Alex Benedetto (
sing_for_me) wrote in
thenearshore2019-01-02 04:17 am
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Entry tags:
Prayer Log
Who: D2, Ginia, & Alex
What: Prayer 24
When: March 17
Where: Abandoned warehouse at the near shore
[ Things hadn't gone according to plan when Alex answered the prayer with Kaden and Shizuo. Even though they had technically completed it, the police were unable to catch any of the yakuza members. Part of her was relieved, since they had discovered just how young the delinquents were. She continued her search when she could, and it took longer what with everything that had happened in between. However, those long late night walks paid off eventually, and she was able to recognize one of them and follow them back to their hideout. They had found another abandoned building, a warehouse probably, to reside in. What's more, she had noticed some ayakashi hanging on their shoulders. Did that have anything to do with what they were up to? In any case, she had expressed how she hoped to avoid sending them to jail, and maybe try to convince them to take a different direction in their lives.
Of course, Alex knew better than to try anything on her own, so she decided to bring it up with Ginia back in the temple. As D2 was already there, he learned of the details as well. And so Alex teleported the three of them back to the near shore, and then closer to the warehouse. ]
I saw some older men..maybe three or four... [ She's peeking through a window, trying to catch sight of them. ] I didn't see if they had any ayakashi on them too though.
What: Prayer 24
When: March 17
Where: Abandoned warehouse at the near shore
[ Things hadn't gone according to plan when Alex answered the prayer with Kaden and Shizuo. Even though they had technically completed it, the police were unable to catch any of the yakuza members. Part of her was relieved, since they had discovered just how young the delinquents were. She continued her search when she could, and it took longer what with everything that had happened in between. However, those long late night walks paid off eventually, and she was able to recognize one of them and follow them back to their hideout. They had found another abandoned building, a warehouse probably, to reside in. What's more, she had noticed some ayakashi hanging on their shoulders. Did that have anything to do with what they were up to? In any case, she had expressed how she hoped to avoid sending them to jail, and maybe try to convince them to take a different direction in their lives.
Of course, Alex knew better than to try anything on her own, so she decided to bring it up with Ginia back in the temple. As D2 was already there, he learned of the details as well. And so Alex teleported the three of them back to the near shore, and then closer to the warehouse. ]
I saw some older men..maybe three or four... [ She's peeking through a window, trying to catch sight of them. ] I didn't see if they had any ayakashi on them too though.
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Ginia is perhaps a little more reserved on helping them, but they can discuss that after the ayakashi are dealt with.]
I could go in under Umbra and look around.
[To minimize the amount of sound, Ginia holds up a message on her phone, the screen's brightness dialed back a little.]
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Ginia isn't the only one scoping the place out and taking note of anything possibly gleaned from outside. It's pretty good that they both seem to have some experience in the field. It's unfortunate that the windows that are ground level are covered. Some look like they would easily break. There are some that are higher up that could have been useful had they not been covered in grime. That's useful, it looks completely abandoned and it's difficult to see inside but they could easily be watched without knowing it. ]
That seems like an idea. If we need to explore beyond ten minutes we can switch off. [ He pops open one of his vest's pockets, and picks out the little microphone that he had had to replace, and the ear piece that he had shown up with. He offers the microphone over to Ginia to clip onto her clothes. ] So we can hear what you hear.
[ She'll have to type what she sees to tell them, but she wouldn't have to tell them what she hears, that way. Which also means less sound of fingers finding the right letters and less light that might give her away, Umbra aside. ]
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Please be careful, Ginia..If I sense anything wrong, I’ll come get you, okay?
[ She turns her attention to D2 then ]
Do we just wait here..?
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Her hand pats the combat knife at her back and the extendable baton in her coat pocket. She gives Alex a comforting smile and signs quickly.]
I will. Won't even engage them.
[She nods at D2 and gives a light salute. Alex is in good hands, he wouldn't be here otherwise if Alex didn't trust him. Ginia sets off, still visible and rounds the corner, seeking a window that's already broken or loose enough she can slip through. She finds a window already shattered and after carefully breaking a few bigger pieces, focuses on the spell.
Ritsuki, Saki, Hatsuki, Umbra!
...those names sure add up fast.
Confident in her ability to stay out of sight, Ginia slips through the window and shifts through her nanite programs. Low-light vision makes moving around in the dim space a breeze, and being able to track electricity helps her pinpoint what direction to move toward. She can't tell specifics, but from the way a few rectangles hover in the air in one area, it's not hard to guess they're phones.
Marking each step across concrete and keeping to shadowy edges and abandoned shelves, Ginia makes her way through the building until she comes into an area near one of the loading bays. A few people are lounging by a broken window smoking cigarettes and chatting about a horse race, a camping lantern at their feet.
Ginia switches off the tech in her eyes before she can blind herself and hunkers down by a shelf, debating how to get past. Shielding her phone, she sends a quick text to the two of them.]
Four adults, left side by loading bay, smoking by window.
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The more people, the more likely they are to notice.
[ Though they could probably manage to keep Alex invisible as well, sound is an issue.
Ginia moves fast. Impressive. His gaze flickers over toward the direction Ginia indicates after reading her message. Minimum four. Not difficult to disarm if necessary. They need a bit more intel than that, but if she's as good as she's hinting at, then she'll get more. ]
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It did make her feel a bit restless to stay, but she trusts their judgment and skills.
Alex texts her back. ]
What about the kids? Are they there too?
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Going to move past them.
[Humans barely notice them enough and under Umbra, she should be practically invisible, but that doesn't mean they can't hear her. Slowing her breathing down, Ginia rolls her steps as she moves away from the shelves, moving in a large arc to avoid the light spread of the lantern. She slows as someone looks in her general direction as he talks, hand waving his cigarette, her presence unnoticed.
Clearing them, she stops by some crates and hides against them. There's what looks like an office ahead, the glow of another lantern or flashlight coming from it along with a few smaller glows. Ginia taps back into her nanites, the electronics overlaid once more. A central glow of a lantern, then three smaller hovering squares. Turning them back off, Ginia creeps over and peeks through the window. Inside the office are three teens on their phones, half-eaten bento boxes and bags of chips on the floor. Two more are napping on the floor, jackets bundled under their heads like pillows.
Ginia sneaks back toward the crates and hides against them as she texts them.]
Found five of the kids, they're in an office close by.
D2, can you distract the adults and get them to head out? Once they're clear, I'll signal you two to teleport to me.
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He's not particularly fast at typing on a phone, so his response is slightly abbreviated, but it is a confirmation. ]
Yes'm.
[ He glances over at Alex as he presses send. ]
You keep an eye out for her signal. Wear that.
[ He points at the ear piece and tucks his phone back into his pocket. He motions to Alex to hide a bit closer but out of sight and where they won't hear the small sounds, shows her to wear the piece properly. He takes in what there might be that could cause a disturbance large enough for all four adults to come out. Some metal barrels, a rusty pickup with some half-unloaded items, some scraps of garbage.
Less than a minute later he moves along the shadows spread out against the wall of the building, making his way closer to the loading bay. It wouldn't be entirely practical to cast Umbra on himself for now, it would be better if Alex could see him. And if they see somebody move outside, then they'll go looking.
No key in the ignition, unfortunately. That would have been useful, why did they have that much wherewithal if they didn't have enough of it to finish unloading before taking a smoke break? They had used straps to tie down things to the truck, and he snatches some up, loops one around the barrels in a pattern to make them less balanced and notes that they stink of fish though it would be terribly unhealthy to keep fish in them- hooks the ends together and fastens another strap around the first. Another strap is attached to some
equipment boxes that are far too easy to unlock. He wraps the free ends of the straps around his hands.
Really, the low perception people of the Near have of those of the Far is a useful thing.
The sound of the barrels shifting against each other, ground and straps isn't the loudest, but it ought to be enough to alert both the four adults and Ginia to something going on outside. The sound of the equipment boxes tipping is, however, loud. He hangs around for a little while to see if he needs to tip the barrels as well, to get all of them out. If it is necessary, that sound will be even louder. ]
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When they're closer, the men start to move more cautiously, holding up their weapons. They're not exactly the most organize group, just glancing around without much efficiency in their movements either.
Alex listens from the ear piece, though there's only so much she can make of it. ]
Did it work?
[ She gets up to try and get a peek on the inside, though she is hesitant to go against what they told her to do. ]
[ Alex started peeking around, shuffling in place waiting for the signal. ]
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...Look, it's more efficient this way. If the three aren't taken out by D2 and come back, she can take them out too. Ginia binds his wrists with his belt and hauls him out of the way. She looks toward the office, but there's no sound or movement from them.
Sneaking back to her hiding spot, she sends a text out, listening for sounds outside.]
Knocked out the guard here. Kids didn't stir. Ready for you two.
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They are also not trained to get out of chokeholds and somehow one is talented (and kind) enough to knock himself out by tripping on one of the straps. He wasn't even trying to make that happen with that person.
Wow.
Well.
At least it left him with only having to deal with two people, which made things faster. For safety's sake he pulled them together and unhooked the straps to fasten them with some quick but solid knots. Would save them the trouble of those specific guys for a little while at least.
And he could sooner return to Alex's side to be teleported inside. ]
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Who the hell are you?
[ The young boy holds up his bat, and Alex puts her hands up. He looked like one of the older kids. ]
I--[ More than threatening, the boy looked afraid, and she couldn't help but notice the little creature on his shoulder, egging him on. ]
I'm Alex. I've been searching a long time for you. [ She starts to use her power, attempting to lure the ayakashi towards her instead. ]
I'm not here to hurt you, I promise. I'm not calling the cops either. I just wanted to find you.
[ The kid seems less aggressive now, not knowing why he felt curious instead as he steps closer. The ayakashi seems less agitated as well. Her hands start to lower slowly. ]
Why are you looking for me? [ Another step. Hopefully D2 gets back soon enough to create a borderline to push the ayakashi out. ]
All of you. I know it's not just you.
[ The kid stops walking them, eyeing her more suspiciously and tightening his grip on the bat. It might be time to switch it to calming him and the ayakashi down. Maybe she wasn't approaching this the right way. Switching from one emotion to another seemed to be bothering him. Was she using too much or too little? She really hadn't practiced enough. ]
Why would you..that doesn't make sense. What the hell does it matter to you? [ He's getting more agitated, and Alex was on the fence about upping the dose. This kind of indecisiveness is probably why she was told to stay back. ]
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Inside the office, there's movement. The light moves as one of the teens stands up and heads to the door. Ginia quickly throws a borderline in front of the door to block it.]
"What the hell? The door is stuck."
"Push harder, knob seems fine."
[Ginia watches the door as she sends out another fast text.]
Status?
Teens are trying to leave
no subject
The kid is not going to calm down so easily now that he's been riled up, the feeling of danger amplified by the ayakashi attached to him. ]
1 w ayk outside
hold
[ The short message is sent to Ginia as fast as he's able. He doesn't think they'll need her help, but if the situation changes they'll let her know. Same if she needs them quickly, he assumes.
D2 casts Umbra on himself, so that he can't be seen by anyone as he comes up behind the kid. Not even the ayakashi or Alex would notice him.
At this point D2 has enough time and practice under his belt to place borderlines that don't lodge straight down in the ground. The ayakashi startles more than the kid does, because the kid doesn't notice the borderline that cuts the creature, just notices that something spooks him. With a screech the ayakashi dislodges, bit it can't find the offending shinki, only the god.
It slams into a borderline before it can reach her. The kid is only frightened, with the aggression caused by the ayakashi fading. D2 comes up beside Alex and bumps his hand against hers and murmurs only loud enough for her to hear. ]
Sorry for my delay, I made sure the adults won't bother us for a while after coming to.
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Before she actually does anything, she notices the ayakashi jump and start to scamper towarss her. She hadn’t even...well, this works. Better her than the kid. However, rather than getting to her, the ayakashi smacks right into sonething. A border? But how—
She jumps when she feels the bump to her hand, turning only to find no one there. but she recognizes the voice.
Alex won’t ask how right now. Not when the kid looked so nervous now. She gives D2 a nod before turning back to the kid. ]
It’s okay. I promise we’re going to get you and the others out of here.. How many are you?
[ He swallows. ]
S..Six. The others are inside..
Okay..can you hide here until we get them? We’ll come back for you.
[ He hesitates, but nods. ]
D2..We can’t just leave him with the ayakashi..Can we box it in or..get it elsewhere? [ They had to get to Ginia. ]
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...Okay. Time to do something reckless.]
trapping ayk brb
[Ginia exhales to calm her nerves, releasing her borderline and dropping the shield back into the doorframe. The teens stumble as the door suddenly opens, falling back with a surprised shout. Dropping umbra, Ginia whistles sharply before running.]
"Who was that?"
"An intruder, I see him running!"
[The two fumbling with the door spill out of the office, the ayakashi clinging to their shoulders bouncing off the borderline. Unable to go too far, Ginia leaps onto a shelf, hanging in the darkness.]
"Shit, someone tied up Daigo! Everyone out!"
[As the rest of the teens spill out, a few more ayakashi bounce off the borderline. They continue to scramble about the office, looking for a way out, chatter filling the space as the wary teens spread out, weapons in hand and phones as flashlights.]
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Taking it elsewhere could take a bit of time. I could trap it though if there's one there's more-
[ Somewhere around here-... He feels a buzz in his pocket, and pulls his phone out as he leans a bit against his Line. Don't do anything too stupid, Ginia. ]
Apparently there are more of them, likely with the other kids. In that case it's easier to just take it out instead.
[ But Ginia is busy inside, so there is only the option of trapping it unless- ]
You could name me, if you'd like. It's the most effective solution available at the moment.
[ And D2 is a fan of efficiency. Would it be weird? Would Ginia disapprove? He knows some shinki prefers to be told first or asked before their god names another shinki. Either way they had to go to Ginia ASAP. ]
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But he was right, it would be the most effective thing to do, and they had to get to Ginia. She could just release him afterwards. She'll apologize to Hibiki later for yet another emergency naming of one of her shinki. ]
My name is Oshun. Grasping thy true name, I bind thee here. With borrowed name, I dub thee my servant. The name answers, the vessel to sound. I call thee as my divine instrument. The name, Tamotsu. The vessel, Ho. Come, Hoki!
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Alex already has a general idea of how he died, but seeing it as if she was experiencing it was a different thing and he was sorry about having to let her see that. It's not pretty and it's not quick or painless.
The familiar feeling of shifting into vessel form pulls at him with the feeling of the name sealing itself on his shoulder blade and his spell coming undone, and the form of a firearm takes his place, finding way into her palm.
Of course, her suddenly holding a pistol startles the kid, but D2 can't really do anything about that. As has become a habit for him each time he is named, he is relieved and glad when he turns into an actual weapon. The only thing that he needs to know now is if his power is offensive, defensive, or support, and he's already searching for the string connecting him to Hoki's power. He won't need it for them to render the ayakashi, but it's good to figure those things out early. ]
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She gasps as she snaps out of his memories, her hand shaky as she held his vessel form. She gripped the gun, as if holding him in person. This wasn't the time to bring up his memory, and they've spoken of it before already. But it was difficult to keep her emotions in check. It felt the same with every death she saw. Ginia, Kaden, Wendy, Temeraire...none of them deserved such endings. It made her heart ache. ]
D2, I don't know how good my aim is...will you be able to keep from harming the kid?
I am so sorry about the long delay
He tugs at the connection to whatever power he has as he finds it.
The Borderline formed to keep the ayakashi at bay at least somewhat are falling, and the creature is not exactly pleased with having been hindered in its way. ]
I believe so, but point the muzzle at the ayakashi and try to keep it from turning too close to the kid. Normal bullets go straight, more or less, so you should be fine.
o7
I need you to stay still, okay?
[ She felt bad for the kid, who wasn't sure if that was meant as a threat. But it did keep her from moving. Alex points the gun at the ayakashi, hopes she is anyway, and takes the shot. ]
Rend!
[ It was a split second, but it seemed like the bullet had shifted and expanded somewhere in the middle of its trajectory, but returned to a regular bullet once again. It hits the ayakashi, and quickly vanishes. Was Alex just seeing things?
The kid opens her eyes when she realizes she hasn't been hit. ]
There was something behind you, but I think it ran away. [ Hopefully that excuse worked. The kid did seem to be calming down though, and suddenly it was like she wasn't all too sure why she was here. ]
Me and my friends--we didn't mean to do all those things! But we needed a place to stay and--[ Her voice was apologetic, frantic. She was aware of what they had done. ]
My friend is inside checking on your friends now. We're gonna in and help them, okay? But I need you to stay right here until we get back.
[ The kid looks shocked, but nods in agreement.
Alex teleports her and D2 to where Ginia is, looking around carefully until she spots her. ]
Ginia, are you okay? What about the kids?
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The connection to the power had slipped, a little harder to grasp than the power he has when fighting Hibiki. He'll get the hang of it though.
D2 casually continues to search as Alex busies herself with the kid and teleportation, and splits his attention between their surroundings and his task. ]
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"Look, maybe it's not safe to stick around here. Someone jumped Daigo and the others are gone..."
"Yeah, but where are we going to go? Not like we have money or nothing."
[When Alex teleports into the room, Ginia lightly flashes her cellphone, maintaining her position on top of the shelf. The teens are at the far end of the warehouse, milling about and talking among themselves, far enough they won't notice them. Her eyes go the gun Alex is holding and it's not hard to piece together what's happened, especially since she doesn't see D2.]
Trapped the ayakashi in the office. [Ginia waves over at the room, ayakashi still bouncing around.] Can you rend them?
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Loud. [ She points at the gun.]
Help. Me? [ Her form was much stealthier, but she'll keep D2 in his vessel form just in case. ]
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Come, Saki.
[ She holds her hand out as the sword forms in her hand. Ginia's form was always quite the sight. ]
One of the kids is waiting outside. Do you think the rest will want to leave with us?
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Hey D2. Thanks for protecting Alex.
[Ginia isn't speaking so much as projecting her thoughts. Her voice is similar to her phone, though without the digitized quality. She glances over at the kids and clicks her tongue.]
If you got one to stay around and wait, I don't see why the others wouldn't follow. They seem pretty confused. Let's rend the ayakashi and see what happens.
[The borderline is still solid, but Ginia adjusts it to let Alex travel freely through it.]
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[ Sorry, he's never shared shinki space before, this is a new experience. It doesn't distract him from his tugging at his connection to his power, whatever it may be, but it's still noteworthy to him. ]
No problem~
[ He's curious to see how well Alex handles Ginia's vessel form, too, and if he might get to see Ginia's power come into play. ]
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Adjusting her grip on the sword's handle, Alex steps through the the borderline. The ayakashi immediately go for her, and she raises the sword to slash at them. It was a little awkward to use just one hand since she's only ever wielded with both hands. She's not the most experienced swordsman, that's for sure...
Strangely enough though, as she strikes and misses one of them, she hears one the kids. ]
..Wha...What are we..Why are we here?
[ It was just like the other child after rending the first ayakashi. But she missed, didn't she? It's a little hard to think about it though as she tries to dodge the tiny little things jumping at her. ]
Ginia--did we hit anything?
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Missed. Breathe, Alex, we'll get them.
[She flicks another borderline attack out, cutting deep enough to nearly cut one in half. It twists and writhes as it flops to the ground, slowly knitting itself back together.]
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D2 cuts borderlines toward the ayakashi, singeing one that was going for one of Alex's openings.
But for the most part, besides borderlines and power searching, he silently observes. ]
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Rend!
[ She slashes at them, and they start to disappear one by one. ]
Was..Was that all of them?
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Ginia flicks a few light borderlines into the dark corners to flush out anything hiding, but nothing stirs.]
I'm pretty sure that's all of them. Good job. Time to check on the kids?
[In the warehouse, they've clustered in the center, continuing their discussion of what to do or where to go without any obvious conclusion or agreement.]
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With the last ayakashi taken care of and no more emerging from the shadows, D2 lets his attention on searching for his power fade. Instead it flickers toward the kids' direction. ]
If they can they should go home, but it might be good to see so it's only the influence of the ayakashi that kept them here.
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[ It might be better to approach the children with them in their human forms. ]
I agree..I hope it's just that.
[ Alex heads over to where the kids are, making sure her hands are visible and up to hopefully seem less threatening. ]
Hey there, we're here to get you all out of here. Are you guys okay?
[ The kids group together, startled by their appearance. ]
Who-Who are you guys? Are you with them?
No, my friends here took care of those men. One of your friends is waiting for you all outside too.
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[The remaining human adult, a hand clutched to his head, startles a little as he notices the three other adults suddenly in the room with them. He stumbles a little as he tries to position himself in front of the kids, trying to look tougher than he feels. He's tall and broad shouldered, but he doesn't look much older than early twenties.]
"Look, I don't know if you three are police or what, but you let them go, I'll go with you. They're good kids, I don't want them gettin' caught up in things any more."
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D2 smiles politely at the man, and at the kids he wants to protect. ]
We're not looking to make any of you go with us, sir. We also just want the kids to get out of this whole situation.
[ The man falters a little, clearly confused. ]
Really? You are? Why?
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[ Was he also someone who just got caught into things? By the ayakashi too? ]
Do..any of you have somewhere to go?
[ The children, along with the man, exchange looks. So that's how it was, huh? ]
Then..What if we found somewhere for you to stay?
Do you mean we can stay together? You're not gonna separate us? [ One of the younger ones speak up, clinging to the arm of another. ]
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There are some hotels around the next subway station. I can cover the cost while we figure out something more long-term.
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I can too. Don't worry, I'm sure we can figure something out.
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[ If there were people they could rely on, it would be these two. ]
We'll do everything we can, but for now, let's get you all out of here.
[ She looks back at the other two, nodding at them before they start to head out to meet up with other girl too. ]
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...Well, they'll figure it out. Throwing money at situations doesn't solve all of them, but it sure doesn't hurt either. She still breathes a little easier when they on the train without any problems. The kids cluster around Daigo, a few still giving them suspicious looks, but they mostly look tired and nervous.
Once they exit and head to the nearest hotel, Ginia pulls out her wallet and hands over all 10,000 yen bills inside. She shoves them into Daigo's hand and steps back, typing and playing a quick message on her phone.]
That should cover rooms and food for a few nights. I'll be back in a few days with more money and supplies.
Sorry for hitting you.
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[ After all, the people the kids had been roped in with might come looking ,and then wouldn't it be reasonable to look at nearby hotels? He sure would have made that choice, were he looking for somebody. ]
Do you know any good place where people won't look in case somebody is looking for you, or should we check the phone book?
[ D2... People don't use the phone book any more, they use the internet. ]