Scene #5129: Hunting Season

Owner	Pose
Pippi	THE EAST END -- In a Dangerous Neighborhood. Christmas was fed. The Captain was taken care of, his bald spot growing smaller by the day as new feathers filled in on the half-blind bird's back. Pippi had attempted to leave a note explaining she was going 'on a mission of discovery' but left it as a scrawled, untidy scrap saying 'joyng nasa'. ... that was two days ago, and Pippi had not been home since. There had been whispers in the underworld, however. "Yeah, I know man, an effing talkin' dog. That's what they said." Twitch says, rubbing at the reddened bottom of his nose, across irritated skin as he talks into his cellphone. "Yeah, well, if the circus was in town pretty sure he woulda sold it. You wouldn't beleive it man. I still think it's some kid in one of those furry suits."
Alopex	A few hours? No problem. A whole day? Has happened before. A bit over two days? Time to go take a look around. With Cat and Bird well fed and tanken care of, the Curio is secured and a fox starts to wander the streets to see what she can find about a close friend of hers. Whispers were always something she paid attention to. Hearing strange things about a possible 'large dog'. The one on the cellphone caught her ear, and now the ninja is stalking in the dark, edging ever closer while listening in. If she could hear more without raising an alarm, fine. The moment this fella hangs up though...? Then there may be trouble.
Pippi	"Yeah, well all I know is that the Hatter has her and she just talks man. About anything you ask her about. Goes on and on about this red effin' /ninj-/ -- ah fine, hey, you tell Steph--" Twitch stops walking. "Oh. Yeah, well. Tell her to go to hell!" he states, and hangs up the phone by very angrily pushing the button and slipping the phone into his pocket. He pats himself down or his smokes, inds his vape deck and then takes it out, with shaking fingers.
Alopex	And then he hung up. Perfect. As silent as she can, the fox takes a step out of the shadows, Tentetsutou already drawn, and moves to hold it to the man's neck. "Where is the one you were talking on the phone about?" If he behaves, maybe he'll leave with only a headache and not far, far worse.
Pippi	"What the E--" Twitch begins, and he straightens up. He didn't see the ox coming, didn't hear her. Didn't even sense her presene, and he twitches, dropping his vape deck as he exhales. "I... I don't have any idea what you're --" and he twitches, the skin of his neck brushing against the blade of the weapon. He exhales, his eyes going wide. "Look man, I don't have nothin' to do with it. The Hatter says he found some talkin' dog, but it walks around like a freaking human. You can find him at the Wonderland Bar, three blocks from here. "
Alopex	"That's all I wanted," Twitch would hear before he'd hear something. The blade that was pointed his way being returned to its sheath. The fox is gone just as quietly as she showed herself. Though, if Twitch goes to call his 'friend' with that phone, it would mysteriously be missing. . . . Well, maybe not so mysterious..
Pippi	A hop skip and jump away, The Wonderland Bar was a hopping sort of place. There was plenty of music, plenty of black lights and a lot of chaotic smells. People sweating, too sweet perfumes and a lot of Axe. Seriously. Who uses that stuff? The trance music was thumping loud enough tha tthe bass vibrations were shaking the street outside. There were two big, beefy bodyguards at the door, checking ID and verifying that people are in fact old enough to be there.
Alopex	Pff. Front doors. Entrances for everyone that isn't a ninja or some other stealth expert. Still, hopefully she doesn't have a whole lot of trouble either getting in from a different entrance, the roof, or just using the cloak of night to slip past the bodyguards. Once inside, the music is deafening enough that the fox will have earplugs in in very short order. Breaths through her mouth help with being overwhelmed by ther own nose, but only so much. Despite it all, her eyes try to skim the crowd looking for a familiar form. ... She starts to wonder if Pippi got back with that group from before.
Pippi	Very different group. This one was less anarchy and more chemical love. There's the reek of chemicals in the air the closer that Alopex gets, slipping in behind the guards. No one seems to notice the fox. It's easy enough to cling to the sides of the dance hall. Easy to slide in and out amongst the dancers and revelers. And then there's the whiff of something familiar, that scent of Pippi. There's a closed door marked "MANAGEMENT". It's coming from there.
Alopex	Uncertain of what may actually be happening, thinking about past encounters, when the Fox draws up toward the door, she keeps her hood up, one hand to her blade, and then gives a pretty hard knock on the door. Depending on what is seen on the other side, things could get really violent in a hurry, or something may end up getting explained. One or the other. Or maybe some grey area she hadn't thought of. That does seem to happen rather often with Pippi. "Lets see what's going on.."
Pippi	The door opens. "Password, please." comes a squeak of a voice. Someone in the back shouts, "Where the HELL has Twitch been? I sent him for slim jims like, an hour agooooo."
Alopex	Frown. "I came for the dog." is all the voice is going to get. "And I have 'Twitch's' phone." Hopefully they'll understand she's fairly serious..
Pippi	An angry looking, pale girl with orange lipstick peers mildly back at Alopex, and then heaves a bit of a stiff breath. "Right his way, miss." ANd she steps to the side, motionig Alopex in. Once through, the smells and the noises fade. Back here there seems to be a different world. The chemical smell is strong. The girl leads through a bunch of hallways until she gets to an office, the door is labeled M. HATTER And she opens the door. "The dog, miss." And in the room there is Pippi, who is talking excitedly about how she one day hopes to work for Santa Claus and help escort him and his mutant ninja reindeer throught he night and deliver toys and training weapons to all those deserving children who've done their katas. And paying rapt attention is a man wearing a smart business suit, listening to every word Pippi says as if it is the most important in the world. THere is a heavy steel cord hanging from the back with a very large clip on it. Kind of like what you would use to clip a dog to a leash. He's playing it over his fingers as he listens.
Alopex	Slowly, the hand against her blade slips back to her side, and then Alopex follows after the girl. Once inside, she remembers. Red Ninja. Of course. Hearing Pippi go on and on about it just makes her smile. A nod is given to the 'greeter' as a thank you before a closed hand slips up to her muzzle as she clears her throat to gain the attention of Pippi and, apparently, the Mad Hatter.
Pippi	They both turn their aces upwards. Pippi gives a brilliang grin, her ears pricking up, and she motions. "SEE? She's the best at hide and seek 'cause she always finds me. Even when she doesn't know where I am. She always does!" Pippi gives a smile, drawing up to her full short height. The man, however, begins to unfold himself from his chair. He's very tall, very lean, very long in the arm and leg. HIs fingers curl around one another and he gives a preditory grin to Alopex, his eyes giving a slight narrow. "Ah, good evening, Madam Fox. How /do/ you do?" As he stands, Pippi gives a twitch. THe same twitch she gets when she hears a car backfire, th esame twitch she gave when she and Alopex first found one another and she thought she was going to get hit.
Pippi	It's clear that Pippi considered this Mad Hatter to be a Bad, Bad Man.
Alopex	It's a familiar twitch, and one that puts the fox on edge. "I'm here, and I plan too leave with my friend regardless of if you like it not." A motion for Pippi to come over, if she wants to, is offered. "Are you alright?"
Pippi	Sigh of releif. Pippi slips around the side. "I forgot Stick at home. I had to be all poly-tick-al." she explains quietly, nervously, her ears going back as she sort of hides behind Alopex. "Oh, Madam Fox. I wouldn't dream of keeping such a... treasure. You, on the other hand, I have a business proposition for." he gives a bright smile, leaning on his heels. "Alopex."
Alopex	Once she's close, Pippi would get a light petting. Alopex wasn't upset, just concerned. "You did fine," she compliments before looking to this Hatter guy. "She's not an object to be collected, she's a person and I won't hear otherwise." Beat. Eyes narrow. She didn't remember hearing her name, but it was possible Pippi brought it up. "You have two minutes." She didn't trust him, clearly Pippi was scared of him, he's lucky he got that long.
Pippi	Pippi tenses. Her eyes narrow, and she gives a little growl in the back of her throat. "... I didn't tell him your name." she whispers to Pex, almost coming forward as if protective. The man straightens his suit a moment, and adjusts his tie. "I thought so. Not very many lost mutant foxes around New York, are there?" he questions, setting his hazel eyes on them both as he tilts his head back a moment, giving a long look down his nose. "You and I have a very similar enemy, someone who I want to leave limping." he gives a smile. If a certain person was the bear, this one is the wolf. "I'm sure you and I can come to an agreement, or else the description of your little friend gets out."
Alopex	A reassuring pat is given Pippi before Alopex actually relaxes. After all, the enemy of my enemy... "Mm. I have been trying to prepare myself for dealing with -them- again. Myself and my friend here. However, if you must -insist-, you continue to have my ear. I however, must also insist that you do not cross me. I have -no- tolerance for it.
Pippi	"Oh, I understand. Trust me." Mad Hatter gives a small smile, and he seats himself as he exhales. He steeples his fingers. "I have information on some of their operations, but not the means to... mm, how do I put it -- utilize it to its fullest potential?" he smiles. "I want these particular bee out of my bonnet, you want to facew them again, I'm sure you're just CHOMPING at the bit."
Alopex	"I will not lie, the thought has crossed my mind. However, I wanted to make sure my friend here was ready to fight alongside me -before- moving forward. However," a glance is given Pippi, who was actually ready to defend her against the Hatter. "After today, I think she may be ready," and then back to Hatter. "So. Fine. I will see about the ones causing you problems. Do -not- think that it is your leverage that is moving me to assist you. It is the mutual enemy. If you try to blackmail me again you will not enjoy the result."
Pippi	Pippi gives a sort of embarrassed look, shrinking back a half second. "She's not. If they find out you're here, they're not about to send their rank-and-file, are they? Not when they know how you fight." He reaches down, and draws up a cup of tea. His eyes do not leave the two canines at the far end of the table. "Keep Twitch's phone. I'll use it to contact you."
Alopex	"I'll be the judge of that, sir," Alopex's reply is rather stern to the first comment. After all, Pippi didn't have Stick with her whenver Hatter encountered her. It's veeeerrry likely that the pair will be having some pretty intense training regements after this. Still, he's right about who they would send out. "Fine," is said after a long pause before Pex turns to leave, "C'mon.."
Pippi	Pippi follows Alopex out, almost tripping herself up on her way out as she gives a shudder. "He kept asking about where we live. I just kept talking about Santa." she whispers in a very, very quiet voice to Pex, turning her gaze upwards to the fox.
Alopex	It isn't until the pair are outside the club, and then a fair way away from the club, that Pex turns to Pippi, "You did well, Pippi, very well and very smart to not let him know where we live. Did he give you anything, put anything on you, any way he could possibly track us?" The ninja doesn't know how long Pippi was there so she isn't sure what happened while searching for the pup.
Pippi	Pippi takes a deep breath of fresh air, and exhales, almost all the way out. She gives a shake of her head, ears flapping and exhales as she draws up aside Pex, and looks up at her. "N-no. I drank tea, but I watched them make it. I didn't accept anything physical, just a little food. They ordered a pizza and it was pretty terrible pizza. I think Twitch ate the real one and gave us a microwave one. It was aaawwwfuuuul." Pippi protests, somewhat comically.
Alopex	A satisfied nod is given, "Good, good.. You did really well, Pippi," a frown forms because of the pizza that's mentioned, "Ugh, awful. Well, lets stop somewhere and get something real to eat, then. Your choice." Step, step, stop. Pause. "I suggest a big meal, Pippi. We have some training to do, and I want you to be serious about it. No pulling punches and we both go all out, alright?"
Pippi	"Mmm bacon commander...." Pippi trails off slightly, her tongue hanging out of her mouth as she dreams of abacon and cheese covered heart attach on a bun, and then pauses. She straightens. "... wait, wait -- /all out?/"
Alopex	A smirk, "All out. I've been making you hold back long enough that your control should be a lot better. You also know when best to use your strength, and when not to, like today. I know what I am asking for, Pippi, and I have a place in mind we can go. I won't hold back either, after all, so it's fair." Deep breath. Exhale. Smile again. "So yes, big meal, and then all out."
Pippi	Pippi just outright stops. She looks at Alopex a little disconcertedly, and then, very cautiously she asks: "Are we going bear hunting?"
Alopex	Hood up, then the fox gets walking again in the general direction of Fly-By. Pippi -did- say Bacon Commander, after all. "Yes. We are going bear hunting.