The Gambino Army

What god do you worship?

Gaia, Goddess of the Earth	46.2%	[ 18 ]
Nyx, God of the Night	53.8%	[ 21 ]
Total Votes:			[ 39 ]

[Kiken Rider]

[ Isle de Gambino - Docks ]

After catching glimpse of one of his men being skipped across the ocean like so many pebbles before him, Kinza drew his sword, instantly pinning the blame on Dorian.
"You'll pay for that, werewolf!" Dorian's brief transformation did not go without notice. The life of a sky pirate introduced him to many different races, but he'd rarely been forced into combat with them. In this case, he thought back on rumors of Mahina recruiting (or even creating) people capable of taking on animal traits.
Cranking back his scimitar, he swung with both arms, intent on bringing Dorian down in one hit, the enchantment-fashioned blade singing as it took off through the air, feasting for Dorian's shoulder in the same place he had torn his jacket.

"Well, maybe you should check your reports again," Mahina stepped forward, challenging Slait's authority. Her second-in-command, Zilla, held tight to his weapon but did not pointing it, knowing full well that threatening an officer could wind him up in jail. Apparently, though, Mahina was too high and mighty for that. "And for your information, that fly you just swatted was no friend of mine - so why don't you go interrogate them, and get out of my way!" She commanded with the voice of a queen, her temper showing in the red-hot Ghi energy forming off her body.

[Captain Jessie Hawk]

Neon Graffiti

Captain Jessie Hawk

Neon Graffiti

Captain Jessie Hawk

Neon Graffiti

[ Isle de Gambino - Shoreline ]

Clapping his book shut with his shoe, Steve addressed Jesse with a little more than surprise. "Is that right? Because last I remembered, your closest pal Osiris was one of them." Shortly after dropping the bomb, Steve closed up his briefcase and threw it over his shoulders, having had quite enough sitting around.
"Listen, I'll take care all that other stuff. All you need worry about is stabilizing the island to make it harder for any Monuments to draw any more power. And that makes it easier for me." Steve said, trying to put it in laymen's terms. How does one "become" a Pirate King, anyhow?
Leading Jesse back to a small coastal neighborhood littered with beach-side houses and mobile homes, one would never guess that it was one of the richest streets on the island. Owned by the Moerae Clan, a crime family closely resembling a thieves' guild and one of the island's most wanted criminals, Steve had no worries that Jesse would feel right at home.
"Hey! I brought somebody you losers might wanna," Steve approached a pair of the clan members by the beach, one of which appeared to be wrestling with... a lion?

"What... the hell... is that."

Halfway into a fit, Steve brought Lee just the sort of good news he needed. Turning around and readjusting his newsboy cap with the horseshoe clip, Lee Enfield was the large, enforcer character of the Moerae Clan. A cross between an Irish gangster and an uptown hipster, the muscly man rocked a sweater vest like nobody's business.
"S'matter, boyo? You never been to a zoo before?" He said gingerly, smacking Steve's shoulder, to the agent's chagrin. "Well, well, well... today's full of surprises. There's only one dark elf in Gaia who would step on Gambino property without fear. Lee Enfield, s'pleasure," He shook Jesse's hand.

Steve rolled his eyes. "All right, well, I'll leave you two muscleheads to go break rocks, or whatever it is you do. Enfield'll catch you up," Steve said. Having endured way too much sun today, he retreated back into the Moerae's compound that he had been using as a research center since his arrival on the island.

Lee waved him off, "Eh, don't sweat that stiff. All the GMers are like that. But you're just the man I wanted to see. My fam and your crew are pretty tight around here."

::Jessie still had no real idea of what was going on. People needing to be put into place was essentially what he got out of it all. He knew there was more. Jessie however was not a fan of going into any type of situation with out any real information about what was going on. He wasn't sure how he was going to pull off this one but he would figure it out. He looked around at the small town like area. Smiled as he shook the hand of Enfield. He was an interesting one, someone who would defiantly give him more information. Possibly even help him out more then Steve had been. Steve was a good guy though, very into his job. Someone who defiantly wanted to get the point across and the job done, Jessie admired that.::

"Nice place ye go' here mate. So GMers eh? No' really sure wha' be goin' on here. Somethin' abou' me bringin' some islan' back into some sor' o' compliance o' other. Maybe ye can shen' some better ligh' on tha'."

::Looking around he then blinked his red hue's one more time before shrugging it all off.::

"So ye be lookin' fer me as well. Anythin' in particular tha' ye wish to discuss?"

[ Isle de Gambino - East Gambino ]

"Pah, the stiff didn't give you a rerun?" Lee said, watching Steve submerge back into their leader's den like a turtle. "Well, I'll fill you in on whatever you don't know. I tried asking the suit why the GA was on such an extended vacation, but all he could say is that it was "classified," He mocked, "But I think there's a heck-ton more behind it than what he says. See, while the GMers were gone, The Natives' gang, just a squad 'a punks that harass the tourists' surfing spots, suddenly elected a new leader - this broad named Mahina. And once she started leading them, they started to open carry, and scared off most the tourists. All the while spouting some kind of "locals only" BS."

"Next thing you know, the town's too scared to go to the beach, and with the GA out to lunch and no centralized police, they resorted to asking the local pirates to step in. But now they're resorting back to their old ways, and extorting the folks. >__>" The exposition had started to sound like a threat, the Irish gangster narrowing his eyes at Jesse, as if he himself was the ringleader in this operation.

"And I know you're too honorable for that... right?"

::Jessie Hawk smirked, honorable was the word for him alright. But he would have extorted plenty of people if he could. The people of Gaia however were not his enemies. There would be no reason for him to make coin off of their woe's.::

"If this were another time, an' place mate. I may have less o' tha' honor tha' ye be hopin' fer. A las, ye be lucky enough to fin' me no' jus' in a goo' moo'. I also be a man who hates to see when others be enslave' by the will o' another."

::The Pirate King began to pace back and forth. He was thinking deeply to himself. There was a lot he didn't know, Mahina was a new name. Knew nothing about her. Bartering with her should prove to be interesting to say the least.::

"So tell me more abou' this Mahina lass. Also wha' are these Monuments tha' the suit la' was very excited abou'? I believe he men' well, fillin' me in on so much, an' no really answerin' the questions seems to be his well problem. Very lively though. Knows his stuff I can tell ye tha'. Grea' fer someone who is well up to date with the worl'. I have been a bi' ou' o' touch so to speak."

[ Isle de Gambino - East Gambino ]

Despite his being a dark elf, Lee could sense no darkness in Jesse, no matter how much he fished. While slightly disappointed, he was also pleasantly surprised. In fact, Jesse might've been the goldenest hearted dark elf he'd ever met; considering that the most of them were eating through straws by now.
"I trust you, Jesse. I trust you enough to get a beer with you. I'll explain more there," He patted Jesse on the back, and led the pirate. "But while we're here, I'll tell you what I know about Mahina-- which is nada," Lee sliced his hand through the air. "She came outta the blue, took over the Natives' gang, next thing you know, they're all strapped to the nines. At first I thought it was your boys' arming them, but they said they got nothing to do with it."

"And all this talk about 'Monuments'...?" Lee shrugged, "I dunno what he's on about. Maybe Fortuna knows?"

::Jessie smirked at learning of the lads trust. Many assumed the worst of him at first. Dark Elf, or Pirate to boot, he did not have very good luck when it came to trust. He also had lead himself down the wrong path a few times when it came to trust. Most of the time it was lost words being used against him at a later time, when they no longer mattered. Now a days he keeps his words as neutral as possible. At least to those who are neither friend nor enemy.::

"Fortuna eh? Dunno tha' mate."

::He sighed, so much was going on. A beer sounded good, although it was too weak for his taste.::

"Make tha' a beer an' a Rum an' ye go' yerself a deal mate."

[Kabuki-Kun]

[ isle de Gambino ]

"Neon's no dirty cop." Haru was quick to defend. Not that present company really gave a care.

"Yeah, it beats me. I thought he'd take my side." A hint of disappointment stained his voice, and Stef thunked his forehead against the window.

Chiharu glanced up at Yu. Speaking of having more to her story... "My dad. It's hard to explain, but he needs my and Kin's help, and he needs it right now. My.." Her voice cracked, and she swallowed hard. "My friend too. I know it's not the best time, but I have to go."

"Oh that's not vague and suspicious at all. Owch! ******** stop that!"
--------------------------------

As Neon moved around to his seat, it came into view that the performer who'd caught his attention was not performing alone. Curled up next to the piano bench was her best friend, one very large German shepherd. The dog lay with his eyes closed but his ears perked, and he wore a bright red, well padded vest. In bold black, the vest read "GUIDE DOG - please don't distract".

The last notes of her song drifted into silence, and she smiled, pleased. Sitting back on the bench, the woman leaned back a little and patted her lap. At the sound, her dog sat up and promptly placed his heavy head right on her lap, in the folds of her blue dress, to receive scratches. He was not disappointed.

[Neon Graffiti]

Kabuki-Kun

Captain Jessie Hawk

[ Isle de Gambino - Speakeasy ]

That woman's voice was so enchanting that Neon hadn't realized the purebred canine parked at her stool, guarding her feet. Then suddenly,

"Oi, speak of the devil," Lee jauntily swaggered in, with a very familiar pirate in tow; one so dark in complexion that you wouldn't be able to identify him less he were on stage himself; Jesse Hawk, who would have not been welcome much place else on Isle de Gambino unless Lee wasn't his escort. Lee halfheartedly crossed his chest, praising whatever was on his mind at the time that Fortuna was there, and safe (Neon, he didn't care too much about). He had went out on a limb and prayed his Irish luck would lead him in the direction of his cousin, and bless today, it didn't fail him.
"Mind if we join you?" The gangster pulled up a seat and sat down, ushering Jesse to do the same whilst simultaneously ordering him the rum he had bartered for.

"Jesse!" Neon gasped, noticing Lee first but much more affiliated with the elfish Gambino pirate. He briefly embraced the swashbuckler, before patting his stocky shoulders. "You're look fine."

"'Course he's fine! He's with me, ain't he? Now siddown," Lee shook his box of cigarettes, lighting up a warm one.

Seeing Lee a tad more trustingly than he did initially, Neon smiled, still a little broken, but not enough to hide it. "Thanks, Lee." Sitting down, happy to see that one of his comrades was unharmed. Lee had expected Neon to start badgering him about all the important stuff - imagine his surprise when the soldier leaned over and whispered, "Why does she have a dog with her?"

"It's her service dog," Lee kindly informed him, "She's blind - you see?"

"Oh, wow, I... I couldn't tell." Neon gasped. Even the appearance of a cold beer didn't deter his fascination with the girl. His foot and heart rapped to the rhythm of her encore, his face sat in his hand, absorbed into her sultry sonnet. "She's really good."

A gulp into his frothy beer, Lee exhaled loudly. Noting Neon, he fanned his hand in front of Neon's face, but to no avail. "Ohhh, no. No, no, no, don't you even think about falling for her, Romeo!" He heard Fortuna giggle.

"What're you talkin' about?" Neon chuckled.

"Okay, loverboy, well maybe this'll catch your attention," Lee leaned over the table, leering at him. "Rumor is that she's with your old buddy, Don Maurizio."

Neon's brows perked.

"Yeeeaaah."

"With? Like... with-with??"

"Oh, the hell if I know," Lee said, taking another sip. "Rumor further entails that her pops asked the Don personally to protect her from the Kuro Gang-- maybe he ran into some kinda debt? Who knows. Elves like Jesse ought to keep a low profile while around her. The mafia 'prolly don't take too lightly to his kind."

"Uh huh," Neon said little more, himself caught up in studying her. "Well, one thing is for sure... she sure has got a beautiful-- ow!" Neon held his shoulder, charlie horsed by a wayward sock from Lee. "Why??"

"I'm warning you."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Isle de Gambino ]

"Really? Police fling aside, me and Dilong just get back, and you're already splittin' on us?" Yu was actually as concerned for Chiharu as much as he was Guanlong, and Stefano made a point about their motives being the utmost ambiguous; but from the day he met her, the very nature of Chiharu was ambiguous. Her control over temperature, her allegiances; Yu almost had half a mind to pull over and force her at gunpoint to spill every last detail. But he didn't want to do that. As much as he'd hated to admit, she had become like family to them.

"You have a dad??" Man, if today's wasn't the day of revelations for Guanlong. "You literally just got here! You really just stopped by so you can pick up samurai-Liberace over here?" Guanlong pointed to a scowling Kintaro.

"Now listen, you--"

"Shut up!!" Instantly quieting the car, Yu whipped out his cellphone and rung up his superior - Dilong himself. Yu explained, in a language only Guanlong could understand, that they were making a stop somewhere and shan't take long. Yu hoped.
"All right, here's the deal," Yu parked, and looked over his seat. "Tell me where you want me to go. You and Kin got an hour to take care of whatever the hell it is you need to, but me and the boys'll be waiting outside. Wakarimasen?" He asked, with eyes reserved especially for Chiharu.

[Captain Jessie Hawk]

Neon Graffiti

Kabuki-Kun

Captain Jessie Hawk

[ Isle de Gambino - Speakeasy ]

That woman's voice was so enchanting that Neon hadn't realized the purebred canine parked at her stool, guarding her feet. Then suddenly,

"Oi, speak of the devil," Lee jauntily swaggered in, with a very familiar pirate in tow; one so dark in complexion that you wouldn't be able to identify him less he were on stage himself; Jesse Hawk, who would have not been welcome much place else on Isle de Gambino unless Lee wasn't his escort. Lee halfheartedly crossed his chest, praising whatever was on his mind at the time that Fortuna was there, and safe (Neon, he didn't care too much about). He had went out on a limb and prayed his Irish luck would lead him in the direction of his cousin, and bless today, it didn't fail him.
"Mind if we join you?" The gangster pulled up a seat and sat down, ushering Jesse to do the same whilst simultaneously ordering him the rum he had bartered for.

"Jesse!" Neon gasped, noticing Lee first but much more affiliated with the elfish Gambino pirate. He briefly embraced the swashbuckler, before patting his stocky shoulders. "You're fine."

"'Course he's fine! He's with me, ain't he? Now siddown," Lee shook his box of cigarettes, lighting up a warm one.

Seeing Lee a tad more trustingly than he did initially, Neon smiled, still a little broken, but not enough to hide it. "Thanks, Lee." Sitting down, happy to see that one of his comrades was unharmed. Lee had expected Neon to start badgering him about all the important stuff - imagine his surprise when the soldier leaned over and whispered, "Why does she have a dog with her?"

"It's her service dog," Lee kindly informed him, "She's blind - you see?"

"Oh, wow, I... I couldn't tell." Neon gasped. Even the appearance of a cold beer didn't deter his fascination with the girl. His foot and heart rapped to the rhythm of her encore, his face sat in his hand, absorbed into her sultry sonnet. "She's really good."

A gulp into his frothy beer, Lee exhaled loudly. Noting Neon, he fanned his hand in front of Neon's face, but to no avail. "Ohhh, no. No, no, no, don't you even think about falling for her, Romeo!" He heard Fortuna giggle.

"What're you talkin' about?" Neon chuckled.

"Okay, loverboy, well maybe this'll catch your attention," Lee leaned over the table, leering at him. "Rumor is that she's with your old buddy, Don Maurizio."

Neon's brows perked.

"Yeeeaaah."

"With? Like... with-with??"

"Oh, the hell if I know," Lee said, taking another sip. "Rumor further entails that her pops asked the Don personally to protect her from the Kuro Gang-- maybe he ran into some kinda debt? Who knows. Elves like Jesse ought to keep a low profile while around her. The mafia 'prolly don't take too lightly to his kind."

"Uh huh," Neon said little more, himself caught up in studying her. "Well, one thing is for sure... she sure has got a beautiful-- ow!" Neon held his shoulder, charlie horsed by a wayward sock from Lee. "Why??"

"I'm warning you."

::Hawk walked behind Lee for now. There was still much to be learned about what he had been missing. Soon enough however he saw a face he had not seen in a long time. He smirked to the point that his teeth were showing. His red hue's lit up brightly as if he had be reunited with a long lost friend.::

"Neon! Ye slimy gi'! How be ye mate? Course I'm fine, ye don' think a Pirate King, an' Lor' o' the Gambino Sea woul' allow anyone to kick him off his home turf regardless o' how lon' he has been away do ye?"

::The Pirate Lord smirked, it may have been years, months, or two days for all he knew. Jessie would not allow anyone to take his title away. His ship still had a few modification that he developed, but with out a proper crew, there was no way he could be sure it would work correctly. At the end of the day, his new ship wasn't what he wanted. Jessie missed the wind in the sails and the spray of the sea.::

"How be Luna an' the others, are they well too?"

::It had been a long time, the Pirate King needed to know how his friends were.::

[Kabuki-Kun]

[ Isle de Gambino - Speakeasy ]

Neon's foot wasn't the only one tapping to the beat of her song. The table behind her piano was being overshadowed by the man who'd escorted her, and he was keeping the beat with the toe of a real old school cowboy boot. His face was hidden under the wide brim of a similarly unlikely hat, that was, until Jessie made his entrance. The man flicked the brim away from his face and sat back, watching the captain's every step, until his eyes found Neon.
"Well, I'll be a son of a gun..."

When the singer finished her gentle encore, she reached and found the handle that rested on her guide's harness. "Let's get a drink, huh Cujo?" She smiled, letting her companion lead her to the bar. Her blue sandals clicked on the polished floor until she felt out her regular stool and lifted herself into it. Words were exchanged with a cheerful man behind the bar, and a minute later, he was setting a glass of iced cranberry juice in front of her.

Her current bodyguard watched her every step, but he didn't get out of his chair - not yet. He did pull free a couple buttons down his flannel shirt, leaving it draping open. At his shoulder, it flashed just a hint of what could only be a holster resting against his bare chest.
----------------------------------

[ Isle de Gambino ]

Chiharu waited, watching the whole conversation even though every word of it went over her head. She knew that either way, she was going after her dad and Raku, but it was up to Dilong and Yu to decide how much backlash she was going to catch for it.
......
"Thank you!!" Chiharu lunged! Grabbing Yu by his face, she pressed an affectionate, obnoxious smooch on his forehead. "I'm gunna make this up to you."
She flashed her eyes at Guanlong, voice going low. "And you, boo~"

[X_Sparkie_X]

Slait

Kiken Rider

[ Isle de Gambino - Docks ]

Back turned to Kinza, Dorian was caught off guard when the enchanted sword sliced through his jacket and into the flesh and muscle of his shoulder. Dorian snarled, a pained expression on his face and he faltered briefly - the gash bursting in a fountain of frost and blood. The wound instantly froze over, leaving behind a cluster of red, crystal-like icicles protruding from Dorian's shoulder. Despite Kinza's intent to kill with the ice sword Dorian quickly regained his footing and turned, eager to meet the pirate head-on.

"You wanna try that again, Captain Crunch?" He hissed, the bitter air of mountain frost steaming from his curled lips. The fangs and claws were back, accompanied by dark, coarse hair covering the sides of his face, jaw and neck. The werewolf wasn't fully transformed, no, but it was enough to confirm exactly what Kinza said.

With a mighty roar Dorian lurched forward and with surprising strength ripped an icicle off his own frost-bitten shoulder, aiming to smash it in Kinza's face.

At once the sky was filled with shrieking gulls that had been pecking at the shoreline. The roar shook Eve's bones and he startled, dropping his cigarette. "Merde!" Eve cursed, grabbing Mahina's arm in shock.

The faun turned just in time to see the blood running down Dorian's back and the tear in his jacket and shoulder. "Dorian!" Eve shouted, his voice going an octave higher. "Of course! Why wouldn't the military let pirates do whatever they want!" Eve moved with a purpose towards the fighting Kinza and Dorian but was stopped by one of Mahina's lackies, Filipe, an intimidating man with a burn scar over his left cheek. "Move!"

[Slait]

X_Sparkie_X

[ Isle de Gambino - Docks ]

Back turned to Kinza, Dorian was caught off guard when the enchanted sword sliced through his jacket and into the flesh and muscle of his shoulder. Dorian snarled, a pained expression on his face and he faltered briefly - the gash bursting in a fountain of frost and blood. The wound instantly froze over, leaving behind a cluster of red, crystal-like icicles protruding from Dorian's shoulder. Despite Kinza's intent to kill with the ice sword Dorian quickly regained his footing and turned, eager to meet the pirate head-on.

"You wanna try that again, Captain Crunch?" He hissed, the bitter air of mountain frost steaming from his curled lips. The fangs and claws were back, accompanied by dark, coarse hair covering the sides of his face, jaw and neck. The werewolf wasn't fully transformed, no, but it was enough to confirm exactly what Kinza said.

With a mighty roar Dorian lurched forward and with surprising strength ripped an icicle off his own frost-bitten shoulder, aiming to smash it in Kinza's face.

At once the sky was filled with shrieking gulls that had been pecking at the shoreline. The roar shook Eve's bones and he startled, dropping his cigarette. "Merde!" Eve cursed, grabbing Mahina's arm in shock.

The faun turned just in time to see the blood running down Dorian's back and the tear in his jacket and shoulder. "Dorian!" Eve shouted, his voice going an octave higher. "Of course! Why wouldn't the military let pirates do whatever they want!" Eve moved with a purpose towards the fighting Kinza and Dorian but was stopped by one of Mahina's lackies, Filipe, an intimidating man with a burn scar over his left cheek. "Move!"

Kiken Rider

[Isle De Gambino - The "Other" Docks]
It was only then Slait noticed the other fight going on in the corner. Still, He could deal with whatever was going on over there after his own business was finished. "One problem at a time..." And speaking of...

At Mahina's response, He smiled morbidly, and purposely tipped his head forward so that his hat cast his face in shadow. She wanted to be hard headed, and he was losing the last of his patience. "Let me spell this out for you. Ya got two choices. You can tell me what you've done with Luna, and release her to us... Do this, and we'll go our seperate ways. Forget all about this for the time being." He hefted the white guitar off of his back and onto his shoulder in one swift, well trained motion. Meanwhile, The black one simply jumped off and skittered away, the strings carrying it along like an insect. It would dart towards the edge of the dock, and skitter over the side.

His voice took on one of conviction, the relaxed tone becoming one of sincerity. "Or, I apprehend you here and we get the information eventually. Except then, you'll also have to answer for your crimes in court. Your choice. But I'm not moving." He lifted his eyes to meet hers, from behind his tinted glasses, and his smile faded. He was certain he knew the answer already.

[Neon Graffiti]

Kabuki-Kun

Captain Jessie Hawk

[ Isle de Gambino - Speakeasy ]

"Of course not! How your sea-legs fairing on our sandy beaches?" Neon laughed back. Then, briefly returning to reality, Neon lowered his gaze to the table. "I don't know," He said, in response to Jesse's question about Luna. "Sources say she was captured by the Native gang. God, and I haven't got a single damn lead on her. Who knows where she is." His depression returned when he realized this, and that Jesse, a pirate, was so far the only familiar ally he'd caught up with on this accursed island yet. No offense to him, of course. Neon was starting to worry...

Fortuna frowned, upset that Jesse had to bring up such negativity, albeit unknowingly. The young leader reached around and petted her cousin better.

"Oh yeah, that happened. Cheers," Lee said, already starting on his second beer.

"Lee, slow down. :c"

"Hey, I can drink the pants off anyone here!" Lee said loudly, religiously, and at the expense of an otherwise quiet, peaceful evening. "... besides, it's not like I'm driving tonight. Me and Hawk walked here-- looks like his sea-legs are doing just fine, ain't that right, boyo?" Lee slugged Neon again, but got little reaction out of him.
"Oh! Hey, that reminds me. I guess you and Leon are already acquainted, but this is our leader I was talkin' about, Fortuna." Lee introduced the small, freckled woman sitting beside Jesse. He twinkled her fingers from behind her long, blonde dreadlocks.

"I am merely a spiritual guide to my people. Namaste," Fortuna replied, gently bowing and shaking Jesse's dark hand, which contrasted with her's. As she did, she could note their Italian cousins giving them the eye, no doubt curious to the details in this strange alliance. "Worry not, earthchild - you are in safe hands here. We accept you for who you are, ears, skin and all. But Fate so has it that your cousins have made an enemy out of the Gambino family - there any many questions I want to ask you."

Meanwhile, Neon's attention was again captured by the songstress at the stage - not because she was singing, but that she had stopped singing. His glowing eyes trailed, following her to the bar without a blink. And Lee noticed.

"No."

Neon slowly set his fork down, and BOOKED IT.

"NO NO no god dammit." Lee made a grab for him across the table, but it was too late. Laying across the tablecloth, he heard his cousin's laughter.

Neon stealthily weaved through the crowd, trying to appear as inconspicuous as possible. If this siren was being escorted by Demarco's gang then they were more than likely built into the wetwork of the damn building. By the time he thought he had made it home free, he was reminded of her closest, most important bodyguard - the dog.
'Nice doggy...' Neon thought nervously to himself, then casually made himself comfortable next to the woman. "Way to go! You really knocked 'em dead out there," Neon complimented her, leaning against the counter top. "Since you already have a drink, can I buy your pooch a bite?" He offered, politely, wanting to break bread with the large German Shepherd as soon as possible.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Isle de Gambino - Onigawa Spa ]

Yu rolled his eyes dully against Chiharu's kiss, already regretting what he was about to do.

Despite Chiharu's flirtations, Guanlong couldn't bare the thought of meeting her father. "I didn't think that I would have to meet your old man..." He bemoaned, hoping, praying Chiharu's dad wasn't as old-fashioned as his was. If only he knew.

Eventually, the group made their way to Waiting outside a parked car, Yu held back Guanlong, who, once realizing the gravity of the situation, fought to be at his woman's side during her hour of darkness.
"You gotta be out of your gourd if you think I'm lettin' you go in there," Yu spat against Guanlong's rebuttals. Yu wasn't afraid to take the boys along, but the reason he too wasn't going in was because he had to protect them, which he was fully capable of doing - however, Chiharu and Kintaro were another story. Yu's professional, last he recalled, was killing people, not protecting them. And foreign triads waltzing in on yakuza turf was a disaster waiting to happen.
b]"Remember, you got one hour!"

"YEAH yeah, I heard you the first time..." Kintaro said, shakily. He didn't want to go in here as much as anybody, but the closer he approached the base of the Onigawa-kai, the more he'd begun to feel his strength returning to him. It was only natural, being that summer had yet to close the curtain and he could still derive some sort of power from the local festivities. There was a good, and a down-side to being an icon.
Adjusting his katana, Kintaro cleared his throat, then eyed Chiharu. "Ladies first," He mumbled, sounding more opt to spill his own innards right on the doorsteps and get it over with. Halting Chiharu before she made it in, he looked at her dead-eye. "Wait - you sure you want to be doing this? Let me remind you that there's no way of contacting Urataro. He just comes and goes as he pleases. And even though Momotaro would drop everything at a chance at killing Shuten Doji, there's no guarantee he'll be able to make it either." His tooth dug into his lip, as did his fingers in Chiharu's shirt. "... not in time, anyway."

[Kabuki-Kun]

[ Isle de Gambino - Speakeasy ]

The girl started in her seat, but quickly gathered herself and dawned a wee smile. She'd been approached at the bar plenty, but most didn't bother to chat up her dog as well. It was...charming. "Thank you! Well, if you really want to, you can ask for his usual." She dropped a hand until it was draping over the pooch's ear, where she could give him plenty of scratches. "He'd love you forever...What's your name?" Now she turned her face toward him, while her buddy leaned his face into her leg for more love.

Alright, well that was about enough, he figured. The big Texan was making to get up out of his chair when she caught his eye, Neon's giggling, freckled cousin. With his butt half out of his chair, he watched her give a bright smile to her companions...and he reconsidered. Maybe they could stay a few more minutes.
He sunk back into his chair, eyes trading between his charge and the island beauty.
----------------------------------

[ Isle de Gambino - Onigawa Spa ]

Chiharu had been striding across the walk with such purpose, she nearly tripped over her own feet when she was grabbed. A glance over her shoulder met her with Kintaro's hesitation. Right...it was her family in there, not his. Of course she knew she might not leave alive, but she didn't have any choice, not the way she saw it. "Kintaro, I'm going to go get my family out of there. But I won't blame you if you back out." And she wouldn't. Really. She'd just probably get slaughtered.

Movement at the curb caught her eye, and she turned to see that her rapid texting on the drive over had paid off. Jiro was getting out of the back seat of a black sedan and making to join them. All the way down the block there was a single swirl of red lights, and a short "woop!" of a siren; Ainsley had parked one of the GA's ambulances within reach, just like he'd promised.
She turned back to Kin. "I won't be alone either way."

Jiro was still decked in his suit and strapped with his swords as he made his way to his daughter. The fact that she seemed to have hitched a ride with a triad was something they could discuss later, he thought. "Chiharu, are you sure you want to go with me? You can go home, wait with your mother." He already knew the answer, knew his daughter too well to doubt her. But he had to make sure she knew.

"I was just telling Kintaro the same thing. Just give me two seconds." She was only half listening, knew her step-father well enough to know already what he was saying. She had her phone out and was sending out one final text, this one to Yu.
"If I'm not back after hour, go w/out me. No savior BS." The pun was not intentional, and it was also lost on her...

[Kiken Rider]

X_Sparkie_X

Slait

Kira Lightfeather

[ Isle de Gambino ]

"With pleasure, fleabag!" The less salty pirates retreated when Dorian wolfed out, making room for their much more daring leader, who lashed out at the lycanthrope, but only caught a brick of ice to the eyes. The blood red ice crumbled to pieces upon impact, but left Kinza feeling quite stupid, having been countered with a result of his own magic. Sliding into the sand, he threw himself back to his feet and slowed his trip by stabbing the sword in the earth, leaving a trail of cold stalagmites in its wake.
"Talk about rolling a nat-twenty... ow!" He winced at the slightly numbed bump forming at his forehead, then plucked his frost blade from the sand. "Oh, thanks a lot for the help, guys!" Kinza shouted, rubbing his sore forehead. "Do something!"
Almost at his word, Kinza's pirates jumped on Dorian, fighting to hold him steady. Their leader reached into his sash, retrieving an ornately decorated flintlock pistol, aiming it at Dorian. Pinching an eye shut, he cocked back the hammer and squeezed the trigger, lighting up the area with a bright flash and a crack of lightning.

Meanwhile, Mahina was dealing with her very own fleabag, albeit unknowingly. Slait and her were clearly on their last strings, and things were bound to get ugly. She noticed the peculiar, autonomous bass guitar bumbling towards the docks, but paid it no mind.
"Listen here, "Colonel", clearly you don't know me," She said, cracking her knuckles. "So I'll try not to kill you. Consider that merciful!"

"Oi, Mahina," Godzilla said, nodding towards Filipe holding back a struggling Eve. "What about the haole?"

"How many times do I have to say it? Get them outta here!" Mahina commanded, the fire burning in her eyes. "I can handle this myself!" She exclaimed, and the goddess barged forward forward, fast but hard, her fist reeling back to clock Slait with a literal ton of force behind it. Her technique was nothing to write home about, but the leader of the Native's gang was imbued with a strength like no other, and the ferocity to use it.

"You heard the lady, bro, let's make tracks!" Zilla urged Eve next to Filipe, the faun really having little choice in the matter. It wasn't just Eve Zilla was worried about - fights against Mahina tended to shape landmasses, and he didn't want to be in the middle of it.

[Neon Graffiti]

[ Isle de Gambino - Speakeasy ]

And Neon did just that, ordering the dog's "usual", not caring to ask what or how much it was.
"Neon," He replied, before realizing how strange a name like that sounded. It had been a while since he'd spoken with anyone who didn't know him already. "Well! That's what my friends call me, anyway. My real name's Leon. What's yours? I'm gonna need one if I'm to search you on iTunes," Neon joked, but came off as sounding cheesy. For a moment, he was happy that the singer couldn't see how embarrassed he was. Looking down at the large German Shepherd, but hesitant to lose a hand, he at first asked, "Is... is he cool to pet?"

In the mean time, as Neon was in his own little world, Lee was still anchored to reality, deciding what was next on their to-do list.
"My informant says the guy behind the Shallow Sea pirates is this slag named Kinza. Kinda like Mahina, he just came outta nowhere, though taking over a bunch of beach bums is very different from taking over a gang of pirates," Lee pondered over his beer.

"I have a theory," Fortuna spoke up, causing Lee to roll his eyes. "That perhaps he's got the gift of gab. You know? The ability to always say the right thing at the right time? 0u0" She leaned over the table, explaining to Jesse.

"She's saying he charmed 'em with some sorta enchanted tongue," Lee spat, debunking the idea. "But that's a power only we have, and this Kinza guy, last I checked, ain't one of us!" He likewise leaned in close. "He ain't Irish. But whatever he did to convince them to make him their leader, he sure as hell ain't being nice about it. And here I thought the pirates were making a pretty penny off that boardwalk they had going..."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Isle de Gambino - Onigawa Spa ]

Remarking Chiharu's reckless determination, he would soon find out that it wasn't just that which made her so assured. A dark car parked close, and emerging from it was none other than the fox lord himself, Jiro.
How did she ever procure his help? Among kami, Hotaru Jiro was known to be one of the most reclusive, known to rarely visit the outside world in decades, and yet here he was, speaking to Chiharu as if she were his...
"Hotaru no Jiro...?" He gasped, looking to Chiharu. "That's your father?" Kintaro looked upon the kitsune almost wanting to laugh, but knowing better not to. Dressed to the nines in western formal, it was a look Kintaro never expected he'd ever see the man pulling off. In a way, the two both boasted an impressive clash of modern and traditional.
"It's been a long time, Jiro," Kintaro smirked, fanning the sweat beneath his collar. "Almost 150 years, if I'm not mistaken."

Guanlong briefly paused in his struggling to take a look at the vehicles that had arrived. They were just trying to shake the fuzz and now, it seemed like Chiharu had just ordered another dozen. Ducking behind Yu's car, he spotted a trio of suits step out of the Black Sedan, one of which was packing heat.
"Holy s**t, what the ******** is going on??"

"Get in the car. Both of you," Yu said, but even he was impressed at Chiharu's backup team. In Durem, he might've been able to pull off that same stunt, but it wasn't until then that he truly understood they were on her turf now.
Recieving another text, he looked over it and looked out at Chiharu, giving her the nod. Of course, whether she needed his help or not wasn't the issue - clearly she seemed to have everything under control.

"Well, shall we?" Kintaro pushed open the large doors that led into the spa, internally prepping himself to meet his father. They saw that the spa was completely empty sans for a short woman dressed in a tiger themed kimono, and a tall vested man beside her, filing her nails. Kintaro identified them as none other than the demon he'd slain a thousand years ago, Shuten Doji, and her right hand, Ibaraki Doji. They were dressed different, looked different, but shared the same darkness with their counterparts centuries prior. Kintaro, who was feeling strong, suddenly felt all that strength sapped of him.

"Oh, Jiro? You're back?" Shuten looked up from her magazine, setting it in her lap. She smiled almost nauseously, as if she were both terrified and mortified. "I'm afraid we're closed," The demon lord stood up from her seat, stepping into the light just as her pale complexion peeled back to reveal hot, fire-red skin and two, thick horns growing from the top."But I think I can make time for you. You must be all kinds of stressed, having resorted to coming here," She laughed mockingly, almost sultrily, till she recognized the man in gold beside the two yokai.
"Tch," She scowled, flashing dangerous, gnashing fangs. "And you brought that in here as well. My, my, you must be desperate."

[Kabuki-Kun]

[ Isle de Gambino - Speakeasy ]

"Neon it is, then. I'm Nadiya, but you can just call me Diya." She reached a hand in his direction while the bar tender set down a small plate of fries in front of him - no salt or pepper, just for Cujo. The dog at her feet was already starting to drool, his nose leeeaaaning up toward the bar, though he refused to step away from Diya to get any closer. "This is Cujo, my guide dog, and if you share those fries you can pet him all you want." She laughed, patting her loyal friend on the head. "My other body guard? not so much probably. What brings you, Neon?"
---------------------------------------------
[ Isle de Gambino - Onigawa Spa ]

"My step-dad. You didn't know?"

Jiro inclined his head to the hero. "Yes, I have to thank you for being here." He admitted, though it hadn't escaped him that Chiharu's promised raiding party of ancient demi-gods had been demoted to a single Taro sporting...what seemed like too much make-up, really.

Chiharu spared one last glance at Yu's car and Guanlong before filing in behind Jiro. Her fingers were itching at her sides for Frostbite, but she didn't grab for it yet. If she knew Jiro, he'd give the Onigawa a chance to avoid any conflict at all, regardless of the massive unlikelihood that they'd go for it.

"I merely came here to retrieve my retainer, Raku. I think we both know that taking him was out of line." He tipped his head, giving Shuten a sharp eye. Today would come to blows, and they both knew it. But it would not be said that he hadn't offered Shuten an out. Really, this was just the next in a timeline of crossing swords for the kami lord and oni king. "So you're going to give me the yokai Kyros as well, as a gesture to preserve the peace."

"Which is so important to oni..." Chiharu mumbled, one knee bouncing with energy. The air in the room had already dropped to a frosty degree. She couldn't help it; she desperately wanted to get on with it already.

[Captain Jessie Hawk]

Neon Graffiti

[ Isle de Gambino - Speakeasy ]

And Neon did just that, ordering the dog's "usual", not caring to ask what or how much it was.
"Neon," He replied, before realizing how strange a name like that sounded. It had been a while since he'd spoken with anyone who didn't know him already. "Well! That's what my friends call me, anyway. My real name's Leon. What's yours? I'm gonna need one if I'm to search you on iTunes," Neon joked, but came off as sounding cheesy. For a moment, he was happy that the singer couldn't see how embarrassed he was. Looking down at the large German Shepherd, but hesitant to lose a hand, he at first asked, "Is... is he cool to pet?"

In the mean time, as Neon was in his own little world, Lee was still anchored to reality, deciding what was next on their to-do list.
"My informant says the guy behind the Shallow Sea pirates is this slag named Kinza. Kinda like Mahina, he just came outta nowhere, though taking over a bunch of beach bums is very different from taking over a gang of pirates," Lee pondered over his beer.

"I have a theory," Fortuna spoke up, causing Lee to roll his eyes. "That perhaps he's got the gift of gab. You know? The ability to always say the right thing at the right time? 0u0" She leaned over the table, explaining to Jesse.

"She's saying he charmed 'em with some sorta enchanted tongue," Lee spat, debunking the idea. "But that's a power only we have, and this Kinza guy, last I checked, ain't one of us! He likewise leaned in close. "He ain't Irish. But whatever he did to convince them to make him their leader, he sure as hell ain't being nice about it. And here I thought the pirates were making a pretty penny off that boardwalk they had going..."

::Jessie took everything in and gave a nod to everyone he was introduced too. Learning about some of his other friends wear abouts even brought his feelings down. After all it's not very often that things like this happen, but between not knowing what happened to his crew, or even the other Pirate Lords! What hope was there any more. Jessie sighed slightly and watched as things progressed with Neon. He smirked at the comments made about his friend.::

"Yer theories are mos' likely accurate. I shoul' know, I've ha' me own share o' tha' luck."

::He sighed.::

"So when do I begin wippin' these pirates back into ship sailin' shape? From the sound o' everything, ye lo' has a problem of filthy mangey bilge rats tha' don' know the lick o' proper piratin'. An' where in the nine hells be the res' o' the Pirate Lords? The Brethren o' the Sea was never disbanded!"

[Neon Graffiti]

[ Isle de Gambino - Speakeasy ]

"That's a really pretty name," Neon complimented with a smile, cautiously feasting Cujo a thick chip with one hand, and feeding his face with the other. "Which is sort of a double-edged sword! You can always come up with a stage name, but you already have this unforgettable name..." He sat back up, realizing what he had said while running his mouth, and blushed! Hiccuping shortly after. "I mean! Well, you know what I mean..." Neon said, hand pressed over his lips, trying to iron out a smile. She couldn't see it, but everyone else could see how much a doofus he was being.
"Oh y'know, for what other people come for, I guess. A stiff ale, a chance to relax..." He tried to come off cool, but then found himself sounding boring. He didn't want to lose her attention so he just blurted it out. "Actually! ... what brought me was you." He struggled with his words, but he was all-in now. "I've just been having a bad case of art-block. But when you started singing, it made me want to... paint again. Art begets art, y'know? And just, as one artist to another, I wanna thank you,"
Neon finally hobbled forward and took a seat next to her. There, he continued to feed Cujo his potato-y treats, hoping his spiel wasn't too much to digest. He laughed, "Sorry. I could've just stuck with, "you're really good"..."

"Well-- right now, if you want." Lee told Jesse, matter-of-factly. "Just as soon as loverboy stops makin' googly eyes..." Speaking of eyes, Lee didn't go without leering at the dark cowboy in the corner of the piano, his keen eyes pointing out the obvious outline of a piece beneath his flannel. "... besides, this clubs crawlin' with mooks, anyhow. Hang tight, I gotta take a leak." Lee said, finishing his beer and waltzing off somewhere suspiciously...

"Make sure to wash your hands," She reminded Lee with a smile, before turning her attention back to Jesse.
"I see, the Fates have been generous to you. And not disbanded; merely disillusioned. I believe your brethren are still out there, Jesse." She assured him with the honest eyes of a seer. "We just need to find them! Family, no matter how lost, always finds its way back to each other. But how did you come to meet Leon?" Jesse knew not this "Leon", but way it she sounded, she was talking about Neon...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ Isle de Gambino - Onigawa Spa ]

Shuten could sense the air shriveling up, except around her. As she came closer, the party could feel her stifling rage becoming very physical, thawing the yuki-onna's early Christmas.
"Well I hate to be the bringer of bad news, Jiro, but your out of luck. I can't go through with such a gesture because the tanuki you're looking for isn't here." Shuten Doji said behind a spread fan, hiding all but those devilish eyes. The fan was inked with the toothy maw of a demon, no doubt a hint of her true nature, had she already not decided to turn red and grow horns. "... excuse me. Could you tell your little b*****d child to turn down the AC? It's of the utmost importance that my spa is kept at a consistent 81°F." Shuten asked, though Chiharu had little choice in the matter. The Oni King would not be ousted, even in room temperature, in her own house.

But even Ibaraki thought that was going too far. Even still, the demon barber stood at the sidelines, keeping his mouth closed and sharpening his razor that was meant to cut hair. He loved Shuten, but she sure was a spiteful wench, and he of all people knew it first-hand. A thousand years first-hand.

"However," The oni smirked from behind her fan, "Your other friend is still here. In fact," She snapped her fan shut, frowning angrily behind it. "The first thing you should be doing is thanking me for saving his life. If not for my waters, your wolf-cub would be history." She nodded towards Ibaraki, he did as he was told and opened up the door in the back. In it, stood a tall shadow that showed itself to be Raku, but something was... different.

The vagabond wolf stood there, appearing much more regal than normal. Dressed in a standard kimono, he also sported a loud, sky-blue haori with white mountain stripes trimming the sleeves, a white cord crossing his chest, and a headband decorating his forehead. The ronin wolf was hardly recognizable, which was appropriate, since he hardly recognized his own family.
Reaching to his waist with both hands, he smoothly, simultaneously drew both swords, their cold steel ringing.

"You can have him!" Shuten offered, "... that is, if it's up to him. Good luck changing his mind!" She laughed, cruelly, as her new wolf servant took his place beside her.

In that similar fashion, Kintaro stepped protectively in front of Chiharu and Jiro, reaching around his back and pulling off his guitar, who's glamour faded to reveal a large, golden masakari ax. It's immensity pulled it down to the earth, denting the spa's pristine floors with it's sheer weight. He could feel Shuten cursing daggers at him just for that alone.
"Get going, you two. I'll take care of this," Kintaro said confidently. "This isn't just what you're here for, remember?" As he said this, the sound of a large propeller could be heard in the back of the spa.
"But this, however..." He eyed Raku, grinning. "This is what I'm here for."