[center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RordBk3Ztk4][img]http://i.imgur.com/I0rwsuq.png[/img][/url]
[h3][img]http://orig02.deviantart.net/2a82/f/2016/082/e/6/e6773423e455f22e8b9f678a909eed57-d9w4gf5.png[/img] [color=B0C4DE]Brent Roless[/color] | [img]http://orig09.deviantart.net/bc5d/f/2016/013/5/3/53299d5a5f5a50190e9cfd9372f34a8c-d9nvwwp.png[/img] [color=00a99d]Ernest Mars[/color] | [img]http://orig09.deviantart.net/bc5d/f/2016/013/5/3/53299d5a5f5a50190e9cfd9372f34a8c-d9nvwwp.png[/img] [color=8A3DFF]Emma Halwell[/color] | [img]http://orig09.deviantart.net/bc5d/f/2016/013/5/3/53299d5a5f5a50190e9cfd9372f34a8c-d9nvwwp.png[/img] [color=Crimson]Savannah Churchill[/color][/h3][/center]
[hr][center][color=silver]ℂ𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕓𝕠𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ℙ𝕠𝕤𝕥   / /   [@Diggerton][@ERode][@banjoanjo][@canaryrose][/color][/center][hr][hr][center][color=silver]𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟟, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝕌𝕊𝔸ℝ𝕀𝕃ℕ 𝔼𝕒𝕤𝕥   / /   𝔾𝕣𝕠𝕦𝕟𝕕 ℤ𝕖𝕣𝕠   / /  ~𝟙𝟟𝟝𝟝[/color][/center][hr]
Perhaps it would be better to blame his chills on the weather. Ernie could feel the slight breeze run down his exposed skin, bringing goosebumps to the surface. He vigorously rubbed his upper arms, the friction and constant motion calming him somewhat. His demeanor lacked the pep he had displayed earlier in the observation room. A blank, almost sombre expression rested in its stead.

[color=00a99d]"So what's our plan again? All in, no splitting up, yeah?"[/color] Ernie inquired, fiddling with the sheath of his tomahawk once his arms were sufficiently warmed.

This...was certainly something different. When their new battlefield was revealed, being a three story house, Brent couldn't help but smile. Of course his plans fell out the window. Of course they weren't going to fight on an open field like the other team. It made sense, after all. Team 1 and 2 had superhuman monsters who definitely couldn't follow the whole 'no demolition' rule if they actually got serious. On the other hand, Team 3 and 4 definitely didn't sound like a menagerie of wall-busting monsters, so they were placed in a situation that was so much more...different.

Heh.

This was like Rainbow Six Siege, except both of them were breaching, eh?

He turned to his own rollerblades, and sighed. What a cruel world, not being able to fully abuse his mobility advantage over Team Only-Hazel-is-a-Threat. But at the same time...good, it wasn't going to be a brawl after all. Brent nodded at Ernie, before taking out his phone. Was there reception here? Blessed be, there was. [color=B0C4DE]"We should start with exchanging phone numbers. Would be better to call or text each other instead of shout from across the room if there is a case where we get separated."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"That being said...we can all agree that Team 3 is going to search from ground floor and then up, right?"[/color]

Emma had been frowning the entire way to the battleground. She’d have no choice but to fight, but all the same…

She snapped herself out of it. She had to be cool, didn’t she? For Savannah and for her audience. Well, she didn’t care about most of the audience, but there were certain people… okay, a certain person that she wanted to impress. 

She sighed to herself. 

Her attention was brought back to the group at the mention of exchanging phone numbers. [i][color=8A3DFF]Fantastic, I have to give my number to Bert and Ernie.[/color][/i] Her face didn’t betray her, her smile returning, [color=8A3DFF]”Great idea, Brent!”[/color] She said, voice dripping with enthusiasm. She pulled out her phone, prepared to swap numbers around. [color=8A3DFF]”I doubt they’re going to be rushing to split off and find the healers. They don’t really have anyone with Siena’s mobility, so that’s not really an option, unless their powers have changed since the battle.”[/color] She said, shrugging nonchalantly.

Taking out his own phone, Brent tapped it against Emma's, and a couple moments later, there was a distinct 'beep' as contact information was exchanged between them. [color=B0C4DE]"Yeah, Zoe and Lawrence seem to be free points, and their only real threat is Hazel,"[/color] he nodded, before gesturing towards the building itself. [color=B0C4DE]"With a house like this, I think it'd be fair to say that there's only going to be one or two sets of stairs, and it certainly did seem like Zhang is encouraging combat in these training sessions..."[/color]

Brent scratched his chin, recalling where Christmas and Lily were hidden. Away from the main battlefield, off to the sides. Essentially, not at the starting point.

[color=B0C4DE]"They probably won't hide any of the healers on the first floor. Chances are they'll anticipate that this particular exercise will be centered around controlling the staircase area. A basement and the third floor sounds likely, but we'll have to engage them immediately if we tried to go for the basement. I say we get to the third floor first, and then search from top-down. That way, we don't have to directly compete with Team 3, and we have the high ground advantage."[/color]

He smiled at that.

[color=B0C4DE]"If we destroy the stairs on our way down, they won't have the greatest way of reaching the upper floors, right? And if we keep one person on the very top of the building, we have both someone who can tell us if Team 3 has grabbed a healer and are heading to their safe zone as well as someone who's essentially impossible for them to grab flags off of."[/color]

By someone, he meant Emma, of course...but that was enough talking from him.

Ernie had shaken his head when Brent took out his phone.

[color=00a99d]"Sorry, didn't bring it with me,"[/color] he shrugged.

It was probably with the rest of his luggage, back in his room. He hadn't found a reason to take it out yet. He probably wasn't going to get any requests for his services at East, not with the DnT forums being down and erasing his advertising space. Ernie wasn't the type to text on a whim anyway. People came to him to hang out, not the other way around. So for now, his phone was just a chunk of plastic and metal to him.

He listened intently to Brent's gameplan. Controlling the top was a decent idea. Getting there would be the tough part. Ernie definitely preferred to avoid running straight into the brunt of the opposite team. He examined the hook of his tomahawk. If he tied his rope to it, would it work as a grappling hook? Naw, it would probably just slice through the balcony banister. He'd have to take the stairs like an average joe. Descending would be a whole different matter though.

[color=00a99d]"If worse comes to worst,"[/color] he offered, [color=00a99d]"I can take a two storey jump with no trouble. If I get one or even both of the healers with me that could mean a quick delivery to our safe zone. But I can't think of a way to get up again if I need to deliver the second healer. The other team and the destroyed stairs will be..."[/color] he grimaced, [color=00a99d]"really, really annoying."[/color]

[color=00a99d]"Going two at a time is possible but we should probs leave that as a last resort. Don't wanna twist or break something because of a bad three-person landing."[/color]

[color=Crimson]"Yeah, I think I brought it."[/color] Savannah replied. She dug around in her pockets for a moment, and pulled the phone out. She copied Brent's earlier actions, tapping her phone against Emma's until she heard a distant beep. She then stuffed it back into her pocket, making sure that it was as deep as it could get so there would be no possibility of it falling out. 

[color=Crimson]"Yeah, let's not destroy any staircases? They told us to keep demolition to a minimum, and I'm pretty sure that's not keeping it to a minimum."[/color] she said. That was all Savannah really had to offer as far as strategy talk went, as she wasn't the greatest with that kind of stuff.

Emma absentmindedly played with her hair, [color=8A3DFF]"That's more of a suggestion than an order, right?"[/color] She said, trailed by a slight giggle. [color=8A3DFF]"I don't really have anything to input though, I'll just follow your guys' orders, whatever we decided."[/color] Emma tapped her foot againt the ground impatiently. Was she nervous, or excited? Maybe some twisted mixture of the two? She couldn't tell. A voice in her head assured her that violence would sate her stigma- that was a good thing, wasn't it? Of course, part of her didn't want to be involved in the fight at all. Which voice was the rational once? Which one was her? She had no idea.

She remained silent.

[color=B0C4DE]"I'm fairly certain,"[/color] Brent added in, [color=B0C4DE]"that they want us to keep demolition at a minimum because they don't want us to collapse the building on top of us. Can't exactly taser a building to stop it from crushing us, after all."[/color]

Having only three phones was a bit of a problem, and he wasn't a total fan of Emma going super passive groupie mode, but for now...whatever. Their intention was to win, and his intention was to minimize combat in situations as unfavourable as this. Brent swallowed down the bitterness spreading up his throat and turned towards Ernie.

[color=B0C4DE]"Are your shoes non-slip?"[/color]

The anxious foot tapping had momentarily stolen Ernie's attention. He stared, the unholy rhythm driving his already bummed mood further into the ground. Why couldn't this stupid girl keep her obnoxious goody two-shoe noises to herself? Geez.

[color=00a99d]"Huh? Oh yeah,"[/color] the long-haired boy replied, glancing at his boots with a proud smile, [color=00a99d]"Non slip [i]and[/i] steel toed!"[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"I can spiderman these walls with them then,"[/color] Brent said confidently, [color=B0C4DE]"And Emma can use her pull-dude to beam us up, while using the slow-dude to slow our descent if the only option is for us to jump off the building."[/color]

[color=00a99d]"Oh."[/color]

Ernie pouted, reluctance clear in his expression. He didn't think he'd have to give up his shoes for the exercise. He liked the protection they granted him, the slight bit of assurance for his safety. The thought of someone else's feet in [i]his[/i] shoes, someone else's gross foot stink... Ernie struggled to contain a shudder.

[color=00a99d]"So I'm supposed to just give you my shoes?"[/color] he narrowed his eyes. [color=00a99d]"And what, I take your rollerskates?"[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Well,"[/color] Brent replied, [color=B0C4DE]"That's what I was thinking. Pretty sure Emma could just shout or something and drop her pull-dude on the third floor before pulling us up, but, well, we'll be most vulnerable while taking an invisible elevator. Do you have a better way of climbing up, Ernie?"[/color]

Oh no, he really did want to trade shoes. Ernie looked at Brent's feet with dismay. When was the last time he rollerskated? The 'friendly" match with the roller derby club at West, if he remembered correctly. But that was months ago and he'd been banned from wheeled footwear ever since.

The cogs in Ernie's mind grinded at an excruciating pace. He'd never been a teamwork guy. Or the team strategy guy but honestly, those were the same thing. If this was a solo exercise, Ernie would have aced it. But now he was stuck with an anxious groupie, a child, and a guy who wanted to trade Ernie's favorite work boots for something he could barely move in. Ernie could feel Brent's coolness factor sinking by the second. Urgh, he hated this 'working together' crap sometimes. Most times, actually.

[color=00a99d]"No, I don't,"[/color] Ernie sighed and crouched to untie his laces, [color=00a99d]"Guess I'll go barefoot for the start."[/color]

Hopefully there'd be some footwear lying around in the abandoned house. Or someone on the other team with a similar foot size to Ernie.

Emma rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, [color=8A3DFF]”I should probably warn you guys, Devotion- er, the slow one, probably isn’t great at negating falls. Like I said, he creates a field of sludge- I doubt that would be great to fall on. Even if it does help the fall it’ll probably just slow us down. Although my pull does work at thirty meters, so there shouldn’t be any problem on that count.”[/color] Emma gave a slight shrug, [color=8A3DFF]”Let’s just try to avoid breaking anything. That’d be a pretty big pain in the middle of a fight.”[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Yeah, sorry about that, man,"[/color] Brent said, scratching the back of his head. He removed his own rollerblades, handing it over to the reluctant seaweed head. [color=B0C4DE]"Should only take a minute or so for me to run up to the top, and then you can have them back."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Was thinking that you could set that field of sludge to be on a wall instead of on the ground,"[/color] he continued, [color=B0C4DE]"But it sounds like that isn't possible?"[/color]

[color=8A3DFF]"Oh, I see."[/color] Emma rubbed her chin, contemplating. [color=8A3DFF]"I guess that would work? I hadn't thought about using it that way before."[/color] She gave a slight shrug, [color=8A3DFF]"Yeah, that sounds like a plan."[/color] She said, nodding.

[color=00a99d]"Yeah, I better,"[/color] the seaweed head grumbled and passed his shoes over. Ernie tucked his feet loosely into the rollerskates before taking a few experimental steps with the wheels. Hm, not too shabby. Hopefully he wouldn't slip and crack his skull open.

The mention of sludgy walls triggered the memory of a certain soiled bathroom, back at the lounge in Reno. It made Ernie's stomach turn.

[color=00a99d]"I think I'll jump after all,"[/color] he muttered.

[color=Crimson]"So, what should I do?"[/color] Savannah asked. Her teammates seemed to be strategizing, and she did want to know what she could do. Sitting around doing nothing wasn't exactly very fun. Or useful, for that matter. And she didn't want to be clueless either. She imagined her teammates wouldn't like her very much if she made a mess of things.

Brent cursed internally. Shit, what COULD Savannah do? She was a small child that had a power that was solely effective if others used their powers, and that required her to touch them to begin with. Meanwhile, Team 3 looked more or less like reasonable healthy teenagers that probably didn't even need their powers to beat up the thirteen year old girl. He had put off thinking about her role in the fight for now, but seeing how she was so eager...

...she probably wouldn't like being told to just hide somewhere and do nothing, huh?

He shot a pleading glance towards Ernie and Emma, hoping that they had a suggestion or two, before saying, noncommitally,[color=B0C4DE] "You can go look for Sophs and Greg with the rest of us. Four eyes are always better than three, after all!"[/color]

[color=00a99d]"We could use her as a surprise attack,"[/color] Ernie mused, [color=00a99d]"Drop her from the balcony onto someone and firecracker their face. If that doesn't work, Sav, just grab a stick and start thwacking some kneecaps."[/color]

Better her in the line of fire than him.

Emma shot Ernie a look of disapproval. She squatted down to face Savannah at her level, [color=8A3DFF]"Brent's right. Just help us look- your abillity is close range, right? We don't want Hazel knocking you down as soon as you run up, yeah?"[/color] She gave the small 
girl a wink, [color=8A3DFF]"Being a counter-mage is super cool, so I'm sure you'll get your shot to do something awesome, but this battle might not be it."[/color] Emma gave the girl a small pat on the shoulder before standing back up. She [i]thought[/i] she was doing a good job with her, but she was never too great with kids.

[color=Crimson]"Yeah, give me a stick and I'll thwack their knees!"[/color] Savannah said in response to Ernie's musings. [color=Crimson]"I'm small, and they're all tall, so I'll be a surprise!"[/color] Savannah exclaimed excitedly. She was a bit... [i]too[/i] excited about this whole thing. But that sounded pretty fun to the girl.

Ernie returned Emma's disapproval with a smug snicker. Dummy. If he'd learnt anything from his classmates at West, it was that kids loved hitting things with sticks. It was his win, this time.

[color=00a99d]"Sure thing, buddy. We'll find you a nice stick somewhere inside. If not, I'll just chop one out for you,"[/color] he beamed, gesturing with his tomahawk.

[color=B0C4DE]"You're not THAT small,"[/color] Brent replied, eyes now flickering between Emma and Ernie. It's been only a day with the new kid and already there's tension and frustration between the two? Hopefully it was less 'hate' and more 'mildly dislike', something that wouldn't actually get in the way of their winning. And then there was the image of Savannah swinging a stick at someone's leg and doing no damage at all, because she'd literally just be using a flimsy stick with those flimsy arm of hers.

Still, she was excited now, and Brent liked that energy, if nothing else.

[color=B0C4DE]"If you're gonna do knee-twacking, go for the back of the knee. Try to drop them low with one swing and followthrough with another to the back of the head. Considering the material, it's not going to KO them or anything like that, but you should be able to stun them. If this was serious shit, I'd recommend going for their neck instead, but..."[/color]

He began fitting his feet into Ernie's work shoes. Shit was small.

[color=B0C4DE]"...probably no need to get that mean."[/color]

Emma’s face was filled with dejection. [color=8A3DFF][i]Ignored by the kid, and now they’re going to get her into trouble.[/i][/color] She sighed. She’d thought she’d done a good job too. [color=8A3DFF][i]Guess I should’ve known better.[/i][/color] She glanced at Savannah again, [color=8A3DFF]”Just be careful…”[/color] she added. She’d would have to keep an eye on her, she realized. Clearly Bert and Ernie couldn’t be counted on to keep the girl safe. [color=8A3DFF]”Well, I guess we have our game plan then. Anything else?”[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Yup. What are we going to do if they get on the third floor as well?"[/color]

[color=Crimson]"Thwack 'em!"[/color] Savannah replied with glee. 

Ernie's smile shrunk at Brent's casually violent advice. While he appreciated the dude's practicality, all at once Ernie was reminded of the stakes in this match, of what they could and would do to him if he wasn't on his toes. It was all fun and games whenever he said it but there was the definite chance that the other team would be thinking the same thing. After a brief moment, he spoke.

[color=00a99d]"We get mean, just like Brent said. We all saw what went down in the first fight. If we stand around with our heads up our asses..."[/color] he took a breath.

[color=00a99d]"We're gonna get seriously hurt. Take any opportunity you can get. When we're up there, don't even hesitate."[/color]

Emma frowned. She didn't like it but Ernie was right, [color=8A3DFF]"If we run into them up there we won't exactly have a chance to back down.  We probably have the better 4v4 than them, so I guess we just take the chance to fight."[/color] Yet another sigh came from her. She didn't like this one bit.

Did they really have the better team fight if they were in closer quarters? The original plan had been to take advantage of Emma's near-infinite range to immediately ambush Hazel and play it by the ear from there, but now...it was relatively close quarters on what was essentially the rooftop. His hand grazed against the gun he had brought, and then to the machete that hung by his hip.

But...alright, there was something for Savannah to do then.

[color=B0C4DE]"Emma, remind me again. Can you summon your minions in locations that are out of your sight? As long as you're within earshot and all?"[/color]

Emma nodded, [color=8A3DFF]"Yep, anywhere I want. Why?"[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"If there's a fight,"[/color] he replied, [color=B0C4DE]"And it's on third floor, stay on ground level. You're the MVP, after all, and I'm pretty sure the other team knows it as well. Savannah, it'll be your job to update Emma on the situation through cellphone. Stay away from the battle unless there's a really obvious opening, such as Ernie immobilizing someone with his sigil thing."

"Priority will be on Hazel, because she's their method of getting upstairs without like...using the stairs and their method of collectively kicking our ass. Really, we just need to blitz...wait."[/color]

Brent stopped, mulling in his thoughts.

[color=B0C4DE]"Can't you just like, drop your tank-dude on Hazel immediately? Because you can drop them anywhere you want and all? Don't think they're THAT far away, so you can just like...shout at the beginning of the match, right? Or am I being too optimistic here?"[/color]

Emma gave a slight shrug, [color=8A3DFF]"It's a possibility. but I think it would require them to have pretty slow reaction time. I forgot to mention, one of the caveats of the big guy is that he responds a little slower to my commands than the others. They'll probably have time to react and I doubt Hazel will panic enough for that to work."[/color]

[color=B0C4DE]"Mmm, alright, got it."[/color] Brent nodded at that, before turning upwards to the top of the house once more. He had really meant for Emma to literally manifest the Big Guy over Hazel's head and for gravity to do the rest, but perhaps she was just too nice to go for something that might fuck up someone's spine.

[color=Crimson]"Got it!"[/color] Savannah said to Brent. So she was to stay out of the battle unless there was an opening, huh? No hitting people with sticks, then... She had to admit she was a bit disappointed. That might've been fun. 

Ernie finally removed the sheath from his axe, seeing his muddled reflection in the mirror polished face. The sheath went into his pocket while the bare weapon went into his holster. No holds barred.

[color=00a99d]"Sounds like we're done with planning then?"[/color]

After all this discussion, it still didn't feel like they had a good enough strategy, but Brent nodded regardless. Time was running out, and if nothing else, they planned out their entrance and their exit, as well as how the start of this exercise was going to be like. Sav was feeling violent. Emma was looking hesitant. Ernie was drawing his weapon.

And himself?

He had brought a gun to this fight, against others who were unarmed outside of their powers.

He closed his eyes, let out a deep breath, and then opened them once more. A cheerful grin found itself on his face as he thrust his hand outwards.

[color=B0C4DE]"Alright, let's do this!"[/color]

The tension released from Ernie's shoulders as he saw Brent's grin. While the sport itself left much to be desired, Ernie could always appreciate the fun of hanging with others. The enthusiasm was contagious. With a slight chuckle, he put his hand in.

[color=00a99d]"We're gonna do great!"[/color]

Whether the reassurance was for himself or the team, he didn't really care.

Emma eyed the two for a moment before reluctantly offering her hand. [color=8A3DFF]"Let's just try to keep things from getting too rough."[/color] she hesitantly offered, smile slowly returning. She had her doubts about this, but she didn't really have a choice, did she?

Savannah put her hand into the circle without hesitation, her excitement clearly showing by the way she bounced on her feet. [color=Crimson]"Yeah! Let's kick some ass!"[/color] she said, grinning. 

[color=B0C4DE]"Mighty Mushroom Bruisers........"[/color]

His hand pressed down and then raised up, clenching into a fist.

[color=B0C4DE]"G[/color][color=crimson]O[/color][color=00a99d]!!!!![/color][color=8A3DFF]"[/color]