[IC] Remnants of the Past

[lantgreen]

Marlin kept his mouth shut for the most part while the two left the ruins and made their way to Vale. He was mainly enjoying his high from the White Fang members aura. It filled his body and made his senses sharpened but with a bit of fog to it, so he could read that something was there fast but had no idea what it was, which made judging hard. However the high only lasted for about an hour as his aura pool was continuously overflowing till the the excess was gone. Upon arrival at the airship he merely sat silent only speaking to himself while drinking from his flask, refilling it when they passed through Vale for a brief moment. 'I hope he's got my check or I'm gonna raise some hell, but then again, he never had ill intentions toward me, I'll give him time if he doesn't have it, who am I kidding, of course he does,' he laughed to himself. They arrived at Beacon and Eve spoke of home, "This is home? Good for you," he said quietly thinking of his dinky little bunker.

The elevator ride up was rather short for Marlin, that is because he had drank so much from the long the trip, nothing better to past the time than a strong buzz from your favorite drink. The doors opened and the floor was on the ceiling for a second. Marlin made a half-step stumble out following Eve. His employer spoke to which he replied, "I hold many titles and your witnessing two," his voice lagging a bit in vowels, "The ruins are clear and I can hold my liquor," he said with a laugh, a hiccup, and another sip from his flask only to have it empty, "Ah shit," he looked up to Ozpin, standing at a slant like he was about to fall over, "Got any more Ozzy old buddy," his eyes trailed around the room till he landed on the red head. A small shriek came from his lips, "Ah fuck," his heart racing and he felt his aura penetrated slightly. He looked away quickly knowing something was wrong but he couldn't tell what, "Who brought the soldier?"

[LemonZest1337]

Diana looked up briefly as the elevator opened then went back to looking at the floor. The brief glimpse she caught of her new "team" was already underwhelming. Her outlook on them didn't improve as they spoke either. The woman seems to lack respect and the man was a drunken fool. Even if she wasn't trained to avoid eye contact she still wouldn't be looking up at these two. She was particularly agitated by the drunk one, he stank of liquor and was so pissed he was nearly falling over. Diana gritted her teeth this is just splendid... Diana then stopped leaning on the wall but didn't move closer to the others. She kept a close eye on Marlin, she would give him a brief glare if she notice him looking at her.

[Misumichan]

“Reminds me of Qrow,” Eve chuckled.
“Indeed,” Ozpin looked back at Eve. “Yoki isn't with you?”
“I was trying to stop him from running off again…” Eve sighed as her heart grew heavy. “He insists that on going after the man that killed Rufous and Cyrus. He's is determined to catch him.”
“And you aren't?” Ozpin’s voice took a darker tone of concern. He knew it was a sore spot still and that she has yet to really confront it.
“No. Revenge isn't my thing,” Eve gave him a sad smile of assurance. “I've seen what it's done to Yoki lately.”
“That's good to hear is hate to see you go down that path.” Ozpin smiles with slight relief.
“Well at least he left around the time we finished our mission,” Eve pouted bitterly.
“Did you find anything?” Ozpin asked.
“Nothing significant, there were signs that they were there but all that was left was way too many Grimm and discarded equipment. Seems as if the White Fang is working with them.” Eve reported as serious as she could be but quickly she lit up about her historical find, “Oh but I did find this after we cleared out the Grimm!” Eve reached around her back and started to fish around in what’s usually her bag of Dust Crystals but she noted there were now only three and the rather peculiar cube she found. She pulled out the cube and placed it on the desk. “I don't suppose you have any ideas on what it could be?”
“It doesn't look like a typical relic,” he picked it up and examined the strange markings on the smooth metallic looking stone. “I don't think I've seen anything like this before.”
“That's what I thought but Yoki didn't believe me.” Eve sighed in annoyance. “He thought it was some junk left behind. I don't know what our mystery group would want with it.”
“Hmm, you think you could look into it?” Ozpin offered the cube back.
“Of course, I really want to know what it does!” As Eve was about to take the cube, Ozpin pulled his hand back.
“Although, you'll need a new teammate while Yoki is away,” he leaned back in his chair and placed both hands on the box, rotating it slowly. “Someone might try and retrieve it and I'd feel better if you had someone else to look out for you.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Eve pouted. She prefered to stick with her team from school but Yoki’s all that's left. “Do you have someone in mind?”
“Yes,” Ozpin smirked and glanced over at Diana. Eve followed his gaze and couldn't help but squirm a bit not wanting to join with someone new. “I was planning to have Miss Seraph join you and Yoki when you came back but for now this will have to do.”
“Is that so.” Eve looked at Diana. She was uncertain about how to proceed but she figured an introduction was in order, “I'm Eve Oriole! Looks like we'll be working together.” Eve smiled at her, ignoring this nervous feeling she had.
Ozpin looked back at Marlin who could barely stand and narrowed his eyes. “Tell me, Mr.Skyy would you like to make some extra Lien?”

[lantgreen]

Marlin did his best to listen to the conversation, he couldn't comprehend most of it but could tell there was something to do with a group of people, a new team, and investigating. At least that is what he thought. Marlin took a seat at Ozpin's tea table closing his eyes for the tail end of the discussion, trying his best to find a balance in his mind to cling to so he could function for about half a second. It failed. Instead a short snore came up and a bang from his head hitting the table when he heard his name, snapping awake he turned his attention to the group. "Huh, team? Group? Marling Skyy at your service," he took a deep breath and shook his head hard to jump start his brain. He then realized that he was asked a question by Ozpin, turning his attention to the man at the desk he smiled, "Only if the zeros match our last deal," he said, not going out light handed.

[LemonZest1337]

Diana looked at the cube slightly interested by the apparent secrets it could hold, she made sure to listen to the conversation between Ozpin and Eve very carefully. From this she gathered that they had lost teammates and there was another who was supposed to be there, also that this mystery group was linked with the whit fang in some way. She took a step forward as Ozpin used her name but she avoided eye contact.

Diana looked down at Eve and held out her hand. "My name is Diana Seraph. Pleasure to meet you." her face and tone did not match her words, she was aware of this but still persisted in attempting to be nice. She would tell her team of her semblance later, she needed to trust them more. If Eve made any sign of being uncomfortable Diana would turn her head to the side. She then looked next to Ozipin but adressed Eve assuming she was going to be the leader of this team, she knew she didn't want to lead "So Eve Oriole. What is our first objective?" Diana's eye twitched as she heard Marlin's head collide with the coffee table. Drunken fool...

[Misumichan]

Eve happily shook Diana's hand. She noticed that Diana wasn't making eye contact. She must not be the most social either. Eve could understand so she decided not to be pushy. Eve laughed as Marlin's head hit the table.
“Perhaps it might be best to discuss the new terms of our arrangement when you become a little more coherent,” Ozpin couldn't help but smile at Marlin's drunken stupor. He looked on as the two women discussed what to do next.
“Uhm well,” Eve stammered quickly racking her brain. She had an idea of what to do but in that moment it escaped her. She was more concerned about how well they would work together. She took a deep breath and it came back to her. “Oh, I do remember seeing in my notes of similar runes in Forever Fall. Investigating the ruins there might get us a few more clues about the relic.”
“Speaking of the relic,” Ozpin stood up and walked around his desk with the Relic in hand. “Diana I'm going to entrust this to you,” Ozpin offered the peculiar cube to Diana. “Eve has a tendency to get a little too wrapped up in her work and can disappear doing so.”
“Hey!” Eve started to oppose but he was right. “I guess it is true…” She still couldn't help but pout a bit.
“I advise you keep it out of sight,” Ozpin had a slight smile on his face but his voice was rather serious. “If she does need to see it make sure you don't let her out of your sight.”

[LemonZest1337]

After retracting her head Diana made a mental note that this Eve may not be as bad as she first anticipated. She listened to Eve explain about the runes in Forever Fall and nodded which may have look strange considering she was not facing Eve. "Alright then." She turned and looked at the relic that was being presented to her, she took it and carefully put it away in one of her many pockets."I'll make sure everything runs smoothly Ozpin. You have my word." Hearing of Eve's lack of restraint irritated her, but to be fair most things irritated Diana.

"She'll not leave my sight sir." Diana looked Eve up and down then took another mental not that she was to be constantly surveyed, and her whereabouts remembered. All my training and I'm sent here to babysit these... children! Who can't even stay focused when their objective is the survival of mankind... Diana hid her frustration until she looked over at Marlin, she was fine if everyone knew she didn't like him. Because she didn't feel that this was going to change any time soon. She grinded her teeth together at the sight if the drunk man, "May I request that we be on our way Eve? The sooner we get to Forever Fall the sooner you get to unlock these secrets." She said this hoping it would appeal to Eve's urge to research, she had noticed how much Eve must enjoyed it. Also she was hoping that if they left now the drunk would be left behind.

[lantgreen]

A nod of agreement came from Marlin when Ozpin spoke of speaking later, knowing he was in now shape to make any deal. He put himself in that situation knowing full well that he was completely vulnerable, but he enjoyed the buzz too much. A conversation continued with the remainder of the people in the room, Marlin did his best to maintain consciousness, it was easy he just didn't want to fall asleep and wind up locked in Ozpin's office over night. The new girl didn't seem fond of him, he didn't care, he didn't really care about anybody, only Lien and his bunker, and his flask. Knowing that his first impressions were never the greatest they were still pretty accurate to who he was, but he knew most underestimated his combat capabilities. With little focus he heard a request to leave from Diana, he didn't want to be left with Ozpin so he stood up and made his clumsy way over to the elevator. He really enjoyed Eve's company, who was also great eye candy, if they were forming a team he would gladly follow her. The elevator dinged and opened, he held his hand to keep the doors from closing, "Right this way ladies," his throat sounding sore and his head throbbing.

[Misumichan]

Eve walked the familiar path through the forest of Forever Fall. She couldn't help but feel nostalgic. This was a place of firsts for her. This place was location of her first mission with Team CERY. These ruins they were heading to were the ones that lit her passion for the ancient past of Remnant. It's also the place that she first fell in love with Rufous so it also made her feel sad. This was the first time she came to these ruins without Rufous.
“The stepping stones of the past will build a better future…” Eve mumbled to herself as they reached the entrance to the ruins, which was a stairway that ascended the rather broken down tower. At one point in history it was quite tall given the amount of rubble that was embedded in the dirt and encrusted with plant life. It now stood only to the treetops and only one floor was really accessible. “This is the place,” Eve voiced with sad excitement. She was ready to learn something new but the past weighed on her as she started to climb the stairs.

[LemonZest1337]

Diana was silent the entire journey to Forever Fall, all tho she was from Atlas she'd been almost all over remnant on missions. And Forever Fall was on of these places. She actually liked it here. The colours and the smells were very different from Atlas' whites. But this beautiful place was slightly less enjoyable because of Marlin's presence, Diana ignored this fact to the best of her ability and continued on behind Eve. Her gaze scanned everywhere making sure no hostiles were hiding in wait ready to ambush them.

She looked down at the mumbling Eve for a short time then resumed her surveillance of the area. As they approached the ruins Diana unsheathed her blade so she could be ready for the possibility of Grimm."So this is or destination. Interesting." she glanced over at Eve,"Do you require the relic Ms Eve?" Diana inquired and put the hand that wasn't holding her sword in her pocket and begun fishing around for the relic. Diana was indeed interested on how these temples are linked to a force that is trying to undo humanity and all it's creations. What purpose could this place possibly serve...

[lantgreen]

With the hours that have past from their trip between the tower and the forest, Marlin had sobered up. Thinking back on his actions in the office he didn't regret a thing, first impressions were accurate for him and he's sure that Ozpin got a good laugh at his performance. Currently being the only guy in the group he was curious at where his other feral friend was, even though he knew Yoki didn't like him, he knew a lot of people didn't like him, so far he wasn't getting the vibe from Eve which made him want to stick close at least.

Marlin pulled out his scroll, he didn't like using it but it was primarily for his banking and navigation. Satisfied that the transfers went through, he now had the zeros he wanted, gladly doing anything Ozpin asked of him. The new team, with a missing member, was walking through the ruins. These ruins were familiar to Marlin, he's never been here himself but he's heard a lot about the place. The girls walked in front and Marlin stuck to the back, his hands in his pockets as he looked around, occasionally glancing at Eve's butt. His tail swung from side to side while his ears twitched in different directions to hear if anything was nearby. The dust of the ruins was like a fog the smells of the area, he wouldn't be able to sniff out any Grimm if they came close, he'd have to be careful.

Eve spoke of arriving and Diana offered the relic, Marlin turned his back to the girls keeping an eye out. He had no business with learning about the relic or anything, his job now was to fight, as it always was, this time however instead of Grimm, it would be anything that got in the teams way, Grimm, White Fang, or the mystery group. Marlin stayed off his flask for a bit, not wanting to get drunk or buzzed, he was in the mood to fight. Though he could tell something was floating right around with Eve, he figured it best to leave her be and just watch their back, "This place has a lot of opportunity for something to strike," he said cautiously, he was more aware than frightened, nothing really pushed Marlin to the point where he would back out.

[Misumichan]

“Not at the moment,” Eve replied to Diana. “Keep it for now as much as I'd love to compare here and now, for the time being I'd like take a few more detailed notes on this place and I can compare later.” Eve didn't want to say the real reason. For a while she couldn't help but feel like they were being watched. She thought it best not to have the relic out in the open. She didn't mention it because she didn't want to tip off the spy just yet.
Red leaves fell through the crumbling ceiling. In fact all that was left of the ceiling, when they got to the top, was an archway above the stairs. What used to be a room was now an open round balcony about level with the tree tops of Forever Fall. Eve looked around, briefly at the what remained of the walls but also out at the treetops. She grab the two halves of Tippetarius and put them together. “You know it's rude to spy on a lady!” Eve pointed her staff at the spy soon as she spotted them in the treetops. He jumped out of hiding and went straight for Eve. When the White Fang got slightly larger it surprised Eve but she still managed to block the kick with her staff. The downward force was intense Eve felt the ground crack underneath her feet. His boots fired off Tippetarius to launch him back. Eve opened the large fan and blew the masked attacker back into the trees in a quick swing before she realized she was falling.

[LemonZest1337]

Diana nodded and returned the relic to her pocket, she had also just noticed that someone was watching them. She also noticed that Eve noticed She seems perceptive. She then pretended to watch leaves fall so she could look for the cause of tingling on the back of her neck. Whoever is hiding is pretty good at it. She was shocked when Eve called out revealing that she knew someone was there, there is no way that could work! But of coarse it did and the spy showed himself, still slightly bewildered by the fact Eve just up and shouted to the spy. She got into a stance and watched the spy grow slightly. Semblance noted. Easy enough to work around. She watched Eve block the attack and saw the ground crack under her, Perfect... she dived down the expanding hole after Eve and caught her under one arm. "What were you thinking. Calling out to the spy like that?..." Diana using her free hand aimed the sword at the wall and trusted it into it. She held on tight hurting her arm slightly with the sudden weight of the two.

Diana hissed as she held Eve. "I'm letting you go now. Be ready." Diana then dropped the now hopefully prepared Eve. She would then proceed to remove her blade from the wall and fall to the ground cracking the floor slightly. She took a deep breath having used some aura to perform that landing.

[lantgreen]

The three stood at the top of the ruined tower, Marlin was looking another direction from the other two ladies, scanning the lay of the land, seeing if he could spot any possible dens or nest locations. Eve spoke about spying on her, he thought she was referring to him staring at her from time to time but instead he heard a rustling noise from a nearby tree. Marlin's ear twitched in the direction before his body could. The last thing he saw was her getting smashed through the floor with Diana quickly jumping after her, "What the fuck!" His reaction loud, for one second it was peaceful but for another everything went to hell. Marlin darted to the hole, his tail keeping his balance behind him so he wouldn't fall. He noticed the ground beneath him was still crumbling but at least Diana had caught their beloved leader.

Marlin sighed, they were still stuck however, "Good catch," he said in a soft tone, his attitude getting serious about the situation. He quickly extended his aura to his hands and feet, throwing wind dust crystals into them. Before he could approach the hole and reach down, Diana let them both go, her sword giving way from the wall, at the same instance the very ground beneath him collapsed. Using his weight to rotate his body he was able to plant a foot on the wall, with one kick like he was taking off at the start of an Olympic sprint he fell faster than the girls. Diana seemed strong enough to take care of herself and he could already sense her switch her aura to protect her body. However he wasn't detecting the same thing from Eve. He went after Eve, another strong kick at the wall and his amplified feet gave him another boost to catch up to her. "I gotcha!" He shouted grabbing hold of her around the waist with his tail and one hand, he pulled her tight and extended his free arm out with his legs stretched straight. Their falling speed decreased tremendously like a parachute had opened. The wind dust in his body was allowing him to fall at a slower rate, gradually bring them both to solid ground. "Hero of the hour I must say so myself," he said cockily looking down at Eve, his damsel in distress.

[Misumichan]

“I didn't think the floor would beak!” Eve was a bit scared when she looked up at Diana. She quickly looked back down in fear of her wrath and to see how far down it would go. “I fought stuff up there before. I thought it'd be fine.”
When both Diana and Marlin helped save Eve, she was grateful. The hole was a bit too narrow for her to properly use Tippetarius to slow her fall. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at Marlin’s hero line, she had a slight smirk though.
“Holy crap there are more ruins underground?!” Eve broke free of Marlin and looked around the dark hallway they landed in. “This is so cool!” Eve beamed but her face grew sad again. “Too bad Rufous isn't here to see this… Wish I knew about this sooner.” She sighed and looked back up the hole. “Well doesn't look like he'll be coming after us like this.” Eve divided her staff and returned half of Tippetarius to the clip on her back and fished around in her dust crystal bag realizing she forgot to get more before they came here. “Hmm maybe I'll use the chipped one from earlier. I mean it's either that or my last fire crystal…” Eve pulled out the fire one and shrugged. “Whatever worth it!” Eve jammed the crystal into the dust chamber of half of Tippetarius. She opened the fan and the dust conducting canvas illuminated red. “There now we can see!”

[LemonZest1337]

Diana Sheathed her sword and frowned at the lack of light she also rolled her eyes at Marlin's hero comment. She listened patiently to Eve and guessed that whoever this Rufous was had been close to Eve and perished so she didn't pry, she looked up at the hole in the roof and sighed that will not be an easy climb... She looked back at Eve and Marlin briefly then down at the floor, Marlin seemed to not be a drunk idiot all the time. This didn't make Diana mad, it didn't make her happy either.

"Next time you would do better to not announce our knowledge of the enemy so flippantly. Next time it may not be some size changing child." she scowled at the floor as she usually did when she was agitated, to an onlooker she would look kinda silly. But it was better then having her scowling at them, even if they didn't know it. She sighed "Indeed. We'll worry about him later, or more accurately I'll worry about him later. As you two don't seem capable of doing so." Diana was indeed very angry at the moment, in her eyes that whole encounter was a sloppy mess, a sorry excuse of a battle however short it was.

She then remained silent and stood behind Eve and Marlin watching the walls light up as Eve moved her now glowing fan blade around. Babysitting idiotic children... It is amazing they have survived this long...

[lantgreen]

Marlin was slightly disappointed when she escaped her grasp and ran off into the ruins. That was the longest and closest he's ever really gone to her and she didn't seem to mind, he smirked to himself a little bit. She spoke of an old friend of hers and he couldn't really feel any sympathy about it, he had some old friends but those times were long gone, Marlin was a solo man who enjoyed the occasional company of a woman.

"The floor was giving out anyways, don't throw it out on her just because we had a small fall," Marlin spoke to Diana, sticking up for Eve in a sort of way but not to be personal, he just didn't want attitude the whole time. He saw Eve struggle finding a dust crystal, even though he had plenty to go around and funds to cover any more he wanted, he wasn't going to share. His crystals were always cut small enough to easily break under pressure, allowing the release of the energy to be absorbed by his aura. If he ran out of dust, he wouldn't be as strong.

The room lit up and Marlin followed Eve into the ruins, "So were here to study your relic, White Fang is watching us, and now we don't have a way out, sounds like a trap to me, you gotta plan?" He asked, if she did great, if not well he'd just punch his way out. Marlin wasn't one to be trapped and he especially didn't like situations where he didn't have the advantage.

[Misumichan]

“It's fine Marlin,” Eve stepped in. “I was being a bit too ambitious calling out to him like that. I figured with just one spy we'd be fine.” Eve started down the dark hall. “Well this might just be what we need. We'll probably find more answers down here than up there.” Eve looked over her shoulder at the two and gave a slight smile. “For now let's focus on a way out and I can do some research along the way. I think we can handle any Grimm or that spy just fine.”
Eve glanced around the walls as they walked looking for any runes but there was just some unique patterns. Eve looked ahead and caught a glimpse of something that reflects the light she's holding. Eve started running towards it, carefully watching her step to not trip on the old flooring. “I see something ahead!” Eve shout back with excitement. They enter a large room there were all sorts of painted, engraved symbols on the walls and only one way in. “How interesting! It looks like some sort of ancient language I'm usually not that bad at deciphering them but this is something way older than anything I’ve seen. Even older than the stuff on the surface.” Eve moved in closer to get a better look, enamored by this new find. She almost missed the fact that there were Grimm in the room. She caught a glimpse of glowing eyes. She dodged the claws of a Beowolf and backed up to her teammates. “That was close.” She quickly surveyed the large room for the layout and the amount of Grimm. There were quite a few. "You two up for a little action?"

[LemonZest1337]

Diana would scowl at Marlin even if only for a moment, she had disregarded what he had said because she believed the floor was perfectly stable. She then listened to Eve as they walked through the ruins, she rolled her eyes as Eve sped up forcing her to increase her pace. As she stepped into the large room she looked around her interests being slightly peaked. She put her hand into her pocket thinking now would be a good time to see if it did anything, but her plans were cut short as the grimm appeared. She sighed "So Eve do you want the relic now?" she asked with a slightly bitter tone.

Diana unsheathed her blade and cut the closest Grimm in half, she simply walked forward slowly doing the same thing to any Beowolfs that attempted to attack her. Child's play... she thought to herself as she advanced on Eve's position slowly. "I can keep you covered while you conduct your research." Diana proposed wanting this endeavour to be finished as quickly as possible. She continued to cleanly cut through Grimm as she made her way next to Eve. She responded to Eve's question by simply cutting down more Grimm.

[lantgreen]

Marlin watched Eve as she approached a wall, studying it till she was attacked. He stepped forward hands raised and light on his feet, a little bounce to his step. "I knew I smelt something behind all the dust," he said anxiously ready to fight. With aura put into his hands and feet, he threw on flame dust crystals. He felt like it was necessary, even though he didn't like using them for Beowolfs, the contact of his fiery hand would create a small blast of light to illuminate the area. Marlin ran into the horde, agreeing with Diana that they could handle if she wanted to study but he could also tell she was itching for a fight, a Beowolfs were easy at their rank.

Head first into the battle Marlin jumped and kicked two aside, pushing them back against the wall, staggered for a moment as a target for someone else. He turned his attention quickly to the others, several swipes came at him fast, a step back grabbing an extended claw he used its weight against itself, rolling it over his body and causing it to collide with another. He sprinted at a couple in the back, getting serious he threw a right punch into the biceps of one of the Grimm, shearing its arm off while driving his dominate left in an uppercut fashion.