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Alolan Ninetales

Who is the fairest of them all?
Joined
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@WolfOwl @Hanzo in Plain Sight @Akame @Prez @Yun

NOTE: Your characters can already be residents here, or they can just be arriving here for the first time. I'll let you take your pick.

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The winter seasons in Boulder weren't ever as glorious as tourist brochures made them out to be. Harsh winds, and bitter temperatures caught a lot of human tourists by surprise. The almost constant snowfalls made travel a hassle, especially by flight. The mountains surrounding the area weren't always visited, given that there was an array of wildlife that posed a threat to humans. Bobcats, coyotes, wolves, and mountain lions could be dangerous if threatened. There were also grizzly bears and black bears, but due to the season, they were hibernating until spring. Humans wouldn't mess with precious wildlife such as these creatures, but could take the life of a creature or a skilled human with no remorse.

The more populous downtown area of Boulder had been bustling with tourists and inhabitants alike. When the night fell, the less crowded it become. Yes, there was a nightlife, but it wasn't nearly as much as a threat as it was during the day. Any creatures or skilled users had a better chance of blending in or hiding if need be. In an alleyway, there appeared to be an entrance to a shoddy looking bar. It was named 'Rick'. Who in their right mind would name a bar Rick? Once inside, you could see it was a lot different.

The inside was rather nice. The room had been transformed from a bar into a living area, with many sofas and seats to accommodate the residents. There was also a piano in the upper right corner of the room. Up the stairs would lead to the rooms in which the residents lived and went about their lives as best as possible. The upstairs also had bathrooms, a small library, and a small room where there was a pool table and darts could be thrown. The kitchen was on the lower levels as well, but to the left of the living room.
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A red haired woman was playing the piano quietly to herself. It was the 'Moonlight Sonata', a tune that she knew by heart. She couldn't do much now that she had to go into hiding, but playing piano was still allowed, if only in small quantities.

A purple haired woman listened into the music and sighed. She had a flashback of being with her boyfriend. He had played piano as well, and he was good at it. It was one of the many things she loved about Antonio. She frowned as she took a sip of her coffee.
 
Final Destiantion sat listening to the piano as well. Oh how nice it was to listen and be at peace. She sometimes wondered if she used to know how to play the piano. She had sat at it many times before and stared to see if anything came to her. Nothing ever did. That was fine though. It was still nice to listen to. Better than worrying of being killed just for being different.

Adrian Dragomir stared up at the sky. Snow. It made his heart hurt so much. He had met the love of his life when it was snowing. Saved her from some chimera. She was dead now. He was all alone. He lived only because he knew she would want that and he would have wanted the same for her. But his heart had never healed. With a sigh he continued walking, getting closer to his destination, his hearing picking up music from within. The piano. How lovely. With a deep breath he entered the place called Rick, freezing at the sight before him.
 
Bria had seen the guest come in, and smiled. It was always nice to get some new residents. The benefit of making things more lively and less dreary was a plus.

"Welcome," she spoke up before noticing his frozen stature, "Are you okay?"

The woman playing the piano hadn't paid much attention to the scene that had taken place and continued to play her song. Only when she finished playing had she looked up and noticed the figure inside. Her eyes widened as her lips quivered. She was frozen in place. The quickening pace of her heart and the churning of her stomach almost overwhelmed her, but she kept her composure. He had been killed by the humans, but he was here. Was he a ghost? Had he come to haunt her? A thousand thoughts ran course through her mind in the span of seconds. Her breathing had been labored by anxiety and shock, and words failed to escape her lips as she tried to speak.

Bria noticed the woman's reaction and frowned, growing concerned about the current situation. "Rose? What's going on?"
 
Final smiled for a moment at the new guest but quickly noticed something was off. He was frozen, and now the woman on the piano was. She was so confused. Did something happen?

Adrian didn't believe it was possible. He could have sworn she had died again. He just assumed the hair was by chance. Could it actuallly be her? Would she have amnesia again? Or was it actually a coincidence this time? Just someone who looked liked her. He was afraid to discover the truth for fear of the heart ache. But at the same time he wanted to know. Needed to know. If he didn't then surely he wouldn't be able to live. His hear was pounding so fast and his throats felt so dry. He had felt this fear only a few times in his whole life. It was the worst and he wanted to run. Instead he persevered with one simple word. "Frumos?"
 
Nicolette, who was also in the bar at this time, idly watched the scene in front of her. An eyebrow raised, she continued drinking from her tea. Vanilla hazelnut. Her favorite.
 
Bria wasn't sure what was going on anymore, so she did what she did best. She shifted into a penguin, and waddled away to the couch. She couldn't get herself up on it, but she could at least sit and watch on the floor. She was gonna feel as awkward as the other people watching, but cooler cause she was a penguin.

"Adrian?" was all Rose's voice could muster up and speak.
 
"I'm so confused," Final whispered to Bria.

And that did it. It was her. That or one of them came from an alternate dimension. Without anymore hesitation he moved across the room to her, pulling her into his arms. "Third times the charm," he said to her.
 
Eyeris poked her head out from upstairs, the commotion on the first floor piquing the manakete's interest.

"'Do places like this always draw so much attention?' Rin wonders as the muscular man obstructs the entrance." The being known as Rin muttered under their breath, standing a fair ways from the entrance to the safehouse they had been informed of. It didn't look like much, sure, but Rin was aware that one should not judge a book by its cover.
 
Bria had temporarily shifted into her human form and nodded.

"I'm confused as well, but it seems they know each other, so I guess that's good?" she replied, not sure what to think, "By the way, were there many humans out, sir? I debated on making a trip to the store since we're due on needing to stock up on groceries. If there are too many out tonight, I'll wait until the early hours of the morning and then try to go shopping."

Rose had accepted the embrace from Adrian before looking up at him, still in shock.

"Yes it is," was all she said.
 
"'Rin advises that the tenants do not worry,' Rin states in a nonchalant tone, 'Rin is mistaken for a human very often, so shopping should be left to Rin.'" The artificial human stepped into the safehouse, expression rather robotic and monotonous.
 
Wintry conditions were always harder to work with. Snow made it so no matter how careful you were, you always left footprints. Blood was exponentially more visible in the snow as well, something that never helped matters. And of course the cold meant that fewer people were outside and instead stayed indoors. Which meant that a potential target would have more people around, making a clean job that much more complicated.

Xavier looked up at the grey sky as the snow fell around him. He had never minded the cold, as it was easy enough to dress for it. He wore black leather boots, a dark overcoat and thin black leather driving gloves. The coat was bulky and disguised his powerful frame as well as the weapons he carried. Even with the complications that the cold brought, he still preferred it over warmer climates. After all, one couldn't wear a thick coat and gloves in the Caribbean without sticking out like a sore thumb.

The night's job was straight forward enough. One of the many humans who had given into the hate and helped with the hunting down of creatures like himself was in town. Thousands of these men and women had committed atrocities across the globe over the years and Xavier had made it his life's work to hunt them down and bring them to justice.

It was at times like this, just before he finished off a job, that Xavier took a moment to consider his life and who he was. He was a creature, given one with a humanoid form that would allow him to easily give up this life and blend in among the enemy should he choose to do so. The mere thought made him sick however. The humans had killed his mother, killed his father, had attempted to kill him and left him for dead all those years ago. His normally blue eyes shifted to red and black. His prey was close. It was time to go to work.

__________


The words of his latest kill echoed in his mind as Xavier vanished into the night. Asking him why he bothered to fight the inevitable. That no matter how many he managed to slay, there would always be more to take his place. And then the proverbial dagger had slipped from the dead man's lips as he breathed his last. "Those who know you... think you mad." Xavier's mind thought of Myn for a moment. She did think him mad for his crusade after all. "Even those you fight to save have turned their backs on you... Yet you fight... yet you resist the inevitable... Why?"

Xavier could still feel the response he had given, even as it tasted like ash to him. "Because nobody else will." He had said dispassionately before executing his latest foe with a single gunshot to the back of the head.

__________

Even as the streets around him came to life due to the shocking murders that had just been committed in a town that was far too wealthy, far too nice for such violence, Xavier walked alone with a barely perceptible smile on his face. It was all the joy he allowed himself to take from each successful kill. Early on, he had realized that if he truly loved the art of murder... he would become the monster he gave up his life to combat. It was only through detachment and meditation that he would avoid that fate. But even now, after so many years and countless murders... he still struggled not to laugh each time he took such a sinful life.

Xavier gently chastised himself, it was time to focus. He needed to clean the blood off of his weapons and he needed to get the scent of death off of him. As always, he would lay low for a few days and then the process would begin anew. Research on the next target, the creation of a plan and then the execution. It was a finely honed routine and the names of possible targets danced through his head as he walked into the safehouse known as Rick.
 
"Oh, another one," Eyeris tilted her head down at Xavier. "You don't look so hot, are you okay?"

Rin simply regarded him with a half-lidded, one-eyed stare.
 
Kyle was, honestly, annoyed. He had been told about a safehouse that could protect, and him certainly couldn't afford to pass on the chance of having a place to live in after what happened to the last one. But he didn't think the way there would be so troublesome, not only was it in the middle of nowhere but the snow didn't help matters for him. Sure, he was heading a hoodie but it was still really cold and his backpack and suitcase was heavy enough as is.

He made sure not to let his annoyance show besides a small frown on his face as he fixed his glasses once more and trudged through the snowy streets, leading to the safehouse. Once he got there he'd at least be able to rest, maybe he'd have to deal with meeting new people but that was something he could just get through quickly before finding a bed to sleep in. That would be nice.

Finally, after what seemed like an hour of walking through snow, Kyle reached the safehouse, looking up at the name of the bar in curiosity and confusion. "Who names a bar Rick?" he wondered to himself before shrugging as he gently opened the door to walk inside.
 
Xavier looked up at Eyeris and smiled. "Quite well actually." He said cordially as he took off his gloves and slid them into the pockets of his coat. "Just need to warm up a bit, you know how it is." He mused before looking back at his greeter. "Do you mind pointing me in the direction of whoever runs this place? I need to ask a small favor of them."
 
"Well, Bria and Rose kind of...co-run it? You know, the shapeshifter and the vampire down in the lobby by the piano." She cleared the railing, landing neatly on her feet. She regarded him with kind eyes, her multi-colored irises searching his face curiously. "You can call me Eyeris. I'm a manakete, and you are...?"
 
Kyle blinked once he came in, not to take in what was going on, though he did hear a lot of people talking. He couldn't see cause his glasses had gotten steamy once he had walked in. He took them off and began cleaning them immediately before properly taking a look at the bar. It wasn't too hug or extravagant at least. He noticed a woman and a man talking nearby...or were they creatures? he honestly couldn't really tell. He walked over to the woman who seemed to be explaining stuff about the bar. "Um...excuse me, is this place the safehouse for creatures and skilled humans? "
 
Xavier smiled at Eyeris' introduction as well as Nicolette's remark. "I suppose that's a decent way to put it." He mused knowingly. "Xavier Drake... I'm one of you, of course you probably knew that as soon as I walked in the door." Xavier chuckled. "I just need a place to clean up and crash for a few nights... nothing too crazy."
 
"Don't see why not," Nicolette replied. "Though... I'm not the one in charge of that. Gonna have to talk to them," she added, nodding towards Rose and Bria. "They should get you settled just fine." Nicolette grinned.
 
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