws, and so they perverted our tradition and went on to break every remaining law we have. Forcing somebody to serve, is a big one as well. The Jade court would have sent somebody sooner, but two world wars somewhat distracted us followed by a shadow war with the Triad."Theres a little shrug there.

    "As useful as their lab may have been to me, your actions are understandable and entirely honorable. You have nothing to be ashamed of, we were too slow in coming. It is I who should apologize to you, on behalf of my clan. You never should have been placed into this position."and finally a gloved hand offered, because hey it's America. "I cannot undo what has happened, but I can endeavor to make it better. How can I help?"

Alopex has posed:
    What? While the historly lesson has Alopex's interest, it's that this new ninja is actually apologizing for what the Foot Clan did to her? .. Huh. She really isn't sure how to react. The offered hand is what saves her from looking like a deer frozen in headlights. It's an accepted handshake, to which she even gives a nod of her head.

    "I appreciate it, but until today I knew nothing of this history. The Foot are the ones that did this, and they are the ones that will reap my ire against them. I have no reason to hold ill will against a clan, or a country, that feel at fault simply because they could not act. The world turns, events out of our control will always happen. At least, in this instance, these actions are out of the control of the Foot. In that alone, you are already helping. Any enemy of theirs is a friend of mine. My only difficulty is working al - .. mostly alone. Two of us against the Foot is a rather monumental task, even with the tactics we have at our disposal. Help is always welcome. Friends, even more so. I have just been ... slow to reach out for very obvious reasons. Most humans fear things they do not understand. I fall into that category."

Chizue Nakamura has posed:
    "I was sent to handle both clans, by myself entirely. I am more than comfortable in seeing this through, and if you wish you may rely upon me to satisfy your vengence. Of course if you want to fight, then so be it. We are sister Kunoichi, the fact you're clanless does not dishonor you."She gives a little shrug at that. "Right now I'm robbing the foot and Hand both of their allies in the financial sectors, which will make it difficult for them to use their dirty money."
    "Once that is successful they'll end up having to keep large cash stockpiles, which I can rip off or destroy depending on how I feel. Robbed of their financial backing, their allies will abandon them and their retainers will flee."THeres a pause there as she ponders "How are you doing for funds, I can think of no greater justice than giving you the money I steal from them."

Alopex has posed:
    "I admire that confidence," Alopex admits, setting down a finished dish, chopsticks on top. She had been sneaking bites here and there, while minding her manners. "It sounds as if you have far better connections than myself. Going after their money is the best way to start. It is why I often interrupt anything I see that will earn the Foot some funds. Things beyond the physical, such as within banking systems, are beyond my reach.

    Hmm. That could be -useful-. "I scrounge what I can but to receive such a thing? I would not say no. Thank you." Another bow of her head is given. That would be more helpful than most would understand. "I will help fight against them in anyway, you need only ask, or call, if you'd like. I did manage to get hold of a cell phone number if you want it."

Chizue Nakamura has posed:
    "Look being a Ninja is -hard-, being a Kunoichi is even harder. So when two Kunoichi share a task, they become as sisters. We are bound in duty to punish these outlaws, and so we're sisters."Casually she flips that cloak over a shoulder, and digs about in her chest rig for a moment. "Keep the phone turned off when not in use, only turn it on away from your resting place. I don't think the foot or Hand can trace a phone, but I can and do so frequently. Caution is prudent, as always. I'll get you a laptop by tomorrow, and will cook up a secure card for you to use."

    "I'm a Haga Ninja, even amongst Ninja we have a well earned reputation for being dirty tricksters."Theres a little shrug there as she finally digs out, well it's a little fob with an LED read out. "THe phone number will change every five minutes, in lockstep with a signal repeater network I've distributed throughout the city. It will patch you into my coms system directly. If it must be destroyed, it only takes a few drops of water. So take care to keep it dry. Barring that you can leave a note for me at the base of any cellular tower which has a white chalk mark, this signifies that I've hijacked that tower and check it regularly."

Alopex has posed:
    For once, Alopex can provide a small smile. It's hidden by the hood, but it is in her tone, "I already am familiar with keeping my phone secure. I remove the battery well before getting home and only replace it when I'm at a distance from where I stay." Laptop..?! "... Thank you. I understand why you are doing this, but in all honesty, this amount of gratitude I am not quite accustomed to." Who is this person?! Kunoichi, certainly, but Alopex would never have considered a chance meeting leading to such a boon in resources. She'll have a lot to tell her other ally later.

    Tricksters. Heh. "Well, yes, I've heard such things. It is only because people know we lurk in the dark. For that alone we are dirty little cheats. I call it intelligent resource usage.. ... much like you are doing now.." the fob is accepted. Hmm. Chalk on cell towers? Interesting. "You've been working hard. Hmm. Well, if you feel there are any other 'resources' I should meet, feel free to message me. The more allies the better, just so long as they can accept what we are."

Chizue Nakamura has posed:
    "Well I've dumped maybe three million into charities already, I should be able to secure you a portion of these thefts quite soon. Not a million, as that becomes a logistical hurdle to wash. Some thousands perhaps, though irregularly. Making the money safe to use, is the difficulty so I can't exactly secure you too much right away."She gives a casual little shrug there. "I'll see about finding you a face, so you can more comfortably do your shopping for necessities. Incidentally don't be afraid to ask me for such things, I go grocery shopping too and It's not a big deal."

    "Resources well, theres a somebody in Gotham I ran into. She's mute, but certainly raised in the life. In New York, I'm helping Spiderman out a little. He has no idea what our lives are like, and just does not have the heart for our affairs. That said he's nice and trustworthy, and you can simply say you are my sister and that will open the doors."She ponders a touch, before reaching out to take that box and those neato folding chopsticks. Casually packing up before rolling to her shoes.

    "Anyway, Alopex you are not alone in this fight. I've got a tower to hack before turning in for the night, so excuse my brevity. Contact me tomorrow, and we'll work out a safe place we can meet more regularly? I should have a laptop built for you by then as well, and perhaps a little cash yes?"

Alopex has posed:
    Hmm. Yes. This Owari is -very- well connected. What a wonderful night this has turned out to be. "Anything is fine. I do not need a lot, please. We have managed this long, after all." It is as she mentioned before, she won't say no, but she's still going to have akward moments with all the generousity. Getting a 'face'? She isn't sure what to make of that, but will find out soon enough.

    "Hmm. I have at least heard of him. If we cross paths I'll remember it. The mute I do not know. I don't range as far as Gotham very much. In either case, this is all exceedingly useful. I'll be sure to reach out and be sure to find you again." This time, the fox rises and offers a proper bow. "Be safe."

Chizue Nakamura has posed:
    "Be safe, sister."That hood comes back up, and the mask's colors fade. Slowly she all but vanishes into the background, before darting off. Theres a flash of color, and just...nothing. Ninja vanish yo.