Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-25924729-20161211031628/@comment-5999656-20170314012940

Platinum stared unbelievingly at Tigris's retreating back. It was a longtime principle of hers to avoid unnecessary bloodshed whenever possible. After all, she'd had enough encounters with vigilantes to know that, once one embraced violence as a means to an end, it was a fine line they treaded until they became no better than the criminals they pursued.

"You have your methods, Platinum, but we don't have time to argue over whose way is better," Automne murmured, soundlessly drawing up to her partner. The silver-haired girl merely turned in response.

"You're okay with what she did?" The repressed fury in her voice was leaking out.

"I know better than to try and change her mind," the Faunus replied coolly. When Platinum didn't relent, Automne sighed.

"Look, I know you're good at seizing the moral high ground, but we can save the debating for after we've found Fen, alright?"

What Automne didn't want to say was that she not only tolerated such callous methods, but condoned them. A childhood of fighting over scraps of food in the streets had conditioned in her a calculated brutality which emerged in times of high durress. Whatever was necessary for the goal... no less than what was needed, and maybe a little extra just to play it safe.

Of course, revealing this trait to her Hunter friends would cause no shortage of interpersonal drama, so she had to keep it as well hidden as possible. After coming face to face with two mafia bosses who had easily trounced her entire team, however, circumstances were exacting an increased strain on the seemingly level-headed girl.

"Fine. I don't trust those two one bit, but I'll hold my tongue from now on. Are you happy?"

Automne shrugged.

"Sure."

The duo quickly followed the two ANGELs, only for Automne to stop in her tracks.

''Black car... black suit... just like -''

The memories of her encounter with the Ninth Dragon flared up in her mind's eye, but the Faunus shoved it aside and boarded the vehicle with little more than a clenching of the teeth. Of course their transport would resemble that of the Dragons, this was the Valean underworld they were dealing with.

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"... and the Syndicate will take the hostages from you for a hefty price, with the assurance that they will be transported at the soonest possible time to Vacuo," Fen rattled off dutifully. The thickly-swathed, balaclava-wearing man in front of her gave a small nod, bundling his clothing around him even as the diminutive Huntress before him seemed unperturbed by the gusting gales. A camouflage assault rifle was strapped over his back, one that matched with those carried by his soldiers around him.

"We will be paid upfront, no?" the boss grunted. He'd heard enough legends about the Dragons and their reach not to play games, but he still doubted their reasoning for sending a girl to meet him.

In response, Fen reached into her coat and tugged out a wad of hundred Lien bills, and handed it to the man.

"There's plenty more where that came from if you just trust me. So when do you expect the shipments to arrive? My superior wants footage of the people before she makes her final decision."

"Soon," the man assured her, pocketing the bills after thumbing through them briefly.

"Good. Now if you don't mind me, I need to change."

Fen turned and strode back into the dark depths of the hull, tugging off her beanie, and unzipping the plastic bag she'd dropped there earlier. From it, she pulled out an oval, visored white mask. A nice little top-off to her customized snake hoodie.