In the span of the evening hours, Chuunitrixx had locations established, and villages set up; each could hold a population of fifty, which would be divided from her Mimics. By time the sun was tempted to rise, Chuunitrixx was yawning and sluggish, as she rummaged the kitchen for something to eat. All she knew to make was [Basic Toast], so she set to making it with every single loaf of bread she could find.

"[i][b][color=red]Sniping evil by moonlight![/color] [color=forestgreen]Shooting villains in daylight![/color] [color=red]Always ready for the real fight![/color] [color=forestgreen]She is the one named Sniper Trixx![/color][/b][/i]" Chuunitrixx sang, largely in the company of herself, and loudly, because of it, "[b][I][color=red]She would never turn her back on her friend![/color] [color=forestgreen]She always there to defend![/color] [color=red]On her, he can always depend![/color] [color=forestgreen]She is the one named Sniper Trixx![/color][/i][/b]"

Chuunitrixx tossed her arms out in a large flourish, which, in any other situation, would have hit no-one and nothing, as melee wasn't her forte. However, being a -- return -- victim of sleep and the -- restored -- waking cycle of life, now, the back of her hand thwack Rodias on the cheek for the minimum dealable damage of 1 Non-lethal Health Point -- which just regenerated in a literal second. Still...

Almost with a comedic creak of her mixed Mimic, Doppelganger, and Human parts, the Homunculus turned her head inhumanly to peer back at Rodias, and watched her comically placed "[b]Critical Hit 1!!![/b]" bound off his cheek and away.

"[color=red][b]How long have...[/b][/color] [color=forestgreen]you been there,[/color]" Chuunitrixx asked, as she loaded Ariamis out of pure tsundere instinct.

Rodias paused in full as the back of someone’s hand slapped against his cheek, face instinctively following the motion to make it look as if he’d actually been punched in the face. Though, he’d realize right away that he hadn’t taken any damage whatsoever. Well, as far as current damage. He’d taken SOME small smarm of pain, but that quickly subsided, eyes turning with his head to see the sight of Chuunitrixx loading her gun, a drop of sweat rolling down his face. In truth, he’d been lost in his own thoughts...but he’d still very much heard her say: “She is the one named Sniper Trixx” as the hit landed.

Stooping to pick up the “Critical Hit!”, Rodias would clear his throat. 

[color=f7976a][i]”What do I even say? She’s going to freak out if I say that I heard any of that...but she probably wouldn’t believe me if I said none, since I was so close. Uh...think...think…”[/i][/color] Rodias would think, before saying: [color=f7976a][b]”Longer than you might have preferred.”[/b][/color]

...Then the gears started turning. 

And turning.

And turning.

And then he realized that he’d done the opposite of what he intended.

"[color=red][b]I see. I see. Ara Ara... That's a problem...[/b][/color]" Chuunitrixx's says, as a hand-loaded Ariamis with silver bullets baring an engraving of the Russian Orthodox Cross and the Kanji for the word, "Soma," upon it. "[color=forestgreen]Why do you look so nervous, my Lord?[/color]"

Rodias took a step back. [color=f7976a][b]”That...would be because I fear I’ve embarrassed you. My apologies. ...Gotta go!”[/b][/color] he would say, before sprinting off down the hallway, trying to avoid getting a faceful of buckshot. Chuunitrixx couldn’t one shot him, but...guns were still, in his brain, a tiny bit scary. 

"[color=forestgreen]Why are you running my, Lord?[/color] [color=red][b]I'm just trying to defend you![/b][/color]" Chuunitrixx growled, as she fired the Engraved Revolver Ariamis at him; his Evasion just high enough to Dodge anything short of a Sneak Attack or a Critical Hit. Still, the HOLIER THAN THOU BULLETS OF SMITE smashed into the walls and floors, and created fonts of angelic singing -- pure pockets of concentrated Heavens.

It would probably suck to get hit by that spell.

Rodias was careful to dodge every bullet that came, while also directing Chuunitrixx’s fire away from the various skeleton butlers just trying to make their way around the halls of the Chateau. After he started to realize that running was only going to get someone caught in the crossfire...or call the wrath of Mamoru on the both of them for making work for her, Rodias would dodge, then duck under Chuunitrixx’s arm to gently grab her wrist, coming face to face with her as he let out a nervous chuckle. [color=f7976a][b]”Let’s...cut this game of cat and mouse short, shall we?”[/b][/color] he asked, really, really hoping Chuunitrixx would give up the run-and-gun.

"[color=red][b]Fwaaah... Haaa... Haaa... Fi... Fiii... Fine... Fine...[/b][/color] [color=forestgreen]Tru... Haaaa... Haaa... Truce... Oh, God....![/color]" Chuunitrixx panted and huffed, sweating her ass off. "[color=red][b]Can't breathe![/b][/color] [color=forestgreen]Dying! Haaa....![/color]"

[b][THUMP!!!][/b]

Chuunitrixx was flat on her ass, a mess of suffering the realistic rules of cardio and exertion. Lying on her side, she just pitifully gulped air, and whimpered. [color=red]Running was never this hard before![/color] Ariamis was lying just out of reach, and just within Rodias's range of theft.

Rodias reached his hand out, and as if the world itself willed it, the gun flew into his hand. Theft was an especially useful skill, especially now. He’d come to learn that he didn’t need to touch objects to “steal” them, due to his Shadow class extending his range to anywhere his shadow touched. And in the halls of the Chateau, the Lord’s shadow stretched far indeed.

Offering the gun to her with a smile, Rodias said: [color=f7976a][b]”Let’s forget all this and start over. What were you on your way to do, Chuunitrixx?”[/b][/color]

"[color=red][b]Break[/b][/color][color=forestgreen]fast![/color]" Chuunitrixx nearly vomited her paltry breakfast of toast up. "[color=forestgreen]I was... I was going... going to get... get breakfast...[/color] [color=red][b]Running sucks ass! This is why I'm a sniper! I don't move![/b][/color]"

Rodias had to struggle to maintain a straight face from how...silly this all was. [color=f7976a][b]”I see. Care to accompany me to Flan’s Kitchen then? I was feeling a bit peckish myself,”[/b][/color] he would say, trying to restore a smidgeon of Chuunitrixx’s dignity by ignoring her dorky singing. And complete lack of stamina.

“[color=forestgreen]Food...[/color]” Chuunitrixx nodded.

Rodias offered a hand for Chuunitrixx to pull herself up with.

Chuunitrixx took it; using her overleveled [Sleight of Hand] skill steal the Engraved Revolver Ariamis back, and held it against Rodias’s heart. “[color=red][b]Bang, Vampire Boy,[/b][/color]” she smirked. “[color=red][b]Take me to the food![/b][/color]”

[color=f7976a][b]”You’d need these for a sneak attack like that,”[/b][/color] Rodias said, opening his hand and revealing every bullet Chuunitrixx had on her person was in the palm of his right hand. [color=f7976a][b]”But, let’s go.”[/b][/color] Rodias would say, taking the elevator with Chuunitrixx to spare her from the agony of cardiovascular exercise. Again.

“[color=forestgreen]I know.[/color]” Chuunitrixx smiled, as several of the paints on the walls and the lightning fixtures settled back into being inanimate objects with teasing, musical hums. Chuunitrixx hummed back in the same tone, and Rodias could get a sense of being teased from what sounded like musical laughter.

It would serve to remind him that Chuunitrixx had spent almost an entire day singing.

Rodias sighed, simply leading Chuunitrixx to the elevator and taking her directly to Flan’s kitchen. The “elevators” were more like teleporters, given that they could move horizontally as well. It seemed that this formerly being a video game with some conventions such as that remained. Which was oddly convenient if one needed to get around the Chateau quickly. As the elevator moved, Rodias asked: [color=f7976a][b]”How are your scouts doing?”[/b][/color]

“[color=forestgreen]Uuuh.... well,[/color]” Chuunitrixx offered with a massive LADDELING of uncertainty. She’s never undertook such a degree. “[color=forestgreen]How... um.. Should they be doing... you know, out of curiosity.[/color] [color=red][b]I’m asking for a friend.[/b][/color]”

Rodias would pause, place his hand upon his own face, and slowly drag downward. [color=f7976a][b]”Didn’t you say that you had plans of expansion? I’m just trying to see if your plans are coming together at the start of it all. Have there been any problems?”[/b][/color]

“[color=forestgreen]Kiiinnnddaa...[/color]” Chuunitrixx poked her pointers together. “[color=red][b]I had some die to a stupid elephant.[/b][/color] [color=forestgreen]I wanna send more there, especially, but... also, to... the other places...[/color]” she looked up, “[color=forestgreen]How much can I send?[/color]”

Rodias was just kind of staring blankly at Chuunitrixx, before his cape formed into a black question mark that loomed over his back, head tilting as he quizically asked: [color=f7976a][b]”Well, how many do you have?”[/b][/color]

“[color=forestgreen]I made teams of 20, and I lost, uh, two from one, though,[/color]” Chuunitrixx says. “[color=red][b]There will be elephancide.[/b][/color]”

Rodias paused, looking down just a bit. He looked...almost sorrowful at the idea of two dying. [color=f7976a][b]”I see...if that is the only region we’ve incurred losses in then, I believe it’d be best to pull out from it.”[/b][/color]

“[color=red][b]Re[/b][/color][color=forestgreen]trea[/color][color=red][b]t!? Surely, you don’t[/b][/color] [color=forestgreen]suggest we just[/color] [color=red][b]give[/b][/color] [color=forestgreen]up!?[/color]” Chuunitrixx nearly lost it at the notion, as she fluxed in-between personalities. “[color=red][b]Ridiculous![/b][/color] [color=forestgreen]Preposterous![/color] [b][color=red]Lu[/color][color=forestgreen]di[/color][color=red]cro[/color][color=forestgreen]us![/color][/b]”

Rodias would shake his head, stating: [color=f7976a][b]”No. I’m not saying that we give up. I’m simply saying that putting your mimics to use in other locations would be a better investment. But, that’s merely a suggestion. They’ll only listen to you. But...do make sure to send back resources from the scouts. Traptrixx always was a fan of that strategy to bolster the forges,[/b][/color] just as the door to the elevator dinged open.

“[color=red][b]What I just spend more? Instead of a small place, a bigger place? More protected?[/b][/color] [color=forestgreen]And, more people to bring things back![/color]” Chuunitrixx says. “[color=forestgreen]So, maybe, I can borrow some horses...?[/color] [color=red][b][i]I totally don’t wan’a pony...[/i][/b][/color]”

Rodias paused in exiting the elevator, turning back to say: [color=f7976a][b]”If you think you can make that work to make up for the casualties, then I’ll allow it. Well, at Kaldorna’s leave, anyway. They’re her horses, after all. But, I’ll approve of increasing protection for the scouts. Also...why do you want a horse? You don’t plan on leaving the Chateau, do you?”[/b][/color]

“[color=forestgreen]I could never! I am to defend the whole. I could not leave,[/color]” Chuunitrix says. “[color=red][b][i]I could still ride it...[/i][/b][/color]” Chuunitrix pouted, before stepping off the elevator. “[color=forestgreen]Of course, I could spare the Mimics, no problem. I just cannot spare the attention, so I need them to be small enough that looking in would distract me form the whole, but large enough I can leave them in a safe autonomy.[/color]”

[color=f7976a][b]”I see,”[/b][/color] Rodias responded, fully leaving the elevator. [color=f7976a][b]”In that case, I’ll talk to Kaldorna about the horses once she returns. For now, allocate resources to fortify your scouts’ encampments. And, do try to not kill [i]all[/i] the elephants. Kaldorna may want a few for the Pens.[/b][/color]

“[color=red][b]I promise nothing.[/b][/color]” Chuunitrix says. “[color=forestgreen]I wonder, what’s a good number  for a population cap? 50? 100? 2000? Hm...[/color]” Rodias would be reminded, again, that Traptrixx loved RTS games.

Rodias crossed his arms. [color=f7976a][b]”If you manage to do well, I’ll consider getting you that pony. Also, definitely not 2000. That’s not even scouting anymore…”[/b][/color]

“[color=forestgreen]Well, what should I do then?[/color]” Chuunitrixx asks. “[color=red][b][i]Fiifffttyyy...?[/i][/b][/color]” she offered, trying to be slick about it.

[color=f7976a][b]”Fifty for each, or fifty total?”[/b][/color] Rodias asked, wanting specifics.

“[color=red][b]Each...?[/b][/color]” Chuunitrixx was testing the waters.

[color=f7976a][b]That’s a bit much for the time being,”[/b][/color] Rodias stated. It seemed he intended for Chuunitrixx to keep them below fifty in each scouting squad, at the very least.

Chuunitrix took that as a bad thing. “[color=forestgreen]So, not fifty per settlement...?[/color]”

Rodias sighed softly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. [color=f7976a][b]”Chuunitrixx, you need to keep the scouting parties small for now. A large settlement cropping up will draw significantly more attention, and put them in danger. Fifty PER settlement is a good cap to have, but any more and you start jeopardizing their cover.”[/b][/color]

Chuunitrixx gasped, and nodded. “[color=forestgreen]Nnhn! Nnhn![/color]” she understood. “[color=red][b]I’ll arrange them in a small, village-like fashion. If my population cap is fifty, I can divide that among my unit types,[/b][/color]” she hummed, “[color=forestgreen]I know what to do![/color]”

Rodias’ expression lightened, glad that Chuunitrixx finally understood. And she even repeated it back, to reiterate. [color=f7976a][b]”Go ahead and visit Flan. I need to take care of something at the archives.”[/b][/color]

Chunnitrixx nodded; confused as to why she needed to visit Flan, but more than willing to visit food. She’d a massive need to feed -- Flan was a second-hand thought, if anything.

And, so, with gusto, she burst into Flan's Kitchen, and started consuming everything in sight that she could put her hands on.
[hr]
Collab with [@The Irish Tree]