Mcmolly

Plague-Hunters 2

Sorry about the brief silence, been a hectic week. Will have a post up this evening for sure!

Plague-Hunters 2

Willo

Willo tuned into the conversation just long enough to hear that they would likely be able to actually kill whatever was awaiting them, and then turned her attention to the castle once more. Dark passages, plenty of old toppled things to climb on, chandeliers oh my god it was a castle there were probably going to be chandeliers she could hardly wait.

“... take this lightly, as this may be one of the biggest challenges you’ll have ever faced.”

@NanoFreakV2

She blinked, that didn't sound right, Lazarus normally wasn't one to encourage levity, or lightheartedness, or fun. Perhaps she'd missed that low, foreboding "Do-Not" that she'd come to see as one of their teacher's trades. Guffaw to that, Willo thought, this was their last big step to becoming fully-fledged Hunters, like hell she was gonna treat it like some sort of examination. She was going to cut all the beasties and climb all the things, and she was gonna have fun doing it dammit.

"If you have any further questions you can ask them once were at the castle. I'd prefer the rest of the way be spent in silence."

@NanoFreakV2

With a lowering of her head, Willo mumbled something that vaguely sounded like "Yes sir..." before following along. Fine, no singing, humming, whistling, talking, whispering, or anything that could even possibly anger Lazarus. She knew well enough the difference between annoyance and fury, and while she'd never outright seen their teacher display anything much above his normal register, Willo was in no rush to push the envelope any further.

Instead she busied herself by observing the town they entered. Dull for the most part, all dim-yellow lights and ye-olde architecture, but there was something to be said for the comforting feel it brought. Rare were the times Willo felt she could truly relax in their day and age, but as they meandered through the streets, she felt a calming warmth within her. Then in a flicker it was gone when Lazarus came to a stop outside of the bustling tavern. Fifteen minutes? What could he get done in a tavern in fifteen minutes? Willo felt an overwhelming urge to follow the man, subtly of course, but figured it best to stay put. She liked to fancy herself a bit of a sneak, but to think she could trail a guy like their teacher without being noticed was ludicrous, even to her. So, she raised her arms up and stretched, letting out a pleasant trill at the popping of her joints, then looked to Ramone and Aelar, a big grin splitting her face.

"You guys ready? Can't wait to get in there, crack a few skulls, eh? Eh?" she said, giving Aelar a little nudge with her elbow. "Does kinda suck though, the whole closed-quarters thing, sorry Rammy. But hey I'm sure you can still put some good shots through their eyes, plus you got me an' Aelar here to make sure nothin' gets too close for comfort, y'know?"

NCQuest: Smith's Rest

Eli watched Mad-E get into position, and Swarm swoop up high into the air, but her feet were stayed. The distant siege tanks were brought up in her HUD, and though they did not look to be in the best of shape collectively, they were still armed to the tooth and ready to blow anything that got close to shreds.

Her allies struck first: Swarm unleashing his hail of missiles, and Mad-E her cluster of explosives. They hit well for the most part, but in the ensuing exchange she saw both of them receive a fair potion of damage as well. Swarm was high enough to avoid a brunt attack, but Mad-E looked to have been stuck high on the body, and Eli felt a lump form in her throat.

She quickly opened their comms channel. "Madison, Joe, damage report."

So soon. They aren't dead. You couldn't survive a hit like that. Our NCs are different, they're fine.

To her side, the radio clicked to life again. "Lizzy? Is everything alright? ...Who got hurt?"

"No one got hurt, Vi, everything's fine," she said, gripping the controls. "I need a quick moment, alright?"

"Sure..." Vera said quietly. "Be safe okay?"

"Yes ma'am."

There was no longer time to waste, at this range Eli was sure that they couldn't outlast the veritable fortresses forever. She brought up Blur's single-unit targeting system and scanned over the two tanks. The information she got was simple at best, no blueprints, no integrity readings, not even the caliber of their ammunition. It did however show her that the aft turret of the less-optimal tanks was more or less out of the picture. With a passing mental confirmation, the system focused upon tank #1. Still she was given very little information regarding the enemy itself, but her mind was flooded with lists of options for approach.

Blur's engines flared to life, and she rocketed to the side in a wide arc around the battlefield. She'd have to approach from the damaged side in hopes that she could close the distance before they re-positioned --if they even could. When the angle was good, Blur shot off in a storm of dirt and dust towards the tank. She did not reach for her energy blade, damned if that would do her much good against such heavy armor, nor did she go for the shotgun. Instead, Blur prepared a demolition charge, keeping it ready for priming. Against an NC, prolonging close-range combat was ideal, but she didn't know what the tanks might have up their sleeves, so the quicker she could get in and get out, the better.

RWBY AU;Heroes of a Different Story (Mission terminated. Wishing you all well.)

Got a pretty hefty workload to get finished today, will be able to collab tomorrow.

NCQuest: Smith's Rest

Got a few heavier assignments to finish today. I'll try to get a post up this evening, but if not, there will certainly be one tomorrow!

Plague-Hunters 2

Damn dude, good luck with everything on the RL side, sounds like a rough time.

Plague-Hunters 2

Did Arnold just ask Sapphire out on the weirdest date ever?

Plague-Hunters 2

Willo

"The graves~ Have filled~
It's time to burn the dead~
Keep strong~ Your wills~
The Plague has come again~"

The song's somber tone struggled against the lighter voice that sang it. As Willo leaned against the railing of the ship, her eyes cast into the infinite darkness of the sea, she found it calmed her nerves to fill the air with a song. Even if it wasn't per say a happy one, it was associated with the Hunters, and that would do well enough for the situation, she figured.

"The night~ It comes~
And never shows to end~
Keep bright~ Your eyes~
The Plague has come again~"

Willo was not used to riding on boats, in fact, the sea itself set her a bit on edge. Her home had been high in Straneyeth, she had never thought of drowning as a way to die. Though now that the possibility was real, it was less because of her disbelief and more because she'd never learned to swim. But what use did birds have for such skills?

"With blades~ And Light~
We Hunters shall descend~
Keep far~ Your fears~
The Plague has come again~"

At length they came upon the end of their journey, the harbor in sight and in the distance a figure more imposing even than Mister Lazarus loomed. A grand castle, at least from what she could tell, with all sorts of nooks and crannies to clamber upon. If this truly was to be their final assignment, she was relieved to think that at least she could have some fun with it. As they all moved to exit the ship, she finished her little song, voice carrying off to fade amidst the crisp seaside air.

"The beasts~ We hunt~
No longer fellow men~
Keep true~ Your souls~
The Plague has come again~"

Willo couldn't quite keep her eyes on Lazarus as he explained the story of their would-be trial area, though that wasn't to say she didn't listen. In fact, the tale quite fascinated her. She loved old stories about kings and castles, dragons and the valiant knights who slayed them. She liked to think of the Hunters as knights in some way or another, though their work was far less glorious, and probably wouldn't end up in any children's tales. All the same, the leathers she wore felt as armor, and Cinderwill her trusty sword to carry her through adventures. Or vice-versa. Either way, really.

She patted the satchel bound tight to her side and grinned, both to Lazarus and her fellow students. "Set and ready to cut down some beasts, how about you guys?"

Perhaps leading with the vigor of killing beasts wasn't the best way to address them. Ramone had never been fond of the act, which she could understand --even respect-- though that didn't stop her from given him a hard time about it now and again. Aelar on the other hand was fun enough, with the kind of personality she enjoyed bouncing conversations off of. A good group, she thought, though it was hard to tell if Lazarus thought so as well.

NCQuest: Smith's Rest

Welcome to NCDaycare

NCQuest: Smith's Rest

Eli Pre-post

Eli was tempted to drop back by the room to see if Vera had woken up, but she was on duty, and if it couldn’t be done from inside her NC, then it didn’t need to be done at all. When the briefing was over, she made straight for the hangar like most of the other pilots, and while she was moving it was easy enough to wash out her thoughts and troubles. However, on the ride up to Blur’s cockpit she was once again struck with doubts. Her slighted victory, her failure to recognize the number of hostiles, the way she’d been so easily goaded into striking with emotion over logic, all of it weighed on her as she ascended.

In the pilot’s seat proper, sealed in and all, she yanked the scarf down and pulled back her hood the same as before. This time however it was already hard to get steady breaths, as if she’d doomed herself from the start.

”Begin sync…” she mumbled, more out of necessity than mood.

Don’t do this right now. Two siege tanks? That was range, heavy range. If they hit her she likely wouldn’t live long enough to realize how bad the damage was. You’re going to embarrass yourself. Sync. All of it would be over in a blink.

>Found User: <Jackspar, Elizabeth>
>Beginning Synchronization
>1%
>5%
>15%
>30%
>34%
>35%
>35%
>35%

”No no no. Shit!" Eli could feel the mental hiccup stalling her progress. It wasn’t helping her stress levels, and she could only pray that there was nothing relaying her vitals. God knows she didn’t need that sort of dirt on her record.

>35%
>34%
>34%

If you can’t control yourself they won’t be able to trust you. They shouldn’t. She caught a glimpse of herself in the glint of the metal around her, and was disgusted by how shaken she looked. What would her mother think, if she saw her in such a sorry state? You know exactly what she’d think.

”Lizzy?”

Eli nearly shouted in surprise at the disembodied voice. After a moment she realized it was coming from a radio she had not previously noticed, which was embedded into the systems before her.

”Vera? Did you put this in here?”

”’Course not, I used my Assistant-Power to have someone else put it there. I’m supposed to help out, remember?”

For a few moments Eli was merely silent. It was hard to fight the smile that crept onto her face. Vera piped back up when she received no answer.

”…That’s okay, right?”

”Sure is, Vi. Can’t be doing all the work on my own, right?”

Vera giggled on the other end. ”Yes ma’am."

>35%
>45%
>60%
>85%
>99%
>Synchronization Complete

As soon as Duncan entered the doors he paused for a moment and padded some of the snow off the bottom of his pants to which he heard two faint giggles. Looking up he could see two young girls sitting at one of the tables laughing at him, one about 10 with blonde hair, the other 7 with red hair and freckles.

When Ana noticed Duncan looking at her, she stopped and kind of looked at the table. She knows it's not really right to laugh at people - with them is fine, but not AT them - but the fact he didn't notice the snow on his pants until he came in was kind of funny.

Vera on the other hand did not shy from Duncan's attention. She knew a good laugh when she saw one, and seeing as fewer people nowadays joked in Smith's Rest, she'd take anything she could get. "Must be cold, huh?" she asked.

"Yup, pretty chilly out there. You girls keeping warm?" Slowly he walked over to the coffee pot and began to pour another cup. As the steam rose up Duncan tilted his head so his glasses didn't fog up.

Ana simply nodded.

Vera pulled the ushanka down tighter over her head as if that would have been enough of an answer. Of course, it wasn't. "Am plenty warm, comrade," she called, a booming, albeit poor Russian accent tinging her voice.

Duncan smiled and turned around, leaning up against the table as he took a sip from the freshly poured drink, "Aye Commander, and what is your mission for today?"

Sitting up proudly, Vera pulled a small yet well-kept radio from the pocket of her jacket. "I am acting assisant to miss pilot Jackspar, and I will be assisting her on today's mission."

Ana smiles a little bit when Vera shows off her radio, "Yeah, she can actually talk to miss Jackspar through the radio. How cool is that?"

Curious as to what she meant by 'talking to miss Jackspar', Duncan asked in a slightly concerned way, "Can you speak to her at the moment?"

Vera's eyes lit up and she set the radio upon the table, fiddling with it until at length it turned on. "Sure can! Hey Lizzy you th-" she paused and cleared her throat. "This is Assistant Voloshyna to NC Blur, come in Blur."

From the other end a mostly clear voice returned: "Hey Vi,"

Ana giggled a little bit - she didn't think it actually worked, because Vera didn't really show her that. All she did was show her the radio itself. "Hi!" she spoke into the radio, a little too softly to be heard clearly.

Vera seemed a bit put off by the informal response, huddling to the radio for a moment and speaking softly as to try and not let Duncan hear. "Lizzy c'mon..."

"Sorry. Yes, this is Blur. All systems are green here, Ms. Voloshyna!"

The girl turned back to Ana and Duncan, beaming. "See? These are great, you should get one for your dad, Ana!"

Ana grins at Vera again. "I really should. Oooh, it'd be so awesome, talking to dad while he's doing his cool robot stuff!"

"Ay mister, do you get to talk to anyone?"

Duncan smiled as he watched the kids attempt roleplay their older partners and realised that it had been many, many years since he had experienced this kind of playful atmosphere. Madison however didn't have many others around her age that she could play with, so she often attempted to act with Duncan, even while he was working. "I do occasionally," he replied, making sure he was careful with his words. "When they're on their mission the Captain is the one who usually talks to them and gives them orders."

"So what do you talk about when you talk with them then? The same kinda stuff or is it different?"

Duncan walked over to the table and pulled out a chair. He sat down and leaned over, giving the impression that he was about to drop a secret, "I shouldn't tell you two, but we tell them where the bad guys are. We don't want them to be caught by surprise, so we act as spies on the enemy."

Ana's eyes lit up as she listened. "Awesoommee! So, so you're like a double agent or something? Cause, I mean, you know where the bad guys are and, and you know where Dad and Jackspar and the others all are and all that!"

"Yup, but don't tell anyone, cause it's our little secret" He held his finger up in front of his lips and gave a subtle blow, "shhh."

Ana smiles, then covers her mouth and nods. "Mmhm!"

Vera gave a salute to Duncan. "Yessir!"

Suddenly Duncan stood up and gave the mightiest of salutes, "Permission to leave, commander!"

"You just got here, though." Ana puts on her best pouty face.

"I need to go pee pee, commander!"

Vera contained her laugh poorly. "The man has important work to do! Take your leave, soldier!"

Ana couldn't contain her laughter nearly as well as Vera could - she might have even snorted. A man her father's age saying "pee pee" was just absolutely hilarious and she couldn't keep herself under control.