While the villains are away...

[thalassino]

Seems like crime has taken a step up from just purse-snatching or someone stealing forty cakes when no one was looking. Those with a great sense of hearing or who happen to be at the wrong place at the right time will find that the good people of Vatheon are in danger. It's up to anyone who is willing to help to work together to save the day!




-Carol-

[In the lower district there were these warehouses lining along the barrier’s wall. One of them had a large neon sign with the words “Villains are here” flashing in lights. Anyone investigating the outside of the building will hear someone yelling for help.

Even if it’s obviously a trap, a hero must do their duty. And maybe clues about the real location of the nest of villains could be found.

The warehouse has been converted to a giant fun house with Indiana Jone’s Raiders of the Last Ark type traps. Getting help with navigating through this maze of traps and nurse themed goons would definitely be a good idea.

At the end of the maze, should people succeed, they will find Carol.]





-Hostage Hotel-

[A message will flash across the Starfish communicator asking for help.]

Help. At the Hotel they have guns

[Any messages sent in response will not be answered.

Seems that the city’s hotel has been taken over. The police are making a barrier and trying to negotiate, without any luck, with the crooks. They have the hotel owners and a their guests hostage on the top floor. They are armed, and very dangerous. Their demands include an escape route and a suitcase full of money.

Are you there to save the day or just get the scoop? Work together with the police or other heroes to save the day.]




-Like a bandit-

[There seems to be a burglar committing a string of crimes. They stole a rather large diamond from the jewelry store, money from the casino, and snatched a vase from an auction house. Thy only thing was a picture or a riddle for the scene of the next crime. The police are refusing to release the previous clues, but a reporter has managed to get a picture of the new message.]

What has branches and leaves and no bark?




-Anonymous Voice-

[A voice can be heard over everyone's communicator in the morning.]

There are twenty bombs hidden all over the city’s park. They will go off in a half hour. Find them before someone gets hurt.

[The caller might be using a synthesizer to disguise their voice, but locating them shouldn’t be a priority yet. Get those bombs out of the park before time runs out. Super speed or getting help would be beneficial for the ducks. Think of the ducks please.]



[They may also wind up stumbling or following a goon back to the actual secret base to listen in on a meeting at their own risk. Good luck!

((If you are open to being threadjacked, then please put Open in your subject line. If you have an idea already and want to play it out with a particular group of people, then please put Closed in your subject. Thank you.

Have fun playing out the scenarios, and feel free to drop a note in the subject line if Carol or the hotel owners are needed or if you believe characters may have solved the riddle! The location of the bombs is random and characters are encouraged to locate and defuse them on their own.))

Comments

[halfhearted]

If I wasn't on the job then I would give you something to really blush about.

[Lucky for them.]

Shouldn't I buy you dinner before taking you home?

[Way to skip some steps.]

[fulmination]

When are you off, then?

_[Totally.]

I wouldn't be opposed to it.

[halfhearted]

As soon as this is finished.

[He'll skip doing any paperwork. There was plenty of other officers around who can do.]

Behave and I might give you a treat.

[Snagging a pen from his pocket as he held out his hand for his partner's again.]

[fulmination]

Post a few snipers up on the neighboring rooftops to keep a better eye on them.

<sub>[Gross, paperwork.

He'll stick his hand out rather willingly--yet another thing that sets him apart from his former self.]</sub>

When do I not behave?

[halfhearted]

It's not my call.

[Giving a quick look over to the commissioner. Kimblee shouldn't just hand it over because Vanitas is jotting down the address on his hand. Sure, he had paper, but he always liked marking what was his.

As soon as he finished jotting down the address, he will write ich liebe dich]

Always.

[fulmination]

Put the thought into his head. I know you're capable of it.

_{[Really, he had more faith in Vanitas than he did the rest of this police force so far.]} You've proven yourself several times before--weren't you the one in charge of trying to interrogate me years ago?

_{[Not that he was really denying anything, but feigning PTSD and coming from a wealthy family helped his case.]}

...How long do you think it'll take?

[halfhearted]

I do have motive now.

[Before he was set with just seeing how they play it out here.

He's going to smile at the memory.] If you want to even call it interrogation.

[It was pretty relaxing and the reactions people had after it all was funny.

Even better when he wound up pursuing the criminal on a social level. Just look at them now.]

Going to be lonely?

[fulmination]

Do you?

<sub>[Next up on Smoking Gun: World's Most Casual Interrogations.

Really, it was rather nice compared to the previous ones and imagine his surprise when Vanitas tracked him down on the streets some months later.]</sub> I would've loved to see the faces of your coworkers.

_{[He gives the police line a look, then throws caution into the wind and leans against Vanitas a bit. Stares? What stares?]}

I'll be fine.

[halfhearted]

Something special will be waiting for me to get home.

[He was intrigued and Kimblee was entertaining.]

I might have pictures of it back home.

[As in their home, not this place.

He's lucky that Vanitas missed him enough to tolerate this. He's scanning the crowd for anything suspicious or in case someone makes use of his distraction to sneak past.]

[fulmination]

Good.

_{[It was fun scaring the rookies c:]}

Didn't you invite a few to the wedding? Including your chief?

_{[He seems to recall at least one or two police there.]}

...How much longer do you think this will take? I'm eager to know what you've learned of this place so far.

[halfhearted]

Hope you don't mind the mess.

[When he does get there, he'll find that Vanitas has taken to sleeping on the couch. The bed seemed too large with only one person. He also opted to just buy food instead of making it. With this city being craptastic and busy, he wound up working late or odd hours. Cooking wasn't really an option and he didn't feel like it.]

I left an open invitation for anyone who wanted to verify if I was serious.

[The chief still probably thinks of him as a nutter, but he was willing to look the other way as long as Vanitas did the job. He was better at finding weak points during interrogations. He looked young, which also played a hand in taking people off guard.]

They want people here to help clean up crime. Some people were given the option to come here willing, while others were just taken.

[How's that for things he has learned?] Seems cleaners aren't the only thing it's picking up. Crime seems to have increased, which means someone is pulling crooks or questionable people in as well. [Pausing to press a kiss against the side of his head.] You're proof of that.

[fulmination]

I'll just have to clean up I suppose.

_{[Jeeze Vanitas, what were you doing before without him?]}

I bet I gave you quite the reputation in the force. <sub>[You know. Aside from the one he already had and all that, but it's not really a bad thing.

He just didn't like the attitude he'd get when he'd swing by to visit Vanitas on his lunch break.]</sub>

You know you can use me to get close to them. I've done it before and I have no qualms about it. _{[Really, he didn't mind it too much! ...Well, except for that time he was shot chasing someone down. He bitched about that for a good month or two.]} Besides, you and I both know you'd do something stupid out of boredom if I wasn't around.

[halfhearted]

[Kimblee ruined him. He knew how to care for himself, but then he got used to someone else being around. It's all his fault.]

They think- [A pause. They weren't there any more.] They thought you did something to me. That's the only way it made sense to them that anyone in their right mind date and get hitched with the mad bomber.

[It didn't really matter they were sure Vanitas wasn't ever in his right mind. He covered the loose canon trope well for the station.]

I'll consider it. [He knows the other will be careful, but he still didn't like it. It could mean Kimblee would have to remove himself from Vanitas to keep others from putting together that he's a possible mole. And he just got him back.] Was already making plans for something stupid.

[fulmination]

Maybe I did and you just never realized it.

_{[He squeezes Vanitas' hand a bit.]}

Care to share? I'd rather know if I need to prepare a first-aid kit for you or not.

[halfhearted]

[Chuckling as he gave him an affectionate hair tug on his pony-tail.]

Like you could control me like that.

[And then a thoughtful pause.] Then again, I have done a lot of things I wouldn't normally do. Maybe you did do something.

[Returning the squeeze.]

Not here. You'll have a kit prepared regardless. [Being a cop was dangerous enough in this town.]

[fulmination]

_{[Vanitas what are you--Ow, hey!]}

Careful.

_{[Gosh, what is it with all of the hair pulling? Just going to rub the back of his head with a light frown as he studies him.]}

Don't come crying to me if you wind up bleeding because of it.

[halfhearted]

Are you going to break from this?

[Letting him go as he gave another look over. Seems people were more concerned over watching the top floor of the building.]

When have I ever come crying to you about anything?

[If anything, it'll be the opposite especially if he wad bleeding. 'Tis just a scratch.]

[fulmination]

How would you like it if I pulled your hair?

_{[Actually, scratch that. He already knows the answer to it.]}

So you wouldn't come crying if something happened to me, hm?

_{[Vanitas you're getting blood all over the new carpet!]}

[halfhearted]

[Giving a shit eating grin. He definitely knows the answer to that already.]

If something happens to you then I'll make the culprits cry.

[As well as unable to walk.]

[fulmination]

_[Brat.]

Then you ought to hurry and catch those people before I do something stupid.

[halfhearted]

I have do carry handcuffs.

[Just going to start taking off his bullet proof vest.]

I have no issues with using them on disruptive civilians.

[fulmination]

I kn--

<sub>[Vanitas what

the hell are you doing.]</sub>

...Vanitas, put your damn vest back on before they decide to shoot you. I'm sure they're watching.

[halfhearted]

[And he's just going to keep removing that vest.] I don't think they can make me out that well from the top floor and with this crowd.

[A look over to the nosy or concerned citizens gathered to try to get a closer look.

Vest is off and he's helping himself to putting it on Kimblee.]

Arms through.

[fulmination]

_{[Oh my god Vanitas he is going to smother you with a pillow later why are you being so dumb]}

...There's no use arguing with you is there?

_{[He's not fighting it anymore though. Arms are through!]}

[halfhearted]

[He could very much say the same about him. After getting it on and fastening the straps, he will pull him close. Standing on his tiptoes to kiss his forehead before letting him go.]

You can try.

[Being satisfied with that, he'll step back.]