The Black Market [Group/Open]

Dew was a little hesitant to walk up to the decrepit looking building. He had seen a guy with blue hair go in earlier, but he still wasn't necessarily sure that it was safe. He'd been touring Karakura and had heard some thugs talk about some sort of black market a friend had told them about. They had been in it, and the place was crazy. One guy had tried to start a fight and poofed away. Dew doubted it was that simple, or even possible, but he stayed close to listen anyways. The thugs said that they got the feeling that some of the market's occupants weren't even human. That sparked Dew's interest. If the people in the market weren't human, then what were they? Were there shinigami in there? Dew would have liked to learn more about them.

About half an hour later, Dew had the address from the thugs. It definitely hadn't been easy, seeing as when they first saw him, they had tried to grab him. Dew made his way back home to get a spare shirt. One of the thugs had pulled a knife on the teen and had tried to use it. That same knife was now pinning said thug to the asphalt, buried all the way up to the hilt through his shirt and his jacket. Once Dew got changed, he tried to think of something to say to his dad. The blacksmith was rather protective of his son, and didn't like the idea of Dew going anywhere without him outside the city, even if it was the next town over. Dew had spent the next ten minutes trying to think of something he could say to his dad that wouldn't feel like a blatant lie. In the end he had settled for the ambiguous phrase that he was going to go look around the market.

It was half true, which was good enough for Dew to not feel bad for not specifying where he was going. He could only hope that his dad didn't come looking for him later that day. If Dew was even there that long. He ran to the address, not wanting to use any of his money on a bus ticket. He might see something that he liked at the market, and might need all he had to buy it. 

And that was what had brought him to standing outside the beaten up building for half an hour before he saw someone go in. In the end, he decided to risk it. How dangerous could it be in there? Anyone who tried to start a fight was stopped pretty fast, if the thugs were to be believed. Besides, Dew wasn't as fragile or helpless as he might have looked, and anyone who thought otherwise was making their first, and hopefully last mistake. The teen strolled up to the building, his nerves starting to melt away now that he was actually doing something. He gave a few quick knocks one the door, waiting for someone to answer. He scratched it a little with one of his nails, wondering if it was real wood. Once the door had opened, he stepped inside, looking over the large, broad and muscled man. 

Dew had long since stopped fearing someone who was more physically impressive himself. He knew that appearances weren't everything. He could easily be far stronger than this man, able to send him flying with just a push. Or it could be the opposite. Not that it really mattered in here, again, if the rumors were true. He was staring down at Dew, his gaze never leaving the pale teen for a second. Dew took a sip from his flask, then licked his lips and laughed. "Take a picture, it'll last longer." he told the door man before making his way down the hall and into the main room. He looked around at all the symbols on the wall, raising a brow. It looked kinda cheesy to the teen.

All of this occult stuff just made the location seem fake, although Dew wasn't about to test if it was the real deal by starting anything. The teen merely took a seat on the back row of chairs, noting that he had passed the blue haired man. He wondered if he was one of the ones who wasn't human. For some reason the thought struck Dew as funny. He giggled, then returned his attention to a slim man wearing a mask with the same designs as the rest of the room. He seemed to be in charge, so maybe Dew could figure out if the supposed 'Black Market' was the real deal by paying attention to him.

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Word Count: 785

Gp Gain: 15

Gp Total: 15

“Hoo? That’s interesting.” Reyne thought to himself. The Masked man was still speaking but Reyne’s attention was elsewhere. Reyne who had preferred to stand had been leaning up against the wall when an unusual person passed him. Though unusual was probably not the right word, there were plenty of unusual person’s here. It would seem as if in this particular place the unusual had become the norm. Nevertheless there was something about that person’s look that caught Reyne’s attention. He wasn’t quite sure whether or not the person was male or female; it was hard to tell really.

He or she was rather short, almost scrawny build with a rather feminine look. That was what made it so hard to identify the person’s gender. Yet it was not the drag queen-esque look that had caught Reyne’s attention but rather the vibe that the person gave off. It sparked a sense of excitement in his gut, something which usually was something he got from people he wanted to fight. Even so the Shinigami was not planning on starting anything like that here; the image of the large guy splattering all over the floor was still vivid to his inner eye. The whole concept left him puzzled; how in the world did the Outsider arrange the whole ordeal? Reyne wasn’t entirely sure what he believed. It was possible that somehow the Outsider was powerful enough to enforce his will in an instant. Still, it didn’t seem right; not one bit. On the other side it could have just been glamour, Reyne knew very well how much that cunt liked his glamour. And what better way to keep people from fighting? Despite his suspicion the Shinigami was not about to challenge those odds.

Then his thoughts returned to the person now sitting on one of the chairs on the last row.  Maybe that person would be worth a fight or at least something like that? But not here; definitely not here. Maybe some other time the Shinigami reflected; his eyes returning to the masked man with the silky voice.  “Now to attend to the matter at hand.” Reyne mused as he waited for the inevitable.  The auction had begun and several items were being brought forth, strangely they were all covered with grey blankets. Reyne didn’t bother giving the matter any thought, he just waited for his item to appear.

Paying for it would be easy of that Reyne had the upmost confident would be the case. Getting the money had been easy enough; his hustling skills were still as good as they ever were. Not only that but humans seemed to be more gullible than your average Rukongai citizen.  Maybe it was because of the different worlds they lived in and the conditions there. Still, a selected few had the sense to back out when they could which was admirable to say the least.  Not everyone had the brains to quit while they were on top something that they often paid dearly for. The memory brought a toothy grin to Reyne’s face. He knew it was not the most honourable thing to do, but as an exile he had to make a living somehow. Still Reyne would only resort to hustling on occasion; it was sort of a bittersweet thing to him. Tricking mortal was certainly satisfying yet it was beneath him at the same time. For a moment Reyne found himself wondering what Assif would have thought if he could see him now.

“Was this what you dreamed off, Assif?”

The thoughts echoed inside his mind but there would be no answer. There would never be an answer to any question Reyne might have had for Assif; never again. That door closed when that blade opened Assif’s throat. The memory flashed before his eyes, the shadow figure that drove the point of his blade through Assif throat. The baffled look in Assif’s eyes still haunted Reyne; there was nothing about that day that bothered him half as much as the look in Assif’s eyes. Not even the grotesque sound of sizzling skin and the blood bobbling between his lips as the Shinigami’s companion died before his eyes tormented him as much as that damn bastard’s eyes. Reyne shook his head, though the grin remained untouched by the turmoil inside him. Though turmoil was probably not the best word to describe his feelings, it was more like an empty black hole that only grew inside him whenever he tried to lock it away.

“The first item of the day; hollow blood!”

The silky voice rang softly inside his head and Reyne’s thoughts returned to the matter at hand. “And so it begins.” Reyne thought to himself as he took a step forward; his eyes fixed on the vials of hollow blood that was now brought forth. 

Word count: 805

GP earned: 16

Hearing about the black market being in a rundown building brought back unpleasant memories for Crystal.  The young woman had witnessed her adopted brother Kildred die in an abandoned building several years ago.  Having never fully gotten over the death of her brother, Crystal decides to visit the black market to help her get over her brother's death.  After tracking down an old school friend, she learns the location of the Black Market.  Wheeling herself through town, it takes her a good 30 minutes to get to the market.  No, I can't do this.  It's too much.  But I need to get over his death.  

Seeing the building up close made Crystal feel uneasy about being there.  As she opens the door to the building it squeaks loudly.  Wheeling herself inside, she quickly shuts the door.  Seeing a young man with silvery hair, she calls out to him.  "Hello?"  I guess I'm in the right place.  What is this unsettling feeling I'm having, I've never gotten this feeling before.  Forcing a weak smile on her face, Crystal takes a deep breath to calm herself down.

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WC: 184

GP: 3

As Crystal approaches, she notices the young man staring at her wheelchair.  "I've been in this wheelchair for 10 years now.  I'm here to get some things for my family.  They don't know I'm here though.  I'm one of the only ones that can read what I'm getting."  Seeing one of the talismans with her own eyes, Crystal realizes that she might not have enough money to get the rune.  Damn, I'm sure not everyone knows how to use the talismans, I've studied them for years now, and I can speak the language needed to activate the runes.  I just hope I have enough money to buy the talismans.  I'm going to need them to help protect the estate.  "I'm Crystal, what's your name?"

As Crystal talks to the young man, she gets a vision.  Gilgamesh, after conquering Hueco Mundo, sets his sites on Earth.  Recognizing some of her friends, she watches them fall trying to defend the earth.  "Vee, Ria, no."  Slumping down in her wheelchair, she gasps for air.  "I'll be ok, this happens to me a lot."  This is why I need those talismans.  To prevent my fellow friends and family members from being killed.  Everyone in the honjou's is my family.

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WC: 204

GP: 4

«Well that makes things certainly more interesting!»  Reyne mused, his eyes shining with amusement. “1000 yen!” Reyne called out casually, “That should do it..” Reyne thought as his eyes flickered over to the kid. His gut told him that the kid probably didn’t have that much money with him which would mean 1000 yen was probably a sufficient amount. That damn drag queen probably still lived at home; what a joke. But still, the kid was interesting enough to warrant his attention. After all what would a human boy far from home possibly want with hollow blood? Well that remained to be seen and Reyne intended to find out sooner rather than
later.

A subtle murmuring went through the crowd but no one made an attempt to out-buy him. Of course they didn’t, want would they want with hollow blood? The cursed crap was useless to most of them, and the ones that possibly could make use of it had ways of acquiring it themselves. Some even looked baffled, throwing curious glances at the Shinigami. Reyne supposed it was the natural reaction to such an event. A Shinigami buying hollow blood on the black market was without a doubt a curious sight indeed.

The normal procedure would be to wait until the action was done before collecting your item(s) but Reyne was not one to wait. Throwing back his hood, sporting a toothy grin Reyne made for the speaking chair. The Shinigami’s eyes seemed to glow in the dim lighting of the main hall, but he held his head high as he reached the masked man. Reaching into his pocket, Reyne pulled out a stack of yen and threw it at the masked man who surprisingly caught it in the last moment.

“Count it if you like, it’s all there.”

The masked man considered Reyne for a moment before giving a court nod. Reyne had wondered for a moment if the guy would object but he made now move to interfere when Reyne collected his vials in a black silky bag. Oddly as he walked the officials of the market had made no move to interfere either; they had simply remained stoned faced in their designated position. However not everyone managed to keep their mask as well as the Outsider and his entourage. Looking out over the crowd only horrified faces met him in reply. Most likely the image of the guy exploding earlier was still fresh in their minds. Maybe they were afraid they would end up with more blood on their clothes, not that Reyne doubted that the lot had their own share of blood on their hands. If he had to guess, he would conclude that lot were rather picky about the blood that they got on them. Though it was not like Reyne could blame them, he would probably

been pretty pissed if someone exploded all over him.

The Shinigami’s grin widened as he walked down the same path he had come. The majority of the crowd still stared at him like he was a ghost or something. The minority however returned their attention to the man in the mask, most likely waiting for the next item to appear before them. The thought gave Reyne the feeling of having forgotten something. Like it was something he should have done before he had gotten side-tracked by his endeavour to investigate the little drag queen.

Whatever it was that he had forgotten, Reyne could no longer remember what it was. “Probably wasn’t that important anyway..” Reyne thought as he made a straight path for the kid. He/she was talking to a girl in a wheelchair. Reyne stopped for a moment, blinking twice as if to assure himself that his mind wasn’t playing a trick on him. “What the hell is she doing here? She can’t even walk?”. The concept perplexed him, but decided it was better to focus on the matter at hand.

Not caring what they were talking about Reyne tapped the silvery haired kid on the shoulder. “Oy! Fairy boy or whatever you are; I got some questions

for you.” The Shinigami couldn’t give a shit about what they were talking about; whatever they were talking about could wait. He wanted answers and he
wanted them now.

“Now then, what does a mere human like you want with hollow blood?” 

Word Count: 724

GP gain: 14

OCC: I apologize for the shitty post, but i needed to keep the topic moving. 

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Who the hell does this person think he is, interrupting my conversation with Dew.​  "Um, excuse me, but if you didn't notice, I was talking to Dew here before you so rudely interrupted our conversation."  Her normally peaceful blue eyes show hints of anger in them, something that was rare.  "I do not wish to start anything here, but please do not be so rude as to interrupt a conversation." she says, with a quiet, fragile voice.  "I'm hoping that what I've come here to buy will help my family out soon."

«Tch! What a joke!»

Fullbringer or not, this shit was just too ridiculous. Reyne broke out into a fit of laughter and for a moment it seemed as if he was about to fall over.  But he didn’t, almost miraculously the Shinigami managed to keep himself on his feet.  Reyne almost gasped for air as tried to compose himself, pushing away a lock of hair as he did. The Shinigami was relativity new to the concept of fullbringers and had yet to actually fight one, let alone encounter one. Still, the kid’s attitude and pretentious nonsense had been too much for him. A part of him wanted to experience first-hand the power of a fullbringer but this wasn’t the time or place. Even so, if the Shinigami passed off the chance he might never get it again. Maybe he could get a little taste of this supposed power that this kid apparently possessed.

If there was anyone in the room that had not been paying attention to the little confrontation, there weren’t any now. Not anymore anyway, Reyne’s sudden burst of laughter had seen to that. Not that Reyne really cared; all that matter was the kid. For a moment he found himself wondering if the Black Market officials would intervene before anything happened, but he guessed that they wouldn’t.  The whole situations felt like a gamble, if anything were to happen he could potentially end up as a sizeable spatter of blood neatly spread all over the room. Either that, or it was just glamour and that the whole incident earlier with the big guy had been nothing more than a trick. Both were equally possible Reyne supposed, and that itself felt thrilling. It was almost as if had butterflies in his stomach and he was loving it.

He wondered if this was how teenage girls felt when some guy they liked smiled at them. Reyne contemplated the idea for a moment and came to the conclusion that it probably wasn’t. He doubted a smile from some cute guy could even slightly amount to the thrill of a life or death situation. The rush of adrenaline in your body, your heart beating like a hammer against your chest; you never feel more alive than in that moment.  Reyne grinned, his eyes fixed on the fairy boy in front of him. The Shinigami’s eyes almost seemed to glow brighter even though something like that was impossible. Everyone knows that
eyes don’t normally tend to glow; they just don’t.

“Don’t fuck with me! Fullbringer or not, you’re nothing more than prey to guys like me.”

Reyne arched a brow as he looked over at the girl in the wheelchair. It was almost as if she had just lectured him on the social rules of conversation, reminding him that he had interrupted them and that action itself was rude. It was not like Reyne wasn't aware, he just didn't care. Reyne was only interested in the kid called Dew and his abilities. The girl on the other hand was of no concern of his. Someone in a wheelchair was hardly of any interest to him. 

“I’m sorry little lady but I have some business with your boyfriend over here.”

The Shinigami shot back with ice cold courtesy. There was a certain sharpness in his tone, a subtle warning hidden unspoken but nevertheless real as the air one breathed. Reyne’s eyes returned to Dew, not wasting a moment longer on the girl. Reyne doubted the girl would think to interfere if she knew what was best for her. Even so, Reyne had no intention of fighting someone in a wheelchair. A person who couldn’t even walk probably wouldn’t prove much of a challenge. There was no fun in beating down someone so helpless. Some might get off on domination their foes but Reyne was not one of them. No, if the Shinigami was to fight he wanted a challenge. Reyne needed someone who could get his heart pumping, draw out every bit of his power, push him to his limit. He needed someone who could go toe to toe with him.

“Hoo, how interesting…” Reyne thought as Dew whispered something in his ear. So the boy drank hollow blood, which was why he wanted it so desperately. Why though? Did drinking hollow blood give the boy some kind of power boost? It was possible; Reyne was still unfamiliar with the true nature of fullbringers. Maybe their powers worked similar to that of vampires. Though as far as Reyne knew, there were no such things as vampires. He found himself wondering if it was just hollow blood or any kind of blood the boy could drink. If so, could Shinigami blood strengthen him as well?

“Well, I wonder.. What if something were to happen to your precious hollow blood?”

Reyne smiled as he dropped the silky black bag on the floor and crushed it beneath his foot. The glass shattered beneath his feet and made a loud crunchy sound as it did. Blood seeped out from the bag and began to pool around it. “Now what will you do?” Reyne wondered to himself, his eyes fixed on Dew. Maybe the boy would attack him and if he did would the black market officials interfere? So far they had made no move to do anything whatsoever. All Reyne could do was to wait and see what would happen.

Word count: 912

GP gain: 18

Total GP gain so far: 71

"Both of you, especially you shinigami, cool your hot heads.  Shinigami, before I came here, I saw something that you might find interesting.  It's something that I want to tell you after the auction."  Turning back to Dew, she says "I believe I heard them say that there would be some more hollow blood coming up soon.  I'm after some ancient runes which I've spent a considerable amount of time learning how to read."  Smiling again, Crystal turns her attention back to the auction.  Vee, Ria, and even Kirishi and her missing sister Tenko, I will protect you all.  I promise.  With a determined look on her face, Crystal waits for the runes to be brought up for auction.  Hoping that she made the right choice by coming here, Crystal looks up at the ceiling, wondering if her oniichan would approve of her being here.  "Shizu oniichan, where are you?" she whispers to herself.

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WC: 154

GP 3