November 16, 2015

A tired sigh slipped from the hunter as he leaned back from his work bench, back of hand lifting to wipe at his brow before he snagged one of the many tumblers that sat strewn about the rest of the work space, a gulp or three taken of the rum within. As he did so, blue eyes blue were focused on what looked sort of like circuit film which sat before him save the overlay of silvers, gold, and copper were much more intricate than any computers. A tiny little capsule was what held his attention, the focus of that hi-tech take on a ward that he'd been working on. In the dreary dark his right eye glowed a soft blue as he stared at that matrix; the shifting changes of that spell playing out before him until finally in normalized to it's final state. Checking it over against the parameters he'd been aiming for he finally gave it an approving nod, the paper thin sheet set aside with the rest of a very similar stack before pulling another one over as well as the beaker of what could only be called 'horrible funk.' Well, technically it was a brew made out dissolved nail clippings, hair, and a couple of dirty, old socks but if that was funky the man didn't know what was!

Dissolved, distilled, and concentrated into pure 'Essence of Zynn's Possessed Brother,' a particular blend which he was using to focus those barrier wards for the sorcerers' peace of mind. They'd talked about such the previous night and the woman had came through bringing the needed ingredients for him to make those wards....or more simply to re-purpose ones he'd already had made. They were originally to be part of the man's third upgrade of that home he was building with Serah until....well....until things fell apart. Now they were simply acting as a sore reminder of that which the man had lost, and the reasons why he had lost such. So he was more than happy to lend them to a good cause until things settled down and he could brooch the subject of coming ho-....to her house to further improve the magical defenses. Hey, just because she....they'd seen sense didn't mean he still didn't love her and wanted to see her safe and secure! Of course he wasn't really interested in getting lynched by her family, friends, or fans so that was another good impetus to keep his distance for the time being.

Groping around a little he searched for his respirator before he'd pop the rubber stopper on that vial of eww, a look finding everything looking very dark. When had it become night!" With a sigh he pinched at the strain that worked at the bridge of his nose, time loss becoming more of a thing for him as of recent thanks to a number of reasons. Working through that tension his focus dissolved enough to finally hear the sound of knocking that emanated form the doorway into that workroom. He paused and waited, listening for a repeat that told him that this wasn't just some dreamed up sound. "Who the hell...?"

Stepping away from the bench and out into the living room he'd close the door behind him, the magical lock self-engaging as he moved across now to the front door. He peered quickly through the peep hole, brows scrunching further in confusion before he set to unlock and chain that door. Once the last chain fell he adjusted himself, foot set as a door stop just in case before he partially opened the door to greet the individual on the other side. "Can I help you?"

A pair of individuals waited for him on the other side. One was a middle aged fellow that looked much older with their peppered pate and cheap, bulk store bought suit in tan. The other was much more obvious given that unmistakable uniform and truncheon " a beat officer of the Watch. "Hello, are you Mr. Turner?" The older man spoke with a husky tone that told of his heavy smokers habit.

"Yeah....yeah I am....call me Mach." He gave the two officers a dubious look, his mind working through what trouble he could have been involved with that may have warranted a plains clothes officer visiting him in the night.

"Hmm, Mach then. I'm Detective Holman and this is Officer Sanders with the Rhy'Din Watch. How are you this evening?" The younger man tried to look as uninterested as he could though it was obvious he was soaking in every last word of the veteran. As for Det. Holman the man seemed intent to give Mach the once over though given how disheveled he felt it was little surprise.

Lifting a hand he worked to tame the worst of his 'no flips given' hairstyle he was touting at the moment. "Fine...fine, been busy. Is there something I can help you with Det. Holman?"

"Please, call me Chuck."

"Alright.....Chuck. Is there something I can help you with?"

The man offered Mach a thin smile before he reached into his coat pocket, a pad and pen drawn out. "I just had a few questions if you don't mind. Don't worry, you're not in trouble."

"Right..." He couldn't help the blandness of his tone at that reassurance. Despite technically being 'The Man' himself Mach found he never did quiet get on too swimmingly with police officers....a fact that Hope, he was sure, felt deeply. "Sure. Did you want to come in" The place is a....erm, well, a pit."

"No, no, this shouldn't take more than a few minutes." Another thin smile pulled upon the man as he flipped open his pad, thumbing through pages until he'd reach whatever it was he was looking for. "So tell me Mach, are you acquainted with a Miss Serah Farron?"

The schmooze had been working on scrubbing some of that weariness from his features when he'd heard that name drop, his heart sinking as his mind lurched. "Serah' Y-Yeah....we....we were dating until a....a week ago. Why, is there something wrong" Did something happen to her!?" The man couldn't help the panic that creeped into his voice as his imagination kicked into overdrive. Hey, she did have a history of falling into trouble and last time he'd seen her she was most certainly not a good way.

Chuck raised his hand placating, his smile gentle. "That's what we're looking into Mach, don't worry. Now, were you aware of where she lived?"

Mach heard the words calming words though they did very little to alleviate the stress that clung to him. But panicking and trying to throttle information out of some policeman wasn't going to do anything but get him thrown in holding and so he forced those terrible thoughts back so as to focus. "Y-yeah. The seaside house. We....we lived together there for about five months. Why?"

The man sighed softly as he wrote stuff down in his pad. "Why don't you tell me?"

"Pardon!?" He hadn't even realized he was stepping out of the apartment until he caught the nervous look of the younger officer with the detective, his hand down and on the butt of his truncheon. Right....he had a history with the police here....probably why it was a couple that was visiting him now. Reigning in anger, a breath was taken as he focused. "Last time I saw it was last week when we'd broken up. I....I packed my things and then watched her for a while as she swam."

"You were stalking her then?"

"Making sure she was safe! When....when we....well....when we broke it off she ran out into the ocean for comfort. She....she loves swimming..." A gentle smile touched him at the remembrance though this was pushed down as he remembered his company. "I just made sure she was alright, that's all. I....we....it....it's complicated."

The man watched with muddy brown eyes, his expression mild until finally a soft smirk broke free. "Aren't they all. So, you haven't seen or heard from her since then?"

"N-No, I haven't. I've been giving her distance. Come on, man, what?s this about' You have to tell me. Please..."

Det. Holman studied the schmooze for a long moment before sighing, his attention turning back to his notepad as he wrote down a few things. "That beachside property of hers was burnt down, cause under investigation though we're thinking vandalism given all the unrest going on recently. Actually, the property that you own next door looks to have taken so-"

"Is she alright!" Is Serah alright!?"

"Calm down Mach. We're looking into that right now. There have been sightings of her around but currently we've not been able to make contact. Did you see if she took off her clothes when she ran off into the ocean after your breakup?"

"Wh-What' No....no, she just....just jumped in."

"Hmm, is that so. Well, that might explain why her phone connection is out of service..."

"Y-You might want to try her sister Claire Farron or Sven Bergheim, they-"

"Don't worry Mach, we're looking into this but I appreciate the information." Finishing his writing the man would tuck away that pad and pen once more, a card now in hand as he drew it back out form his coat. The man offered this out to Mach who took it dumbly, a gaze cast down to note the Watch contact information upon it "If you can think of anything else please, feel free to call me."

The card was hurriedly tucked away, one of his own drawn out and offered to the detective. "Please, if you hear anything could you let me know, I..."

"Still care about her huh' That's rough but I can relate. Three times divorced, married the job my fourth. Haven't looked back..." What looked like a genuine smile finally spread across the grizzled detective features before he turned now to walk off down the hallway. "If I hear anything I'll be in touch and likewise you hear or remember anything please, give me a call. Now you take care Mr. Turner....or as best as you can right now."

The detective offered a wave back while the officer that was with him dumbly followed, a tip of hat offered in passing courtesy before he hurried after the older man. For Mach's part he simply closed the door, stunned. Serah was missing and her place had burnt down!" But what about the overwatch and sentry wards he'd put up....the anti-aggressive magic barrier and lost illusionary matrix" Without really thinking he quickly moved to get on some shoes and a jacket before heading out himself to do his own investigation. Of course little did he know he was pretty much rushing off to what may well be a warzone of sorts at the moment.

November 18, 2015

The schmooze had spent another few hours through the night dodging, running from, and zapping roaming bands of hooligans as he made his way back to what was his little slice of paradise. Of course if the Detective that had come around the previous night were right well....not only was paradise lost but it was apparently burnt down and potentially under consideration for a parking lot to be put up over it in the future! But that was neither here nor there if the man couldn't even get to the place! It was shocking just how much things had changed in about a week or so's time, not only in his life but in this place that he'd been strolling along, eating ice cream, and being friendly with the neighbors less than a month prior. And he didn't understand why any of this was happening. Sure he'd heard random talk about 'barons' and 'challenges' and such but it really didn't mean a thing to the man that had apparently kept his head out of the whole competitive feudalism that seemed to exist. To him there was a Governor that he voted and pretty much weren't they suppose to be like the head honcho'

Such thoughts were just more fuel to the fires of the man's thoughts as the hunter made his way along, the wee hours proving to be a boon as the ill organized thugs more and more hunkered down to sleep than to rabble rouse....at least along the coastal parts anyway. What were they going to do, raid the ocean' So it was by cloak of very early morning the man finally broke from the rows of business' and houses, crossing to the beach and to the...

The burnt ashes of Serah and his home.

That quick pace slowed to a stupefied halt as he just stared at what was left, which wasn't much, of that which they'd been building. No pillars, no floors, no walls, no ghosts of any furniture....just cinder and ash the only things that remained of that house....of that home. Sure, things had ended between Serah and he, and in a most heart wrenching manner to boot but then there was at least the comforting thought that some part of it would still live on in that home he'd put so much effort into. That years from now after he was done and pushing daisies to the sky she could still enjoy some part of what they had once had, what he held for her. But this" This was sheer mockery that buckled the man's knees from beneath him, fists hitting the sand as a silent curse ground out between his teeth. He cursed the very fates that mocked him, showed their very scorn at the notion that there could be anything he could leave behind. Not even a....wait a moment. Looking up between the tears of impotent rage that blurred his vision he saw something....a silhouette in the pale moonlight.

Two trees....and a hammock bench thingy that hung between.

At the sight of that something just snapped in the man, drove him to bolt to his feet as he drew that caster from it's holster. He would not, could not stand that insult that the only thing that would be left was the swan song of their relationship, the last thing he built the very night that they came to terms with their vastly different fates. Thumbing the clip release viciously he didn't even bother to catch the clip that dropped out, his focus solely on slamming that untouched clip of deadly cartridges in and jerking on the trigger. The caster began to whir angrily as the charge built up, a stream of blood spilling from the man's nostrils as he fed that algorithm with his very life force. He pushed it beyond it's limits, cycled the spell over and over to build it up, and when he felt the crackle of his processors about to burn out he'd finally let the algorithm collapse bringing the spell to life. There was a snap and crackle, the very air burning with that dangerous aura. Each part of the spell collapsed driving another process, a glowing point of flame growing into a miniature sun that eschewed the beach with grotesque shadows as the plasma shifted and churned in it's containment. And as that last pattern fell the ball of incandescent gas exploded in furious torrent releasing a boom that topped all others for that one moment as the Seaside district experienced the briefest of daytime's in the dead of night.

It was a flash, a boom, and as quickly as it had came did it vanish leaving a vacuum which quenched the burning sand left in the wake of that devastating spell. A trough of glass shot straight to the sea which churned momentarily to fill the steaming void left in it's own surface. But at very least the job was done, because there wasn't even a trace of those two trees or the hammock bench which had once been there before. Mach breathed heavily, gasping for air as he flexed his toasty fingers. It seemed he experienced a little blow back from that but it felt good to just let go, give fate the finger for what little it would do. Shaking out the crisp feeling in his hand he was reaching for a hanky for his dribbling nose when suddenly the entire beach area clamored to life.

"HOSTILE MAGIC DETECTED, GET DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND..." "DOWN ON YOUR KNEES MAGGOT! YOU HAVE TO THE COUNT OF..." "RESISTANCE WILL NOT BE TOLERATED, COMPLY OR YOU WILL BE..." "FURTHER HOSTILE ACTIONS WILL FORFEIT YOUR RIGHT TO A FAIR AND NON-LETHAL..." "OBTENGA SU CULO EN EL SUELO AHORA PUNTO O..." "YOU MUST REPENT AND PRAY TO YOUR LORD-A! REPENT FOR YOUR WICKED WAYS-A! REPENT..." "GET DOWN OR YOU CAN SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND YOU TWO TIMING..." "JIU ZHONGGUO YOU JU YANYU SHUO'NI DE PIGU SHI CAO, RUGUO NI BU...."

Blue eyes blue snapped about at all the simultaneous yelling coming from....the coconut trees!" Oh, right. The sentry and overwatch wards he'd put up around the beach to protect Serah and their home from hostile magics given the formers propensity for getting into trouble....mind he wasn't much better but he was always very aware of the dangerous that were always lurking the shadows for him! Pushing a little more will into his caster he sent out the 'Shut up' message to all the wards which seemed to hee-

"HELOOOOO NUMBSKULL! KISS THE GROUND OR I'MMA..."

Heed his command....though that last tree got itself a rather sour glare from the hunter as it seemed to be a little slow on the uptake. Not that it mattered much anymore since they were all guarding a burnt pile of ash. Turning his gaze back to what once was a home the hunter simply sighed tiredly, his expression every bit as defeated as he was feeling. Moving forward now, the schmooze rolled up his sleeves as he stepped into the middle of all the burnt ash, nudging bits here and there as he looked for any clue for what may have happened or for anything that may have been recoverable from the inferno that took this place. He already knew that it wasn't hostile magic that had started this since the trees....the wards in the trees had been silent until his little....tantrum. And he was fairly certain they'd not have been so until they'd cooked whoever it was that was casting such magics....hey, they weren't just programmed with a bevy of insults after all! He had all the elements covered across a multitude of trees, lampposts, and signs which had taken him the better part of a couple of months and no small amount of visits from the Watch to get set up. It was system to be proud off, better than the one set up around his apartment though obviously it hadn't been enough to protect this place from whatever fate befell it. And so he worked through the night and into the new day searching and attempting to scavenge what little he could; searching for answers alone and left that way as no-one was quite willing to brave who....or whatever created that massive boom.

November 19, 2015

Mach stirred from his sleep with a start, hands clutching at some phantom of his dreams which were already fading from existence, back into the mired depths of his subconscious. He touched his lips, licked at the tingle of that apparition of fleeting feeling with vanished like smoke leaving the hunter alone once more. "Jeez....damnit..." A low groan escaped the man as he rolled over, blue eyes blue opening to the sight of yet another unfamiliar ceiling, a constant in the roulette wheel that was his life. Blinking a few times to try and drive the last vestiges of a restless sleep from his vision he made note of the decided lack of light that now flooded the room, the last rays of the sun stretching out from the horizon and basking the room in a warm glow. Just how long had he been out' He knew he'd been running pretty much an entire week without sleep, or at least proper sleep that didn't involve alcohol induced blackouts. Staring up at the warm rays it was almost soothing, lulling in nature that may have threatened to coax the man back to sleep he wasn't keenly aware that he were still in some sort of combat zone.

Sitting up he let the towel fall from his muscular form sculpted by a rather rigorous physical training regimen that kept him hunter ready....or for all intents and purposes able to take a beating a keep on ticking. Stretching lazily with a soft groan, he'd slide from the bed and padded off to try and scrounge up some change of clothing that he was sure he'd left here just in case. Finding a paint stained ironic t-shirt and a pair of work worn jeans the man dressed himself; cleaning up his boots, potion and gun belt if the soot that clung to them before pulling those on last. He was working on styling his hair as best he could without any product when he snagged his phone to read what all he'd missed while he had been sleeping.

Incoming Local News Bulletin " Affected Area: Seaside - Dear denizens and commuters of Seaside,

Huh, some bulletin about seaside, he wondered if the government was finally moving to do something about this shit. With a yawn he set it on the dresser, blue eyes blues watching as the text scrolled along.

I write to you with a sense of urgency for there is little time to prepare for what?s to come. First and foremost, I have secured the position of Baron over the Seaside District. As you may know, Barons and Baronesses have no legal authority over their districts, so fear not, I will not be raising taxes. You may rejoice as I am sure you may be aware that I am a tolerant man and I may be more open to discussion than the charming Melanie Rostol.

"Big flipping whoop. 'Yeeees, strooooke my egoooo, yeeesssss...'" The man rolled his eyes as he snorted, mocking the message.

The second point of this document is to inform you of a very special day to come. This Thursday, November 19th will be a very, very special day for all of us. Myself accompanied by my selected cabinet will be commencing a purge of Seaside. There have been alarming escalations of violence, looting and depravity throughout the district, no doubt due to the many riots, and this is simply not tolerable. From dusk until dawn we will personally be cleansing the streets of this virulent plague.

Wait, what? The schmoozes brows knit as his focus suddenly became much keener upon the scrolling text, something about the word 'cleansing' really working to set him on edge. Cleansing when not talking about bath time with another was almost never a good word to hear.

Now I care for the citizens and I implore you to remember: I am your Baron and you have nothing to be concerned about. Simply follow these instructions and you will be safe.

" Stay inside your homes and lock all windows and doors " Slay any animal or living thing that you can get your hands on and paint the Sith crest upon your door or home " Remain inside no matter what from dusk until dawn

It pains me that I must resort to these measures to secure the safety of the proud people of the Seaside District; alas it must be done. At dusk a force wall will be disseminated around the borders of the district so this is your warning if you commute or do business within the district: get out or adhere to the aforementioned guidelines.

To our esteemed Governor Ebon Ilnaren, you need not thank me for this is my civil duty. I thank you for your time and understanding as we prepare as a district, as a people, for the first purge of Seaside."

Baron von Bile " End Local News Bulletin-

Mach just blinked as the message finally scrolled off his screen, a shocked sort of silence finding hold on him for a moment or two before his features scrunched. "WHAT THE FUCK!?" Snagging the phone he scrolled through the message again, making sure he had absolutely read this crackpots message correctly. But no matter how many times he read it it still translated the same " some power mad looney was about to go on a murderous rampage in the Seaside district! "Who the hell does this nimrod think they are!" Baron von my Ass! Hey, AO109...!" The hunter was clearly angry as he stormed off now to the living room where the robot stood like some creepy statue in the middle with it's one arm pointed at the hogtied fellow cowering in the corner. Mach paid the terrified man little mind as he moved to tap his phone to the side of the robots head, initiating that short distance data exchange. "Do a quick data compile and analysis on this."

"Debug Mode. User " Lt. Elitia Turner, U.T.R.A., Syntax Error: Unit in debug mode, decoupled from-"

"Oh for Taj sake!" Flipping open the unsecured panel on the back of the robots head he quickly made a few adjustments via the keypad and switches located there. With one final flip of a switch the Peacekeeper jerked mildly, a cacophony of whirs rising as it's operating system rebooted. While the droid went through it's boot sequence Mach took the time to go grab a couple glasses of water, one greedily drank down himself before he wandered over to the tied up fellow, crouching down to their level.

The man looked to be around his age but far more depressing given the para-military gun nut getup they were wearing complete with corny headband. "Thirsty?" The man had fixed a terrorized gaze upon the hunter upon his approach, but at that peace offering of water which the schmooze was sure they hadn't had for more than a day they seemed to forget their fright, an emphatic, almost enthusiastic nod given with darker than tanned features. Mach could only smirk. "Alright, I'm going to take the gag off. You don't say anything, just drink, and then Mr. Hanky goes back in, alright' I don't have time to deal with you."

A bit of that terror returned to the man's wide eyed gaze but the promise of water worked to quell what fears they may have had at that arrangement as they soon nodded agreement. Reaching he pulled the tape off in one quick motion, the captive flinching though lucky for them it was non-damaging masking tape that had been used. A good thing they hadn't broken in when he was doing HVAC work! The schmooze feed them the water as quickly as they were willing to accept it, which was quiet fast indeed. Finishing with a gaping breath they took a few more breaths, eyes turning to Mach with a silent, pleaded question. "More" Another enthused nod for the hunter would draw a sigh from Mach as he stood, wandering back to the kitchen to refill the glass. "Tell me buddy, why the hell are you asshats going around looting and rioting?"

The man seemed hesitant to speak at first but seemed to find their voice at the angry cobalt glare that they got from the schmooze. "W-W-We're riotin' cause we don't a-approve of the current Baron of Seaside!"

"You mean Dippy von Bowl Movement or some crap like that?"

The man smirked at Mach's lack of reverence for all this feudal age stuff. "Y-yeah man! That bastard totally undercut that victory from Melanie! Not deservin' of the Barony in the least....but we'll show'em, we-"

"Are showing them by throwing a damn tantrum with rockets and riots and blowing up municipal services!?" The hunter was nearly growling as he turned a sharp eye on the man causing them to scrunch down in their corner.

"W-wh-n-no...we just wanted t-to make a statement....I mean, y-yeah, some of us are a little over zealous but..."

"But that crackpot's now using your lots civil unrest to stage a 'culling' of this area. Nitwits going to go on a murderous rampage in..." Checking his phone the man cut a sharp tch between tight teeth. "....about an hour."

The man had been terrified of the hunter (and rightfully so) up to this point though at that news their expression paled for a whole new reason, panic rising on their features. "W-W-What!" H-He can't....they won't allow....p-please, y-you gotta let me go! I-I gotta make sure my mates get outta here....that my family-"

"Funny asking that to some fellow who's house you tried to loot and burn down. Maybe did so to the house just south of here?" Cool threat leaked into the hunters voice at that last bit, the venom nearly palatable upon each word.

"W-what!" No...I mean, yes, we did but, please, please you got...w-w-wait, what? N-n-no! That place, that place was already t-toast when we came along! We didn't do that!!"

"Any idea who did?"

"N-No! I-I swear to god I don't. I-It wasn't me or my mates. Please man, you gotta..."

"I DON'T GOT TO DO A DAMN THING FOR YOU!" Mach's tone was vicious, enraged as he shouted at the man, drove them to cowering upon the floor. The hunter huffed and puffed as he tried to reign in that lash of emotions that were running rampant within him, worked to stop himself from beating on the guy for problems that were not of his doing. It was a hard fight with how raw everything was in the man, his fists clenching white as he saw more and more red, his anger building despite his best efforts, boiling to...

"U.T.R.A. Peacekeeper Model 3B7OS13.9 Unit AO109 Booted and Ready for Duty"

Mach turned his rage filled gaze on the robot, a momentary (poor of insight) thought to punch the machine would have fizzle as he caught sigh of something behind the droid. A slightly damaged pendant which he'd dug out from that ruin....something about it just causing all that anger to bleed away with a tired sigh. No, no....that wasn't going to help anything....wasn't even going to make him feel any better really. He'd just feel like crap with a bloodied idiot on the floor. Thunking the glass of water on the windowsill above the man the hunter leaned down, a snap open combat knife being drawn from his pocket which just drove that guys panic.

"n-nn-n-N-N-NO!! PLEASE DON'T-" They howled out as Mach made his first cut, a whimper escaping him with the second before he stepped back, the knife folded and tucked away. The look on the hunters features was decidedly unimpressed as the man quaked a little longer before opening tear stained eyes as they lifted their hands from behind their back to look at them, freed from their bindings. The man broke down into a sob as he stumbled, trying to find his footing.

"Get the hell outta here....and get your friends out too. And I expect to see your ass again when this is all over because you're gonna ask around, try to gather info for me on who or what did happen to that house south of here, you understand" And your gonna help with the repairs to this place.

The man finally found his way to his feet, that glass of water grabbed and greedily gulped down as he nodded. "Y-Yeah, I-I will, y-"

"Oh I don't want your word, buddy. You're gonna do it because if you don't I will hunt you down and I will make your life a living hell! DO YOU UNDERSTAND!?"

The man looked like he was about ready to piss himself, that glass near dropped at the shouted order though he fumbled to keep his hold seeming quiet on board with not pissing the psychotic Mach off more. "Y-y-y-y-YES Sir!"

Mach gave the man one last cold glare with those cobalt blues of his, his expression set in stone. "Good. Now get out of here....NOOOWWW!"

And with that the fellow leaped in place, that glass hurriedly set on the windowsill before he lurched and stumbled for the door. The man slammed into it with a resounding thud but that didn't seem to slow him as he fumbled his way out and took a run as he got out, never looking back less the devil snatch him up....and how Mach felt he couldn't well have guaranteed such wouldn't have happened.

Pushing the door shut once more the man turned a weary gaze back to the robot that just sort of stood there like a lump, observing. "You got the analysis ready yet?"

"Affirmative Sir. Limited information obtained due to heavy cellular utilization in local area. Would you like to begin the brief?"

Mach gave the droid a tired gaze before letting blue eyes blue attention drift about to the charred pendant, to the dying streaks of sunlight that were being swallowed by the horizon, to the remains of those danger orange restraints. This was madness. This was total, bullshit madness! And it wasn't even his, didn't have a thing to do with him. He just....he could just weather out this idiocy, read a good book or something while he waited for the dawn to come. Let what fate fall to those who were unlucky enough not to find refugee or to even miss the news bulletin. He could....Mach could do that. He was a cool, schmoozy, collected hunter of the U.T.R.A.; knew when to hold them, when to fold them, and when to sit the hand out.

Mach could....but not Eli.

With a mild smirk the man gave the droid a weathered look. "Yeah....lets go. Got a lot of work to do between now and the morning, saving folk that don't deserve this madman's fate. Gotta step up, be big damn heroes, yeah?

November 20, 2015 " Before Dawn

A coughing, wheezing groan escaped Mach as he splatted into the corner of that loading dock door frame; form sliding down listlessly till ass unceremoniously met the ground with hardly a grunt for that rough landing. But then again he was gasping for air like a fish in a desert at high noon; his breath still steaming though now it had an ever so slight vermillion tinge to it, tasted of moist rust with each ragged exhale. He was running on fumes" or more so he had been running on fumes for the past couple of hours, whipping himself forward with the aid of those potions and the magic he had no right to wield. But augmented as he may have been there was only so much you could beat out of a natural human body and he was fairly certain he'd passed that point a while ago. Now" Now it was just sheer willpower (read: bullheaded stubbornness) that kept him going against the clarions of pain that cried out from his abused body swimming in the toxicity of all those potions he'd been throwing back with more frequency than tequila was during an underage college party in Tijuana.

Dragging out that slip of technology from his front jean pocket (the Flannel Sleep Shirt of Protection having met an unfortunate end several hours back), the man shook off some of the dampness that clung to it before unlocking it to that home screen with a solid:

Top of the Morn" Handsome Guvnor! / Time: 04:17:28 RLT / Date: 20 November 2015 " Friday

And just below that glowed that promised end to this self-inflicted misery:

Sunrise: 06:45 RLT / To Do: Survive ^.^

A crackling sigh escaped the hunter as he fished out a crushed pack of cigarettes; the last gnarled, red headed stepchild of a cigarette worked free and stuck gingerly between lips as he decided to take a much needed breather. At first the night started off like it was the 4th of July all over again with pyrotechnics and booms aplenty....to the untrained ear. To the schmooze that had spent more time than he cared to admit in battlefields both proper and unconventional he knew what the sounds of combat were; or more in this case the organized and systematic put down of a piss and vinegar riot. And as the night continued those sounds grew less and less frequent until finally they were little more than the rare tussle punctuating the tense mood that hung on the stormy air.

For Mach's part his little "mission' was wearing down too as evidenced by the lack of color upon the map of Seaside which he gazed at now on his phone; updated to reflect the current situation which was a marked amount of nothing. He'd ran like a bat out of hell to those major centers on his map at first, cursing the storm that had swept in early bringing with it wetness" and dead birds. Not a very cheery atmosphere which to conduct his business but it sure helped him convince or cajole those who he found to go to his safe haven! Hey, it was either wait for what dipstickery brought this sort of terrible on or go to the crazed stranger's place to weather it out' at very least he wasn't offering them candy! But as the night wore on so too did those he found to aid diminish as they'd either found refuge elsewhere" or had met a fate with the "peacekeepers". Now all he was really doing was running down the clock as a "major pain in the ass" of that "peacekeeping" mission. A little moniker he seemed to have picked up while running around sending the destitute and unfortunate to his beach front house" but then given that every encounter he had with opposition forces ended with them getting a face full of razzle and dazzle while Mach 'woop, woop, woop'ed or teleported away it was easy for him to see why there might be just a hint of animosity. Hell, even the governors "buffering" elements got the same treatment from the schmooze earning him a top spot on their "buffer" with clubs" list! His only real hope for all this was that at the end of it all he'd keep his anonymity with no one really getting a good look at him....or at least attributed his antics to a certain mogul from another father....and mother.

Of course now may have been the time for the man to retreat himself to the safety of his haven, take to ground and rest with as clean a conscious as he could muster from this crap situation. But then, much like his own blood, the hunter knew well that he would only be toxic to that oasis he'd built. For in the course of being a "big damn hero' he'd pissed off all the nasty's running about and expended all his means of sneaking back to his house. So were he to return and be followed, well" given what he'd seen on the streets this night such wasn't a thought he was keen to entertain. Of course the situation itself did bring a ragged chuckle to him at how fitting an analogy it was for his life " building things and then having to keep away from them less he poison them with his schmoozey self. A dark and shitty thought but then the man felt like crap so what better place to find such.

Digging out his chintzy Zippo wannabe he lit that crooked and crinkled cancer stick, a drag taken drawing a sour look across rugged features at the taste of nicotine and burning rust from the already blood permeated filter thanks to his odd need to respirate. Exhaling raggedly with a cough the man took another drag because damnit he wasn't going to be deterred from this simple pleasure! Rather he turned his focus away from that burning pain and back to his phone as he finally decided to check his messages which had been ignored up to this point in favor of focus on not dying. Lazily the man swiped through the conversations, the words from Serah bringing a hint of a smile and a deep seated relief while Zynn's had him gurgling a chuckle at all the threats laid at him. He was starting to think maybe he ought try to encourage people to use carrots with him than just always resorting to sticks" but then why not go with the proven method since the man did respond well to sticks....of all sorts of manner! And at Shylah's text, well, the man just snorted in both dark humor and derision. "Mortal human"" the phrase was such a slap in the face to the man, particularly now more than ever given everything but he didn't fault the woman for using it. How could he in Rhy"Din of places"

Reading through a few more the hunter finally tucked away that device not keen on responding to any of them. The only thing he could do really at this moment was either lie to or worry Serah and Zynn which he didn't want to do and he was in far too dark a mood given his situation to deal with Shylah's or all the other messages he'd received. But more than that it seemed his little break was over as he heard the ever so soft squish of wet footsteps a ways away thanks to the sensory potion he'd consumed earlier. Taking a few more rushed drags from that cigarette before flinging it to the cold, mean streets; he shakily took to his feet fighting the scream of his muscles to just stay the fuck down or the vertigo from that anemia he was sporting. Pulling the caster from his holster he aimed it at the smoldering, drowning cigarette; blue eyes blue squinting as he focused on sculpting how he wanted this spell to go off before pulling the trigger. The casting was silent and quickly over, a gurgle of blood working up his throat which he forced back down as he skulked off once more into the streets dark streets.

And a few minutes later the hunter turned hunted would hear the tell tail "FOP!" as that trap spell went off, sending some poor schumck ass over tea kettle along the ground from the explosion of a kinetic energy bubble set off from stepping on that smoldering cig. Good ol" social engineering that: peoples ingrained desire to snuff stuff out particularly if it belongs to someone they dislike! It brought a touch of Machiavellian glee to the man, a snicker escaping as he trudged along to keep the Benny Hill-esque chase on in that bid for survival.