thenearshore | A prayer for safety

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A prayer for safety

Who: Nami & Yata
When: June 30th
Where: a neighborhood in The Near Shore plagued by an unruly gang
What: Prayer #21

I can't believe what's happening to the neighborhood. It's that gang that moved in! My apartment was robbed, and I'm seeing so much graffiti everywhere. Please, do something about them before they hurt somebody.

--

[Some might think it hypocritical for a renowned thief to have a problem with a burglar. Nami, however, would have it well known that it's completely different to steal from an innocent civilian than from a violent, plundering pirate. More importantly, a gang of deviants didn't sound too dangerous. She could handle normal people.

She teleports with Yata to the general area and surveys the streets. It's the southern skirt of the city, a residential area of middle-income apartments. Nami can imagine the area looking much nicer not long ago. Underneath the graffiti, the walls are clean and the paint unchipped. Beneath the litter, the sidewalks don't have cracks. The streets are well lit, and a small park welcomes leashed dogs and nature lovers among the residents of the apartment buildings that surround them. Or it would, if anyone dared roam the area

As for the streets themselves? Entirely too empty and quiet, with one exception: towards the east, the revving of motors; whooping; and, as the engines peel away, a pair of gunshots.

The sound moves north.]

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[ He stands beside her, a little fidgety and on edge, because training to do this is one thing but actually being here to do this is something else, especially when he doesn't want to let her down. Also he's feeling weirdly eager for this fight? Anticipation has him even more restless than usual and he's gripping his skateboard under one arm as he shifts from one foot to the other in impatience.

The sound of revving motors and a pair of gunshots has him going carefully still, however, snapping his focus back to the moment with an intensity that might be a little unnerving to anyone else.

After a moment, he gives a derisive snort. ]

Well. At least they won't be hard to find.

[Nami's eyes flicker in the direction of the noise as a hand comes to her hip. Really? She thinks. How obnoxious! But Yata's right that it makes their job easier. This should be quick.]

That's true. Shall we do this?

[ At the question, he flashes her a grin, sharp and eager, anticipating the fight to come. ]

Yeah! How should we do it? [ Because he's not sure if she wants to do the whole god-using-him thing or if they're just gonna head in to deal with them with their fists. Or whatever else might be on hand. ]

[If these were big league adversaries like an admiral or a yonkou, Nami would be feeling a lot more worried, and would spend some time strategizing how best to approach dealing with the problem. A few street punks, though? Nami isn't afraid of guns (anymore).

They're getting further away as it stands, but that's easily fixed when you have the ability to teleport. Nami takes just long enough to use her ears to listen for where they seem to be and, more importantly, where they seem to be going, then grabs Yata's arm again, teleports them to the street of the commotion, and slings him in the direction of the gang as they screech to a stop in surprise.]

KICK THEIR BUTTS!!!!

[ There's a muffled yelp when she latches onto his arm with no warning, but the sensation of being teleported has become familiar, at least.

And then she slings him forward with that command and this is more like it. Skateboard drops to the pavement and his feet land, already shooting forward in motion. Spinning wheels spark and catch fire, shooting out flames behind him as he puts on a boost of speed and launches himself toward the nearest gang members.

He doesn't have a weapon on him but he doesn't need one. Him and his board move in tandem, like its an extension of his own body. He swerves, building speed before going airborne and coming down on the shocked and upturned face of the nearest thug, giving a laughing crow of victory as his board connects with a crunch taking the thug down beneath him without so much as a struggle.

Not that the element of surprise would last much longer, but it had felt refreshingly good to do that. ]

[Yata is good.

Nami has seen how he practices, and the skill he shows with a staff. And she knows from seeing his death that he went down fighting, just like this. Even without that, one only needs to see the look on his face to know he's in his element here. This suits Nami just fine, as she'd usually rather not get into the fray anyway-- the perks of always being near at least one monster of a fighter.

The thug's bike goes down with him, pinning his leg as he connects with the pavement. And for a moment, just that moment, the others are so stunned that it's just silence. Incredulous, shocked silence.

And then the moment is over. And they're reacting to the fall of their comrade.]

'Who the fuck do you think you are?!'

'Get him!'

'I'll fucking kill him!'

[The guns are coming out, and a couple of the gang are dismounting their bikes, while others don't bother. One fires a shot.

And all the while Nami stands by, well away from the fray, but she's watching. Just in case. If anything should happen, she can't just watch from the sidelines as it unfolds. When it comes down to it, when her friends need her she's there for them.]

[ But Yata is in his element here, even now. It's exhilarating, the rush of adrenaline that comes with launching himself into a fight, even as outnumbered as he is. There's a comfort in knowing his god is nearby and there's a trust there that if things should get too out of control, he's got her to fall back on.

But right now, with just these? He doesn't feel worried or outnumbered at all. They're just humans and not even their guns concern him all that much. Especially when bullet zings past his ear, but his reflexes had kicked in without him even thinking about it, jerking to the side and out of its path with a speed that is completely inhuman. Part of his thoughts marvel at that in the back of his mind but his focus is on the fight and the enemies surrounding him and the desire to keep their attention focused solely on him.

Although he does turn towards the gang member who had shot at him and gives the man a sharp, dangerous grin. ]

Haha! Too slow, asshole. You really shouldn't have done that.

[ Fire wells up around his fist, licking its way up his arm as he zooms in a wide arc, only to swerve close at the last minute and send his fist slamming into the thug's face. ]

[She's ready to intervene, but it's looking increasingly likely she won't need to. Yata moves with a speed and instinct for fighting that speaks volumes: he isn't a normal guy. And if anyone still had their doubts, the flame that forms and moves up his arm should be more than enough to quash them.

Nami can't help but think of Ace in that moment. The ability seems very similar: to be able to create and manipulate fire around the body. It's a dangerous ability to be certain, and makes for a formidable opponent. The punks, on the other hand, don't seem at all prepared for anything so decidedly not human as their second member goes down.]

'What the hell?! Was that fire?'

'He's a freak!'

'Don't be a dumbass it's some kind of trick.'

[Two more shots fire at Yata while a third member of the remaining five breaks out a weighted chain and winds it up for momentum before slinging it out in an effort to snare Yata around the middle. Whether it gets his arms or not, just restricting how far he can move is the first point of business.]

[ A shift of his weight backward and Yata kicks his board up in front of him as a shield, interrupting the chain. It spares him from getting caught, but his board goes clattering to the side, knocked out of play. It takes some of his speed and he's now on foot facing the remaining thugs, but he still doesn't look all that concerned. The flames spread as he gets more fired up, wrapping around him in a warm glow, lighting up the dark street. ]

Who are you calling a freak? Dumbasses. Have you learned your lesson yet? You can't win this.

[ Which are big words coming from the short punk smirking at them with no weapons on him. Almost as if it's intended to incite them further. ]

[The three already focused on Yata continue their attack on him. One of them fires his gun only to realize he's run out of bullets. The second gun fires twice in a row. The chain sails out again. They seem to at least be smart enough to avoid getting in close.

One of the others thinks better of the idea altogether and shifts attention to the woman with him who still stands well clear of the fight. The engine to his bike revs and he takes off towards Nami.

Nami's attention snaps to him, but she doesn't look alarmed. She draws out the three pieces to her staff and snaps them together in one quick, fluid motion. You want a piece of her, buddy? She's ready.]

[ He keeps them focused on him, moving in evasive actions as he dives towards his skateboard again, narrowly ducking under the swing of the chain. When he pops up again, it's on his wheels once more, taking advantage of the guy who'd used up all his bullets. Coming in under his guard, he slams his shoulder into the thug's midsection, knocking the air out of him and giving him the momentum he needs to toss him towards the guy with the chain - namely the biggest pain in the ass right now. He can keep dodging it of course, but while trying to juggle multiple targets, the speed and agility of the chain as a weapon makes it unnecessarily complicated.

Using the one thug as an impromptu weapon to toss against his companion ends up with both of them going down in a pile of cursing and flailing limbs, the chain rebounding back to hopelessly entangle them both. Which leaves the remaining guy with the gun.

Although he pauses before launching forward, because there's a guy advancing on his god and his gaze flits quickly to her face, checking to see if she wants to handle him herself or if she'd prefer him to intervene, his actions waiting on her direction. ]

[As the biker advances, Nami keeps her place. She gauges the rate of approach and as he comes within range, issues a sweep of her staff past her feet.]

Mirage Tempo...

[The air seems to warp around her, and she simply disappears. Visibly thrown, the biker screeches to a stop and scans around for her.

WHAP!!!

And, seemingly from nowhere, he takes a knock to the head from Nami's staff and falls from his bike as her figure reappears.]

You picked the wrong fight.

[ Part of him just wants to stop and stare, because damn! He didn't know she could do that! But then he just throws back his head and laughs, pleased and euphoric because this was fun and his god is awesome, and he lets that adrenaline push himself forward to slam a burning fist into the remaining gang member's face.

He drops like a rock and Yata grins as he glances around, taking in the fallen gang sprawled about in varying stages of concentration around them. ]

Welp. That takes care of that. Looks like these guys will think twice before causing a commotion around here again. [ He glances at Nami with a grin before pumping a fist in the air in victory, still laughing from the sheer fun of it. ]

Yeah! We rock!

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A prayer for safety

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