Hunting Demons

[needsabreak]

Who: Leon Kennedy, Herbert West and Andrew Jaeger
What: Trying to hunt a shadow demon
When: Beginning of August
Where: Around the City, not sure what district specifically

Sunday, it seemed, was the day that all three men had free, so here they were, prepping in the employee area at the shooting range. After all, it seemed like the most appropriate place to prep for a hunt. After some very brief introductions, Leon is ready to get down to business.

"So, Jaeger, I think you're the only one of us that's actually come across one of these things. Where were you? It might be our only lead," He turns to Dr. West, "Unless you've heard of any places they've attacked people."

Keys jingling in his hand, he unlocks a metal gun cabinet, "When I told the boss what I was thinking about doing, he said I could borrow some firepower."

Leon grabs a shotgun and a box of shells and steps aside for Jaeger, letting him have his pick of the small assortment of rifles, handguns and shotguns.

"If I'm understanding everything right, the plan right now is to get a sample or a dead shadow demon, so Doctor West can't get a better look at it and design a cage."

Comments

[bloodalwaystells]

Jaeger has his own pistol and a wicked-looking hunting knife already at hand, but the big man does give the assortment careful consideration before picking a shotgun to round out his weaponry for the night. He's got his magical abilities, of course, but he feels better with something solid in hand...it's saved his life before and he has little doubt they might again.

"Keeping them at a distance seems safest," he offers with a frown. "When it approached us the first tine i saw one, things got...strange. almost distorted. It seemed almost like a psychotropic effect, and it was very disturbing. It also rushed us very aggressively." He's dressed down, in boots, jeans and a button-down shirt that only barely covers the scar around his neck. It's time to work, and neither of the other men seem the squeamish type about battle wounds, but his sleeves are still long to cover...well, that's another story, one for another day.

"I'd suggest Shantytown as a place to start. It's derelict, and probably good hunting for the demons. Plus the locals are likely to leave us alone." Heavily armed men looking for a fight are far less likely to get away with it in the pleasant suburban or staid banking district, in his opinion.

[tolife]

The doctor had been prompt on time. A shoulder holster under his suit jacket, which held the gun John Wick had given him his last time here. Nothing too fancy, just more modern and better than his old Saturday night special. Expecting bloodshed and injury, he had his medical bag with him and what he needed to get samples all around.

West was jotting down the time and a few notes in a small notebook, which was slipped back in his pocket. "That does seem wise, though, I would suggest one of us takes a short range weapon just in case bullets do not work. Do you have an axe or bat here, Mr. Kennedy?" He knew he could get by with a shovel, but he wasn't about to mention that. "I do believe these creatures have a psychedelic effect, as if a tainted miasma. I have never got to test this before, though."

He nodded once again, when Jaeger gave the location. "I have the keys to an apartment in Shawnty town, should one of us get maimed, we can clean up the injuries or recoup." Herbert had Megan's apartment keys since she was at the house. Had he told his roommate what he was up to? Absolutely not. For such a brilliant man, he had so many bad choices. "Shall we get me that sample then?" He added, looking to Leon with a nod. Maybe he was over dressed for hunting a monster, but his old suit seemed the least likely to be ruined, even if it did make him look like a mortician, just without his glasses. Contacts seemed wiser tonight.

[needsabreak]

Leon nods when the psychotropic effect is mentioned.

"I've heard a few confirmations of that now," He adds, double checking his combat knife when the doctor mentions short range, though his question makes him crack an amused smirk.

"Sorry, no, the shop doesn't have a bat. If someone tried to rob us, they're gonna get met with one of those," He motions with a nod toward the guns.

The plan actually felt like it was coming together. They even had a safehouse of sorts of things went South and a decent amount of firepower.

"Maybe we head to that apartment first, so we all know where it is. We should be able to call one another, but if things go bad and we get split up for any reason, we can all plan to rendezvous there.

Alright," He racked the shotgun before slinging it onto his back and closing up the cabinet holding the other firearms, "I'll lock up. Let's head out."

As they all filed out of the closed shooting range, Leon locked the shop up and caught up with the other two, "Once we're in Shantytown, I'm guessing we'll look more enticing if we're not grouped up but I'd prefer if we could try to stay within view of one another."

[bloodalwaystells]

"Agreed. If it's a permanent space, it might be worth equipping it properly for emergencies in grneral...I've heard that the city has plenty on a regular basis and it's always good to be prepared." Not just for his benefit, but as a general measure. He's not quite taking things over yet, but he is a terribly practical mind.

And used to emergencies. Crises. Horrible things in general. Trying to prepare for it might be futile but at least it makes him feel a little better. And a couple gallons of water and a first aid kit aren't terribly unreasonable measures anyway.

He checks the gun holster at his side, following Leon's lead out of the building, and nods as he catches up to the rest of the conversation.

"Things tend to happen fast when they start happening. I have some ability to trap an attacker, but I'm not entirely certain how well it will work on these things. The one we encountered before charged us aggressively and kept coming, even when wounded."

He casts a glance to the other two men, to see exactly what they're expecting from this little expedition.

"Some video footage of the things in action might be useful, too. But not at tge risk of getting mauled. "

[tolife]

"While I can see your point there, it is the apartment of a friend, I can not simply say yes without consulting her." Megan might say yes, and might understand. But he knew better than to speak for her these days when he lived with her without Dan there to keep them from killing one another.

Moving along quietly after them, his bag picked up as they headed outside, so Leon could lock up. "Erik had mentioned they are part of the city, which would make a certain amount of sense in that regard. Mr. Jeager. If they are harmed, they may come back stronger if they do pull energy and life source from the city itself. If things get too hairy, a retreat would not be unwise."

"I can ask around if anyone can access the city cameras, but no promises on getting that video." He had his connections, but not all of them returned this time.

[needsabreak]

"That's actually a pretty interesting idea. Since we're apparently going all in on figuring these things out, we could always set up our own cameras. Unless, like you said, you can find someone who can access the city cameras. But we don't have to rely on those."

He looked over at the doctor.

"I ended up chatting with Devi, like you suggested," There's just the faintest flatness in his tone that, if really read into, might imply the meeting didn't go swimmingly, "I don't know how accurate any of this is, but she suggested that the City, the dome around it, was keeping stronger shadow demons out. Like hoards of them. To me, that sounds like these are the few that either manage to slip in or are remnants from before the City was protected."

These are all just big guesses though, going off of information that he isn't sure is true or not.

The architecture and general upkeep of the buildings is starting to shift as they make their way into Shantytown.

"You wanna take us to that apartment first, doc, so we know where it is?"

[bloodalwaystells]

Jaeger nods absently, as he casts his gaze around the streets they're traveling.

"City surveillance would be excellent, but what we can capture just with our own equipment might be worth the attention. In my world, supernatural phenomena can sometimes *only* be seen by camera or video, or appears differently from what we see with our own eyes." He's quietly matter-of-fact about it, speaking as he moves with a careful stride in pace with the other two men.

And he flinched, slightly, at Leon's revelation. "I can see the basis for that theory, but it's a very uncomfortable thought."

He was still deciding what to make of Devi from their brief meeting. She'd been straightforward, at least, in her own baffling sort of way. Beyond that, he hadn't quite formed an opinion yet.