Originally posted July 29, 2011
((After reading Jake Adlestein's Tokyo Vice I was very interested in writing up missing person's story set in the Japanese underword. At the time, a number of other players had expressed an interest in working on a case and visiting Japan with Chance. I figured I would try to run a forum RP of the adventure.
It went... OK. A plot that would work well for a story did not suit a group of players not used to my flavor of storytelling. It also ran just a bit too long to keep everyone's attention. These excerpts were the kickoff posts for each chapters. The players would respond after. I've included my initial comments and invitation.))
((Hey folks. I'm kicking off the next Harrier detective story, but I thought I would try something different this time. What follows is a teaser for a missing persons case Chance will go to Japan to help solve. I offer it to see if there are any characters interested in going with him to work on the case. Depending on the participants, I will GM this session as a forum, chat, or in-game RP. I have a vague outline of the story in mind that will adapt to the characters involved. It will be more of a mystery than superhero smash up. PM me if you'd like to join up and head for the Far East.))
Super-strength. Just give me one crew member with super-strength and we could cut the time spent of this rehab in half. Maybe not, but it would sure help during times like this. The eight of us settled the heavy countertop into place, grunting and sweating with the effort in the August heat. The crew chief checked the alignment one last time. "Looks good, fellas."
The group spent little time congratulating themselves, trading smiles as they moved to their next tasks. People on the site stayed busy and the project kept just ahead of schedule. A separate team had begun screening applicants. New, and some of the old, tenants should be able to start moving in by the first frost of fall.
I looked around the room, taking in the smell of sawdust, listening to the chatter of construction workers. Owning and operating an apartment building would take a lot more effort, attention, and a different skill set than running a restaurant. Not for the first time, I wondered if I had bit off too much. I had bought the building on a whim, a half thought out plan to avoid a lawsuit and help the community by providing affordable, modern housing in a depressed urban area. So many similar efforts had failed before.
"Mr. Thomas?" It took me a second to realize the worker standing in the doorframe meant me. Only 23 years old, "Mister" still sounded odd to me.
"Yes?"
"There's a man downstairs asking for you. Says he's your father."
--
Hunter Thomas still looked fit for someone more than seven years in super-hero retirement. It seemed a much longer time since we danced across the rooftops as Kid Harrier and the Harrier King. The dark, tailored suit accented his broad shoulders. His maroon tie clung tightly to his neck. He didn't seem to sweat in the summer heat. I didn't show any surprise at the sight of the man standing next to him. My father tends to travel in rarified circles and as a high paid political consultant, he doesn't have much time for his sidekick anymore. I took off my hard hat as I approached.
"Chance," he shook my hand in a firm grip, "I'd like to introduce you to Senator Harvey Burdette. Senator, this is my son, Chance." His hand felt soft and slightly soggy in mine.
"Nice to meet you, Senator."
"I've heard good things about you, Chance. Both you, and the Harrier." He pointed. I looked down at the crimson bird emblem on my dusty t-shirt. I had traded in my secret identity a few months ago. "Thank you, sir."
"Chance, I'm in a bit of a situation," the senator explained. "Just over a year ago, my twenty-two year old daughter left for Japan to teach English." I nodded, listening. "Chance, my daughter disappeared in Japan, two weeks ago."
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