Seems like 'Captain Grumpus' was gonna stick.

At least, it was funny and [i]fitting[/i] enough that some of the wind could be taken out of Middleton's sails while his back was turned.  Certainly while he was no longer here, watching and judging them, they could say whatever the hell they wanted.  The only way that could possibly change was...well...Isaac didn't want to think about that.  It was just a small little paranoid thought in the back of his head, like the idea that the Green Fox would be watching their every move from afar.  He just [i]might[/i], but there was no use worrying about it, for now.  Isaac shook his head with a smirk as Diana mentioned 'Grumpus' stealing Christmas.

[color=f7941d]"No, not that.  Just our cheer."[/color]

But they'd be fighting for that too, in the days to come.  Nothing is ever won easily, but many things are worth fighting for.  Isaac mainly wanted survival to kick a few noteworthy asses, and so would plenty of the others, no doubt.  Jean seemed to be fighting for the affections of all the ladies.  Maybe he was just too polite to turn people down, so they stacked up, regardless of what would happen once they started to compete.  Diana was obsessed with him, there was an attempt at poetry on Kalisa, and now it looked like he was flirting with Reyna.

[i][color=f7941d]This won't end well.  Something's gonna go wrong and poor Jean will be shoved face-first into a trash can.[/color][/i]

Ah, but what's this?  A NEW challenger has approached!  Looks like another Darcsen was coming in, and...yes, she was joining the ranks of the 15th!  Honestly, it was kind of surprising that he wasn't getting Lucia's attention too, except that [i]she[/i] was more focused on Michael.  They were having a bit of a talk after their little joke.  However, it looked like the girl really DID want a heart-to-heart.  Well, Michael was certainly equipped on that front.  Isaac didn't want to overhear this part.  If it was half as personal as it looked on the girl's face, he didn't want to cause a more [i]serious[/i] embarrassment here.  A joke's a joke, but Isaac knew that both of them were pretty scarred by this stuff already.  If they talked now, they would have something to bond over and maybe they'd feel better, afterwards.

[i][color=f7941d]One can only hope.[/color][/i]

So anyway, they were adding a Private Levesque to the roster.  And...that's all they would find out, right off, as she didn't communicate more.  Seemed kind of a no-nonsense sort, which was alright if you just preferred to stay focused.  Isaac found that Britta more-or-less weighed in on topics when she had something to say, and not just reply to any old thing.  Nothing wrong with that, of course.  So, while Jean was rather surprised by the new recruit, the two Gunners too the opportunity to keep watch on their surroundings.

Amone...was a dead city.  It's sad to say, but it was true.  The livelyhood of this important town had been crushed by war, and now it sort of hung on in limbo, waiting for the time in which it would find either salvation or destruction.  Destruction in full was, of course, not very likely.  Not unless the Imperials somehow thought this town did not have worth, strategically.  [i]That[/i] wasn't likely.  Jean invformed Levesque that though she was welcome, she had not come at a good time.  Isaac wasn't sure if there WAS a good time, but he was sure that he meant that Amone awaited them and that things would get hairy.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

He moved silently along the streets, slow in some, pace quickened in others.  No weapons did he bring but his own, and supplies only what he was given to pass on.  To deliver, that was his duty.  Also to fight, if necessary, but only when the need arose, usually when directed because he was fast and nimble enough to avoid being shot, aware of his surroundings enough to never be caught.  Only those well-hidden from him would catch him by surprise, and even then, they might never catch anything more than his fleeting shadow.  His orders were clear and his training without flaw.  He used every skill at his disposal here in the city, where gunsmoke made him sneeze and places around smelt of burning.  All he had to do was get to the others, and then he could eat some food and rest for a bit.  He would not find peace in this place, not so long as the pounding shots that hurt his ears continued, both near and far.  It could not be ignored, not by him, but with saving grace he could know where they are and how to avoid such trouble.  He would never truly understand what it was about, only know that he must protect those in his charge, and do what they asked him to do.

The hideaway they chose was near.  An alleyway, a door, and no enemy around.  They heard his desire for entry, and they soon let him inside, eager to know what information he had, or maybe some supplies from some of the others.  It wasn't easy to carry them, at times.  He was not as great in height or in size.  He did what he could.  He sat at attention, looking to the man who gave him his orders, waiting for the taller man's approval in silence.  There was a nod, and then the hand descended to his head.

[b]"Good boy, Rikes.  I was hoping to hear some [i]good[/i] news for a change."[/b]