epidemiology | [closed] halfway house

Entry tags:

[closed] halfway house

CHARACTERS: naruto, sonia, and eventually.. ban.
DATE: mid-woodhurst, probably before the hospital
WARNINGS: violence, cats in trouble.
SUMMARY: naruto and sonia realise that rescuing a cat and delivering her back to her owner is not as black and white as it seems. it's a bit more red.

[ He isn't too bothered with the idea of trudging around in the sewer at first; sure, it smells bad, sure it's kind of dark and there's faint scratching and shuffling coming from apparently nowhere, but it's a means to an end. He only has issue with it when it's been a little too long for his excitement at the prospect of a objective to fulfil to last, and for the stench to really start getting to him. He looks across to his companion with the best apologetic expression he can muster given that one of his hands is firmly clamped over his nose. ]

I'm sorry for draggin' you down here. [ He had thought that the opportunity to rescue a cat and to maybe get to use some of the abilities he's sorely missed using - with the added bonus of getting to show off and have a budding friend alongside him - was a good one... but in hindsight he probably should have read the entire brief a little more carefully. Sewers, after all, should have been his first point of concern. ] I'll be real mad if we've come all this way-- [ Ew, what was that, was that a rat that just scurried past his foot...!! ] ---For, uh.. For nothin'. If he's eaten the cat or.. if we can't find him.

[ Just then there's the loud sound of a burbling yowl like an animal being stretched like an accordion, and Naruto slips so quickly into hero mode that he even drops his hand from his face. Instead, he raises both to form a trusted hand sign, and a second Naruto immediately appears in a puff of smoke behind them. ]

He's gotta be close by, ya think? [ He asks both Sonia and the other Naruto. ] What's the plan for gettin' the cat away from him?

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[ Really, when she'd told Naruto that trying to find someone to be his assistant to have a magic show this isn't what she'd had in mind. She'd agreed to meet him just to get out and clear her head a bit, if only because there's been too much going on there and space will probably help with that.

Fresh air, however, is not found in the sewers.

She has a scarf wrapped around the lower part of her face, and even if she's trying to still be polite about this it is very hard to when it truly is disgusting down here. ]

It is alright... you were worried, were you not? I know I am as well, the sooner we can find this cat then the better it will be. [ And at least now he knows what she looks like, though she's probably smothered herself in make-up to hide how tired she is. ]

I just hope we can make it in time.

[ Then there's... that yowl that definitely sounds like a cat and Sonia is instantly on guard. She pulls out a syringe from inside her bag, pulling off the plastic top to ready herself. ]

I am able to knock the catnapper unconscious, if you can prepare to catch the cat. Is that alright...?

[ Naruto doesn't see the bag at first, so for a long handful of confused seconds he wonders where the hell did she get that syringe from, his expression all raised eyebrows and a slightly open mouth- and then he shuts it promptly because ew, breathing in and tasting sewer fumes isn't pleasant, and because he's appropriately distracted with a task he's entirely too familiar with. ]

Heh, you betcha. I used to catch cats all the time back home, I've got really good at it. [ It's not the time for story time now though. He falls silent as he and his clone both tighten the bandannas covering their headbands in sync - which is only slightly creepy - then slows his pace to a careful walk. Once they reach the upcoming left turn, he peers tentatively around the corner.

There the catnapper is, holding the cat in an uncomfortable position, with two grimy hands balled in her fur and a hauntingly hungry look in his eyes. Naruto presses himself against the wall and nods at his two companions. ]

I'll run in and make sure he's focusin' on me, so you can stab him with that, and then other me will get the cat. [ He whispers, giving her maybe a moment or two before he does exactly that and runs at the guy with a noisy shout. ]

[ It is only a small shoulder bag, which probably helps to disguise it! For once she's in fairly military-eqsue clothes so she's prepared to fight. Normally she'd stick to skirts etc but being in the sewer didn't seem like the best idea for that. ]

Then I shall be counting on you.

[ She gives him a wide smile at that, trying to ignore how tired she is, she keeps on pushing on anyway. Saving the cat is more important. ]

If you are certain, then I will prepare myself. On a count of three, then?

[ Only... there is no count and he's running in with a noisy shout without warning. Thankfully she'd already prepared the syringe because she has to rush around him while she can, ducking out of sight. Before he'll know what is happening, the hungry catnapper will feel a sharp stab into the back of his leg, Sonia digging in the needle as far as it will go, before she squeezes in the liquid.

Naruto will find the catnapper's hold on Eloise weaken after only 5 seconds, their eyes starting to shut as sleepiness takes over their body. ]

[ Naruto is more than a little buzzed by being told that someone is counting on him, so maybe that's why his clone takes the initiative to springboard of Naruto Alpha's shoulders in an unnecessary kind of leap frog, and as he sails past he whips the cat out of the guy's loosening grip, leaving him free and cat-less for the original Naruto to catch before he hits the ground.

It's over in a strangely quick handful of moments, and Naruto hefts the guy onto his shoulders with a breathless but impressed whistle. ]

Hey, that worked out better than I thought, y'know! It's a good thing you had that needle. [ Yeah, he probably should have considered making a plan with her before they came down here, because if she didn't have said syringe they'd be some kind of royally screwed but.. details. It worked out in the end and everything is fine. Or at least it is for a few moments.

Eloise doesn't seem to appreciate her rescuer a) whisking her kind of briskly and landing with her very close to the murky water, or b) being the host to a huge aura of negative energy. Animals are sensitive like that, which is something Naruto probably should have remembered while recalling how learned he is at cat catching; the only reason he's so 'good' at it is because he had to do it over and over, and over again. ]

Oh.

[ He says dumbly while Eloise tries to tear a chunk out of his clones face. ]

[ Carefully, Sonia pulls the needle back and moves to fasten the cap back on the metal part with practiced ease. She slips it back into her bag after, not wanting to dump something that is toxic waste with the virus on it. She shifts back up from the floor, checking the capnapper's pulse to ensure she hasn't killed him in the process. It seems fine. ]

This should keep him out cold for a few hours. Though we will need to get him to the surface.

[ She gives the clone a glance, looking towards where it is holding the cat. Then, leans in towards Naruto to whisper excitedly: ] Did you do that?

[ The cloning!!! She has never seen anything like this before, it's impressive!!! ]

Wha-? [ Naruto answers, looking at her dumbfounded, then back at his clone. He hadn't really thought about showing off until now, despite all the flashy moves earlier. They were a product of his excitement to be useful rather than any kind of actual boasting, but now... A grin spreads across his face and he nods: ] Yeah! I can make loads of 'em, and they're real useful when I need an extra pair of hands!

[ Said handy clone yelps as the cat hisses at him and takes another vicious swipe at his face. ]

But uh, they kinda disappear if they get hurt, so I should probably... [ He leans Mister Catnapper against the wall of the passageway, effortlessly forming another two Narutos to take care of that matter while he switches places with the first clone. He takes the cat, who is apparently doubly unhappy now she's next to the undiluted source of the bad juju, and sets a game face. ] Doesn't matter if I get scratched up, though. I ain't gonna disappear.

[ The game face breaks as he beams at Sonia. ]

And these guys can help carry him back up the ladder! Easy! [ Almost.. too easy.. but Naruto doesn't consider that. He just assumes it's because-- ] We're a real good team, y'know!

[ He might not have thought of it as showing off, and really she hadn't in this case either, but it still is something impressive. ] They do seem to be incredibly useful!

[ She reaches out once the cat is settled in the real ~~slim shady~~ Naruto's arms, giving it a gentle pet that seems to at least calm it a tiny bit... enough that it isn't hissing quite as much. ]

Would it be easier if I held it? It... does not seem to like you.

[ Putting it out there, Naruto, but that is one angry cat. ]

Though I suppose I could not climb up with only one arm... Hmm. We did work very well together, that is true!

[ Naruto blinks. ]

Oh yeah. Probably. [ There's already a scratch on his cheek and a tear in his shirt, though he doesn't seem to notice or mind. ] Aaah, animals don't really like me y'know. Cats especially. Every time I got told to catch the one that always escaped in the village, I ended up havin' to do it over and over again 'cos it'd get spooked and run away from me. Sakura-chan always had to be the one to pick it up, so maybe it's better if you look after it.

[ He holds Eloise out to her, and immediately the cat kind of scrabbles her legs like she's trying desperately to swim through the air toward Sonia. ]

Maybe ya could put her in that little bag? She's fluffy but she ain't that big. She might fit.

[ Sonia holds out her arms instantly, pulling the cat to her chest to cradle it there. There's a beat, then she's nuzzling the animal that was literally trying to claw off his face moments before, soothing it with whispers as well.

There's something behind this, but maybe now isn't the time to bring up that one of her best friends at home was the ultimate animal breeder and tamer... ]

I have got her for now, when we reach the ladder I can put her in there. She seems to be happier now.

[ In fact, there may be a purring noise filling up the noise of the tunnels... Sonia is Gifted. ]

[ Naruto's eyebrows raise with a look of childish wonder as she soothes the cat. Not even Sakura could work that kind of magic, and he almost wants to lean up close to get a better view, but.. he doesn't really want to spoil the moment the girls are having together, so instead he turns and helps his clones lift the catnapper off the floor, and starts dragging him back the way they'd come. ]

So, I wonder why this guy took the cat, huh? If I was hungry, I don't think I'd go to all the trouble, y'know... I've seen stray cats around, if I really wanted cat I'd just take one of those.

[ He realises this is.. probably not a great line of conversation to be headed down, so he back pedals. ]

Do ya think he knew what he was doin'? Like he was doin' it on purpose to piss off the Mayor? Before he got all mad and gross, I mean.

[ Disney Princess magic-- if only. She does start to walk though, at least when Naruto starts dragging the kidnapper. ]

Well, we know there was a ransom for it. However, I cannot say why. The mayor is aware we are here though.

[ As in ALASTAIR is here. Somehow. It's very questionable. ]

Those that are infected keep their sanity until around 4 to 5 weeks later, so it was quite likely. [ A beat, then: ] Either way, they cannot help it.

Maah, a cat's a bit weird though. I've heard of kidnappin' daughters or princesses [ Somehow this particular needle-wielding princess doesn't seem like the type to get captured though, so he doesn't stumble over mentioning it. ] but never cats.. He must really like her.

[ He's tempted to give the little furball a no idea why kind of frown, but he resists. The cut on his cheek doesn't hurt that badly. In fact it's already starting to heal. Thanks, Kyuubi. ]

But yeah, I know. That's why I didn't wanna hurt him, y'know. I guess it woulda sucked if he had eaten her, but it's not like he's totally here right now. He needs help, not someone to come and put him down for stealin' a cat.

[ What a dumb way to go, Naruto thinks.

Naruto might be relatively dense as far as common sense goes, but he's still a shinobi and his sense of direction is excellent, so soon - much quicker than it had taken them to find the catnapper since now they can travel straight to the exit instead of weaving around exploring - they find the ladder leading out of the sewers, up to the manhole covering it and the faint slit of light shining into the murky underground. ]

Alright, do ya uh... Hm. [ He was going to ask if she wanted any help, that much was clear, but he's pretty certain that she's got it. So he shrugs. ] Heh, I guess you're fine, huh. She likes you a lot.. do you have a cat back where you're from or somethin'? [ He cranes his head up toward the crack of light, then. ] I'll go first an' open the top so it's easier for you to get out with her.

[ He promptly hops up, climbs the short rungs to the surface, and pushes the cover away from the grate. They'd chosen an entrance a little ways from the main road as to stay out of sight, and a cursory glance around once he's able to see the street surrounding them tells him the coast is still thankfully clear. He clambers out, then turns to reach a hand down to her. ] It's all good up here!

[Having overheard the request to find the adorable lost cat, Ban weighed his options upon finding out another pair had decided to take up the mantle of saviors. The cash prize, too good to let go, sang treacherous songs in his head and had him following the two through the sewers. Sonia and Naruto, chatting pleasantly, likely wouldn't have sensed him as he used his magic to entirely erase his presence from both natural and supernatural senses if only to time his theft perfectly. The cat, scrambling in Naruto's grip, didn't seem terribly pleased by its newfound safety and seemed like a fairly easy target to snag at just the right moment. Then, the cat traded hands to Sonia and the opening seemed a bit more difficult. He wouldn't be able to just duck and run if Naruto summoned more of those clones he used earlier--Ban would have to wait until they were inconvenienced. The departure from the sewer would be the best time to try.

He exited a sewer grate further down the street from the two, silently lowering the lid with one finger before padding invisibly in Naruto's direction--waiting for the young man's own exit to present itself. He stood roughly twenty meters away, waiting in silence for Sonia to come into sight with the cat. With the Cheshire cat's grin in tow, Ban maintained an enviable air of patience.

Closer and closer. She just had to get in sight.]

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