(Pov Flare)
After going shopping Rita drove the 4 back to the trailer where Jean and Flare helped V with her purchases as well as their own. Jean grinned at the Copperhead rifle he got from the gunshop. "Cannot believe that guy was dumb enough to sell you that." Flare says while shaking his head. Jean flips him off and runs to his room to put it with the rest of his guns in a closet he dubbed his armory which is already full of various weapons ranging from knives to lmgs. Flare shakes his head before taking his purchases (a knife and 2 sets of clothes) and walking to his room. As Flare walks by he sees that V is putting her stuff away (6 sets of clothes and 3 boxes of ammunition for her Lexington courtesy of Jean). Flare enters his room and puts away his clothes quickly before taking the knife and placing it onto a small stand next to a katana. Flare looked at the katana and remembered his original one when he was still a part of the Tyger Claws. It was a custom made one given to him by their leader after he rose in the ranks as a successful bodyguard and debt collector. Perfectly balanced and a shade of electric blue it was modded with a stunner so even if his target tried to attack and run all he needed to do was get one good slice in order to incapacitate them. Flare sighs he knows he made the right choice leaving the Tyger Claws. He feels sad knowing that the original claws, the ones with honor barely exist anymore as the gang drowns in an ocean of corruption. Flare shakes his head and walks over to his bed and looks around the room. He does not have much, just a bed, dresser, sword stand, and closet. Flare never felt the need to have much since he often had to move between safe spaces in the Tyger Claws. Flare laid back against his bed and closed his eyes hoping for a quick nap when his holo rings. He accepts the call when he sees the ID as Wakako. "Lady Okada, how may I assist you this afternoon?" Flare says with a serious look. Wakako looks back with a blank face. "Flare I have a job for you come see me for details and bring Zephyr he was notified earlier." Wakako says as Flare nods. "We will be there shortly, Lady Okada." Flare says before hanging up and walking over to the closet and opening it. Inside on a rack was a Kenshin tech pistol, a Shingen smart submachine gun, and a Tactician Shotgun. Flare grabbed all 3 weapons and walked out into the living room. Jean was laying on a recliner while Rita was sitting on a couch with V scrolling through channels on the tv. Jean was smoking another joint before Flare grabbed and snubbed it. "Wakako called, we have to go." Flare says while Jean runs to his room. Rita looks at V before looking at Flare. "Let me guess you want me to stay and keep an eye on the kid." Rita says, slightly annoyed. Flare looks at V conflicted before Jean walks back into the room with a duffel slung over his shoulder. "Rita you dont have to stay Im sure V will be fine as long as she doesnt go into my room most of the dangerous shits in there or my workshop." Jean says visibly annoyed at the fact that they think a 14 year old needs a babysitter. Flare sighs and looks down Jean was orphaned when he was 12 and forced to fend for himself till he was 15 when Maelstrom took him in. He had been surviving off scraps and ran packages for Ripperdoc clinics to make eddies no matter how many he got. Flare remembered seeing him whenever his grandmother had packages for ripperdocs. He was always looking around and constantly moving around when he had to wait for things. "Jean you cannot always expect everyone to be like you were." Flare looks at Jean pointedly. "She's strong enough or else she wouldn't have tried to kill us after we saved her from that Millitech bitch." Jean says loudly before walking out the front door and hopping in the van. Rita looks at Flare. "Give him some time I'll stay and keep an eye on V just in case." She says with a wink. "Go make some eddies and make sure Jean doesnt get himself killed or murder anyone that doesnt deserve it. Flare smiles before nodding and walking out the door and walking to the van. Jeans in the passenger seat listening to Talk To Us on Pacific Dreams while bouncing slightly to the beat. Flare gets in the driver's seat and starts the van. "You and I are gonna have a talk about getting you a car cuz we both know you are gonna need it. Flare says side eyeing Jean. "It costs too much to get one and I'm not paying for insurance." Jean says while leaning the seat all the way back. "You and I both know for a fact that if you asked Regina she would find you something cheap." Flare says while Jean glares at him and starts to speak before Flare cuts him off. "Before you even think about spewing some bullshit about insurance, remember that I don't have insurance and I still have my van." Flare says frustrated with Jean's stubbornness. Jean opens his mouth to say something before shutting it. They drive for a good 15 minutes both silent and still other than when the music changed on the radio. The silence was broken by Jean smacking both of his hands to his knees. "Fine I'll get a car but you're the one talking to Regina you know I don't like asking for favors." He says while sulking slightly. Flare pats him on the back. "It'll do you a lot of good besides now you don't have to wait on me anymore to get out of the bathroom." Flare says chuckling, causing Jean to start laughing. "What do you do when you go to the bathroom man you take like 15 minutes just to pee." Jean says teasingly. Flare keeps a straight face but his ears turn red. "The bathroom is a peaceful place meant for contemplation." Jean smiles at that. "Yeah I can understand that I'm lucky my Sandy and arm are waterproof or else I wouldn't be able to shower and that's one of the best places to think." Jean says while fidgeting with his arm. Flare smiles knowing his friend has a way to think without distraction. "I've been thinking about getting something chipped but cant make up my mind think you can help." Flare says, shocking Jean who thought he wouldn't get any upgrades except for his eyes. "You serious?" Jean says with an excited look on his face. He had been trying to get Flare to upgrade since they met when they were still running with their respective gangs. He and his buddies in Maelstrom all had tried to since Flare had so much potential with his knowledge of fighting and gun tactics even the Tyger Claws tried but no one could get him to so they all stopped except Jean. Flare looked at him while smiling. "Yes but only if we go to an actual ripper not to the Den as much as I trust you Maelstrom doesnt do proper procedures." Flare warned Jean. "We'll go to a ripper I know from Maelstrom she does good work." Jean says activating his holo and looking through his contacts. Flare turned the van onto the road to Jig Jig street scowling. He always hated this place as a den for human trafficking and Scavs. Flare had no problem with prostitution him and Jean both agreed that if someone was willing to sell their body to stay alive that's fine but he hated Scavs with every ounce of his being. "Flare your death gripping the wheel again." Jean pointed out while placing a hand on his shoulder. Flare exhales before parking the car outside Wakakos pachinko parlor. "Lets go" Flare says while exiting the van. Jean gets out and sticks his hands in his pockets fidgeting with his Overture. Flare new Jean had a reason to hate this place but his respect for Wakako wouldn't let him kill everyone and burn it to the ground. They both entered the parlor Jean looking at the machines as they walked through to the back and into Wakakos office where she and a man were arguing. The man was dressed in a dirty suit with a katana at his hip and he looked like he was about to tear her throat out. Flare and Jean both tensed up. "Is there a problem sir." Flare said warningly while placing a hand on his holstered Shingen. The man froze before running out the door. Flare and Jean looked at Wakako who was breathing in slowly and exhaling. Jean looked at Wakako "You alright Lady Okada." Wakako nodded and motioned for them to sit down. "Just a foolish Tyger believing that just because he used to be a higher up means he can make demands from me. Flares' expression became enraged and he moved to stand up before being grabbed by Jean. "Thank you Zephyr." Wakako says, smiling. "Now to the task at hand I have 2 jobs for you one is delivery the other is a clean up. You can choose which to do first as long as they are done by tonight." Wakako says looking Jean in the eyes. Jean nods "What's the story with the clean up and how brutally would you like them to die." Jean says his face is blank. Wakako passes a shard to both of them and they slot it. "Posergang getting too comfortable on Tyger Claw territory even worse, they have been trying to start another fight between the Tygers and the Mox. Tygers and the Mox have an agreement the gang goes and the peace is saved no one steps on no one's toes." Wakako says before her face turns grim. "As to how they die I have one request", Wakako leans forward and looks directly into Jeans eyes with eyes full of malice "Send a message no one impersonates the claws." Jean smiles sadistically while Flare keeps a stoic look on his face, his eyes a cold blue filled with fury opposed to Jean's bloodlust filled hazel eyes. "What's the delivery job?" Flare asks while calming down. Wakako hands them both another shard. "A Valentino needs transport back to Heywood but he is being chased by Scavs, Expect to be ambushed" Wakako says before Jean looks at Flare. "Want to do delivery then clean up?" Jean asks Flare. Flare nods before looking back to Wakako. "Where are we going?" Flare asks while taking the shard out of the reader. Wakako watches as they both take the shards and pocket them. "A storage lot around the center Valentinos will be on standby in case Scavs come after the transport. Wakakos eyes light up and she nods. "He is in your van now I would suggest you hurry." Jean and Flare both nod and stand up before walking back to the van and getting inside in the back seat is a Valentino passed out with a patched up arm and bandaged head. Flare started the van while Jean sat in the passenger while holding his new Copperhead. His mask is up and he's keeping an eye on the cars behind the van. Flare turns on the radio switching to a station that plays oldies. As he's doing this a van passes by them and then moves in front of them with the back doors opening to reveal 2 Scavs with Pulsars.
(Pov Jean) Jean inhaled sharply as his Synaptic Accelerator activated he acted quickly pushing the Valentino down to the floor and pulling Flare down into a duck before time sped up and a rush of bullets shattered the windshield and tore through the seats. Flare reacted quickly, firing off 3 shots from his Kenshin whinging one of the Scavs and the other 2 going through the van and shattering the windshield, blinding the driver and causing him to speed up. Jean pulled his Overture from his coat and activated his Sandevistan before being submerged in a cold breeze raising the revolver he shot twice killing one Scav and blowing out one of the tires. Jean froze as he realized the van was about to hit them and grabbed the wheel and turned it right before the van shot past and into the truck behind them. Flare moves the van back into the lane right as Jean notices another van and 2 cars driving after them. "Flare we got more coming." Flare notices this and makes a sharp turn into a tunnel. Jean watches the 2 cars pull away as the van speeds up next to them. Jean moves to the back seat as the other van's door opens and 2 Scavs one with a Copperhead the other with a Tactician and they both fire at the side of the van causing the windows to crack. Jean secretly happy that he could convince Flare to reinforce the windows except the windshield. Jean grabs his Copperhead before pulling an inhaler from his coat and hitting it. Jean opened the door as he felt his body go numb from the Black Lace running through his system and then activated his Sandi, the slowing of time causing him to feel like he's moving through a cold wave. Jean emptied half the mag into the first Scav before he could react and shot the driver before time sped up again. The Scav in the passenger seat grabbed the wheel before the van smashed into the tunnel wall. Jean quickly closed the door but not before the other Scav unloaded the Tactician into the van Jean catching most of the shots winced as the buckshot tore into his skin. Jean quickly pulled out a bounce back and slammed it into his chest. "Jean are you alright?" Flare says as he sped up the van to get ahead. "I'm good,my Subdermal Armor should handle it." Jean says while loading a round into his Projectile Launcher. "I'm going to buy us some time, figure out where we're going." Jean says to Flare as he opens the door again and leans out. As the van gets close the side door opens and Jean fires the round into the driver's seat before closing the door. The van is suddenly full of a blinding light before it crashes into the tunnel wall. Flare turns down a road before ending up on an intersection and then going left. "We're 40 minutes away from Heywood 50 from the drop off." Flare informs Jean as he passes him his Shingen. "Perfect if we get into Heywood then Valentinos should help with Scavs." Jean responds while reloading his Copperhead. Jean moved the Valentino over to the very back seat before moving to the front but before he could get into the passenger seat he was sent flying by one of the Scav cars ramming the side of the van. Flare partially stunned pulled over before ramming them back. Jean opened the van door again and shot through the windshield of the car before getting hit by a spray of bullets from a Scav leaning out the back door window with a Sidewinder and returning fire with his Overture before leaning back in to reload. Jean grabbed his side where the bullets were. "Fucking smart guns ruining my fun." Jean muttered before he injected another bounce back and took a drag of Black Lace. Jean looked out the back window and waited until the Scav was leaning out before unloading his Overture into him only to be shot again by a Burya from the driver. Jean closed the door and reloaded. "Flare were gonna have to switch seats that last shot went through my plating." Flare looks back as Jean hops into the passenger seat and takes the wheel while he moves to the back. Jean hops into the front and starts speeding up. He is hoping Flare will be ok as he pulls into the entrance of Heywood. As he drives he sees Flare open up the door before firing his Shingen and the Scav in the passenger seat falls out. "Flare I've got a grenade and toss it into the back seat." Jean says as he pulls a grenade out of his coat and passes it to Flare. He slows down and Flare tosses it into the car before seconds later it explodes. Flare moves into the passenger seat. "I think that's all for now." Flare says reloading his Shingen. "Let's hope so." Jean says while holding his side. "How bad did you get shot?" Fare asks. "I think it went through hard to tell I can't feel it very well cuz of the Lace." Jean says speeding up. "When we get to the drop off we will check it out. Flare says before suddenly the vans lit up with lmg rounds hitting both Jean and Flare. "FLARE!" Jeans screams before pulling his Overture out and firing at the Scav car that just pulled out in front of them. He fires off 4 shots before the car is suddenly under fire from 3 other cars with Valentino tags unloading mags from various guns and veers off the road and into a wall. Jean grabs a bounce back and smacks it into Flare's chest while he tries to cover the bullet wounds. Seeing the drop off ahead he pulls into the storage lot and leaning over to inspect his partner. From what he can see Flare was hit twice, one in the shoulder, one in the chest, thankfully nowhere important. Jean says a message on his holo before he looks through his pockets and realizes the only thing he has for pain is Black Lace. "Flare, I need you to trust me." Jean says, pulling out his inhaler. Flare sees it and panics. "No drugs no." Flare starts trying to get out of the van but Jean grabs him and pulls him into the back seat. "Flare I have nothing else and it will make it easier I've got someone coming to get us but until then you're gonna be in a lot of pain. Jean says before holding Flares hands above his head and forcing the inhaler into his mouth. "Take a breath." He says as Flare reluctantly does before his pupils dilate. "You're gonna be ok." Jean says as Flare closes his eyes.