The 42nd Gecko

Tower of Fable

Caprice held to the rear of the battle for now, hiding behind the doorframe rather than busting into the room. There were enough people throwing attacks and such around that she didn't want to get in the way and cause trouble. In the heat of battle, who knew where the flour would end up if she started baking up a storm? However, perhaps there was a tool she could use a little more precisely. One she had not yet tried to use in battle. She for the first time, called upon her soul weapon to aid her in conflict.

Of course, summoning cards was of limited direct attacking potential, as she had not yet infused them with the ability to create deadly papercuts, but perhaps they could still be a distraction. She summoned her cards directly around the snake's eyes. Of course, if it thrashed about, it would easily send them flying, but with nothing better to do, Caprice could easily just focus on unsummoning and resummoning them over and over to bother the snake as it moved.

Tower of Fable

"I'll be perfectly honest with you, Thomas, I kinda zoned out for a minute there. I wasn't paying any attention to where they went." Caprice shrugged, not having any advice. But as he took off once again, Caprice was close behind.

Perhaps too close behind, as Thomas abruptly spun while raising his glaive. Caprice bent backwards while falling to one knee, sliding forward like a figure skater finishing a performance, with a side of deadly limbo as she passed under the glaive.

"Mmm, there was noise certainly. I think it's likely someone found yet another of the tasteless monsters in this place. That boy with terrible work ethic has been the closest to match the castle's aesthetics so far." Caprice slowly rose back straight, as though she had been enjoying a big yawn rather than a close shave with death. "It's enough to make me almost wish for the animate gravestones. Ah, but I digress, if you wish to rush to the rescue of whoever has roused this latest beast, I shall accompany you."

The Devil Hunter Agency

Da-Xia Chen

Devil's Hangout

---

"Oooh, is that anime reference? I think I have been meaning to watch the one that is from." Da-Xia noted Hanako's choice of hand slapping techniques, leaning down lower onto the bar with terrible posture.

"A matter of gluttony? Hmm. Perhaps you are right. And thank you for the offer, but I just came from a noodle joint. I didn't know dinner would be provided, perhaps next time." She seemed to give Shika's idea some thought, but didn't have any novel contributions to keep the conversation thread going.

She was just about to drink her still on fire drink, when her eyes opened wide at the sight of the person sitting on the couch. "Mmm, don't know who Beniha is? Mmm. Would advise you find out. She is one of the more serious Demon Hunter types. You'd want to be careful, lest any unfortunate misunderstandings happen." She lowered the drink, incredulous. But then she looked more closely. "Ah, but apologies, I am ignorant as well, Envoy. What is the Hand of Manos?"

"Singing landmines, how dastardly!" Da-Xia slammed her drink against the table, apparently getting quite worked up about such an underhanded method. "Those are war crimes! One should face their foes head on in straight head to head honorable combat, not hide behind indiscriminate traps!"

In her incensed and potentially inebriated state, it seemed she missed Limen's reference in turn.

The Devil Hunter Agency

Da-Xia Chen

Devil's Hangout

---

"Hum. It does seem to be a bar." Da-Xia seemed quite surprised it actually was a bar. She had only thrown that as an outrageous outlier possibility. "Devil and Devil Hunter alike seem to share their preferred hangout spots." She paused after entering, glancing in each direction to take stock of the situation.

"Ah! I do quite well, thank you very much, young master!" Da-Xia answered Rufus' greeting a with a cordial nod. She seemed to treat the 'ageless youths' as actual youths though by her word choice. "Mmm, I don't think I have any need to enter a bargain for more power yet. I seem to do alright for myself so far. Would be a bit anti-climactic to do it right now instead of like, when desperately clinging to life or needing to save family or something." She gives perhaps a little more serious thought to the idea of becoming a devil feeder than normal. She caught the slid drink and without pausing a beat, pulled out a small flask to pour a little on top, followed by a lighter to set her newly enhanced drink aflame. It seemed her taste for fire didn't only cover battle aesthetics, but also literal taste.

She was just about to drink her still on fire drink, when her eyes opened wide at the sight of the person sitting on the couch. "Beniha?" She lowered the drink, incredulous. But then she looked more closely. "Ah, no, too happy to be Beniha. Sorry for confusion, you have similar fashion."

"Humaneaters... Anonymous?" Da-Xia did not seem entirely convinced. "This seems a bit far fetched. The human flesh dependency is not something that can be avoided. Worked around, but not avoided." Her eyes examined Shika suspiciously.

"On the other hand, luring song thingie seemed to lure two demons who seem to be nice, so I guess it makes sense! Hello, I am Da-Xia, Knight-Errant and Devil-Hunter." She introduced herself to them after seeming to convince herself, standing tall with a hand across her chest. Then, she flourished a deck of cards, one half brightly colored and the other dark but still with a variety of tones. "Anyone for a Shadow Game of Uno?" She asked cheerfully. Apparently it was her custom to play uno variants in bars.

The Devil Hunter Agency

Da-Xia Chen

Expensive Noodle Shop

---

"Ah? Just some blood would do? Apologies, I did not realize. Blood I have already shed has little use to me. I would happy to be your friend, though I hope you can understand if trust comes slow." Da-Xia herself had a few idle wounds about her from the battle with the treant. One did not simply ram into an angry demon tree on a motorcycle and come out completely unscathed.

"MmmMMMmmm-HAAAUUGHK" At the mention of the music luring the two in a direction, Da-Xia's eyes went wide and she inhaled sharply. Which was a dangerous thing to do while drinking the broth of one's noodles.

"I!" Da-Xia managed to get a single syllable out before resuming coughing. "would love" Her voice was as enthusiastic as she could make it, which with her current lack of air was a tiny wispy voice squeaking its way between the coughs. "to join you on this queeeeeeest!" She just barely got out the last syllable with significant effort before she resumed coughing.

After one last major fit, she seemed to finally get most of it out of her system, though her eyes were watering and she was still a little short of breath. "That is, I would gladly stand by your side in this venture. To investigate the unknown and make sure the dark corners of the world are safe for all is my duty as a knight. A siren's song that lures demons, I shiver to think of what vile force might plot to gather all devils to itself." She raised a strong fist at the center of the table. The fearless Da-Xia didn't seem to think anything of requesting backup or resting up first. Besides, it seemed the Japanese DHA Branch already had its own methods to surveil her at any time.

After pondering it for a few moments, she appended one last afterthought, tapping her lips with a finger.. "Unless it's just an advertisement for a devil bar. I suppose it could be that."

Da-Xia finished her own mean quickly, having been nearly done with her own prodigious speed. Presuming the other two were ready, Da-Xia would set off with the pair on her motorcycle again! To the local gas station. BUT THEN! They would head to the source of the mysterious music.

Tower of Fable

Caprice decided not to head off towards Victoire's room, not yet at least, instead taking up position behind Thomas. This one seemed to at least mean well, and it'd be a shame if his head got chomped off by some irate candelabra or something. Who knows what they might face in this place?

So when Thomas decided to advance a few steps before turning around, Caprice was behind him, idly shuffling cards. Thomas and Garou were new faces, little more than their surface appearances yet upon them. Though Thomas' did have brighter lighting while Garou's was dim and of low contrast.

There was quite some debate by some over whether to steal stuff or not, but Caprice's distaste for petty theft was already clear from her behavior in the last level. Even when 'crime' was 'legal', she saw no need to weigh herself down with material treasures.

The Devil Hunter Agency

Da-Xia Chen

Expensive Noodle Shop

---

"Aaah.. Clever wordplay but I am afraid there is few problems." Da-xia paused thoughtfully at Hanako's request.

"Getting eaten is more of a second date sort of thing no? If I was to volunteer myself, I would want a chaperone that I trusted. Sadly, with me being a foreigner... Well, I do not have a lot of local friends right now." She finished before taking a sip of her soup.

"I suppose in summary, I am not opposed to the idea, but I am unable to offer at the moment. I see no reason to act aggressively towards you two out of blind hate and fear, but I do not yet trust you THAT much." Da-Xia sums up before returning her attention to her noodles.

The Devil Hunter Agency

Da-Xia Chen

Expensive Noodle Shop

---

Da-Xia Chen rode off the scene with a much more leisurely pace than she had entered it. Still slightly on fire, but overall a more comfortable ride for her passengers. And while it was a cold night to be riding a motorcycle, fortunately they were a ghost, daemon, and Canadian.

"You lavish me with your praise! Da-Xia is my name. Would you grace me with yours?" Da-xia beamed under the attention, but her knightly demeanor took a bit of a hit, when, given both her hands were in use, she accepted the deserts by simply chomping down on one with her teeth after asking for their names.

"Mmmph." She tapped the rear of her lance against a storage compartment, popping it open fore Hanako to put the shattered gun away in.

"Oooh, you guys speak French? Neat! I'm not from one of the French speaking parts of Canada, but I've tried to learn it a few times. It uh, never went very well." Da-Xia spoke up after finishing her croissant.

Then came a fateful text, and a foul mood came over Da-Xia. Da-Xia texted back to the whole group. I can respect that you wish me not to return with a demon in tow, if you are unprepared to face a single demon at the heart of your strength. However! My code of honor cannot abide the execution of a demon who did not engage us in battle and surrendered peacably. If you seek me out, you shall face me in battle.

It seems the would-be knight had a very different interpretation of events than others.

Da-Xia spoke over her shoulder to the pair. "Hmph, it seems my fellows have been so unmanned by this night that a single demon unnerves them. Bah, I say! The only fear this night holds for me is a chilly nose. What say you to some hearty soup to add some warmth and substance to your deserts?" Da-Xia changed from her path back to the base to instead, find a noodle shop still plying its trade to ward away the cold of the snow. And what a noodle shop she chose. A fancy place where the average menu item was upwards of 3000 yen. "Choose what you like! It's my treat."

The Devil Hunter Agency

Da-Xia Chen

Yurei Infested Warehouse

---

Biff. Pow. Whammo. Meow? All these sounds and more exited from the tussle between the foolhardy knight and collosal treant.

After what was no doubt a heroic clash filled with daring feats of great strength and skill, they broke apart, and Da-Xia finally took a moment to take stock of the situation.

"Is anyone else hearing ghost who is not super clear on how many heads snake has?" Da-Xia looked round herself for the voice, but did not quite make it out. The police where here now and before that, there was an even more pressing matter. Two maidens in distress, entreating her for rescue! Or at least, so it seemed to Da-Xia.

"Da-Xia will always lend a hand to those in need!" Da-Xia pulled up in front of the pair. Da-Xia was positively glowing with excitement to be staging a heroic rescue. And also positively glowing because she was slightly on fire, a patch of bark caught in her jacket being aflame. "Fair maidens, mount up, and hold fast!" She thundered with lance held heavenward, gleaming in the firelight. Presuming the pair came aboard, Da-Xia would hasten to carry them from the battlefield.

The Devil Hunter Agency

Da-Xia Chen

Yurei Infested Warehouse

---

"Lo, come and face your-" Da-Xia raised her lance to the first Yurei that dared approach her. Before a bang rang out and it was shot in the head, ragdolling instantly to the ground.

"Very well then, you shall-" Da-Xia shifted, tilting towards another target daring to breach her ring of flame, before an arrow dug deep into its heart, sending it kneeling into the fire, clutching for its rapidly escaping life force.

A voice boomed from outside, praising her entrance.

"Ah, thank you! I shall endeavor to live up to your expectations and beyond!" She tipped her lance in that direction, nodding, before turning her attention to the next oncoming beast. "I shall then take you as my first-" A dagger stabbed through its skull.

"Vexation!" Da-Xia wildly waved her lance in the air, as the next yurei was turned to ash by demonic flame.

Then, with a great rumbling cracking and smashing and rumbling, a treant made itself known and declared its own challenge. Da-Xia, of course, reacted instantly with the most appropriate and logical response.

She let loose the full power of her monstrous bike, her blazing hot rubber tearing for every scrap of purchase to send her hurtling towards the great treant, lowering her lance to joust the monstrous being.

As the catwalk was hurled at her, Da-Xia did not flinch or shy, but kept going full speed ahead. With impeccable timing and riding skill, she sharply turned at the last moment to slide under it as the metal bounced off the floor in front of her, creating just enough height for it to mostly pass above her but for a few scrapes and gouges. The bike was designed to collide with demons, and could take more than that, and Da-Xia had far too much adrenaline to feel pain for now.

Nearly crashing into a wall, Da-Xia just barely managed to pull it back over and instead turn the other way, to strike at the treant like a bolt of lightning, complete with the little zig-zag pattern in her approach. Straightforward in her strike, she sought to bury her lance deep into the plant's 'chest'?