[center] [h1]It’s a Good Day to Die[/h1] [img]http://i.imgur.com/jw3F1O9.png[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/EqVwCQa.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/FWMorlL.png[/img][img]http://i.imgur.com/XZCyPaz.png[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/qdJ8I7l.jpg[/img] [h2][color B0C4DE]Brent[/color] | [color ff57ff]Siena[/color] [color 00a99d]Ernie[/color] | [color 33ec06]Marcus[/color] | [color red]Chris[/color][/h2] [img]http:// i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img] [hr][color=silver] 𝕎𝕖𝕕: 𝕆𝕔𝕥. 𝟟, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘 / / 𝔹𝕒𝕝𝕕 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕 / / ℤ𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕘'𝕤 𝔼𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕖 / / ~𝟘𝟝𝟘𝟘 [/color][hr] [sub]Collab with...[@banjoanjo][@ERode][@Chasers115][@dragonmancer][@PapiTan][/sub][/center] Rest was still hard to come by, even after Siena had abandoned her attempts to stop dreaming by cutting it off at the source. The nightmares were easier to deal with after so much exposure that the girl couldn’t quite feel at ease until [i]something[/i] began to torment her with undesirable thoughts and memories. Part of her wondered, then, if they were really nightmares at that point. It was the dreams that made her wake, heart pounding not in fear or dread, but in a dull, longing [i]ache[/i] that dipped her conscious thoughts in something between a frustrating sense of fury and something distant that she could neither identify nor deny. Remaining in control of something that she didn’t recognize was significantly harder than it should have been at that point, and she knew it. Before the thoughts could spiral too far out of her grasp, a soft whine alerted Siena to the other presence in her room—right. Chief Tater Tot. The dog had been surprisingly useful in keeping Siena grounded, always reminding her of his presence when her attention drifted too far—so long as he was in the room. The canine demanded nothing more than that, no truths, no sacrifices, no commitments. Just…acknowledgement. “[color=ff57ff]Sorry, Chief…did I wake you?[/color]” Speaking in a hushed whisper, Siena checked the time on her phone, a clear sense of awareness more than enough to tell the mage that she wouldn’t be returning to the realm of dreamers that night. Just short of 4 in the morning—a quick calculation in her head reminded her that she’d worked herself to exhaustion before midnight. More sleep than usual…she supposed she could take some solace in that. Pushing herself out of bed, Siena moved to perform her normal morning rituals. A long day ahead, as usual. [hr] Crimson light lit up the sky, its purpose far removed from the last time any colors had filled the sky. Flare. The identity of the radiance more than enough for Siena to abandon her task of carefully selecting an outfit—or any outfit at all, really. Still dressed in little more than undergarments and an ivory slip, the girl opted for more important items. Coat, phone, e-readers, booklet, shoes that she could move in, and with a quick scooping motion, Chief Tater Tot. It had been happening too frequently, Siena thought, that she wasn’t surprised to be moving through the estate. By the time she’d reached the basement, her eyes were already seeking the ones that weren’t there. Couldn’t find a certain raven-haired Aberration, couldn’t quite count out the correct number of people in their class. At least two missing in the class, who knew how many among the staff? An attack in such a remote area was probably a byproduct of chance. A monster that happened to find its way to— “[color=f7976a]Hostiles on the island. Amigos do Pai, if you know of them…[/color]” --[i]no.[/i] Siena had looked into the name after her visit to the café with Zoe, and all she had managed to find was that they were dangerous. They didn’t hold back. They didn’t let anything get in their way—nothing that they’d allow to [i]keep living[/i], at least--and they were there. Subnaturals with a purpose far removed from the reason that their motley little unit existed. They were woefully outmatched. Siena thought her own team was filled with monsters, but their opposition this time was nothing short of [i]demons[/i]. Her grip tightened on her e-reader. Outmatched. They had at least two others out there. [i]’[color=ff57ff]Acceptable sacrifices.[/color]’[/i] Were they really? [i]’[color=ff57ff]Necessary ones, at the least.[/color]’[/i] As her peers trickled out, Siena couldn't help but feel a vague sense of relief that, as far as she knew, there was nobody to read her mind. How many would have hated her? How easily the thoughts ran toward [i]sacrifice[/i] instead of [i]salvation[/i]. Her gaze flicked toward Marcus briefly, reminded herself that there were certain sacrifices that had to be made, and certain ones that had to be avoided, her eyes turned back, e-reader still held in one hand, Chief Tater Tot still settled in the other. If she had to talk Chris out o-- "[color=B0C4DE]'Ena. Teleportation range?[/color]" [i]'[color=ff57ff]He's gotta be fucking with me.[/color]'[/i] Was the immediate thought before Siena even turned her attention to the familiar voice. "[color=ff57ff]A-are you serious?[/color]" Was the incredulous reaction that managed to wrench itself from her mouth. [color=B0C4DE]"Not saying we should go pick up whatever pieces remain of Angelic,"[/color] Brent replied, unbothered by her incredulity, [color=B0C4DE]"But Grego's heading to the manor on foot, going by my phone. What's the range?"[/color] The pieces that remained of--oh. So Angel was gone...a hollow pang of something that should have been regret or guilt echoed softly in the pit of Siena's stomach, but it wasn't enough to take her focus away. Acceptable sacrifice. Couldn't be prevented--she'd have time enough to feel legitimate remorse when they escaped. [i]If[/i] they escaped. No time to linger on the thoughts. "[color=ff57ff]The range doesn't matter if there's nowhere safe to land.[/color]" Which meant both avoiding hostiles [i]and[/i] keeping anyone from being cut in half by an unfortunately positioned tree branch upon materialization. An alarm continued to blare in the back of the girl's head. Of course he was serious. [i]Of course.[/i] "[color=ff57ff]Do you even have a plan if he's being left alive for bait?[/color]" Brent tapped his night vision goggles. The beginnings of a smile reached his face, but he quashed it before it got farther than the tightening of his cheeks. [color=B0C4DE]"Visually sweep the area while verbally guiding him with cuff transmissions,"[/color] the arbiter replied, dead serious and acting like it too, [color=B0C4DE]"We have the gear for that, and if he's heading in our direction, all the better."[/color] No, there might be another limitation here. [color=B0C4DE]"Or do you have a delay inbetween teleports? My thoughts were a quick in and out after confirming safety, but if you can't manage that..."[/color] There was the out. An easy enough lie to make. Christ. He [i]was[/i] serious. The issue of [i]getting the fuck out[/i] just got a lot more difficult. A cold, bitter voice in the back of her head chided her. If he wanted to sign his death warrant, then she should let him, right? Another sacrifice that should have been easy enough to accept. Except it wasn't because this was a senseless one that she might be able to prevent. [i]Shit.[/i] If she'd had a free hand, she might have pinched the bridge of her nose, a poor imitation of frustration. Instead, Chief Tater Tot gave a rather audible pant--not quite what she was going for. "[color=ff57ff]Your thoughts sound like a death wish.[/color]" But Siena gave nothing to confirm or deny her capabilities. Instead, a quiet sigh as thoughts continued to fill the girl's head, a sense of dread flooding her stomach. Her eyes drifted to the sound of something happening nearby--Zoe? It seemed like Lawrence had it handled. Not something that she could afford to have take her focus--it took less than a second to come to that conclusion. Better things to wonder about. She wouldn't want the answer, she knew, but Siena raised the appropriate question regardless. "[color=ff57ff]How exactly is that sentence going to end? If I can't manage that, you'll figure out a way on your own?[/color]" A shrug. A helpless smile. [color=B0C4DE]"Without you, I'd have to work out a way around them first."[/color] With that, he began to walk off, down the tunnel. Setting a brisk pace, he delved into the depths. If Siena followed close, that was fine. If she didn't, that was also fine. [i]'[color=ff57ff]Shit.[/color]'[/i] Not nearly vulgar enough to express the cocktail of emotions being thrown over an open flame. As Brent's pace quickened, Siena found her own speeding up to keep the conversation from growing any louder. "[color=ff57ff]You realize both options are essentially suicide missions, right?[/color]" [color=B0C4DE]"Mhmm,"[/color] Brent nodded, slowing his steps, [color=B0C4DE]"But everything I've been involved in has been one, so...you know how it is."[/color] Life or death was inconsequential, after all. He wasn't living a subnatural's life to live a long one. He wasn't the one deserving of living long anyways. Unbelievable. Siena resisted the urge to bury her face into her dog's fur and let out a muffled groan, restraining the reaction to a quiet breath. Brent had a point. Most of their duties thus far had been borderline suicidal. She took another breath, held it, released it silently. This was a terrible idea. They were going to [i]die[/i] out there if she let it happen. Siena knew that about as well as she knew that trying to convince Brent to leave was a futile endeavor. She'd probably have better luck trying to convince Chief Tater Tot that he was a bird. Unbelievable. "[color=ff57ff]First, nobody else comes or at least one of us won't make it back.[/color]" Every rational part of her mind screamed in protest. Bad idea. Bad idea, bad idea, [i]really, really bad idea[/i]. Something that might have been a mental roll of the eyes came up in response--as if she wasn't fully aware of what a horrendous idea it was to try and stick around longer than necessary. "[color=ff57ff]Second, you are literally the [i]worst[/i] library knight I have ever seen.[/color]" From where Marcus was anxiously leaning, there was a lot of conversation going around for him to catch anything but small keywords. 'Amigos' was the word of the day, clearly, but there was one other set of words that made his ears perk up, if only for the misfortune it brought whenever he heard it. "[color ff57ff]...suicide missions, right?[/color]" His head lifted up, looking to the source of the sound; Siena and Brent. He had no context for this, absolutely none at all, but it [i]would[/i] be those two if the context was anything like what he imagined. He looked towards their direction trying to give his best 'oh you better not be' glance, and making no attempt to hide the fact that he was now trying to make himself aware of their conversation. [color=B0C4DE]"A truly heinous one,"[/color] Brent agreed, [color=B0C4DE]"To risk harm to the literary princess for the sake of a mere acquaintance. I'll accept the pillory and whip after this is done."[/color] Eloquent and measured as it was, his blood was still quickening, as he slipped beside Siena, catching Marcus's gaze with a reassuring, genuine, [i]reflexive[/i] smile. [color=B0C4DE]"Roof of the estate first. I'll need to get my visuals, 'ena. Maybe let go of your dog."[/color] [color=00a99d]"What the fuck. You can't be serious."[/color] Ernie wasn't expecting this from Brent, asking someone who was meant to be a friend to put their ass in the open like that. A suicide run against the Amigos. A seething voice at the back of his head wondered if he was stupid or just didn't give a shit. He'd been listening in since 'teleportation' was mentioned. It couldn't be a good idea. [color=00a99d]"It's your power, Siena. Your call. If you think Gregory's a lost cause then we can all get the crap out of here without losing anyone else to these druggie fucks. Brent, can't you just send a cuff message Greg's way? Tell him to stay put?"[/color] Grey eyes caught the look from her roommate, darted from him to whatever was happening behind them, then vanished behind her eyelids as Siena tried to reason out what was likely to happen in the situation--at least, she would have if Ernie's voice hadn't cut through the thoughts. She kept her eyes shut for a moment longer. If she wanted to be completely honest, without having a precise location on Gregory, even the strongest of teleporters wouldn't do much for them. That aside, she could think of countless combinations of names, but if even [i]one[/i] hostile happened to be nearby when they landed... Despite her best efforts, a minuscule shudder ran up her spine. She hid it by lowering Chief Tater Tot to the floor. "[color=ff57ff]If he's close enough, then there's a chance, but...[/color]" But Ernie was right in his immediate reaction. It wasn't a wise idea. The Amigos would probably slaughter them if she made a single misstep, had even a fraction of a second's worth of hesitation before making a jump. With Marcus evidently gearing to listen in, Siena knew better than to say any of [i]those[/i] doubts out loud--the last thing she needed was for him to prevent the presence of her safety net by interfering. Memories of D.C. came to mind, of having a phone one moment and nothing the next--no. Couldn't afford that. The smallest delay between using her own abilities and using the powers of her mark was likely to prevent the plan from taking off at all. "[color=ff57ff]...well, the usual risks, I guess.[/color]" [color=B0C4DE]"Your call indeed, 'ena,"[/color] Brent replied. [color=B0C4DE]"Roof of the estate to get bearings. If he's getting chased, then we return. If he's alone, it's in and out. Not asking you to jump to him immediately."[/color] A cursory gaze back. Were they getting suspicious? No, even if they were, the distance was against them, and Siena's own telegraph showed from the front, not the back. If the bookworm acted quickly, at least. [color=B0C4DE]"Just be decisive. Won't hold it against you, honest."[/color] Her call. It was hard to piece it together when it suddenly mattered what she chose to do. Siena paused, held back another shudder of apprehension, and felt the pressure bear down in full. Her call now whether Gregory was an acceptable sacrifice. [i]'[color=ff57ff]He is,[/color]'[/i] thought the cold-hearted Santana. [i]'[color=ff57ff]Getting yourself killed won't help him or anyone else.[/color]'[/i] Her eyes trailed over to her reader, one hand poised over the power button. "[color=ff57ff]Five minutes. That's all I can guarantee.[/color]" It was startling to hear the words--hadn't she just decided that the Aberration was an acceptable sacrifice? A dim thought pulsed like a dying light. The issue wasn't whether she thought Gregory was an acceptable sacrifice--it was whether she could prevent another one. [i]What good it it if I can't help you?[/i] A spike of cold irritation at the intruding thought. What good as it if [i]she[/i] died in the process? "[color=ff57ff]If I say we leave, then [i]we leave.[/i][/color]" "[color 33ec06]Five minutes is about all it takes.[/color]" Marcus said, arms crossed. He had sauntered up beside Ernie, as if he was the one Marcus felt would back him up the most in all of this. [color=red]"Alright lets hurry up and get on with it then, the longer we wait the more dangerous it will get."[/color] Chris intervened in the conversation. [color=red]"Be prepared for the worst."[/color] Brent blinked. What? [color=B0C4DE]"Who's 'we'? You're not coming with us. 'ena, make the leap whenever you're ready."[/color] The arbiter rolled his eyes. [color=red]"Whatever, just get back as soon as you can, I aint leaving until you lot return in one piece."[/color] [color=00a99d]"Jesus,"[/color] Ernie hissed, glaring at all of them. Of course Chris would be the exact opposite of the voice of reason here. Fucking prick. [color=00a99d]"No one should be coming or leaving anywhere. We don't even know what the Amigos want here."[/color] [color=red]"And if we sit here arguing about it were all more likely to die. If Brent and Siena are going out there for a fast rescue mission then I want to be here to make sure they come back within five minutes. If you want to save your own skin or if there isn't much you can help with I recommend going to the lighthouse with the others, otherwise, zip it."[/color] Ernie's eyes flared dangerously. It was stupid to get in a petty fight right now. Real stupid. But fuck, this guy was an asshole. [color=00a99d]"It's not my skin I'm worried about, Tiki Torch. I'm not the fucking dumbass about to charge into a fight with some souped-up mercs. Why the fuck do you care anyway? Scared of losing more victims to spitroast?"[/color] Daggers shot from Marcus to Chris at that comment, but nothing was said by the Time Mage. There was a sharp glare in the dragon arbiter's eyes. [color=red]"I'll be damned if I let myself leave anyone else behind, I'm sick of running and I'd rather risk my own life then to just keep turning my back. I understand the danger, but if Brent wants to make a gamble to save a fellow comrade then I'm taking that gamble as well. Now either you shut up and get to the lighthouse or stay here with me and wait."[/color] "[color=ff57ff]It's more dangerous for us to land if there are people here. You'd do better making sure everyone's left.[/color]" Siena said, flicking her e-reader on. Brent nodded at that, really not a fan of the argument brewing here. [color=B0C4DE]"Seriously, Chris, get going with the others. No one needs to fight the Mexican Friends today."[/color] There was hesitation in his response. He had already lost Angelique, and while he didn't knew Gregory all that well, losing a second subnatural in one night is just another crippled blow, and now Siena and Brent were risking their lives all the while Chris was left unable to do anything. From his experience, they'd probably fail, Brent and Siena just two more names added to the casualties all the while Chris continued to walk amidst a valley of death. [color=red]"You better make it back here alive."[/color] He mumbled lowly. [color=red]"Alright then, lets get moving then."[/color] He stood up and got ready to move, but waited for the rest of the students to take the lead as he wanted to be in the back; a mere thing of comfort, for if by chance they needed assistance or if something horrible came from behind, he'd be the first to answer it. [color=00a99d]"Brazilian,"[/color] Ernie corrected uselessly. There was really no talking them out of this? The helplessness he'd felt at Wisford returned threefold, prompting a harsh grimace on his face. None of them knew how dangerous the Amigos could really be. He tried to reason it out. Siena was fast. Brent was smart and equipped. They were going to be fine. Dread seeped further and the Aberration's mouth began moving, spouting advice like a stressed mother watching her kid leave into the night. [color=00a99d]"Keep your cuff channels open. Don't try to beat them in even a three on one fight cos you [i]will[/i] lose. If you see even a sign of an Amigo nearby, run. Don't bother looking for Greg if you haven't found him by then."[/color] Sighing, he knelt down and picked up Siena's pet. Marcus couldn't do it and he sure as hell wasn't going to trust Chris with this. The canine squirmed slightly but the Aberration held on tight. Despite the goodwill, he couldn't help but cringe at the thought of dog hair on his clothes. Silly, thinking of that sort of thing when death was around the corner. [color=00a99d]"Five minutes is too long, guys. I wish you didn't have to go at all."[/color] Technically they didn't, but that was besides the point. Listening to Ernie give advice--[i]something in the back of her mind came to life like dim pinpricks. Something odd about the words[/i]--was more than enough to remind Siena that they were outmatched. Amigos. Killers. Another shudder tried to creep over the girl, but she didn't allow it to spread. Couldn't show what she was feeling in that situation, so Siena didn't. More reminders that it didn't matter how well prepared she was because the most she knew about what they might come across was the fact that they were wildly dangerous. [i]Don't think about it so much.[/i] It was too hard not to. Instead, she focused on her peers, focused on replying to Ernie's final words. "[color=ff57ff]...yeah, I know.[/color]" The words were quiet, more because it was hard to acknowledge that there was an astoundingly high chance that neither she nor Brent would be touching back down in the tunnel than anything else. As if it could hide that grim fact, Siena gave a half-hearted attempt at a reassuring smile, the emotion that she tried to convey failing to completely push through--not that it should have in that situation. Siena was anything but confident about the scenario. It took every ounce of willpower she had not to let on the most vocal words echoing in her head: She was terrified. "[color=ff57ff]We should hurry. While the opportunity's still here.[/color]" Helplessness channeled itself as anger in Marcus's mind, and there was a moment when Marcus's eyes darted around the room. From Brent, to Ernie, to Siena. They were seriously going to let this happen. They were actually going to wander out into enemy territory with the high likelyhood of getting themselves killed. Because the two of them thought they were invincible or something? They thought they could defend themselves against subnaturals if they needed to? They couldn't even defend themselves against normal people. "[color 33ec06]Fine. Go save him.[/color]" Marcus finally said. "[color 33ec06]Try not to make any uneccesary [i]sacrifices[/i] out there.[/color]" he said, looking to Siena. [color=B0C4DE]"We're doing this to avoid making unnecessary sacrifices,"[/color] Brent said, before sighing. Yeah, he was more or less pulling a DC-Ernie here, wasn't he? Running off from the rest of the group for no real clear reason. He scratched the back of his neck, before placing a hand on Marcus and Ernie's shoulders. [color=B0C4DE]"Sorry 'bout this, guys. See ya both in five, eh? Also, stick around Grant. That dude knows what's up."[/color] Ernie responded with a silent nod. Saying anything now would just end up with him lashing out. [i]Dont flinch.[/i] So she didn't at Marcus's words, at his gaze, at knowing exactly why he was looking directly at her. Siena kept her expression level, or at least as close to level as possible, as she flashed an apologetic look to her roommate, sources flicking by on her screen. With the storm outside, a traditional teleportation was out of the question unless she wanted both her and Brent to be dead upon materialization...but that was where a wide pool became such a powerful ally, wasn't it? More than one jump, she thought. It would be too much risk to try and make one massive one, and beyond that, she'd need a place to stop before they reached the roof--a way to create a small safe-zone for their imminent materialization... So a teleporter and a barrier generator. Preferably in that order. Sending her glance back, Siena measured the distance in her head. From here to the floor up, two floors up, from the highest level she'd physically reached to the roof. From where she was standing to the nearest people that might try to interfere--[i][color=ff57ff]'Assume Marcus and Ernie will both step aside if you are rushed. Assume that anyone in front of you may attempt to stop you.[/color][/i]--and acknowledged that she had to act quickly. The Arbiter released a soft breath, and then sent her gaze to the sources. At least with a shield at her disposal, they might have [i]some[/i] protection against certain death. A soft purple light, a faint pink that seemed to grow more vibrant as it took over her eyes, and an oddly fitting presence. Too weak to do anything on her own. Again. The preparations were done. He could tell by that shift in her eye color, the iridescence of her irises. Nodding once more at his friends, Brent walked back to Siena. There were no words needed now, huh? The silver blood that pumped thickly through his veins thrummed beneath his skin, a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. One hand rested on his machete, while another was offered to Siena, unsure of whether or not physical contact was necessary for the teleport. [i]Time.[/i] God, this was a bad idea. Standing at a metaphorical cliff and looking straight down to the jagged rocks, and the carefully stitched curtain was starting to come apart. Siena didn't release the reader from her hand, let her gaze sweep over the group, settling on Brent. One hand offered to her, one hand resting on a weapon. He seemed more confident than her, seemed as though he didn't realize how afraid he should be of the situation. Should she have said something? The thoughts rambled on and on, trying to cover up the one that lurked beneath the surface, whispering in her ear with a repetitive chant to remind the girl what she was feeling. [i]God, she was scared.[/i] No. Not the right words. Another thought that masqueraded as the truth. [i]'[color=ff57ff]I don't want to die.[/color]'[/i] Siena didn't trust her voice not to waver. [i]So don't use it.[/i] She didn't. She stepped past the offered hand--too much distance, too much space. The less area they took up, the less risk there was. She dug her fingers into the fabric of his coat, took half a step closer, and felt it again. A shudder of fear that managed to pass through her, spreading like a chill from her gut to everything else. A soft, carefully restrained breath to control it did nothing, so Siena let the tremor take it too, squeezed her eyes shut, and felt the brave mask come apart for an instant. [i]She was going to die.[/i] And then, like smoke, they were gone.