lantgreen

Remnants of the Past

The elevator ride seemed to last forever, Diana's lack of discussion creating an atmosphere of discomfort and he remained silent. Once the doors opened at the bottom of the building, the party was left to three. Marlin wasn't going to follow Diana anywhere at the moment, plus Eve had food. "Well I'm fuckin' starving, where's your place?" he tucked his hands his pockets and prepared for the walk. His headache was dulled now that the amount of pills he had digested took effect rather quickly. Though this also resulted in a stomachache and he need substance badly.

Remnants of the Past

Marlin listened closely to what Eve was talking about for the team's next plan. There was still a few things left to do in town, a day's worth perhaps, maybe two. He figured it would be best if he just tagged along rather than just do his own thing, get to know the team some more since he made the decision to to stay. "Free food at your place, I'm down," he said in a cheerful manner. With a hang over a lack of real substance the past couple days he could use some food. Yoki held the elevator door for the group and he found his way in after Diana, who glanced at him for a brief moment. Marlin felt the same thing as he did before when he first met her. A sense of fear, something penetrating his aura. He was nervous for a second before waving it off, realizing that whatever it was she was doing doesn't affect for him very long. "You okay?" he asked her gently, keeping eye contact as long as she held it. He knew Eve and Yoki would question what happened between the two if they never spoke, so he was trying to be less suspecting as possible, even if it meant doing something Diana probably didn't like.

Remnants of the Past

Half watching Eve smack Yoki and their attitude towards each other, Marlin was hit with a bottle of pills. It hit his shoulder and fell to the floor, "Oh thank god!" He said louder than what was necessary. He picked up the bottle, hearing that it was practically full by all the pills bouncing around in it. He grabbed the lid and straight up broke it off, not wanting to bother with the child safety lock. A few pills fell on the floor and Marlin proceeded to lift the bottle up and chug half the container like they were gummie snacks. a part of him knew it was stupid but another part of him wasn't worried, he had a strong liver that could handle enough alcohol for a giant, but then again, these were pills.

He tossed the container of pills back to Yoki, a couple falling out and on the floor during its flight, only to land at it's target with but a couple left, "Thanks buddy." Putting a small amount of aura into his organs he enhanced their functions, a secret of his he never told anybody which allowed him to drink and fight without being dulled, but occasionally he'd like the thrill of being drunk. He looked over to Ozpin before stating, "What I miss? What's our plan?"

Remnants of the Past

The night lasted longer than expected, between drinking the day before and being completely out of aura Marlin's body was shut down. His dreams were blank as his body rejuvenated and healed. He woke up feeling fully charged and his tail was rather okay, there was just one set back. Marlin had a huge headache, hungover from his hourly sips of his flask to shooting down every glass at the bar last night. His thought process wasn't exactly what you would call sharp so he took his time getting up and readying himself for the day. He was thinking about what Ozpin had said the day before, he could stay and help the team, help Ozpin really, or leave and go home. He was far away from home so that would easily take awhile. And there wasn't much for him to do back there.

Marlin made his way to the streets, a slight overcast but it would be a clear day as the hours went by. He started walking into town, towards the shops, most of which weren't open yet. His thoughts ran through the possibilities of having a team again. Granted it was short when Yoki was there but fighting with others was rather different. Plus something about the possible end of the world was a thing. His head hurt too much thinking and he rubbed his temple leaning against a lamp post trying to focus. With little debating he made his decision and started heading for Beacon.

Riding up the elevator to his office his head pounded harder, the sudden change in altitude resulted is more pressure. "GOD FUCKING," heard from behind the elevator doors, "DAMN IT," echoed through the room as the doors opened. "Gimme a pain pill Oz I'm dyin' here," leaning against one of the posts supporting the outer edge of the room. He spotted Diana first, assuming she had arrived shortly before him, thinking back to yesterdays events he could tell neither of them were gonna say anything about just by the way she looked at him. He glanced over to Eve and Yoki who looked like they've been up all night. "How's the kid? He doin' ok-" he grunted behind gritted teeth as his head throbbed another wave. "Just give me a fuckin' pill and I'll join your party, fuck."

Remnants of the Past

Marlin was quite pleased that she didn't retort with something filled with anger and hatred, it meant she was mature to see both sides, a lot of people didn't have that ability. The rest of the trip was silent, though he did take note of what she said, he had been judging other Kingdoms like his own, and the team he was with was a bit different but it wasn't something he was used to. When they arrived Marlin was about to open his mouth but Ozpin cut him off.

"Mr. Skyy," seeing the Faunus first before spotting the other, "Diana. I heard briefly what happened with Eve and Yoki, sorry they couldn't join us."

Marlin was quick to talk and getting straight to the point, his business was usually short, with a hand extended waiting for a check like usual, "And our terms from our last meeting? You want me to stay and play?"

Ozpin pulled out the Lien and handed it to the cat before answering, "If you wouldn't mind, I can't keep up the payments of your request but the team could use you, seeing what's at stake I'll let you decide."

With a nod and hand tucking away the money, he back away from the desk, "I'll think about it, you'll hear from me if I decide to join your little parade." With those final words he headed for the elevator, glancing at Diana without saying a word.

"I assume you wish to speak to Ironwood? He's not here at the moment but I'll be glad to help in anyway I can," Ozpin's attention redirected to Diana.

~~~

Leaving the tower Marlin headed for an inn he knew of on the far side of town, the quiet side really. He wanted a couple drinks before getting some rest. Sitting at the bar he stared into a nearby TV watching the news on bandit raids and White Fang activity. His thoughts went from their time meeting in the ruins, to joining up with the team and venturing to another set of ruins. He hadn't spent time with a group of people in a long time. It was nice to have a change of pace, he smiled taking a shot. His argument with Diana was not something he planned or expected but he could tell it was a mutual dislike that seemed to lighten up a bit. Another shot and he was feeling loose, the alcohol from his trip to sitting at the bar finally hit him. He sat still, remaining calm and peaceful, reminiscing the past days events.

Remnants of the Past

This wasn't the first time Marlin had heard this speech before, he's come across many who disliked him, and some for good reason, but they all still had it wrong. There was no avoiding the route since he needed to talk to Ozpin anyways, he continued to tag along, waiting at least a minute or two to let her calm down, remaining silent until he thought it best to speak. "I never said it was about me," a calm quiet tone in his voice to which remained through the discussion, he wasn't trying to aggravate or raise his volume. "And I don't take advantage of peoples sympathy. Sure I may be lucky cause I survived, but you're right about those people. The ones who aren't lucky, the ones who struggle everyday begging for substance and hiding around every corner not knowing if they're gonna live tomorrow." He paused for a moment before continuing, "Vaccuo is filled with the unlucky. I never said it was about me, I said it was about every hunter I come across, because of them I'm the one standing up and fighting, I'm the one taking the bullet and living in shambles so the ones who have a hard time, don't have to be scared anymore. I'm the one fighting cause Hunters don't."

Remnants of the Past

'Reckless and Impulsive' ran through Marlin's head a few times. He couldn't quite think of a time he really was, besides the stone door that crushed his tail but that was good reason. Yoki was the reckless and impulsive one, but keeping his head on straight he wasn't going to argue that point, no reason to change her mind if it was already made. However she had to mention 'his kind' and it flipped him the wrong way. "My kind?" he asked quickly before gaining ground just short of her side, "What because I'm a Faunus? Because I grew up poor? Because I'm a freelancer is that it?" His flask was out of his hand at this point, resting in its usual spot in his pocket. "I've fought endlessly since I was a child because Hunters failed to do their job, so sorry if I'm wrong about you but you don't seem much different."

Remnants of the Past

Marlin was rather upset that she had so quickly turned down his attempt at small talk. All he wanted was to just pass the time but it seemed even he couldn't do that. She mentioned that her work on his tail was half at what it should be but he has had his tail crushed before and it was just fine. He wasn't one for fancy hospitals and hooked up to machines and monitoring equipment, not his forte. Marlin groaned in response, "Fine, I try to be nice, but I don't have to be, I'm only here cause I'm paid to be so I might as well get along but it seems you hunters never change." He took a sip from his flask and put on an eerie mood. Even to this day he couldn't find a single hunter or huntress that was respectful to him, except for Eve, but even then he started to question if she was acting or not.

Remnants of the Past

THIS IS A THING!!!

Remnants of the Past

"Farewell?" Marlin questioned, "The ambulance just took off with out us and you're gonna leave me here on the edge of the city? You're not getting rid of me that easy," as much as the two had yet to get along, they were still apart of a team for Ozpin, that and Marlin didn't like walking alone, especially if he was impaired in some way, and in this case he was weak willed. "Besides, I think your work on my tail will do just fine, all I need is a good night's rest and my aura will do the work," a goofy smile on his face as he whipped out his flask and proceeded to walk with Diana towards Beacon.

They had a bit of a walk through the city, seeing as Beacon was in the middle. Marlin stuck close to Diana, not too close but enough to where he felt comfortable in case he passed out along the way or something. Wanting to make small talk in an attempt to get along and shorten the time to Ozpin, "So, how'd Ironwood find you?" curious as to how her career started as a soldier. Seeing as she probably didn't know him, and probably didn't want to know him, he decided to ask her first, hoping it would lighten the heavy mood.