[center] [h1]Flight Log: Departure[/h1] [img]https://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img] [img]https://i.imgur.com/xp0eIcQ.png[/img] [h2][color 00a99d]Ernest[/color] | [color cyan]Sander[/color][/h2] [img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] [hr][color=silver]𝕊𝕦𝕟: 𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟚𝟘, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘 / / 𝕎𝕒𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕥𝕠𝕟, 𝔻.ℂ. / / ℂ𝕚𝕥𝕪 / / ~𝟙𝟚𝟛𝟘[/color][hr] [sub]Collab with [@RedDusk][/sub][/center] Brent's words had been received loud and clear but Ernie couldn't manage a response. Partly because he knew better than to make empty promises to someone he respected. Partly because of the emotional turmoil still churning within him. But mostly because of the paralysing vertigo that had suddenly seized him as Sander took flight. Ernie's stomach seemed to do corkscrew maneuvers as the ground zoomed away and was replaced by building tops instead. His terrified whimpers could be heard even over the screeching winds, arms and legs tightened their knuckle-white embrace around the brunette. Ernie decided that it would be better to take this deathride with his eyes closed and just wait for the nightmare to end. [color=00a99d]"S-so what's--nngh!"[/color] the Aberration attempted to stammer out a question but was cut off by a brief landing that shook his bones and made the assault rifle rattle painfully against his spine, [color=00a99d]"What's your plan here?"[/color] "[color cyan]I fight.[/color]" -Sander answered curtly, taking only a fraction of a second to recover from the landing before continuing his breakneck sprint across the desolated rooftops. -"[color cyan]You...should stay near.[/color]" -He added after a bit, though his tone made the suggestion sounded more like a demand. Another jump. Another half-hissed scream from the buzzcut boy as he struggled to hold on, grasping the fabric of his shirt sleeves with everything he had. He could probably survive from this height if he summoned his rope. Didn't make it any less freaking scary though. [color=00a99d]"Why me?"[/color] Ernie had to yell over the wind, [color=00a99d]"How am I even gonna help you?"[/color] "[color cyan]I...watch you.[/color]" -Another curt answer that didn't really answer anything. Sander probably couldn't see the angry frown growing on Ernie's face right now. [color=00a99d]"You think I'll do something bad if you don't babysit me?"[/color] The blood mage didn't answer that. Instead, he just took a sharp turn and leapt off another rooftop, dashing toward the looming figure of the ice giant in the distance. After a few seconds though, Sander asked, voice almost pensive -"[color cyan]Will you?[/color]" Inertia almost flung Ernie off to the side as Sander made the turn. He shuddered and readjusted his grip while he thought the question over. [color=00a99d]"I'm...doing better,"[/color] he said carefully, perhaps even genuinely. He thought to his interactions with Emma, to the blurred rage he could vaguely recall from Saturday night. Not really answers he could give, [color=00a99d]"I won't. You're here, after all."[/color] "[color cyan]You hit me on a head with a pitcher.[/color]" -Despite the accusation, Sander's tone remained flat. [color=00a99d]"Wait, what?"[/color] Ernie opened his eyes in surprise, immediately regretting the decision. They scrunched back close, [color=00a99d]"What?"[/color] There wasn't much he recalled from that night. Fruity shots. Dancing. A walk back with some Asian man. Sander. Anger. The last two rarely came without the other. But there was something else too. Pain, in his hand and on his lip. He'd woken with a glove practically knitted from bandaids from his own kit. Was that because...oh god. It was coming back to him. Ernie couldn't manage anything besides another [color=00a99d]"what"[/color]. The other Aberration seemed confused, so Sander let him take his time, remaining silent as he focused on the path ahead. Pieces of the night put themselves together. Something swung. Something banged. God, how much did he have that night? As much as he absolutely hated the guy, attacking him, starting a fight between subnaturals in a public area, in [i]D.C.[/i] of all places, in front of his friends... No wonder Sander wanted to kill him. Ernie groaned loudly. [color=00a99d]"Shit, that was really stupid. I'm...man, I'm sorry. I don't usually get that drunk."[/color] "[color cyan]I'm fine.[/color]" -Sander said dismissively, shoulders raised in a shrug -"[color cyan]I can take it.[/color]" [color=00a99d]"Doesn't mean you should have to. Not from an idiot like me, or anyone else. Aren't you angry?"[/color] "[color cyan]Should I?[/color]" [color=00a99d]"Uh. Only if you want to, I guess,"[/color] Ernie sighed. He'd never understand this guy, [color=00a99d]"Getting angry's never really helped me."[/color] Such a weird conversation. Were these really going to be among his last words? Ernie's hug-grip tightened involuntarily. [color=00a99d]"I wouldn't blame you if you were."[/color] "[color cyan]Huh?[/color]" -Something akin to surprise lifted Sander's brows -"[color cyan]Why?[/color]" It was Ernie's turn to shrug. [color=00a99d]"Bad people deserve badness, I guess? Anger is badness. And anger's what naturally comes from getting hurt. You already hate me to actual death so getting pissed over a stupid bar fight won't change much."[/color] "[color cyan]I don't...hate you.[/color]" -Sander felt his lips curled briefly into a smirk, like Ernie was saying the most ridiculous thing in the world. Ernie didn't believe him for a second. His expression knit into something resembling irritation. [color=00a99d]"Didn't you say you'd kill me?"[/color] "[color cyan]I said I don't want to.[/color]" [color=00a99d]"Hah. I don't believe you. Man, do you even believe that?"[/color] Sander's response was another shrug -"[color cyan]Doesn't matter if you don't believe me.[/color]" Ernie tilted his head to Sander's face, feeling the nonchalant shrug in his arms. Annoying. Chatter over the cuffs alerted the Aberration to Zoe's incoming stupidity. More annoying. Hopefully Brent would get the bitch under control again. Still, talking strategy was something he needed to consider too. [color=00a99d]"Whatever. Alright, subject change. How are you gonna take that ice giant down? Any weak points you plan on hitting?"[/color] "[color cyan]I'm not sure.[/color]" -The blood mage admitted, eyeing the monster in the distance. This was their class' strongest hope? Ernie suppressed a sigh. [color=00a99d]"Take out the legs first. Stop it from destroying any more of the city or reaching the river. Then do whatever you want. Understand?"[/color] Sander didn't really respond. He looked up at the glowing orb in the sky instead. It was a bit too far away, but Brent did mention that it needed...burning? Was it a weak spot? His mind went back to Factory fight and he remembered the twisted body within the metal sphere. Was this the same? A human, barely, within the monster? How did that work, exactly? Sander decided that he didn't really care. "[color cyan]What's up there? In the floating...thing?[/color]" -He gestured toward the orb and licked his lips, asking as if Ernie knew the answer. [color=00a99d]"It's the weird light that was fixing up the giant with some ice beam. Got hit with a bright-ass lazer so I think it's out of commission for a bit. I wouldn't worry about that right now, Chris is gonna fly up there and take care of whatever lady's inside."[/color] "[color cyan]Person? Inside?[/color]" Ernie didn't have a good feeling about this. [color=00a99d]"Uh, yeah. A woman, apparently."[/color] "[color cyan]Is she...helping the monsters?[/color]" [color=00a99d]"Sander, what are you planning?"[/color] "[color cyan]Fighting.[/color]" [color=00a99d]"Fighting what?"[/color] Ernie's voice turned harsh, [color=00a99d]"The giant? Or the woman in the light? Are you just gonna leave Cal to fight alone?"[/color] Kadabra was with her, of course, but Ernie refused to count him as an ally. Not with that subnatural-killing track record the Precursor held. Not that Sander was any trustworthier. Sander blinked, then hastily shook his head, even when Ernie probably didn't see it. [color=00a99d]"Sander. Answer me properly, please."[/color] "[color cyan]I'm helping Callan.[/color]" -Sander frowned, though his eyes still focused on the glowing orb. [color=00a99d]"Wait and see if Chris succeeds first,"[/color] Ernie pleaded, moving in closer as if his point would get across better that way, [color=00a99d]"Help Cal by fighting alongside her."[/color] At this point, he and Sander was close enough to the golem. Not quite in combat range yet, but close enough that the thick curtain of dust from crushed debris hung heavy and the scent of iron was smothering. Sander's breathing shuddered as he stopped on a nearby rooftop. "[color cyan]You can stay here.[/color]" -He said to Ernie after a short pause, surveying the scene before him. Something rather uncharacteristic, but Sander didn't let himself think much about it. His attention was fully directed at the giant monster rampaging through the streets. Callan's sweet scent nudged at him like an afterthought though, so he turned his head, trying to locate her. A sigh of relief as Ernie finally touched his unsteady legs on something solid. Finally. His limbs were starting to get sore from all that holding on. Like Sander, the buzzcut boy scanned their surroundings, paling at the sheer scale of the monster his classmates were facing. His classmates. Not him. He turned to Sander. [color=00a99d]"You haven't answered me yet."[/color] "[color cyan]Huh?[/color]" [color=00a99d]"You're gonna help Cal with the giant first. And you're gonna let Chris do his job, right?"[/color] "[color cyan]...Alright.[/color]" -Sander finally nodded, a slump in his shoulders like a child not getting his way -"[color cyan]It's not...good. That thing isn't...good. Isn't alive.[/color]" -He mumbled, almost just to himself. Ernie wasn't sure what he meant. Probably better to just ignore it. [color=00a99d]"Just...help our friend. Please. Don't let her get hurt."[/color] Sander nodded then, stepping toward the edge of the building. "[color cyan]You should stay close.[/color]" -He said over his shoulder, before letting himself drop into the streets below.