Raven_Operative

Valkyria Chronicles: Lions of the South

... I take back what I said about Canada being unusually cool this time of year... heatwave + humidity = HALP.

Valkyria Chronicles: Lions of the South

Me and @Slypheed are mid-colab ATM. (Sorry 'bout the wait, Slyph. You responded on my busy day)

Valkyria Chronicles: Lions of the South

Meanwhile, back at Fort Breda...

"Stansoooon! Where did you set that watermelon?" "It was right there, Sarge. I left it out last night." The sergeant looked around a second time, before shrugging. "Well it's not here now..." "...weird..." The two cooks looked at each other, puzzled. Just where had it gone? Watermelons didn't just walk off on their own...

Evan's Post

*MunchMunchMunch* Evan was in the process of happily devouring a rather large slice of watermelon while the Darcsen discussed tactics with the Corporal and a few others. The remaining 3/4ths of the fruit sat on the seat beside him with the combat knife he had used to carve it sticking out of the top. "... What?" After noticing a few envious stares being directed his way he shrugged and proffered the remainder of the skewered melon. "Alright fine, I'll share. Who wants a piece? Alonso? Andrew?"

Soon enough, the spoils of his pilfering were gone and Evan had to resign himself into eating standard rations like the rest of the group. Digging into one, he was surprised by the fact that it actually tasted almost edible. Half smiling as he ate, he held up the package for emphasis and made an announcement to the soldiers around him. "Ya know, I think they're improving. Shit still tastes like cardboard, but I gotta say this is the best damn cardboard I've ever eaten."

Lilly's Post

Some people like the Sergeant had taken the pains of bringing homemade meals with them. Others, like Carn, seemed perfectly content with their military rations, and the majority of the squad appeared to have resigned themselves to their fate and were managing to tolerate the military food. Lilly fit into none of these categories, her disgust plainly visible on her face as she poked away at the tin of what looked like... some sort of sausage. When Carn offered to share some of his watermelon (just where had he procured that from?), she gratefully took him up on his offer. After she thanked him profusely, Lilly dismounted the APC and began looking for a less crowded place to sit and... attempt to eat. Mr. Hunt had already told the Sergeant what they had seen, so there was nothing forcing her to stick around at present.

A little ways away from the group, she spied Brena sitting down and sketching. She had not gotten a good chance to speak with her since their flight from Rinneheim, so Lilly decided to head in her direction. "Good afternoon, Miss Sykora." She smiled and gave a small wave as she sat down. Noticing the sketchbook (and knowing full well that Brena was not going to be the one to initiate a conversation), she decided to bring it up. "Oh, you draw? Do you mind if I ask what of?"

Valkyria Chronicles: Lions of the South

Ok maybe not... I think I'm dying and at this point I am become pancake. I might be out of commission for a few days.

Valkyria Chronicles: Lions of the South

I'll try and get a post up tonight or tomorrow (probably tomorrow).

Valkyria Chronicles: Lions of the South

You went swimming in the canals didn't you...

In all serious, though, hope you get better and may the porcelain god be merciful to you.

Valkyria Chronicles: Lions of the South

Lilly's Post

Lilly sighed quietly as she slumped back against the wall of the APC. The skirmish with the imperial squad went far better for her than she expected. No hysterical freak outs occurred, she didn't run away in terror, and her shakey aim (due to nervousness) aside, Lilly's performance was reasonably competent this time. ... But the relief and satisfaction she should have felt at (temporarily) conquering her fears had been overshadowed by a melancholy that was weighing on her. When they had set upon the imperial soldiers, they were in the middle of digging a grave for one of their comrades. She had just attacked them while they were in the middle of saying farewell to their dead... Watching the sergeant walk around and retrieve the tags from the bodies of Private Durandal's squad only helped to intensify this depression as she contemplated death and mortality.

They had been the victors of this skirmish, but that might not always be the case... What would happen if the imperials ambushed them next time? What if they ran afoul of a tank? Their lives could be taken just as easily as the imperials they had killed. Somewhere deep in the pit of Lilly's stomach, she felt that not everyone in her squad would make it home alive.

'What are you doing, Lilly? Get a hold of yourself.' Lilly shook her head and and mentally berated herself as she tried to purge the unpleasant thoughts. No, she couldn't dwell on this. What would her father or servants think of her if she remained in this state? 'It might not be a pleasant fate, but you chose to be here. Now it is your responsibility to carry through with your duties. If you cannot, then you must change to become someone who can. That is your duty as a soldier and a Jatmoore.'

She smiled slightly at this thought. Yes... Yes that sounded exactly like something her father would have said. But what could she do to become someone who was more able to handle the fear and sadness of war? ... That, she did not know. For now she would have to fight her way through it and try to help any of the other squad members that were suffering from it as well. Lilly looked over at Private Durandal, frowning in sympathy as she did. Poor girl still looked distraught from the loss of her squad, and rightfully so. She hoped she would be able to come to terms with the loss and continue on in time. Fortunately, most of the squad seemed to be acting friendly towards her, so that should help. Lilly made a mental note to talk with her after the battle was over, anyways.

***

"Alright Ladies and Gentlemen! Here's your stop!"

A few hours down the road, Lilly was shaken out of her daydreams by a certain muscular driver shouting back to them. The Sergeant had ordered the APC to pull over and once it came to a stop, ordered several scouts to well... scout the route ahead. Lilly had been one of the group selected, so she quickly hopped out the back and sprinted after Private Hunt.

Lilly had always prided herself on her running ability but Hunt almost had her beat. The combination of his head start and her nearly tripping over a bramble bush meant that he got to the edge of the woods a dozen seconds ahead of her. A steady stream of curses guided her final approach as she ran up to Hunt and crouched to observe the field ahead of them. His curses matched her sentiment towards the field that stretched out ahead of them, albeit in a much coarser fashion than she would have put it. "There is not a lot of cover out there, Mr. Hunt. I brought smoke grenades with me, but they would not help in a field this large." With that, Lilly leaned against a tree and waited for the remaining scouts to arrive.

Evan's Post

"ALL ABOOOAAAARD!" Grinning as he shouted, Evan eased the APC back onto the road and towards their objective. He had taken over Bons' roll as driver for the remainder of the trip, partially due to how the kid had panicked upon hearing the gunshots. Kid still looked distraught about it, his face was flushed red from embarrassment and he had completely withdrawn when Evan berated him for his mistake. Reaching behind him and poking Bons when they hit a relatively straight section of road, Evan whispered in as quiet a voice as a boisterous person like him could muster. "'ey don't worry about it, kid. You'll get the hang of this bucket of bolts eventually. Just don't fuck up like that in combat, eh?" Evan laughed to himself as he tried to lift Bons' spirits, but his intended effect was probably reversed by his blunt way of speaking.

***

"Pull over up here, Carn." "Right on, Darcsen."

After a couple hours of driving, the Darcsen called for him to pull over and let some scouts out so they could get an idea of what lay ahead. Parking the APC in as hidden a location as he could, Evan yelled back to the rest of the squad. "Alright Ladies and Gentlemen! Here's your stop!"

Valkyria Chronicles: Lions of the South

I'm half way through a post ATM. Believe me, it's on the way.

Hmmm... We haven't heard from @Kitsune for a while. You still alive over there, my comrade in technology?

Valkyria Chronicles: Lions of the South

I'll post tomorrow.

Valkyria Chronicles: Lions of the South

Allo? Anyone there?