Liberation of Slaves (Darius, Yona / C-Rank Job)

"..."

The usually bustling port of Hargeon had settled into a tranquil quiet at this hour. The only people out and about were a few sailors working late shifts were hauling boxes back to their respective warehouses, and young men and women venturing out to their favourite taverns for a drink. On any other day, Darius would happily be in one of those taverns, drinking away his troubles and ending the night with a nameless woman in his bed. But tonight was different, this job was different. Darius sat upon an empty box by the harbour, silently smoking his pipe, letting it fill his lungs before gently exhaling. The pipe was a smooth calm that the mercenary so desperately needed before he sought out to do what he was paid to do: kill.

The golden-eyed mercenary rarely took things seriously, and always enjoyed lacing his words with his playful sarcasm and flirtatious teasings. A smirk rarely left the man's face whenever he was out and about. Yet, Darius' eyes, on this moonlit night shone with a traces of sadness and melancholy. Despite his eyes looking towards the ocean, the only thing he could see was his past. A past tainted with the atrocities that slavery had wrought upon his life, where he was beaten, humiliated, and starved for more than half his life. It's been more than ten years since I left Desierto...and yet, I always end up having to face something like this. He bit his lip harshly, almost enough to break the skin, but snapped out of his trance. Darius sighed before taking another hit from his pipe, letting out another long smoke-filled exhale.

The mission to most others would be simple: take down a slaver operation that was happening a little ways off Hargeon Port and kill or capture the captain. To Darius, though it was more than that. The mere mention of being the property to another brought chills down his spine, caused images to flash in Darius' mind that he so desperately wanted to forget. But when the notice came to shut down a slavery operation, he didn't even notice to snatch the mission off the board and take it. Of course you have to go and be the fucking hero, Darius...of course you have to go and see slavery first hand again...good fucking job, asshole.

Despite wanting to go on this mission alone, however, Darius had found himself accompanied by the headstrong Yona Hisamori, a woman that the mercenary had somehow ended up working with on several occasions. He was supposed to be meeting her at this spot around this time, and travelled separately, using the meager excuse that "if they rode together from HQ for too long together, she wouldn't be able to keep her hands off him". In reality, however, Darius did not want Yona to see him as he was now: pensive, upset, and vulnerable. Even when he said his excuse, any idiot with a trace of empathy could tell that there was something bothering him.

And so, the mercenary sat there, trying to smoke away all the damage and pain that the mere thought of slavery had wrought upon him, waiting for his partner to snap him out of the trance.

Word Count: 541/3,750

Job Info Link

Yona Hisamori wore plainclothes, darkened in shade. It wasn't for the guild's sake that she had discreet clothing on, it was for stealth reasons and at night it was going to be paramount for her to blend in with shadows and not stick out. She wore a black and red scarf over her bright green hair, wrapping it lightly about her neck, hair, and mouth to keep her face also hidden. Her top was cropped as always, but in a form fitted lotus shape over her chest and in the color of dark red. A flowing ankle-length brown coat was over her shoulders. The coat is secured at the waist by a thin belt and had flared shoulders. She wore an easy to move in set of tight black pants and black boots. There was nothing on her denoting that she was with the guild, but that was for the sake of remaining hidden in the dark. Yona was positive ending a form of slave trade was a good thing to be caught doing, but not by the slave traders of course.

Yona made her way down the docks in Hargeon. She left the island before Darius did, he gave her some weird excuse and an even weirder distant look. She shrugged about it and ended up at Hargeon, enjoying the food and mosying about the area for information. Yona had discovered the slave traders main building for business, a location where the women were held and next door a small building for actual business conducting. Yona had energy in her walk as she approached Darius on the docks, spying the man sitting on some crate smoking away. She frowned and crept up behind him silently before tapping him on the shoulder and hoping for a nice jump scare.

"So I found the slavers and the slaves, erm the victims rather." Yona didn't want to label a group of people like that, it was the same as admitting they were owned by these criminals and as of tonight, they would be freed. "A stockhouse for a fishing business has a large basement. Being so close to the docks, it's easy access on and off the boats at night for transport and the smell and common attitude of fishermen is enough to repulse most suspicious onlookers away." Yona looked out at the ocean and then back at Darius, "Not that I care, but, you can handle this right?" Yona didn't want to give him the impression that they were friends. Yona still felt annoyed with him for his daily ongoing quips and harassment. Still, he was a part of the guild and she hated that she actually did feel a pang of concern for him beyond just worrying about the success of the job.

The female was already thinking ahead as to if she could handle doing the work of two people on this mission, where being stealthy and deadly was so crucial. They would need to first figure out where the slave traders were, then sneak in and kill them one by one. If they left any alive or raised an alarm, that would put all those hidden women in danger. Even if Yona knew she was fast, she knew she wasn't fast enough to save every girl in there. Yona needed Darius to be on his feet and to be not just fast, but smart during this job.

Total Word Count: 562

The unusually pensive Darius perked his head up, hearing the sound of somewhat approaching him. And as the sound of petite footsteps gradually came closer and closer, as the young mercenary realised who was coming his way: Yona. A light smile emerged on his face as she tapped on his shoulder, probably in an effort to scare him. It had failed, of course, but the gesture was amusing nonetheless. Before facing her, he took another long inhale of his pipe, letting the calming smoke fill his lungs, before releasing the cloud of smoke from his lips.

He turned his head to face her, a brow raising at her get-up, "Isn't that a little much?"

At the mention of Yona locating where the slavers were located, not to mention how she forced herself to correct "slaves" into victims, Darius looked away, his face darkened. The expression on his face was one that not many got to see the Desiertan make: one of anguish, fury, and trauma. "I'm fine, Yona, I can handle this."

The mercenary put blew out the chamber of the pipe, tucking it away into his backpocket. In sharp contrast to Yona's overcoat and stealthy get-up, Darius simply wore his usual white billowy shirt—unbuttoned down to his chest—black pants, boots. In all honesty, Darius hadn't thought much about how to approach this mission, his mind clouded with the childhood trauma that still haunted him. But, he quickly devised a plan, "Okay, if the slaves are in the stockhouse, we can stealthily swim to the slave ship, from there, we can enter through one of the ship windows that usually house the cannons. From there, you can get any explosive lacrimas or gunpowder barrels that the crew were planning to use for said cannons and blow the ship apart."

Darius paused for a moment, squinting into the distance, as if trying to grasp any more possible steps to the plan he could take, before saying, "Although, if one of us grabs a ton of attention towards the ship, we can attract the attention of the slaver crew, then have the other set off the explosives, blowing up the ship and those slave-making cunts."

"That is all contingent on whether or not they've already started to pack the ship. If the slaves are already on the ship, then we can't blow up the ship without killing them too and-" Darius bit his lip, cutting the sentence off, I'm not going to have another slave die because of me.

Darius looked towards the distance, he was sitting a little ways by the main dock of Hargeon, and the place Yona spoke of was a few streets away from where they were standing, "Let's head closer to the slaver site, we can deliberate what to do more from there, yeah?"

He started to walk towards the slaver site, expecting Yona to follow him, and in a surprisingly uncharacteristic manner,  would remain silent unless his partner spoke to him. His eyes, rather than facing forward, were constantly in the distance, glancing towards rowdy taverns, or drunk men and women walking each other home. He exhaled softly, the entirety of his persona drastically shifting from the usual sarcastic, confident, flirtatious persona he usually exuded.

Once reaching the block where the main entrance of the stockhouse was located, Darius tugged on Yona's coat, nudging his head towards a dark alleyway that led to the docks, before walking into it.

Once they were in the middle of the sketchy alleyway, Darius began to speak, "This is a decent enough area to scout the place, the end of the alley leads to the oceanside of Hargeon, we'll be able to see the ship from there...let's hope they're not packing the girls into the ship yet."

He slowly walked down the alleyway, before peaking out the wall, and much to his chagrin, he saw women being dragged out of the stockhouse by bulky men, heading towards the ship, "Djinn's beard, we're too late," he cursed.

"Alright, so my plan clearly isn't going to work. What do you think we should do, Yona?"

1,224/3,750 Word Count

The green haired mage lifted a brow in return, placing a hand on her hips. "I have a good reason not to wear white on this job," She said snarking and making a gesture at his clothes before crossing her arms over her chest. When he shifted back into his moody and humorless demeanor, Yona groaned, hearing him say he could handle it. Yeah, sure you can, Yona thought sarcastically. When it came down to it she knew that he would have her back, but that didn't stop her from worrying about his future decisions on the job. She relaxed, looking around the darkened docks and following him through the streets into a stuffy alleyway.

His plan was shoddy, but it was just like a reckless pirate type to think swimming all the way out to the boat and blowing it up, and then swimming all the way back. Swimming in the ocean at night wasn't easy, no matter how experienced a person was, plus there was no guarantee that an explosion would result in their own survival. To make it worse, she doubted that a huge explosion would do anything other than alert those likely guarding the women in the storehouse. Blowing up the ship of a jumpy breed of criminal was going to result in killing the women, Yona was sure of it. She shook her head disgruntled and disapprovingly. At least he acknowledged that she might have a better idea and was willing to change the plan.

Yona heard the muffled sounds of movement from the storehouse and knew what to be going on prior to Darius even peeking his head out of the alley. "Damn," She uttered. Her own plan involved first rescuing the women, and then taking out the slavers when they would of course come to investigate why none of the women had been moved. She rubbed her forehead thinking quickly, and then pulled down her scarf. They could snipe some of the guys from a distance, but only if they could really guarantee that in the confusion all the women would be safe. They could still infiltrate the boat, swimming out there and change only some aspects of the plan, but that ship was the enemy terrain. They would have both numbers and the advantage of knowing the best places to hide or stand during a fight. The best option was something she had tried once before, and had been successful to a degree, but it was her least favorite because it involved putting herself at risk to being owned. If Darius lost his cool, lost his mind, and she didn't get back up, the job was as well as over.

"We don't have much time to argue or deliberate. I have an idea," Yona said. She wasn't usually this selfless, but in the guild she could do with some bonus good points for being selfless, and for trusting in her partner. She slid the scarf off her green hair and wrapped it lightly around her neck in a fashionable way. Yona took her coat off, showing off her long delicate arms and her cropped top. She dropped the coat down on the ground and tried not to cringe, "That was brand new too," She lamented, "I am going in undercover." She walked around Darius and patted his shoulder, "I'll protect the women from inside."

"You can swim to the ship, take guys out a bit more stealthily. Just you clear the way so when I get the girls, we can just run and go." It wasn't a perfect plan, but it was about as close as they could get. For facing any dangers they could not predict, well as a team they would just need to handle it as best as possible. Yona was hoping to capture the leaders to the ring; they would be worth far more alive. Yona would wait for a confirming response and then stride out in a drunken sway towards the docks, hoping to appear like a drunken young woman roaming near the water: perfect bait.

WC: 1241

Darius chuckled, shrugging in response to Yona's usual antagonising tone towards him. For that brief moment, forgetting the horrific memories of a childhood that he so desperately wanted to forget. But that moment passed too, and Darius remembered why he was in Hargeon. He could tell that Yona had taken note in his shift in demeanor, but that didn't mind him. Get this job done, kill the slavers, and go back to your usual self, Darius thought to himself.

Upon laying out his poorly thought out plan, Yona disapprovingly shook her head. I am off my game today, damn. He thought in his head. He was usually better with strategy. Was this mission tripping him up that much? Darius bit his lip, not thinking out the scope or the possible negative outcomes of his plan, "Right, not the best of ideas." He acknowledged, before walking towards the other side of the docks.

The walk was quiet, tranquil. Neither Darius nor Yona offered much in terms of conversation. It was probably for the best, as Darius' usual sarcastic, flirtatious demeanour was nowhere to be seen on this night. But, the silence forced out memories that Darius had buried deep beneath his psyche. Echoes of a time long past seemed to reverberate through his mind.

"You will be a slave forever, whelp. You don't have a name, you are simply, slave 476. You are nothing...you will REMAIN nothing."

Darius winced from his memories of that time. He didn't even consider most of his time during his childhood "living". Hell, he had barely opened up to his old mercenary team about this trauma. When he had been taken in, they knew what he was the moment they saw his back. They respected his space...no need for old wounds to fester. I am more than just slave 476...I am Darius Al-Sayyid...right?

He snapped out of his pensive trance the moment they reached their destination, as he recognised the building in which the women were being housed under. Yona and Darius snuck into a nearby alleyway, ready to deliberate over their next move. But, upon seeing that the women were already being dragged to the ship, the duo realised that they needed a new plan—and needed it fast.

Darius nodded in response to Yona's point about not having much time to argue or deliberate, and awaited to hear her plan. However, upon seeing her undress herself, pulling down her coat, prettying herself up, the mercenary knew exactly what she was planning. Suffice to say, he was not happy. "No. Absolutely not." He said with a sharp tone. "Do you know how much danger you're putting yourself in? Yona, if I fail, then you'd be forced to live through what-"

He cut himself off. She knew the stakes of this plan, she had to. If they failed, then Yona would be risking an entire lifetime of slavery, a concept that no one could fully grasp until they've truly experienced it. If I fail...she'll live life like I did, I can't let that happen. Darius grit his teeth, what other plan was there? He was way too off his game to think of any other plan, at least not one where he could ensure the safety of the other women. He let out a deep, beleaguered breath, and conceded, "Fine."

Darius would wait to see if Yona had any other words before enacting their plan. He peeked out the alleyway once more, seeing that the slavers were solely focused on discretely getting the women on board, no one was looking their way. But, just before Yona would start leaving the alley to play herself as bait, Darius grabbed her arm. His eyes blazing with a mixture of worry, fright, and determination. "Yona, be careful." He would then dash as quickly as he could out of the alley. He ran behind a nearby boat that would allow him to remain unseen, and then dive into the water.

Word Count: 1,884/3,750

Without the large coat on, Yona could not have been more appealing to others if she had tried. She had been sure to look that way for other occasions, but jobs out in the field was not one of those scenarios. Her dark red lotus shaped top drew attention to her chest and the cropped style drew eyes towards her waist. The tight pants let little to be curious about and her vibrant green hair was what would make her stand out as a woman who could make a slaver rich. She knew the plan would get her onto the boat where she could protect the women but when Darius tried to stop her for a second time, Yona felt especially wary. "I'll be fine. They need me in good pure condition to make a real goldmine out of me," She told him light-heartedly.

Yona's long green hair hid her guild mark from view as it was on the back of her neck. Even a pretty thorough inspection would exclude looking there in most situations, so she could get away with sneaking aboard as a "victim" instead of a "mage". She strolled out of the alley and over the docks. She grabbed a bottle from the ground and then threw it down hard, sending shards of glass and a splitting loud sound across the night embraced square. "Damn it, that bastard!" She shouted. "Darius, I swear I'm going to kill you!" She shouted again, swaying on a dock. She didn't much smell like alcohol, so she sat down on a large crate, grabbed a nearby bottle from the trash and splashed her scarf with some of the liquor. Yona made a face in disgust and then continued on with her charade. At the sound of the glass, some of the men with the women had jumped and turned. They really were easily startled and Yona could hear their frantic words even from where she sat, suddenly weeping and bent over her knees like a heartbroken drunken maid.

"Did we lose one?"
"No, who is she?"
"Should we grab her too?"
"The boss wouldn't like us grabbing a strange woman and risking his business."
"But she could make us a fortune."
"We can't leave her behind now. What if she saw us?"

As the men deliberated, Yona fell off the crate and moaned loudly. "I hate you Darius, why! Why would you leave me! I'm so alone!" She tried to keep her composure but she was pretty sure she landed directly beside a pile of bird feces and a fish head. Fishermen were disgusting out here in Hargeon, she thought to herself. Soon after, several men had surrounded her. A tall man with long black hair secured in a tail behind his head offered her his hand, "Miss, do you need some help up?" The green haired mage took his hand and got to her feet. She stumbled forward and whimpered. "I do need help. I'm so alone.." Boy was she milking it, but these guys were eating it up. Entranced by her figure, a younger man with a thin beard patted her on the shoulder. "Oh, you're not alone. Why don't you come with us? We are getting on a boat and having a big party!" Yona sniffed and looked over at him with a slight smile, "Really, a party?"

The men thought they were so dang clever. Idiots, she thought again. "Yeah, a party," the bearded man said. A third male had been silent the whole time, with dark brown eyes and a serious looking blade on his back. The obvious leader of the troupe, Yona turned to work her magic on him, using her seductive lineage; the other two were so easy to manipulate she didn't even need to try to use her lineage on him. "Is it your party? Do you mind if I come? I could use some company right now." The male ran a hand through his light brown hair and then caressed her face. The other two looked eagerly at their boss, barely able to contain their excitement. "You can come along. Why don't you get in the boat with me?" The male had a steely voice and a tone that sounded like he did not much trust her, despite being unable to pass up on the opportunity to grab a girl like her. Yona cursed a little in her mind, hoping she would not be separated from the other women entirely upon the large ship on the horizon. "Sure, handsome. I would like that." Yona gave him a charming smile and he gave her a half smile of his own. The other two looked a little dismayed. "We'll take the other boat in, Akimichi," said the long haired male before bowing and walking away with the bearded male. So Akimichi was the name of the boss. At least the boss with her. Who knew who really owned the operation, or how many leaders there were total.

Yona followed Akimichi, taking his arm like a flirtatious debutante and getting into his small boat. There was a lacrima inside of it, she could tell and sense it at the same time. He was quiet the whole way, from getting into the boat, to getting it started, to the time where he stopped the boat in the middle of the water and drew his weapon on her. That serious and magical looking blade put Yona's heart on ice and she licked her lips in honest and genuine concern. "A-akimichi? What are you--?" He frowned at her deeply. "I can sense your magic. It's as strong as my own." From his side he pulled out a pair of metallic cuffs and tossed them at her. Yona swallowed and stayed very still as the cuffs landed on her lap, suddenly not looking half as drunk as she pretended to be earlier. "Put those on and come quietly, or you can face me right here right now in my boat." His voice was cold and detached; he was not joking with her.

Already, Yona's plan was not going as she had hoped. She slowly lifted the cuffs, clipping one onto her left wrist and the other onto her right. She could tell they were a low quality grade, but their purpose was anti-magic. For at least a time, or for at least a certain extent, they would prevent her magic from being used. Still, in the small boat, in the water, Yona had nothing she could much do in the way of fighting. The lights from the large ship proved they were more than half way to the boat and her plan was still better than Darius', even now. There were no trees, no flowers, no vines to manipulate or grow. She could shoot bamboo out of the boat and kill him certainly, but if he did not return to the ship with her, Darius and those women would be in danger. "How did you really know?" Yona asked quietly, sitting there with the cuffs on her wrists. Akimichi slid the non sharp edge of his blade over her long green hair, not far from her neck. A ripple of a fight or flight response was visibly triggered in Yona but she said nothing. "The wet spot on your scarf. You're not really drunk. And I felt it when you tried to use some sort of magic on me. That was a foolish move, miss." He sheathed his weapon, started the boat and headed to the main ship with her in custody. "A mage you know, is worth more than an ordinary woman. But if you try anything, I won't hesitate to kill the other girls. You alone would give me enough profit to handle the losses."

Hopefully, Darius was still going to be able to sneak onto the boat without messing up her plan. She would no doubt be placed in the dungeon with the other women. She was no threat to the slavers unless she wanted the women dead. Akimichi's threat was a powerful one after all.

NPCS:
Veteran Slaver Akimichi (Strong)

WC: 2590