Preplay - JDSS

[so_hawkward]

Clint wasn't really fond of being lied to, but he was willing to let it slide if it meant getting a job done or, in this case, protecting someone he cared about. But meeting the Path of Destiny and watching Kitty be threatened again was kind of the straw that broke the camel's back, and Clint was so ready to be done with these people and get Kitty out of Japan. Unfortunately, he couldn't help Kitty without some additional backup, and he wasn't about to get that without some answers first. He headed back to Tokyo Tower, and glared at the poor person at the main desk. "I need to see Ryoko Oshiba," he said in sharp Japanese. "Now." He didn't like having to be threatening, but these people had certainly earned it.

Comments

[sf-npcs.livejournal.com]

"She's in a meeting," the receptionist said slowly, obviously knowing this was going to be something bad. "If you wanted to make an appointment-"

Luckily- for the receptionist, probably- Ryoko was just coming out of her meeting with her superiors, file in hand and a frown on her face. "That's all right," she told the receptionist, and looked to Clint. "Are you alone?"

Considering the JDSS had lost track of his and Kitty's movements, she didn't know whether that was good or bad.

[so_hawkward]

"For the moment. Kitty has some other business to attend to." And no, he was not pleased about not being with her, for the record. "Can we talk?"

[sf-npcs.livejournal.com]

"Of course," Ryoko said, interested. He might actually help her here. "Come back to my office."

She led the way, glad that at least this time no one would be popping up through her desk when they showed up there.

Hopefully.

[so_hawkward]

Clint put on a friendly smile for the receptionist and followed Ryoko, but he got more serious once they were in her office. "So, I don't know about you, but I think it's time you tell me more about what's really going on here," he said.

[sf-npcs.livejournal.com]

"I've told you everything I can," Ryoko insisted, closing the door. She was totally lying, of course. "What other business did Kitty have to attend?"

[so_hawkward]

"She's visiting an old friend," Clint said. Hey, it wasn't entirely a lie. "We figured a little break might be nice for her after fully meeting the Path of Destiny."

[sf-npcs.livejournal.com]

"How did that go?" she said after a short pause. Her superiors were worried that Kitty had joined the Path of Destiny's side, so she was really hoping for a better answer than that.

[so_hawkward]

"They're currently caught between thinking she'd be the best leader ever and not enjoying how much she hates them all," Clint said. "Oh, and we found the other dragon. She's all right, but we can't get her back just yet. But I have a feeling you already knew some of that."

[sf-npcs.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure I have no idea what you mean by that," Ryoko said, almost automatically. "We haven't known where either of you were for some time."

Because Clint and Kitty had given them the slip by walking through walls, sigh.

[so_hawkward]

"Oh, did disappearing under the subway throw you guys off?" Clint asked. "I'd apologize, but I'm not really sorry. Maybe I would be if I knew more about what you guys wanted from Kitty."

[sf-npcs.livejournal.com]

"We don't want anything from her," Ryoko said. That was probably the most honest thing she'd said in days. "We want the Path of Destiny. Unfortunately, she's the most efficient way to get to them."

[so_hawkward]

"So you are using Kitty as bait," Clint said, glaring at Ryoko. "What do you want with the Path of Destiny? They're certainly not who I'd consider to be good allies."

[sf-npcs.livejournal.com]

"They aren't. But they have Kurokaze."

Considering Ryoko was pretty sure she was going to lose her job anyway if she couldn't pull this off, she might as well tell him the truth. Maybe it would still work in her favor.

[so_hawkward]

"You know, if you'd said that up front, we could have avoided a lot of this mess," Clint said. "You're right, the Path have that sword, I've seen it. If you want the sword, it's all yours, assuming Kitty's plan works... and if you'll work with me instead this stalkery stuff."

[sf-npcs.livejournal.com]

Ryoko blinked. She hadn't thought they would come to her with a plan first. Obviously she'd underestimated them. "I'm listening."