Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-25924729-20161211031628/@comment-5999656-20170520060828

Fen gives a slow nod of acknowledgement. She's heard bits about who the ANGELs are from hanging around the Daybreak Syndicate. No names or anything deep, but she knew of how they turned bounty hunting into a game, a competition to be carried out with the mesmerized audience of more... mundane entertainments. And of how they and the Dragons promised not to target each other.

She turns as if on a whim, and begins walking towards the smooth oval mask lying on the ground. She picks it up, shakes off the sand particles, and walks back to Platinum and Tigris.

"I see," she says simply at the latter's explanation. Nothing to worry about.

"I'll introduce myself properly as well. Agent White Snake, of the Daybreak Syndicate. I was sent by my boss to finance a basic shipment operation for the Second Dragon of Vale."

Fen scoffs.

"I mean, obviously things have gone south now, so that's a bust. I should be heading back now. But, uh, hope you find the girl you're looking for."

"That's it?"

Platinum says this with a look of utter disbelief. She flicks her sabre into its folded mode and stands straight in front of Fen.

"Six months and we heard nothing from you. You didn't respond to any of our texts, our calls, nothing. And then two mafia bosses come knocking on Team RASB's door. And now you're telling me you're working with what could quite possibly be the biggest criminal ring in all of Vale?" Platinum hooks her sabre on her belt and presses her hands together in a pleading position.

"How the hell did all of this happen? Where did we go wrong? Did you actually sell out our information to the Nine Dragons of Vale?"

Platinum has a thousand questions, and she struggles to form words for them as they jostle violently in her mind.

Now Fen hesitates. She gives a jerky shake of the head.

"No, it's just - it wasn't anything special, I just told her that I had some friends that I liked to hang out with. She found the rest out herself."

"Who is 'she', Fen?"

Fen bites her lip, internally cursing herself for the slip of the tongue.

"She's the one who went after Automne and everyone, isn't she? She's the boss of the Daybreak Syndicate, isn't she?"

Fen says nothing for a moment. And then -

"If you try to come after me, you'll be killed, or worse. So just stay out of it, alright?" Fen turns to Tigris. "That goes for you as well. We wouldn't have done anything to Team RASB if they hadn't stuck their noses where they don't belong."

"They were worried about you," Platinum hisses through gritted teeth. "All you had to do was tell us you were alright."

"But you wouldn't have left me alone if I'd done that, isn't that right?" Fen shoots back. She steps back.

"Being a Huntress, Beacon, all of it, I'm done with it. Leave me alone, please," she begs. "There's no going back for me. Just let it go."

Platinum sighs deeply.

"Do you enjoy what you do? Do you like sending innocent people into slavery?" she asks wearily.

"You wouldn't understand," Fen says resolutely. Finally she turns back to Tigris.

"I can have the Syndicate find a lead on your friend. Consider it reparations for dragging you into this mess."

_____________________________

Automne is stalking up the shore, gloved hand gripped tightly around her switchblade. She has to protect her friends. She has no forgiveness to offer to a traitor. But as for how to best eliminate Fen...

Automne hears a padding behind her, and turns to see Zhu-Li following her.

"Yes?" she says stiffly.