[Closed; see note] Trigger Scent Hunting

[shoplifter]

who: Laura Howlett and You
what: Laura has been afflicted with the Trigger Scent - and is ready to kill.
when: Thursday, Early Friday morning, after this unsettling post. 
where: All across Riverview.
warnings: Violence/blood, potential death (mainly NPC).
Note: If you would like to be involved, I may be able to squeeze you in; just hit me up at simpledog! I have a plurk here regarding this plot.

Laura isn't herself.

She doesn't really feel anything — see anything, think anything. It's more just an all-encompassing need to kill, some sort of mentally paralyzing fog where all she can think is that she needs to track and hunt. If you'd asked her, before the trigger scent was used, what this strange liquid was? She wouldn't be able to tell you. It's new information, something the scarce files Gabriela stole away didn't cover.

Too late now. 

She prowls through the city, her steps fast and her nose sniffing at the cooling air. She smells her targets. Some are stronger than others, closer by. Some are moving. Some are stationary. Whatever the case, she stops firstly by a local liquor store where a man is stumbling out with a beer in hand. She doesn't know him, and she won't remember that he's her first victim. Poor guy just got doused with the wrong thing, wrong time, wrong place. With him easily neutralized, she moves on to the next scent—

Likely one of you.

Comments

Kirk and Hawke

[shoplifter]

operation 'this will definitely end badly' is a go

[winscenario]

[ Jim's seen the network post, as most everyone likely has, and he's taken it upon himself to find either Laura, or the guy. He's not counting on the latter— he's likely hiding right now, like the coward he is. As for Laura, he's hoping to find her before she'll actually hurt anyone.

He doesn't remember being doused by the liquid, doesn't realize it's happened. When he spots Laura coming down the street, headed towards him, Jim doesn't even think that she might be getting ready to attack him, and despite knowing he has to be careful, he doesn't actually think she's set her sights on him as her next victim. ]

Laura!!

ignore that i hit enter too quickly and was clearly on the wrong account LOL

[shoplifter]

[Terrible idea, really, Jim.

She pauses in front of him, viciously red eyes wide and almost unseeing in their bloodlust — and then she sniffs once, twice, before she starts walking toward him with a sort of darkness around her. She doesn't seem to even so much as flinch at her name.

And her claws already have blood on them.

One person snuffed out. The smell overpowers every single sensibility.

Her steps quicken, and it starts becoming a little too clear she's planning to go for Kirk next.]

Keith and Gabby

[shoplifter]

[tempredmental]

[The disturbing network post hadn't been missed, honestly. So, as part of the Perimeter Guard, Keith decided to take him on himself to try to find Laura. He was worried about her, honestly. He didn't fully understand the entire thing of what was going on, but he was determined.

This, of course, set him up in the sights of some of those hired kids hitting people with 'water balloons'. He got hit, but ignored them. It was just a simple prank, as far as he knew, and started looking again. He didn't realize that the 'water balloon' was designed to bring Laura to him.

Good thing he was wearing his Paladin armor... it might afford him a little extra protection...]

[shoplifter]

[Laura stalks him along the rooftops, eyes scanning him up and down and nose wrinkled in a displeased snarl; she couldn't think straight, or really much at all — but she also was working on blind instinct. The armor was unfamiliar, and she wasn't sure the material. The smell? Now that was overshadowing everything else. She stepped onto the ledge with bloody claws extended, hungry to appease the mindless hunger in her head for every target she can get a whiff of tonight.

Look out, Keith, she's lunging from the moonlit sky, arm pulled back and fist and claws aimed to try and impale him through the head. She is nothing if not eager to make it quick. That's important in killing, in wiping out your enemy. Making it very quick. Painlessness doesn't matter, but thoroughness does.]

Natasha

[shoplifter]

Lola and Jintetsu

[shoplifter]

[threatenwithcuteness]

*Lola was going to enjoy the last fleeting idea of summer, yes it was gone. But, that didn't mean she couldn't wear big sunglasses and drink rainbow colored cold fruity concoctions for a little while longer. While showing off her arms, wearing shorts, and just kinda enjoying how cute she looks.*

Hmm... maybe I can get my helmet and jump myself someplace good for a selfie.

*She was wearing her jumping boots, like she did sometimes. Just to be super used to wearing them in case something happened.*

*It wasn't cause she was still terrified cultists might kidnap her again and she's a bit paranoid. Not that. Nothing like that!*

[shoplifter]

[It's Friday, early morning, do you know where your rabid mutants are?

Laura herself has had a very eventful morning — and Lola is next on the list, though Laura has no clue who she is in this state; she doesn't recognize anyone or anything, nothing except the familiar odor that clings to an unaware Lola. Those kids, throwing around water balloons, splashing cups on people, they're rude, aren't they? Now the dry chemical is dragging Laura out of the woodwork.

She starts toward her, shoving a man so hard he nearly crumples unconscious against a nearby wall, and her blood-red eyes are glued on Lola. She doesn't seem too eager to do this subtly; the trigger scent makes her maddened, eager to finish the work.

Look out, Lola. The claws're out.]

Chyler and Iona

[shoplifter]

[childofaxios]

[ Chyler is running errands, Dom in tow, with plans to take him to a park later in the day. He likes running, and he's so much faster than she is--fortunately, there's a place with tall fences made to let active pets off their leashes to play.

She's on her way there when she gets hit by one of the kids with their water balloons. They miss Dom, mercifully--wet dog smell is not Chyler's favorite thing in the world--but they catch another person on the street nearby, too.

Dom starts to charge one of the fleeing kids, but Chyler whistles sharply. ]

Dom! Leave it. [ She looks over at the other victim. ] Are you all right?

[stumbledfromtheashes]

[Iona is out running errands herself, picking up a few things for their new place when she gets beset upon by small children with water balloons. She’s never had the water balloon experience before; they aren’t really a thing in Thedas.

It was a solid hit, too, hitting her right in the chest and startling her into swearing.] Fen’Harel’s taint.

[She’s not the only unfortunate soul to get hit, and she turns to her as she asks her a question.]

I am, yeah. [She smiles wryly.] Although I might hold off on my errands until I’m a little drier, I think.

[She’s not ever experienced water balloons before, either.]

You?

Villanelle

[shoplifter]

[tuer]

[ villanelle isn't having a good day. first of all, she's still here, just, generally, which considering the circumstances is the least fun she's had in a while. second of all, she's wet. not that it was raining or anything, god no, she'd never be that lucky. it was deliberate, and worst of all it was a bunch of children. do they not know she's a City Safety Officer (Espionage) for the Government of Riverview? do they not know she just did her hair this morning? and – their worst offence – do they not know this shirt was couture? never mind the big hole in it and the blood stains she hadn't been able to get out, it's still the best looking thing in her closet including all the ratty polycotton shit they gave her when she got here. but now it's wet, and so is she, and she's fuming.

she spends the afternoon stalking around the center of town looking for those awful children. she could go get changed, do her hair, etcetera, but this is more important. the first child-sized body she sees, she's going after it. that'll teach children to do child-things near or at her. ]

[shoplifter]

[Laura's brain switches gears, when the new scent hits her nostrils. The child Villanelle runs into is small for her age, tucked away in the dimness of the morning by the mouth of a back alleyway — she's crouched down over what appears to be the figure of a woman who has very clearly flown the mortal coil. Laura turns to the stalking, annoyed City Safety Officer, revealing patches of blood on her shirt and jacket.

No visible weapon, yet. But as she starts walking toward Villanelle with blood-red eyes—

Ah, andthen the claws come back out, two from each knuckle.

She looks particularly eager to reach the woman, lips curled into a snarl.]

Doreen (and potentially Gyda!)

[shoplifter]

Re: Doreen (and potentially Gyda!)

[like_quicksilver]

The entire day, Gyda was in a daze; Ivar..her remaining connection to home, was gone, and she'd have to try and provide his memories to Winter instead of him being there.

She was grateful for being in school this time-if only to get a way. The usual chaos and confusion of the

Then there was the message with Laura. She'd wondered why the girl wasn't in school, wondered if it was possible she as sick-until the message. Gyda wasn't so foolhardy as to go search for her, she didn't have the power or means, especially with Laura being bewitched as she was. She didn't know what to do, hoped there were others who could help her.

Gyda didn't notice that morning when something wet got on her tunic. Between everything else, she still brought a dagger with her to school-a connection she couldn't break from. The school didn't allow for them of course, but she could easily hide a dagger or small ax in her bag, so long as she was mindful of where it was.

She was on her way to the school, still keeping an eye out. Not there yet, she had her knife at her belt, wary if anyone came near.

[shoplifter]

The night had been a considerably violent and unpleasant experience for a number of people, and by this rate Laura had needed to be more stealthy; even in her rabid need to kill, she was more than aware that people were following and trying to put tabs on her, and with that in mind she keeps to the alleys and quieter little patches. It's morning, and many are avoiding the streets and trying not to get themselves killed.

That's when Laura gets the scent of Gyda, tinged with that overpowering smell. She races faster now, breathing low through her nose as her teeth gnash. Kill the target, that's one of the few thoughts that cross her foggy mind. She's already killed a few; injured others; what's one more? It has to end when the scent is washed out by blood. It has to end when the enemies are eliminated.

With that in mind, Laura skids out onto the sidewalk ahead of Gyda, caked with dry blood and looking feral and dangerous.

... Looking right at the other girl, of course.

Laura's Capture

[shoplifter]

[shoplifter]

[Laura is after a street kid who had accidentally splattered with the trigger scent — a boy who is definitely out past his curfew, rebellious prankster that he is. He runs and runs and runs, gasping for breath as his endurance runs low. Behind him, a wartorn Laura is on his trail; she's covered in dry blood, some hers, some others, and her clawed fist is pulled back and ready to kill.

"Please, leave me alone! I don't know what I did! What'd I do?!"

She doesn't care; she's hardly Laura right now. She's X-23-23, made specifically for this job.

It's the only thing that matters.]

Killing Shiloh

[shoplifter]

[shoplifter]

[Well. Now that Laura's been captured, Shiloh has little reason to stick around long — the further away from the crime he can get, the better. He's got no reason to get caught if he can get out and go longer, cause more trouble, figure out how else he can best use his time among these mindless idiots; these fools who denied the First People and ruined all hope for a better Riverview.

So he rushes through the alleyways, using the darkness to his advantage, a bag over his shoulder.

And makes sure to hide his bald head and metal arm in a hoodie.

Best not get found out here, yeah?]

Investigations

[shoplifter]

[11calls]

[Alex wasn't an idiot, she had been in the caverns with Laura when they had been kidnapped, and she knew that there was no way that she could take Laura down in any meaningful way, especially when it seemed like she wasn't herself. There were other people who cared about Laura who would deal with that, and Alex would help afterwards.

But there was something that she could do now. She could find out whoever was the bastard who sold out a kid to a monster and make them pay for it. The monster had mentioned files on his post, and she knew better than most just how hard it was for people to actually end up getting files. Hell, she couldn't get them, and she was her charming self and knew several people by name.

Several people who she was sure weren't the ones who did this. This was something new, and Alex Reagan was taking it upon herself to search the apartment to see if she could find anything about the files. After all, what was a little breaking and entering between friends? Besides, the place was mostly abandoned and she felt like she'd been to dozens of them before this one. Standing in the room with her flashlight, Alex just swallowed and hoped that Laura was going to come out of this okay.]