Then we get terrified, like children waking in the dark, we don't know where we are.

[moralitypolice]

( Bonnie, bag in hand at her side, holds the door open this time. She sighs, looking wistfully off at Danny, sullen, in the backseat. )

I wish I could make it all better, like I could undo it all, or, go back and prevent it altogether. Too many of us have no parents. No living family.

( She sighs.

From Danny's seat if or when he looks back, Bonnie and Isaac continue their discussion. Scott texts Isaac, so he pulls his phone out, eyes down quickly.

A couple approaches from the south, arm in arm. The guy in glasses leans in whispering something that makes the girl laugh. As they separate to move around Bonnie, everything happens quickly. The brunette girl brandishes a stun gun landing a blow to Isaac's side. Out of the leather jacket, the man reveals what looks to be something dark colored, with a flat bottom. He drops it. From the car, he can see a spell attempted, Bonnie's lips moving but nothing happening. She tries struggling, but the woman whacks her on the back of the back sending her down. The man quickly pulls out a pair of iron handcuffs the woman waves away, not now, and as fast as it happens, a bright yellow taxi pulls up.

Three others, including one dressed as a taxi-driver throw Bonnie and Isaac into the trunk. When everyone is inside the car, the driver puts down a black device on the top of the cab quickly, puts on a pair of leather gloves, climbs inside the cab and speeds off.

Bonnie's bag, and the contents within including her phone lie on the sidewalk next to Isaac's dropped phone.

The driver in Danny's car starts the ignition, this is probably protocol. )

Comments

[positiveinfluence]

[Coop sees the message not long after William sends it, but it takes a minute before he's alone. Eventually he manages to wave off the group he's with, saying he's running out to get a bite to eat, and sits in his car before calling back.

Ring, ring, ring, William phone.]

[slavophile]

( And he answers, rolling away from the desk he's set up at. )

Candidate Neville Crier's campaign office.

[positiveinfluence]

I just wanted to say that I have very strong objections to Proposition 114. Definitely not good for the children.

[He's kidding. Mostly.]

[slavophile]

Not good for the recently imprisoned, either. Children, the impoverished, the captured, it's a dicey proposition.

( Which is why he messaged. )

Speaking of, another constituent will probably be getting in touch soon. Their car was stolen, phone confiscated. Big mess.

[positiveinfluence]

I see.

[That could go one or two ways.]

How can I be of service?

[slavophile]

What I wouldn't give to give you a whole different answer.

( But suffice it to say... )

Intercept the smoke signal? Or, slow them down. I need an hour.

[positiveinfluence]

I'll see what I can do.

[He can certainly handle running a little interference.]

Do you know where this constituent was working out of?

[slavophile]

Vyšehrad.

( He doesn't know how much Cooper is aware of, he hopes Cooper has moved enough up the ladder that he understands the Prague outfit. )

[positiveinfluence]

[It doesn't ring an immediate bell, so maybe not.]

I'll see what I can find out. But I do know that ruins like that have terrible service.

[slavophile]

Let's just say, the phone thieves are no longer inside the ruins.

( And after a beat. )

Ask me again after this is all over about what you can do as a constituent.

[positiveinfluence]

[The smirk in his voice is obvious.]

I'll be sure to do that. I do find civic engagement very important.

[slavophile]

Doing one's civic duty is important. I hope we can expect the NO vote.

( After all of this. )

[positiveinfluence]

I see no reason why we shouldn't.

[But, you know, things can get crazy. All the same...]

I'll text when I know more.

[slavophile]

How - ( are you doing? ) do you need anything?

[positiveinfluence]

Not right now.

[But he can hear the first question, even if William doesn't finish it.]

I'm good. The mission is clear, even if I wish it wasn't.

[slavophile]

I'm here.

( Always. )

For Neville Crier's campaign.

[positiveinfluence]

I appreciate that. And I'm sure the rest of my district does too.

[The rest of his district being him.]

[slavophile]

Thank you for your time.

( He hesitates, not wanting to end the call, but he knows he has to. Cooper has moments like this that are few and far between. But, he's going to worry either way. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Coop hangs up and heads over to the castle. He knows that the hunters have set up there, but he wasn't aware of the reason. Now that he'd being set there, he's not sure if he's covering up a mess that's already made, or trying to avoid that mess in the first place.

But he does text a buddy in that group and picks up dinner on the way, so that they don't ask too many questions.]

[slavophile]

( The hunters drew straws (like they usually do) with what group member does what. Bored hunters in a castle will drink and forget the way back down into the cells. That, and the hunter left behind isn't an expert on navigating the castle.

But, (20) in searching, sends the hunter straight back to the group.

By the time Coop brings dinner, they're all on high alert with two members above their ranks there, too. The cat is out of the bag, Cooper. )

[positiveinfluence]

[So he's noticing. It's probably a good thing he didn't get the exact details out of William for what happened. Sometimes it's much easier to play dumb.

He lets out a low whistle as he sets the dinner down on the table.]

Damn. Something happen?

[slavophile]

( "A mission went awry and two assets escaped. Took Taylor's ride and and his phone." The higher ranking officer says.

"He screwed the pooch, in other words," Dayna, the other officer says, shaking her head at the bloodied Taylor.

You brought - dinner? )

[positiveinfluence]

I texted Randall and asked what everyone wanted. Must have been before things went bad.

[He holds out his hands and gestures to the bag for people to take.]

But since I'm here now, anything I can do to help?

[slavophile]

( "It's need to know, unless you're aware of the assets being held here prior to Taylor's fuck-up." In other words, communication is pretty nil between hunters, but if he knows what she's talking about then maybe he can be brought in the fold.

She rolls a (20) for search motive on why Cooper is asking because I don't even know what my dice are doing anymore. )

[positiveinfluence]

[Cooper's bluff is a 19, so not quite good enough to escape her notice, but from what she can tell, he genuinely doesn't know something. In this case, it's who the assets are.

He is currently attempting to play it off as bravado, someone trying to work their way up. He glances over at the bleeding man, before nodding and taking a step back, not wanting to push his luck. He has other avenues to get information.]

Right. Got it. Need to know.

[He'll back off now, before nudging the food bag towards her.]

But probably best to eat before you get too into it, right?