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<03/15/1972 – 20:01 | Manhattan, New York, United States>
"I've already taken care of that too." Danny made several reassurances to Jane, who wasn't in total agreement with the plan. Without a shared aspiration to make at least one thing right, Danny figured that everyone here would just continue to sink further into a depression. Nyar picked one hell of a time to head into the office today of all days. Because of the drama, nightfall never came as it should for the time felt to pass, only now there would be a way to make up for this broken day.
Jane never felt so nervous since coming to America, but even after everything Nyar said, he wasn't wrong about how risky it is here, and Danny wants to take that risk tonight. He still has the laptop open, connected to the page as proof of his confidence. "And what about insurance steps being taken in case something goes wrong?"
"I've located several hiding spots to use in the event something does go wrong, but I think we can trust his offer." Danny was referring to the Krieg's List page he found, temporarily taking over one of Nyar's jobs since he has so far failed to accomplish anything with Jane's credits. Jane has nearly a million credits that can be converted into cash. Best-case scenario, they can turn 300,000 credits into $200,000 worth of cash. It's a near net gain of $100,000 for the buyer he communicated with online, and such a high steaks offer may never come again. "We won't get another chance at using a valid credit conversion method. If we can get that much money, it will be easy for me to visit my parents and come back to Sprawn Valley anytime I want to. And for Taylor, it can do great things too."
"But why so late at night?" Danny got through telling Jane that the meeting is supposed to be between himself and the buyer only, alone at midnight sharp. Danny already explained that he wouldn't really be alone, despite saying as much to the buyer. But at nighttime, it isn't easy to see your own surroundings. "I feel like that just makes it more suspicious!"
"Not at all," Danny explained. "You see, being that credit conversions are frowned upon by the police in this country, it's only natural and expected for buyers to conceal their identity and actions under the cover of nightfall. The fact that we could both agree on the timing proves to both of us how trustworthy we are, and that we aren't undercover agents."
"Cops," Taylor corrected needlessly. "But I'm not so sure either. I know it's not too far of a walk, but you know Nyar will eventually learn that we've made that trip."
Danny nodded his head, fed up with this fear of Nyar for the last time. "You leave those details to me. Nyar doesn't control any of us, and he isn't worthy of asking for help. He's not helped any of us from the very moment we got here to America. So the way I see it, this is a task fitting for JDT. Am I wrong?"
JDT huh? Danny still wants to use that name to describe the three of them. Jane missed those moments back in Sprawn Valley, which also caused her to draw up the total comparison. Given everything that has happened so far, America and Sprawn Valley might as well be the same as far as danger is concerned. Still, traveling to a dark area behind some old buildings surrounded by alleyways is a sure way of living on the edge. "So we do this without Nyar's consent. What happens if—”
"Nothing is going to happen!" Danny had to keep reminding Jane of this, but it was already frustrating. She isn't usually the person to call out how dangerous and uncertain these things are, nor is she the only person considering them right now. "And if something does somehow happen, they won't be able to retrieve our money given a double-cross. I'll have Taylor retrieve the wallet when I'm certain the offer is fair. No thugs are going to kill us even in such a dark place. Trust me. Nobody will risk putting themselves on police radar over some farce regarding uncertain money transfers. They'd much rather back out of the deal and have nothing to do with us ever again."
"We really are doing this?" Even Taylor needed to raise a concern. Danny is right regarding Nyar's obvious disregard to convert Jane's credits. But how could Danny possibly find an offer in one moment, where Nyar has failed over several weeks?
Danny glanced over to Jane with certainty in his voice. "Jane? I'm not expecting anything to get ugly out there, but you've learned how to make some amazing moves when you were training in Sprawn Valley. In a close combat situation, even if your opponent has knives or daggers, you would be able to disarm and detain them?"
"Of course." Of this, Jane was sure. Last week out of curiosity, Jane began practicing her movement and evasion skills in Nyar's back yard during the daytime. Amazingly, her physical skills didn't falter. A person's physical strength, reflexes, speed, and control of balance is all the same no matter where they are, yet training with weapons and backflips keeps that skill on them for life regardless of magic. It's an amazing thing to discover. Taylor and Danny likely have the same stamina even right now.
"I might be a bit rusty," Danny figured, "but if anyone gives us trouble, I can still throw a well-aimed chop to instantly incapacitate anyone I target. Taylor would thus be on backup, possibly calling police to our location if things get ugly."
"Fine," Taylor agreed. "On one condition however, I'd like to spend some time in the local pawnshop, the one I saw so close to our meeting point on the digital map."
She must be referring to Chusty's Pawn Shop. It might be some rundown old place, but who knows what they might have there? Danny and Taylor both have already heard that all pawnshops in America sell all sorts of items that have already been used, and sold to their store in good condition, as a way of selling back to customers at really cheap prices and good deals. It's not like they have the exact money to spend on it anyway. The walk there is almost an hour in duration. Nyar will defiantly find out, but who cares if he does? This is up to JDT now. "Very well. Let's pack our things and head out. Jane? The backpack is still in your room if I remember right."
"I'll get it." Jane still felt uncertainty in the plan, but with Danny taking charge and knowledge of every precaution, this might actually be well worth the trade. Having that many American dollars can do so much in this country, and Jane could always make those credits back in Sprawn Valley later on.
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<03/15/1972 – 22:54 | Manhattan Outskirts, New York, United States>
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Chapter Theme Shift: Fairy Glade ~ Derek Fiechter (Kingdon of Magic)
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Upon arriving in Chusty's Pawn Shop, Danny allowed himself and the others to feel at ease inside of the calming atmosphere. Aside from two other quiet customers, nobody else was inside of the entire store, which was at least as large as a small restaurant. This slow business is likely cast from the setting sun bringing night through the city of late New York. It would only be just over an hour now before the official meeting.
The storeowner greeted the three new customers as they arrived, but Danny had to remain on sharp behavior to ensure none of them would be called out for not having any parental guidance. However, no conflict ensued, and this pawnshop stayed open as late as one A.M. Taylor and Jane were allowed to look around to their hearts' content. As expected, it only took minutes for Jane to find an entire case of special hunting knives. The goal wasn't to buy anything here today; just to kill time. Still, Jane must miss carrying around a pair of daggers. What must it be like to carry the same weapon every day for more than a year, and then to strip them from your person?
Danny shook the thought and focused. Everything is going to be fine. There are more reasons than one to trust that tonight will go as planned. Danny never explained some of the other technical details of his methods to check the validity of the buyer and the meeting, but that's only because they wouldn't understand how networks operate online. The buyer in question has sold and bought numerous things from numerous people who have made positive claims to his page; backers. The backers on Krieg's List give ratings using their profiles, profiles that discern personal information such as living addresses and validation emails. Normally, this is all meaningless due to the potential of people faking their information, but those profiles have shown up before on plenty of other buyers, where the backers positively or negatively rate certain profiles within a selected group. Even if their information is false, the accounts are real for this reason. This means that should the client chooses a random location never before to be used for a service, it would only be natural since they operate underground astray from the American police force. This buyer is not a shady character; he can't be, given the amount of backers generated to positive recommendations. Everything will be fine.
Danny was tempted again to double check and make sure from this location, but internet connections don't just travel anywhere with other people, and it was best to leave Nyar's laptop back home, to not give him any idea of where this team has gone out to.
Taylor had a wonderful time glancing over all of the movies and books she was going over. Never before had she noticed such a large collection of VCR tapes in one little location. The books aren't plentiful, though there are still unusual collections in their titles, interesting enough to read coming from a totally different country... But none of them have any cash. Danny intentionally left his saved money at Nyar's house. The wallet is still on him, but in it only contains Jane's personal license card, the new one given to her in Eldora City just before her departure. They're totally broke!
"I see you're still a fan of the knives," Danny coaxed. Jane was just hovering above the well-lit case of short-ranged weapons, and he decided to make small talk until everyone was satisfied. Danny couldn't think of a single thing in this store that could possibly interest him, so this was just for Jane and Taylor's settlement of boredom.
Jane turned around, now noticing Danny's presence, and one of the workers standing behind the perpendicular counter crossing his arms in curiosity, but she only paid attention to Danny just to answer his dumb question. "You know I do. Knives are just my thing."
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The guy behind the counter cleared his throat, and engaged in their curious conversation. "So you like knives eh? Normally it's my duty to ask what a young miss would possibly need with a hunting weapon, but I won't bother with it today." He walked to the other side, allowing passage to reach the knife counter and get a closer look at these weird teenagers. "As such, I might be able to allow you a temporary discount."
He's just bargaining. "Uh, thanks for the offer sir, but..." Danny remained cautious enough not to oversell anything about their current business. "We're only browsing for now. It's best to make decisions before carrying lots of money into a place with so many options."
So this young lad must be the responsible type. He must be older than he looks. Most would mistake him for a sixteen-year-old high school student. "That's smart of you then, making sure you don't carry too much cash every time you go out. I respect that kid."
Good. Now go away.
"I still feel the need to ask however, if your parents are at least close by."
Danny replied with little change to his tone, and as quickly as he could, "They're close enough."
"Very well. I'll trust you..." He doesn't seem interested in the knife collection at all. "Say, you don't seem to find knives all that attractive boy. Is your interest closer to that of hunting rifles?"
"Hunting rifles?" Danny repeated out loud, quickly paraphrasing the meaning of the term inside his head. Guns! They sell guns here?! Of all places, in a place where no magic exists, they still have guns? Maybe they're different, less deadly somehow.
"Right over here," he pointed. The counter he was standing by before was holding the gun collection, but he had the lights in the case previously turned off for precautious reasons. "Small nine millimeters up to forty-five calibers. We only have a contract for pistols and hunting shotguns, so the collection isn't as impressive as your usual metal guild."
Jane and Danny both watched in amazement as the lights in the case came on, revealing an arsenal of pistols. The shotguns were in the case next to it, though they both recognized the pistols more often with the similar shapes and functional forms of weapons spawned in the Leray system. With an exciting gasp, Jane rushed herself closer to look at all of them, while Danny carefully took glances from more of a distance. "People can just walk in here and buy guns?"
The boy actually believes that? "Hah! Of course not kid. You have to be eighteen or older to purchase a gun here, and that doesn't include the process of purchasing bullets, sold separately from this store unit. On top of that, you have to be a registered citizen with no criminal records, with a full background check that usually takes between six to eighteen weeks. And to get bullets, you have to pay up front and requisition them. So it's not as easy as you think to just ask for these tools with a wad of cash. But, I figured you already knew about that."
"Of course." Danny didn't pay his own response much attention. Instead, he inched closer to the case very slowly and carefully, his heart beating faster and harder than it was a moment ago. Guns. Guns that load bullets into their chambers and kill with sharp rounded projectiles that pierce through most material, easily through skin. In Sprawn Valley, wielding a gun such as this is no big deal at all. Due to the Leray protective veil that exists there, a bullet, no matter where it may land phases through the body instead of drilling through it completely, like a ghost that can only affect the most outer layers of a person's skin, but never their internal organs or their blood. Even if a bullet is to land straight to your eye, the most harm it could possibly do is create a sensation of pain in the afflicted area, possibly a small harmless bruise depending on the impact power.
Danny could remember every single moment he wielded a gun, one that wasn't native to the energy blaster, which felt more like a toy every time. A pistol? A sub-machine gun? They come in many different shapes and sizes when spawned from that yellow generation glyphring, or when bought from a store in Sprawn Valley. The guns are made special, but despite this, even ordinary weapons like the ones in these cases, if ever brought into the veil are subject to the same effects of protection against humans. They're as harmless as the spell of Radial Stars.
But this isn't Sprawn Valley. This place, America, New York, Chusty's Pawn Shop; what are deadly weapons doing here, on sell no less? Even if they aren't loaded, what's to stop anyone from stealing them and finding bullets through another partner, going out afterwards to... Danny broke his own chain of thought before it got worse, but it wasn't leaving his conscious alone. Sweat began to accumulate on the back of his neck and under his armpits. His eyes fixated on the barrels of each black painted pistol, with the same thought in mind. There is no protective veil here, which means that a single bullet fired from any weapon would have a different outcome. The bullet would have no problem drilling a hole into any vital part of the body. It kills on contact, or seriously threatens the life by injury if landed anywhere else. Those tools in this kind of place kill easily and violently. One hit and you're dead forever, without the ability to wake up! Point, aim, and shoot! That's all it takes. Pointed at himself! Pointed at Jane! Pointed at Taylor! Anyone isn't safe in the iron sight of those barrels! They can kill as many people as you have bullets! One person for one bullet! Easily concealed! Easily maintained! These guns are the instruments of death! Here! There! Anywhere but the country of magic.
"Haaay!" Jane hollered loudly, waving her hand in front of Danny's locked gaze. "Danny? Are you alright?" Finally was he snapping out of whatever the heck that was. He totally wasn't able to hear the guy's last question asked to him. No, it looks more like something was freaking him out. He's taking so many breaths at once, like he just ran all around the block and back without a sip of water. What's going on with him?
Danny didn't realize until now how aggressively he was breathing, brought on by his faster heart rate, and only now was he making sense of what was going on. Jane is bothering him about something... Danny just lost a moment of time. What the hell just happened? "I'm fine."
His voice even sounded shaken, but Jane had no way of knowing what was making him so anxious... And Taylor isn't anywhere in sight. She must be in the other section, obstructed in view by several shelves of junk.
The seller glanced down at the older girl, realizing that this display case might not have been in the best interest for everyone, neither is their whole visit. "It seems that your friend over there doesn't enjoy the sight of firearms." With a flick of the switch, the lights to the display case were shut off in an instant. Danny was looking away in his own shame. "If you were so scared of guns, you should have just said so. I also suggest that you reunite with your family soon, casue it's almost time to close up shop."
Danny nearly jumped in the middle of that guy's statement. As if, Danny scared of guns? Afraid? Frozen in fear to the brink of having a panic attack? Yeah right! There wasn't anything to worry about. "Yeah, we'll be going soon. Taylor! Come on!"
Jane waited while Danny went to find Taylor somewhere in the store, but she held her thoughts in stasis. Of all the time hanging out with Danny, even when facing deadly monsters from the dark zone, that expression he held on his face was never seen before. It wouldn't make any sense however for Danny to be afraid of guns, considering his experience with using them in combat. But if he isn't afraid of guns, then what was that?
"I wanted to look around more." Taylor's cute pouting expression did little to cheer Danny up from one of his moods again, but if he wanted to head to the meeting spot early, that is his decision. Jane was coming with too it seemed.
"Guess we'll come back another time." Jane waved to the seller for his politeness in trying to show them cool stuff, and it was time to go back outside. As it was, Danny only went far enough on the sidewalk to clear the sight of the windows of the pawnshop before stopping and leaning against a wall. He wasn't going to the meeting place at all. Though it is early to do so, he obviously just wanted to get out of there. Jane opened her mouth to ask him about it, but Taylor reached a chance to talk to him first.
"What's with you?!" Taylor didn't get to see what happened earlier, but the way Danny was having sudden mood swings meant something was already bothering him. "Is there a problem with the meeting?"
"The meeting's fine," he regarded.
"Was it the guns?"
Taylor turned around, curious to why Jane would ask something so strange. "Guns?" Danny held his eyes on Jane, but he wasn't turning his head or talking, leaving Jane to explain it to her instead.
Jane wanted both of them to hear this however, and projected her voice through the soft wind creeping into the area, over the noise of engines in the night so close by. "They have a display case for pistols using live ammo, something that's hard to acquire, though possible to sell there... But Danny? You looked like you saw a ghost in that case. I don't think you're afraid of guns, since you've handled them before."
Danny sighed, going over his previous thoughts again with himself. Danny knew he wasn't afraid of guns, but the fear of death was somehow stronger without that shiny veil there to protect him. "I've handled guns in Sprawn Valley, but not anywhere else. Out here, one bullet to any part of your body is instant death." Taylor gasped from hearing that, though she should know this already. Jane just stared at him with a blank expression. "I'm not afraid of guns!" he repeated. "I just wasn't ready to see that many..." What would even be a fitting name of something that can kill at any range with such little action and effort? Death blaster? Kill guns? "I don't like the idea that a gun can kill anyone in one shot, let alone that any person without a record could just walk up and buy one with age."
He really is scared... Or maybe he just wasn't ready to get that idea into his head. "I'm sorry," Jane apologized. "I assumed already that you knew how dangerous it was outside of Sprawn Valley, even involving bullet based weapons."
She's so calm. How can she sound so calm talking about this? Danny took weight off his feet and faced Jane directly. "Jane. How does the thought of death not scare you out here?" If it weren't for the veil, Taylor would have fallen off that cliff and died. So what if the thought is brought up again? The same could happen at any corner! Anywhere you turn to in a country outside of Sprawn Valley, your next breath could be your last! How can she... How have I not been driven to madness by this already? "It's so much easier to die now that we're out here. How are you not affected by that?!"
Jane almost growled through her teeth, and shouted to Danny, "You idiot! Everyone is afraid of dying!" Jane's response sent a small shock to Danny's nerves, leaving Jane to assume the obvious junction that he has completely forgotten how everyone feels. "If I really thought about it, how many opportunities there are for me to lose my life in this horrible city... If I actually stopped to consider all of the possibilities and ways I could die, or to stop and consider how likely it is that my next breath is my last, I would have lost my mind a long time ago!" That idiot! How could Danny be so stupid to dwell on something so meaningless?
"J-Jane?"
"There isn't any point in trying to think about it. If I'm going to live or die, I don't want to do it worrying all the time, in a fear that would stop me from living how I want to."
Danny lowered his gaze to the floor in shame. All this time, Jane has been battling death for a long time. She survived an experimental symbol blast from the sky. She was ambushed by criminals in her own country. She risked her life to remove the symbol, twice as a matter of fact, and then risked her life again just to do the right thing and shut down Alpha Zero. Sure, she might have been scared, but if there was ever true fear, a noticeable moment of paralyzing terror, Jane never once revealed that to anyone. Every second alive is a tick on a clock closer to death by any means. The way she lives her life, is to simply ignore the clock of death, the time of the end. "Hagh!" Danny wanted to slam his fist into the brick wall beside him, but he held back since it wouldn't do any good. Jane speaks the truth, and up until this point, Danny never felt too afraid to live life as he wanted to. So why now? Why now must this bottled sensation trembling beneath his skin, electrifying his heart, and shocking his thoughts into an overcrowded metropolis of anxiety take root inside him? "I shouldn't be scared to do anything! I of all people!"
"Danny, come on." Taylor took his hand by force, trying to make him feel better, but there was a longer moment of silence and uncertainty before he finally got his breathing under control.
I of all people must suddenly fall prey to anxiety and fear? The same person who faced more challenging excitement in Alpha Zero and in other parts of Sprawn Valley? Why now am I afraid of danger? "Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Danny yanked his hand back from Taylor, slapping himself in the face with such force, the sound echoing through the noise to reach both of his best friends. "I don't know what's gotten into me," he admitted, "but I'm not backing out of anything. Taylor! Jane! Prepare yourselves for a friendly meeting."
"O—okay!" Taylor felt slightly embarrassed by the way Jane was eyeing him now, like Danny is the biggest weirdo she has ever met all the sudden. But in truth, she also felt a little embarrassed for Danny as well. It can't be easy to suddenly feel that way and then decide to tough it out, but this is a side to him she had never seen before either. Of course he gets afraid inside, right? Everyone does during some point. Taylor still never got to see him display this so carelessly as he was a second ago.
Taylor and Jane followed Danny's march into the area he memorized by scans of digital maps, eventually leading them down an empty alleyway abrupt from the streets. Taylor however was happier now, without much understanding to why. Danny... He's one thing, and then another. After all this time, there is still more about him than what she thought she knew. Why does that feel so thrilling?
"You two stick to the plan and stay sharp." Danny knew what to do before ever leaving the house, but this never felt right from the beginning. Bad crowds could hang out here, and nightfall brings the worst of New York to locations like the meeting place. From that location, everywhere else spanning closer to the streets in either direction is like a maze. "Taylor? My part of the plan is going to be different. Give me the wallet with Jane's license card. I'm going to need it after all. Also, you two only let me do the talking."
"Are you sure?" Jane is the owner of this card. If Danny is the only person to speak, it might not look right.
"Trust me Jane. I've decided to take every precaution tonight, despite the amount of trust I still hold to this buyer and its offer." From this moment on, everything will change whether Nyar likes it or not.