Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-5999656-20190205035159/@comment-5999656-20190228040351

The twin Daybreak Syndicate agents made their way through the crowded facility side by side, black and red windbreakers crinkling as their paces quickened against the floor. On the far end of the venue, the main stage lit up with a dramatic burst, and the overhead lights dimmed in turn as the crowd slowly began making their way over to the biggest draw of the night. While the side stages remained illuminated by their own lamps, the attention in the room was drawn to a man in a pinstriped suit who stepped onto the lit main stage amongst a polite flurry of applause. He raised one arm in greeting at the motley audience of gathered crooks, stroked his handlebar mustache, and launched into a glorious speech praising the organizers for their cleverness in once again avoiding detection by law enforcement.

It was quite ironic, as everyone present would soon find out.

Alyxia and Sorrel pushed against the oncoming tide of people, deftly sidestepping the masses like the simulated shadows that they were. Over Alyxia's face was now a chrome skull mask with tinted polycarbonate for eye sockets, menacing but gaudy. Sorrel, meanwhile retained his featureless helm, which now vaguely reflected the starlight coming from the glass roofing far above. His fists were balled in his pockets, and he leaned forward as he walked, cutting into the crowd without any regard for the people he elbowed as he did so.

They approached the pair of armored guards posted on either side of the exit, unmoving with rifles clutched in hand. When they tried to step past them, however, one of the guards sidestepped into their way.

"What?" Sorrel asked brusquely. His jaw clenched.

"Where do you think you're going? This is a restricted exit," came the garbled reply. Sorrel couldn't tell if they were speaking to a robot or a human underneath all that white armor.

"The comms are fucked. Haven't you noticed?" Alyxia cut in sharply. "Someone's jamming the signals. We're being sabotaged."

The guards exchanged glances. The one who had just spoken tilted his head down and muttered something into his earpiece. After a few seconds, he looked up again, and though his expression wasn't visible, Alyxia could see his glove tighten on the grip of his gun.

After a long moment, he spoke again.

"Your notification has been processed. Exit will be permitted once the threat has been identified." He nodded to his partner, who turned and sprinted off.

"What?! Let us through," Sorrel growled, stepping forward with his hand raised. Before he could do anything, however, Alyxia seized his jacket and pulled him back. He turned to look at her, astonished.

"What are you doing?"

"I just realized. We don't know what's waiting out there for us. We can't take on an armed force alone," Alyxia paused, letting these ominous words sink in before she continued.

"But the Bluthardts are here. Do you get it?" Alyxia insisted. "If we're gonna make a break for it, we ought to get all the help we can get. They're our allies, right?"

She was met by a stare, and a long silence. Alyxia paused, and gave a shrug. She gestured behind her with her free arm.

"Look behind you. Look at all these people. Even if they don't help us, it's better to be surrounded by targets than be the only thing out there worth shooting at. You get what I'm saying? I am not taking on whatever's out there alone. We won't make it if they're prepared for us."

Another long silence. The armored guard watched them impassively, his finger lightly tracing his trigger. Finally, Sorrel sighed. Alyxia slowly let go of his jacket, and he started trudging back towards the main stage.

With that, Alyxia knew she had won. She followed quickly after, readying the diplomatic words in her head. Hopefully, in the months of playing mercenary, she hadn't forgotten how to sweet-talk.