ᴏᴘᴇɴ ▸ out of the deep waters and all its intricacies.

[wray]

Who ⬤ Six & you.
What ⬤ The Kappa Round-up, as per the Enma's orders.
When ⬤ After the Night Parade; soon after the Enma's order goes out.
Where ⬤ Around the city.
Content Warnings ⬤ Violence, most likely.

i. cyberkinetic
( OPEN TO OTHER ENMA MEMBERS )

[ six thinks that it was only a matter of time before such an order was issued.

things have been going well. too well, in fact, with hardly any hiccups in between. the night parade almost felt like a complete lie, a fabricated scenario meant to reassure everyone involved that there was nothing wrong. not even his experience with the strange drug from that bunny doctor can match up with how everything is right now — a complete mess in every sense of the world.

not only did early preparations do nothing to prevent the tragedy from happening, but now the department of enma has been deployed to do clean-up of the unsavoury kind. while six himself has reservations about the order, he knows that it's barely worth the effort of going against it. if he doesn't help with rounding up the kappa and everyone else involved with them, he knows that the enma can just as well send someone much worse to do the job itself.

he'd rather avoid that, if he can. ]

OPTION A - ASSIST.

[ it's almost funny how quickly he has to play the part of a loyal lapdog, the way he doesn't bother asking any questions and instead just focuses on getting the job done. he stalks along the streets of jigokucho in search for any kappa that are hiding or are currently on the run. he's quick and efficient when it comes to rounding them up, knocking the ones he caught unconscious rather than causing them too much harm.

it's a different story when it comes to the ones who do struggle against his attempts though. he doesn't even bother holding back.

if you happen to pass his way, he might gesture for you to come closer with a jerk of his head. ]

... There are some hiding over here. [ this building, this particular alleyway, or anywhere else. ] Mind giving me a hand?

OPTION B - HINDER.

[ of course, not everyone has to agree with what's happening. six knows this. he understands. it's never going to be easy for everyone to harm someone who is just trying to run away, but that's exactly why he has to be the one who does it. if it isn't going to be easy for others, the least he can do is be the bad guy so no one gets in trouble for the lack of action.

he can always worry about the consequences later.

or you can make it his problem now, by confronting him and standing in his way just before he grabs another kappa to knock out along with the rest. ]

Don't get in my way. You either help or stay out of this.

ii. fireflies
( OPEN TO ALL )

[ it doesn't surprise him that there are those outside of his faction attempting to help the kappa too.

if he happens to find you hiding the kappa at your place or catch you in the middle of the act of letting them escape, he'll attempt to put himself in between you and the way out. he assumes an offensive stance, claws out and ready to strike if he must. ]

... Don't be stupid.

[ a warning, a threat, and everything else it could in between. his voice is low and even, but if one pays close enough attention, it almost sounds like he's struggling to remain neutral. after all, despite admitting that he'll do what must be done, it doesn't mean he has to like it.

this is one of those moments where that's practically obvious.

the last thing he wants to do is to hurt someone who is only trying to do good things. ]

If you hand them over, no one will know you were ever involved.

iii. reconfigure
( OPEN TO ALL )

[ once all is said and done, six doesn't immediately retreat to his assigned quarters. he roams around the neon-lit city streets with no rhyme nor reason instead. he didn't come out of that scuffle completely intact (shallow cuts and purple bruises), but the physical aches hardly compare to the mental ones. his exhaustion runs bone-deep, even more so now that he's been all over the place without giving himself any respite.

somehow, it almost seems as though he's punishing himself. not only for what he just did, but perhaps for other unknown reasons that he keeps close to his heart. when his body leans against the closest thing — a wall, a street light, a random object — keen ears would hear him mutter quietly to himself. ]

Is this enough, I wonder... How do I make up for what I've done?

[ even if you try to catch his attention now, it doesn't seem like he's going to notice. it might take a few attempts, given just how absentminded he is right now. ]

iv. wildcard me, baby

( ooc. sometimes i forget six is a chuuni edgelord. but let me know if you need something specific from me!

in terms of specifics, six can be found stalking the streets of the city in search of the kappa or anyone attempting to help them. he is fully decked out in his eternals uniform plus the weapons he has on his person. i'm happy to write custom starters if none of the ones above ping you so pls feel free to pm me. 💜 )

Comments

[wray]

Why? Were you expecting us to blindly follow orders?

[ in a way, six can understand the assumption. it's not like he's going out of his way to defy it, but all he has are excuses in the end. he has no good reason for why he isn't openly going against what the enma wanted. sure, the reward at the end of his contract is tempting, and yet... ]

You aren't the first to try and hide them. It's not that strange.

[ after all, the kappa are innocent, aren't they? most of them, at least. ]

Most wouldn't turn a blind eye to injustice.

[breweries]

Well, who wouldn't? But you must forgive me for assuming so. The fact that there's someone like you who did not want to do this in the first place is reassuring.

[ shylock is not one for law and order at all, so he's always lowkey apprehensive of the authorities. it comes with the territory. ]

But no, I was talking of my status as a member of the Tamamo clan. One would think that most of us would turn a blind eye to this, but...

[ he looks at the kappa, who's still enjoying their drinking and pretending that he's not overhearing their conversation. how cute. ]

It's the least I can do.

Moreover, the kappa aren't the only once in the Alliance, aren't they? It is not fair that they're being persecuted when the victim is a tengu.

[wray]

[ six can't help but wonder if his reluctance is any better, especially since he's still carrying out the enma's orders. it's not exactly the most reassuring behaviour when he hasn't run into anyone from the department who was more openly against what was going on.

he sighs quietly. ]

I don't believe they're trying to pin the murder on the kappa. They were just... [ how should he put this. he barely knows what's going on either. ] Their tribe was building something underground, and you saw what happened at the parade.

It's too convenient.

[ then again, it can also be an accident too, but who knows at this point. ]

[breweries]

[ too convenient indeed, but an accident shouldn't be ruled out earlier. maybe the enma -- at least the ones in six's position for the time being -- are just as in the dark as the rest of them. ]

The wrong place at the wrong time. But the underground is the kappa's home, isn't it, little one?

[ the kappa is by no means little, at least in their species' standards, but they nod nonetheless. their drink has been drained, delicious as it is, and they just look down, not sure what to do from here on out.

shylock looks at them and sighs, then turns to six. ]

I'll take your word that no harm will come to them should you take them away from questioning. My kind may not have a rigid moral compass, but we do have standards. [ he did decide on taking the kappa in by sheer whimsiness, after all. he's unpredictable that way. ] If the Department decides to punish them all regardless... well. You'll have to hear from me.

[ he smiles. ]

Do we have a deal?

[wray]

[ now that the kappa is done their drink, six expects shylock to hold up his end of the bargain. there should be no attempts to intervene when the erune settles a hand on the kappa's shoulder, making them flinch. what the man wants six to promise is difficult to keep, because it's not like he has much say in the matter, but... ]

I can't claim to know what the Department is up to, but rest assured I'll do my best to see that no harm will come upon them.

[ he won't know about his fellow policemen getting all violent-happy, but. he's going to try his best regardless. ]

The name I was given is Six. You can come look for me if anything happens.

[ he urges the kappa to get up so they can leave. ]

[breweries]

[ the kappa gulps, then turns to shylock who only returns their trepidation with a smile. as if to say, "yes, for now, you can trust this man." ]

My name is Shylock, and I most certainly will.

[ and with that, he takes a small bow. ]

Do come again sometime.

[ the kappa then nods, takes one look at six before following him out of the premises without nary a complaint. looks like the cucumber cocktail helped, after all. ]