[ Teaming up with anyone he doesn't know particularly well is a stretch for Yusuke. But he and Bortz had both been eyeing this bounty, and common sense (which sounded a lot like Genkai) said that the obvious fix was to team up to take it.
It's just finding a tea shipment. How hard could that be? ]
Look, she said this is the road she took. There's gotta be tracks or something around here.
[ Then again, patiently tracking down a lost shipment might turn out not to be Yusuke's forte. He kicks a few rocks farther down the road as he looks back at Bortz. ]
[Unfortunately, tracking is not something Bortz has any experience with. Hell, it wasn't even really a concept back home, with almost no wildlife and only airborne enemies.
That said, they're trying. It's hard to say whether their frown is out of frustration or if that's just their normal expression.]
I'm not even sure what to look for.
[Footprints? A trail from a cart or something? It seems odd to them to even fixate so strongly on the road, given those weren't really a thing back home either. Couldn't this thief have just as easily walked in the grass where they wouldn't leave tracks at all?
Scowling, Bortz crouches to examine an indent in the dirt. Coukd that be a footprint? It probably isn't.]
[ Well, that makes two of them. Finding the footprint is probably a complete stroke of luck. As Bortz crouches, Yusuke comes up directly behind him to squint over his shoulder. ]
What's that? A clue? [ Yusuke asks the question in a loud stage whisper. ] Hey, wait a second.
[ Yusuke's gaze lifts to the treeline, and he nudges Bortz excitedly. ]
[ Yusuke's fairly certain he's just along because he can lift heavy things. Not that he's complaining, but he's hoping this trek out to the dam ends in him punching...something. How big are imps, anyway? He's tangled with plenty of demons, but imps are an unknown quantity. ]
How much farther? Geez, we better get something good out of this.
[ Sacrificing their time and energy like this!! ]
You think they'd have just come out here with a pitckfork or something themselves.
[ the farmers were clearly angry about the imps and the damage the dam had caused, yet were also quick to shove off responsibilities to others. he wants to wait and see how dangerous these imps really are before rushing into anything. and if they need to be dealt with in a more violent fashion -- well, yusuke seems more than capable of taking care of that he thinks. he huffs his way through the walk, not really used to trekking long distances (he's a public transportation man, metropolitan, not adept to taking long walks because he hates physical activity in general.) ]
How do you want to handle the imps? Helping the farmers, above all else, should be the priority. We don't owe anything to these troublemakers.
[ Yusuke huffs quietly. It's true, the farmers are first priority. But Yusuke still expects to be fighting his way through this. He raises his hands and cracks his knuckles with a self-assured grin. ]
We don't need to kill 'em. But I think punching each of them in the head will discourage them from coming back here when we're gone.
[ As if this isn't Yusuke answer to most every problem. ]
Hm. Let's say you punch them and discourage them. That would work for the short-term, but what of the long-term? You can't just stick around waiting to punch them. Once we're gone from this world, the imps could just come back and the same situation repeats.
[ which isn't ideal at all. he rather help the farmers and make it something that lasts. ]
In addition to force, we should make a long-term plan to keep them away too. What though... well that has to be brainstormed. But do feel free to give them a good knocking.
[ you be your shounen-self yusuke, live your dreams. ]
If we scare 'em enough they aren't going to want to come back.
[ Which makes sense to him. Yusuke's cultivated quite the reputation at home. He can scare off a couple imps. Pushing the bushes aside to peer ahead at the dam and the imps hopping around it, he makes a short, huffy noise. ]
...You have a very simple way of thinking, don't you Yusuke? [ it reminds him of certain people back in his world. they too they all problems can be solved through a fist in the face. he taps his fingers on his chin and hums. ] Hey, do you think they have a leader? It could be the biggest one... I have an idea about how you can drive them off and keep them away, in one stone throw.
[ It sits like an insult. It's the kind of withering thing Hiei might have said, and Yusuke scowls back at in a way that feels sufficiently unimpressed. But the idea Rohan's driving it circumvents Yusuke's need to argue. He peers through the bushes again, squinting. ]
The one with the...necklace? Something on it's neck. That's the one I bet's running the show.
[ it definitely comes off as an insult, but it's more just rohan's bluntness coming out without any real awareness. such is the life of a narcissist. ]
If you can drive off the smaller ones and catch the big one, I can implant a command to use against the imps. And we can incorporate their memory of your beating to keep them away forever.
[ Yusuke's skepticism is rooted in two things: how the hell Rohan would do it, and the ethics of doing it at all. But it's a good plan, if it actually works. Yusuke squints at him for a minute, then stands upright in the bushes. ]
Okay. Just be ready to grab the big guy after I knock the rest of them on their ass.
[ Though his first blast with the spirit gun knocks all the imps on their ass. Yusuke's already catapulting out of the bushes, yelling, as the few smaller imps start swarming in his direction. ]
[ he didn't know he had to grab him, oh good god. rohan sucks in his breath and runs out toward the side, looking to rush around the swarm coming at yusuke. the leader with the gaudy necklace is toward the back of the group, and rohan makes a grab at him by... wrapping his arms around its waist and picking it up?? he has no good clue what he's doing. ]
I got it! [ he yells and flails as the leader shrieks and squirms in his arms wildly. ] Get rid of them Yusuke!
[ So this is going about as well as every team up Yusuke's involved in. If there was any doubt Yusuke wasn't taking this as seriously as he should, it's dispelled when he immediately starts laughing when he catches sight of Rohan holding the biggest imp.
And gets interrupted when an imp bites his ankle. ]
Hey. That hurt, asshole!
[ But it turns out that imps are puntable. So Yusuke just starts kicking anything that comes near him before lunging at the remaining cluster that are scrambling towards their captive leader. ]
Stop cradling it and pin it down before it gets away from you!
[ this is NOT what he does for a living, or ever! he stumbles with the imp ungracefully and then turns himself over to pin the leader down. ...well, it's more accurate to say he tripped on his own feet and slammed it to the ground to break his own fall. the imp is pinned though, but now it's scratching up rohan's shoulders to get free. ]
[ They're strong and just small enough to be annoying. Yusuke isn't very tall, but it's annoying to have to stoop to hit something. He kicks another imp hard enough to send it soaring in an arc over Rohan's head and land with a thud some twelve feet away. ]
[ he lets out an undignified yelp when the imp comes over, ducking his head and covering it. the imp below him takes this chance to push itself out from his legs and start running. rohan quickly jumps to grab it by the ankles and keep it from running off. ]
[ As if Yusuke wasn't aware he's here solely to be the muscle of this operation. He bounds over to where Rohan is struggling and kicks the imp right in the face. It's all been a little disappointing. Imps aren't the same as ogres. This would've been a real challenge if there had been more of them, maybe, but as it stands Yusuke's kicked his way through the opposition. ]
Now what?
[ He kicks the imp again for good measure, crouching to squint at it. ]
[ rohan stands up for a moment to brush the dirt off his clothes, fussing over how sore he feels from the whole two minutes of physical activity he had to endure. ]
Well - you certainly chased them off well and good Yusuke. Tell me, do you think you have struck a fear in their hearts? [ he crouches down to look at the leader imp and flexes his fingers. ] Let's find out.
[ and, from his left side, a yellow glow appears and takes shape into his stand - a young boy spirit in all white. ]
Heaven's Door!
[ and with that, the imp's face flips open like the front of a book, an array of encyclopedia pages on display. ]
[ This is the part where he has to spectate. Yusuke's snippy retort dies off as he watches Rohan conjure something. He doesn't lift out of the crouch. His expression turns intent, observing the newly introduced capability. ]
Is this how you're gonna mess with his head?
[ Is it spirit energy? It's not a technique Yusuke's ever seen before. He resists the urge to touch and contents himself with watching. ]
If they're smart, they'd be fucking scared.
[ The answer's a little bit of an afterthought. Yusuke's attention has moved on. ]
[ he begins to flip through the pages created, reading on the details carefully. this imp is certainly in a high position, which will make influencing the peons easier. and the memory of yusuke's attack, his brutality, is already written into the pages - a sure sign that the memory is turning concrete. rohan pulls out a pen from his sleeves and writes: will fear the image of the brutal imp attacker and moves aside so yusuke can see. ]
Now whenever they believe they see you, their hearts will strike with fear.
[ hey it isn't mental tampering if it's for the greater good, right? right. ]
Plenty. Though I can never make it act against its nature. [ his power is more to influence through command, as opposed to an outright mind control order. which makes it ok. he turns his pen and explains the plan: ] When we return, I'll inform the farmers to create effigies of you throughout their lands. That way even when we are gone, your image will continue to pierce their hearts with fright. They should never again return, so long as they remember your brutal beating.
[ and, for good measure, he writes again: will tell the story of this day to the other imps ]
[ Is that a compliment??? Or is Rohan being sarcastic? Yusuke will get a better read on that eventually. Or just keep being skeptical for the rest of their acquaintance, as one does. ]
Got it.
[ But just like terrorizing imps, knocking down a dam is right up Yusuke's alley. He's so clearly delighted with the excuse to just be outright destructive as he kicks his way through the blockage. The water surges through, soaking Yusuke's clothing, but he emerges grinning. ]
[ rohan watches with only dull interest. yusuke is so rowdy and reminds him of josuke, a man who is more or less his sworn frenemy. though he's a lot more tolerable and that goes a long way to rohan warming up to him.
he doesn't get what about this delights yusuke so much, but let him have his fun. the job is done. ]
You can take whatever payment you want. The experience is enough for me.
[ he opens his mouth slightly to retort, but then he stops and actually thinks. does he want anything? truthfully, he didn't consider a reward in all of this. ]
What would you want? [ because hey, maybe throwing it back could help him decide. ]
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bortz / tea-m work
It's just finding a tea shipment. How hard could that be? ]
Look, she said this is the road she took. There's gotta be tracks or something around here.
[ Then again, patiently tracking down a lost shipment might turn out not to be Yusuke's forte. He kicks a few rocks farther down the road as he looks back at Bortz. ]
You see anything yet?
no subject
That said, they're trying. It's hard to say whether their frown is out of frustration or if that's just their normal expression.]
I'm not even sure what to look for.
[Footprints? A trail from a cart or something? It seems odd to them to even fixate so strongly on the road, given those weren't really a thing back home either. Couldn't this thief have just as easily walked in the grass where they wouldn't leave tracks at all?
Scowling, Bortz crouches to examine an indent in the dirt. Coukd that be a footprint? It probably isn't.]
no subject
What's that? A clue? [ Yusuke asks the question in a loud stage whisper. ] Hey, wait a second.
[ Yusuke's gaze lifts to the treeline, and he nudges Bortz excitedly. ]
Look at all those bent branches in the bushes.
[ Something muscled their way through there. ]
rohan / dam imps
How much farther? Geez, we better get something good out of this.
[ Sacrificing their time and energy like this!! ]
You think they'd have just come out here with a pitckfork or something themselves.
no subject
[ the farmers were clearly angry about the imps and the damage the dam had caused, yet were also quick to shove off responsibilities to others. he wants to wait and see how dangerous these imps really are before rushing into anything. and if they need to be dealt with in a more violent fashion -- well, yusuke seems more than capable of taking care of that he thinks. he huffs his way through the walk, not really used to trekking long distances (he's a public transportation man, metropolitan, not adept to taking long walks because he hates physical activity in general.) ]
How do you want to handle the imps? Helping the farmers, above all else, should be the priority. We don't owe anything to these troublemakers.
no subject
We don't need to kill 'em. But I think punching each of them in the head will discourage them from coming back here when we're gone.
[ As if this isn't Yusuke answer to most every problem. ]
Why? You got a different idea?
no subject
[ which isn't ideal at all. he rather help the farmers and make it something that lasts. ]
In addition to force, we should make a long-term plan to keep them away too. What though... well that has to be brainstormed. But do feel free to give them a good knocking.
[ you be your shounen-self yusuke, live your dreams. ]
no subject
If we scare 'em enough they aren't going to want to come back.
[ Which makes sense to him. Yusuke's cultivated quite the reputation at home. He can scare off a couple imps. Pushing the bushes aside to peer ahead at the dam and the imps hopping around it, he makes a short, huffy noise. ]
Well, what do you think we can do?
no subject
no subject
[ It sits like an insult. It's the kind of withering thing Hiei might have said, and Yusuke scowls back at in a way that feels sufficiently unimpressed. But the idea Rohan's driving it circumvents Yusuke's need to argue. He peers through the bushes again, squinting. ]
The one with the...necklace? Something on it's neck. That's the one I bet's running the show.
[ The big boss, so to speak. ]
What're you thinking?
no subject
If you can drive off the smaller ones and catch the big one, I can implant a command to use against the imps. And we can incorporate their memory of your beating to keep them away forever.
no subject
[ Yusuke's skepticism is rooted in two things: how the hell Rohan would do it, and the ethics of doing it at all. But it's a good plan, if it actually works. Yusuke squints at him for a minute, then stands upright in the bushes. ]
Okay. Just be ready to grab the big guy after I knock the rest of them on their ass.
[ Though his first blast with the spirit gun knocks all the imps on their ass. Yusuke's already catapulting out of the bushes, yelling, as the few smaller imps start swarming in his direction. ]
no subject
[ he didn't know he had to grab him, oh good god. rohan sucks in his breath and runs out toward the side, looking to rush around the swarm coming at yusuke. the leader with the gaudy necklace is toward the back of the group, and rohan makes a grab at him by... wrapping his arms around its waist and picking it up?? he has no good clue what he's doing. ]
I got it! [ he yells and flails as the leader shrieks and squirms in his arms wildly. ] Get rid of them Yusuke!
no subject
And gets interrupted when an imp bites his ankle. ]
Hey. That hurt, asshole!
[ But it turns out that imps are puntable. So Yusuke just starts kicking anything that comes near him before lunging at the remaining cluster that are scrambling towards their captive leader. ]
Stop cradling it and pin it down before it gets away from you!
no subject
[ this is NOT what he does for a living, or ever! he stumbles with the imp ungracefully and then turns himself over to pin the leader down. ...well, it's more accurate to say he tripped on his own feet and slammed it to the ground to break his own fall. the imp is pinned though, but now it's scratching up rohan's shoulders to get free. ]
Agh, these imps are stronger than I expected!
no subject
[ They're strong and just small enough to be annoying. Yusuke isn't very tall, but it's annoying to have to stoop to hit something. He kicks another imp hard enough to send it soaring in an arc over Rohan's head and land with a thud some twelve feet away. ]
Yeah, that's right! Start running!
[ RIP imps. ]
no subject
Knock this one out for me! Quickly!
no subject
[ As if Yusuke wasn't aware he's here solely to be the muscle of this operation. He bounds over to where Rohan is struggling and kicks the imp right in the face. It's all been a little disappointing. Imps aren't the same as ogres. This would've been a real challenge if there had been more of them, maybe, but as it stands Yusuke's kicked his way through the opposition. ]
Now what?
[ He kicks the imp again for good measure, crouching to squint at it. ]
He's definitely out.
no subject
Well - you certainly chased them off well and good Yusuke. Tell me, do you think you have struck a fear in their hearts? [ he crouches down to look at the leader imp and flexes his fingers. ] Let's find out.
[ and, from his left side, a yellow glow appears and takes shape into his stand - a young boy spirit in all white. ]
Heaven's Door!
[ and with that, the imp's face flips open like the front of a book, an array of encyclopedia pages on display. ]
no subject
Is this how you're gonna mess with his head?
[ Is it spirit energy? It's not a technique Yusuke's ever seen before. He resists the urge to touch and contents himself with watching. ]
If they're smart, they'd be fucking scared.
[ The answer's a little bit of an afterthought. Yusuke's attention has moved on. ]
no subject
[ he begins to flip through the pages created, reading on the details carefully. this imp is certainly in a high position, which will make influencing the peons easier. and the memory of yusuke's attack, his brutality, is already written into the pages - a sure sign that the memory is turning concrete. rohan pulls out a pen from his sleeves and writes: will fear the image of the brutal imp attacker and moves aside so yusuke can see. ]
Now whenever they believe they see you, their hearts will strike with fear.
no subject
[ Yusuke sounds both impressed and delighted. ]
That's pretty cool.
[ Mental tampering aside, that is. ]
What else can you tell it to do?
no subject
Plenty. Though I can never make it act against its nature. [ his power is more to influence through command, as opposed to an outright mind control order. which makes it ok. he turns his pen and explains the plan: ] When we return, I'll inform the farmers to create effigies of you throughout their lands. That way even when we are gone, your image will continue to pierce their hearts with fright. They should never again return, so long as they remember your brutal beating.
[ and, for good measure, he writes again: will tell the story of this day to the other imps ]
no subject
You better tell them to get the face right.
[ The least of the farmers' concerns should be making their scarecrows look like Yusuke. ]
You think you can hold him down while I knock over the dam?
[ Might as well get that done, right? ]
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Got it.
[ But just like terrorizing imps, knocking down a dam is right up Yusuke's alley. He's so clearly delighted with the excuse to just be outright destructive as he kicks his way through the blockage. The water surges through, soaking Yusuke's clothing, but he emerges grinning. ]
Ready to go get paid?
no subject
he doesn't get what about this delights yusuke so much, but let him have his fun. the job is done. ]
You can take whatever payment you want. The experience is enough for me.
no subject
Come on, you don't want anything?
[ Though that question is so broad it bears questioning what exactly Yusuke thinks the farmers are capable of giving them. ]
no subject
What would you want? [ because hey, maybe throwing it back could help him decide. ]