Dojima-Montague Apartment, Tokyo, Friday Morning Fandom Time

[withoutverona]

The cat was going to get fat if Romeo kept feeding it this often.

There was, it seemed, little else he could do.

He'd given Yurika two days before he went looking. But there was nothing. The police weren't letting anyone into the building where STN-J had its offices. Even the host at the bar where Yurika and her coworkers usually relaxed was gently but firmly refusing to give any more information than what was on Yurika's notes.

Variations on still alive, will call when I can got less comforting, a week in.

He'd tried to force his way into her office, but that only got him a stern threat of jail time from an officer who sounded like he meant what he said, and had the back-up to support him. And while Romeo didn't know where Yurika was, he was almost certain he wouldn't find her in the Tokyo prison system.

So Romeo Montague -- coward -- waited, and failed an exam, and fed the cat, and prayed. And then he waited some more.

[OOC: For one, pls.]

Comments

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

His prayers were most likely about to be answered by a most unlikely source.

Father Juliano Colegui, late of Italy, rapped sharply on the door once before settling both hands back on his sliver-headed cane, garbed in his priest's robe and with his hat and glasses firmly in place. "Signore Montague, I would speak with you."

[withoutverona]

"Father Juliano." Romeo had always been apprehensive about the man, but the saying about 'any port in a storm' definitely applied here; naked gratitude flashed across his face just at the thought of news. He stepped back from the open door to let the priest in.

"Of course. Have you word from Dojima-san? Or, better still, a plan for me to see her?"

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

"Better still, my son, I will take you to her," the priest said, stepping and removing his hat. "Although I'm afraid your Yurika has let her impulsiveness, and her sense of right and wrong, go to her head."

[withoutverona]

"I might have influenced that, I fear," Romeo said. He tucked a box of bullets into one picket and his gun into a holster. "Don't wait. You can tell me what is happened as we go. Has she been hurt?"

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

"None that I know of yet, much that I fear may chance," the Hunter answered. "Agent Dōjima was informed that elements of SOLOMON had grown tired of waiting for answers, and like petulant children have ordered a strike against the Factory."

"Her teammate, Miss Miho Karasuma, is presumed to be a prisoner inside. Dōjima and the rest of the STN-J have not just rebelled against Zaizen, but against the main force of SOLOMON as well, and have gone to retrieve her."

[withoutverona]

Romeo set his jaw hard. "We're joining their fight."

It wasn't a question, or a suggestion: It was simply the only path Romeo knew.

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

"We are not, my son."

Refusal wasn't an option.

"We have no way into the Factory short of brute-force, which would endanger their mission. It is ours to stand vigil on the grounds, to wait and see, and see if, perhaps, an old man can win more of a delay for Agent Dōjima than he already has managed."

[withoutverona]

"Old men should watch and wait," Romeo scowled. "Young men should fight. If it takes brute force, I'll be her brute."

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

"She has brutes, or has she kept that from you?" Juliano asked mildly. "I see she has not lost all sense of her training while with you."

"She commands Haruto Sakaki, Robin Sena, Amon, and someone who appears to be somehow connected to Amon, although she has managed to block the information from us. With Robin alone, she could level the facility in a heartbeat."

[withoutverona]

Romeo glanced over. "But they've not done so yet."

He was deflating, just a bit, that he wouldn't be able to help. Cursed again by being ordinary.

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

"No. She seems to think she can still retrieve the vital Orbo data and rescue Miss Karasuma before the strike team arrives, and so sheer destruction of the facility would be unwise." Juliano seemed almost...amused. Or proud. "She seems to think she can capture the staff and contents of the building intact."

[withoutverona]

Romeo nodded slowly, understanding the specifics behind only about half the words but getting the gravity of the situation. "Do you think she can do it?"

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

Juliano simply raised one eyebrow. "I do," he answered simply. "Agent Dōjima is a Hunter."

"A Hunter of Truth, not of Witches, but I do not let my Hunters from my side unless I feel they can handle the sins of the world, or if there is no other option."

[withoutverona]

"The sins of the world," Romeo repeated, mulling over the phrasing, feeling it might make Dojima laugh if she were here. "She can, though. I'd not hold her so dear were she not so strong. My distress is that I cannot help, not that I lack faith in her."

[father-juliano.livejournal.com]

Something buzzed in Juliano's pocket, and he drew out a very expensive-looking phone, glancing at it for a moment before placing it back in his coat. "You may be able to assist yet, my child. We must go, immediately."

"My agents say a worm in the military division says Dōjima's cell phone signal has been cut off. The attack will commence shortly."

"I would have us both there. Agent Dōjima is a resourceful woman, I do not doubt she is still alive, and will find a way to resume contact."

[withoutverona]

"I would not delay," Romeo said, hard, and all but rushed past Juliano to get to the door.