Scout

Digital or Real?

"Well, somebody has jokes, it seems," He replied, rolling his eyes as he took her hand and they started walking back toward their neighbourhood. The idle chit-chat never felt like a wasted moment as they walked together. She was so bossy sometimes... But to be honest, he needed it sometimes. Rarely would he do anything progressive for himself if he didn't think it was necessary, like studying or homework, but she kept on him well enough when it came to those things. By keeping an eye on him, his marks were better than they normally would be simply because he found a lot of the assignments pointless. Plus, her found her bossiness to be just adorable, so he did as he was told and headed for home. He made sure his pea-coat was nice and firmly fastened around him as he decided to grab a pair of gloves and a white scarf, in case they were out late enough for it the temperature to drop dangerously low. He grabbed his bike from the garage, told his mom he was going out for the evening with Sasha. The woman stopped him before he could head out, however.

"James, wait," She called, drying her hands on a towel as she came out of the kitchen to see him. "Did you talk to Sasha yet about joining us? I really want to get everything in order. The plane has seats near us left because of the time of year and the fact that we're not going when traffic to the States is very high," She explained. "But still, we can't have things going last minute - I wish you would have asked sooner..."

"I remembered today and asked her at lunch, but uhm... I'm not really sure if she wants to go, it might just be because it's a flight and it's another country... She said she'd think about it and I don't wanna press too hard in case it'll bother her."

Rachel nodded and rolled her eyes, "Fine... but from now, make sure that you look into these things sooner rather than later, okay?"

"Sure thing, mum, I'm heading out," He said hurriedly, "Love you."

"Mmmmhmmm..." She hummed skeptically, "Bye, hon."

He walked his navy, metallic blue mountain bike out of the man-door of the garage and swung his leg over it. It didn't take long after that for the two of them to be riding down the quiet, neighbourhood streets. Within a few more minutes, they were forced into a bicycle lane and had to be wary of traffic.

"Uhm... Define homework..." he said, laughing in reply. "I did my French and Maths in class, but that's because Madame writes her assignments on the board before class starts and so does Mr. Lancaster... I didn't do the English yet, I speak just fine. I'll do the essays and read the books, but I'm not doing some silly grammar worksheet when I'm taking a class that has the same name as my nationality..." She had done her English, ironically, but he wondered if she got anything else done.

James always rode his bike with one hand, anything he could do to avoid working harder than he needed to. He pulled the hand brake on the handlebars and propped himself up with one foot when Sasha stopped. He flicked the kickstand down and hopped off the bike, "Where the heck are we...?" The boy asked, scrunching his nose. Luckily the cold had caused his sense of smell to all but disappear entirely. Over a fence and into the sewers, the boy's face contorted into one of perplexity. "God, Sashie... How the Hell did you find this place and where are we fekkin' going?" He asked, but he knew she wasn't going to tell him.

Finally... Fresh air, even if it was cold air, was the most welcome thing he could think of just as the light at the end of the sewer appeared. He gripped her hand firmly and followed her to the ledge, taking a seat beside her. As he looked out to the scene before him, he completely forgot about the sewage behind him, his eyes lighting up as they reflected the beautiful sight. He took the Jaffa Cake and began to passively nibble at it, using his free hand to wrap around the girl's shoulders. He scootched over close to her and tilted his head, letting it rest atop hers. "Wow... This is a lot nicer than I thoughti t could be... considering the route we took to get here." He grinned and softly rubbed her shoulder, hoping she didn't feel too cold.

"Not that I don't think it's nice, but... Why did we come here?" He asked curiously, looking over to her, "I mean, it's really cool, I'm just curious," He pointed out with a smile.

Kin of the 72nd Expansion Battalion - Shingeki no Kyojin

Year 846, one year after the breach of the Southern Wall. Eastern Region 101st Trainee Squadron Initiation Day

Hundreds, if not thousands, of them stood in uniform rows. All of them were merely young boys or girls, but every single one had the same look on their face - that look that said nothing short of death would stop them from achieving what they left home to do. Of course, a large portion of them would be going home that very night. They'd work the fields or do something else menial with an abhorrence for their weak constitutions for the rest of their lives. Jonah Althaus, of Wall Rose, stared with steadfast determination into the captain's eyes as he strode up and down the rows, looking for the weakest links. The large man paused and gazed menacingly down at the boy.

Captain Schaeffer stood tall and proud at a solid six feet, his skin tanned to near leather from the time he spent in the open sun training "ingrates and maggots" as he so endearingly referred to the cadets. There was an intimidating scar that ran from an indeterminate spot on his shoulder all the way up his neck and over his left cheek. Rumours had spread throughout every Trainee Squadron as to where it came from, but every other instructor knew that it was a simple accident when he couldn't duck in time on horseback and was smacked with an incoming tree branch. Despite popular belief, he did not acquire the scar when he pissed off his own instructor and the two dueled; nor was the closed wound awarded to him by an angry wolf (or pack of wolves, depending on the version of the story which one chose to believe) which he taunted into a fight. The muscle which bound each of his limbs seemed to push his flesh to the limit of its holding capacity. Veins pressed against his skin, almost visible as they pulsed and after a good long thought... he moves on from the boy. Jonah wasn't worth his time - nothing he said would intimidate or even cause the boy to flinch.

Minutes later, he came across a boy with red hair, long enough to be braided, staring straight ahead as he was instructed to do. However, his eyes weren't flat... they didn't gaze on into nothing... They seemed almost ready to jump to any opportunity to present itself. To let the boy move, he almost seemed to be driven insane by that required salute and Schaeffer relished the opportunity to make him squirm. He stopped dead in his tracks, stared at the boy in front of him, and held that position for a dreadfully long ten-count in silence. "What's your name, son?" He asked, pouring on the sarcasm for the final word.

It was clear that the boy was straining to respond, "Alois Heidrich, Karanese, Eastern Region, sir," He recited.

"Mmmmhmmmm..." The captain hummed in response, elongating the words and forcing the boy to stay still as he did so. "And what makes you think that you're even remotely qualified to be a part of the most talented, important fighters that our world has to offer?"

"Because there's no better feeling in this world that tearing into the flesh of an aggravated piece of shit Titan, sir," Came his brisk and sadistically excited reply.

Schaeffer had to prevent himself from laughing, "And how in the Hell would you know that, boy?"

"Because it's true of all things..." He said with little hesitation before quickly adding, "Sir."

The captain almost seemed impressed and decided better of pushing the topic - whatever this kid's issue was, he knew that he would see everything he needed to over the next three years. If the kid even lasted that long.

When he stopped at his next victim, he was answered before he even asked a question.

"Ava Ekkehardt, Wall Sina, sir!" Came a formal, measured, and calm line. "Future Survey Corps, 72nd Battalion, sir."

"Well, well... Looks like we have ourselves a real go-getter here," He said devilishly. "The Expansion Battalion, was it? I give you a week and you'll be gone."

The girl's brown eyes flashed, they almost looked burgundy under the lighting. Her sky blue hair was tied back into a pony tail and her bangs framed her face perfectly. "You would be wrong, sir," She said without hesitation, showing no sign of backing down.

"You're feisty, I'll give you that, but once you realize your pretty, all cleaned up hair gets mussed... Your fingers start to tire... Your legs give out... You'll send a letter to mater and pater - maybe even tonight - begging them 'please, let me go home... I miss the comfort of the interior... I want to go back to playing chess with my classmates and studying my textbooks..."

The girl didn't falter, "All due respect, sir, but you're making yourself look like a bumbling idiot. I'll be leaving those walls as soon as I can, no matter what waits out there - come Hell or high water, I'll not take no for an answer."

The captain actually laughed, right in her face. The girl's hand moved to her face to wipe away the spit that flew onto it and with a sophisticated swipe, removes the obstruction on her skin. She cleared her throat and resumed her dignified salute.

"Well, we'll see where that attitude is when you're done running. I'd like you to start running laps... One of the other instructors, or myself, will tell you when it's time to stop."

The girl's face turned into one of disbelief - did she do something wrong..?

"I said now!" He shouted and, rather than wiping the spit from her face a second time, the girl took off to join the one or two others who had chosen the wrong words during their interrogation in laps. They all eventually started to run only short distances from each other, shooting looks between them that said 'really?' But nonetheless, they kept running. She didn't join the corps to be treated fairly.

"Shinganshina, eh? You're a long way from home, Driuker," the captain said after meeting Rodrick. "Lucky you moved to the eastern part of Wall Rose, eh? Things feel quieter over here... Maybe you think you'll be safe..." Before Tinker could even give his reply, Schaeffer was diving headfirst into berating the boy about running away - even if he had only done so by following his family - and how even a cozy garrison position in the East wouldn't keep him safe and he could just forget about joining the Military Police. Before Tink could even respond, Schaeffer was moving on. The captain tried to keep his attention span varied - some cadets got no attention, some got prolonged, and some only got yelled at before he stepped along the line.

After addressing Kiryuu, he gave a surprised 'hmph.' He crossed his arms, "What is it today and having so many Wall Sina enlistees? Hope you're ready for a real beating, kid - not just from me, most people here, myself included, are from Wall Maria. You're going to have a real hard time being the minority when your money isn't going to help you," He said with more than a bit of venom. "You're lucky I don't make you go running with Ekkehardt," He spat, rolling his eyes and moving on, not wanting to see another pompous child try to show him up.

Year 849, days before graduation, final test results

Three years after the start of their training, the five students had unintentionally become fast friends. Though some of them had their own issues with one another, they still had their own little team together. One thing was for sure: they wanted nothing more than to make the top ten. Too many cadets came in hoping to join the Military Police, to live a life of bliss, reveling in ignorance on the innermost wall. Each of the five had their own reasons for wanting to join the 72nd Battalion, be it a desire to strive for the dangerous or the adventurous or just to have some form of acceptance, even if it meant you would almost surely die.

Captain Schaeffer stood before the soon-to-graduate cadets, numbering just shy of three hundred, "The top ten students in descending order for the 101st Trainee Squadron are as follows... First place, Friedrich Elder; second place," He gave the faintest of cringes at the name which followed, "Alois Heidrich; third place, Amy Branch; fourth, Jonah Althaus; fifth and sixth place had tied scores for their final examinations - Rodrick Driuker and Gregory Marinus; Sixth place, Kiryuu Zero," there was a murmur throughout the crowd. A couple of snickers, a couple of disbelieving whispers, groans, and a few almost sarcastic chants of his surname in mock-worship of him. They were nearly inaudible and, sans exaggeration, only made out of pure jealousy from people who would have difficulty coping with the fact that they'll never see that unicorn on their jacket. "Seventh, Ava Ekkehardt; Eighth..." The list went on, but the five students could all breath a sigh of relief as they made the top ten, taking exactly half of the spaces, knowing full-well that they could do anything they wanted in the military. 72nd Battalion? Easy. Military Police? If they so desired. Garrison Corps? They'd be welcomed with open arms.

That afternoon, in the barracks, Squad 3's room

Approximately one year into their training, the cadets had to assign themselves to squads. The group of five were tentative to work together at first, but they did eventually find a rhythm together, even if they weren't perfect friends. Ava was assigned Squadron Leader by Schaeffer, who hand-picked each Squad Leader between the forty-five or so squads in the 101st Trainee Class. She sat on her single bed, one knee crossed over the other with her arms folded in front of her, her eyes scanning the four boys in the room. Dear god, what she would give to not be the only girl here... But she lived with the hand she was dealt and did her best to ensure that not a single one of them got the wrong idea from her. As a friend, she was warm and welcoming but as a leader she was iron-fisted and articulate. Their room was immaculate, though many of the other cadets seemed to believe that was on account of her squad having two immaculate Wall Sina residents in it; she would argue that nobody was even allowed to leave in the morning, no matter the punishment for tardiness, until their room was clean. In the room, there were two pairs of bunkbeds and then hers, placed neatly at the far wall of the room, making her the only one who didn't have to share her personal space.

So, it was pep talk time. They graduated in a few days - they were, for the most part, all decided on their plans for the future. Most of the people in the room knew they were going for the 72nd, but really they would only know when it was crunch time. She rose to her feet with purpose, looking from Alois to Kiryuu, Kiryuu to Jonah, and Jonah to Rodrick, choosing her words carefully.

"Congratulations - all of you, all of us," She began, striding forward. However, it didn't seem like she was planning to say much more as her hand came to the doorknob, her head cocked over her shoulder, "Anything you guys wanna say before we get back to practice? We're not graduated yet," She reminded them. Ava - always the studious one, not a moment to waste, even with examinations finished.

Shingeki no Kyojin - Name Pending - Closed (4-person) RP

Here you guys go, just so we all know where it is: Link to the thread. - Don't post in the IC yet, I'll start that off.

Kin of the 72nd Expansion Battalion - Shingeki no Kyojin

NOTE: This is a closed roleplay. Please, feel free to read, follow along, drop a comment, say hello, whatever, but do not make a character expecting us to review it. We welcome all sorts of comments and questions, but it is completely closed and based on invite-only. Because of the nature of the group in this roleplay, there is no true "authority," but if you're looking for an official "GM," then you'll want Vena Sera or myself. I repeat, we will not be accepting any characters unless the player has been invited to the game, but we're glad to hear feedback so long as it is constructive.



Never leave the walls... That's what they always told us. Books from outside were prohibited, the majority of people wanted absolutely nothing to do with the world beyond those fifty metre-high walls. We had everything we needed inside - farms, factories, markets... We all wondered how much more there was at some point in our lives, but it was never long before they were squelched by talk of the Titans. Among our parents and their parents before them, there were those brave enough to leave the walls for the good of us all. The Survey Corps represented everything people wanted to be, everything people were too afraid to talk about, and everything they pretended not to think about; the children who still held onto those dreams of seeing the outside world dreamed of joining as their only route out of these menacing walls. Of those children, many of them didn't even try to enlist in the military, even fewer graduated from the Training Corps, and fewer still survived their first mission.

Even the members of the most famous group of soldiers, "Levi's Squad" as they were referred to, went into battle with no expectation of survival. Another regiment, however, was less talked about than even the work of the majority of Survey Corps soldiers. The 72nd Expansion Battalion was founded during the approximate century of peace that mankind experienced after the walls were completed. Their mission was not only to research, capture, and eradicate Titans beyond the walls; in fact, they were deployed for extended periods of time, sometimes months on end, with no form of communication back to their home. Their job was to scour distant lands in search of some lost form to counter the Titans, find a location safe or free of the monsters' influence. Many of the soldiers know that finding a new location is rather unlikely, as is finding a countermeasure to the seemingly omnipresent beasts, but what else can they do apart from their duty? With what little life they get to have, these people get to see more than any other. Their survival rate can be shockingly low, based on the size of their deployed troops per mission, but they see more than just the forests and plains beyond the walls. They go farther, faster, than anybody else. They see the dilapidated metropolises that some believe to be only legend, the ruins of ancient civilizations, the wastelands ravaged by the Titans, and the untouched, natural land which has seen nothing but peace since man's extinction. Nobody, save for the select few who are crazy enough to join, know whether these sights are truly worth what they must endure to find them.

The few new recruits who flock to the squadron seem to think so.

-----

Timeline

> Year 845 - Wall Maria is compromised by the Colossal and Armored Titans, creating an entrance to the entire ring for any Titan that so desires.

> Year 849 - The graduation of the 101st Trainee Squadron leads to five spaces being taken by a single five-man squad led by Ava Ekkehardt, all aiming for the 72nd Expansion Battalion.

-----

Characters

Scout

Jonah Althaus

STATUS: Living
Name: Jonah Althaus
Age: 15
Gender: Male

Appearance:
Click for higher resolution.

History: Jonah was born in the Wall Maria to a father in the Garrison Corps. His mother died giving birth to him, leaving him in the care of his older brother and father. Their city was a small one built near the wall, but a fair distance from any of the gates. They weren’t even prepared with any kind of evacuation plan when the Titans came in 845. The boys couldn’t find their father anywhere, so they sprinted home and Lykos, his older brother, had an idea… an idea which would forever change Jonah’s perspective on the world. If they killed themselves, they would never have to face one of those hideous beasts, see one as it lifted either of them into the air and… It made Jonah shudder just thinking about it. From the kitchen, Lykos took a knife and said he would go first, to show his little brother that it wasn’t anything to be afraid of in a situation like that.

When their father returned in a panic, he would find the small, eleven year-old boy trembling as he tried and tried to use that knife. His brother lie in a pool of crimson, liberated from what the havoc outside. Jonah, on the other hand, would not get to join him. His father relinquished the knife from his hand before the boy even knew of his presence. In tears, he fought, cried, and worked as hard as he could to convince the man that it was the only way they could be safe, but he was far from being as charismatic as Lykos was. He and his father moved beyond Wall Rose and very few people of the town made it out alive. The older man was discharged from the military due to an injury that gave him a permanent limp. Because of the food shortage and his discharge, Jonah’s father was one of the ones selected to sacrifice himself, reducing the population and making rations more attainable. By this point, Jonah had already decided to enlist and he knew that the Survey Corps was for him. If he couldn’t escape the way that his family could, he would damned well do his best to do what they never could: see it all. And, if he had the luck, maybe he wouldn’t return from that first mission.

Ava Ekkehardt

STATUS: Living
Name: Ava Ekkehardt
Age: 16 – just turned
Gender: Female

Appearance:
Click for higher resolution.

History: Ava was born in the Wall Sina and, try as every babysitter, teacher, and noble around her might, they could not stifle the sense of wonderment she felt with the world. The girl was never one to hide behind lies or false truths so after the fall of Maria, she knew that they were all going to be facing danger that they never would have thought imaginable. She had never seen a Titan before in her life, but she rationalized that there were a lot of things she hadn’t seen… and she wanted to see them all. Her parents were horrified and pulled every string they had to prevent her joining of the military. However, Ava stuck to her guns and enlisted, she was there on the first day, facing the insulting drill instructors and even a bit of discrimination for her roots.

Wes Heidrich

Name: Wes Heidrich

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Appearance:
Here


History: Wes is the eldest sibling of the Heidrich family. He always had a protective, take-charge attitude. He’s always kept a level head and an upbeat attitude for his smaller siblings. However, after a falling out with his father at a young age, Wes enlisted in the military. When his father didn’t show up to watch him graduate in the first position of the entire unit, he made the decision to join the Survey Corps’ 72nd Battalion. While the decision was birthed from spite, it was one which he did not regret. He learns a bit more about himself every day and was made one of the youngest people to ever be granted the position of Red Cloak. Now? He’s the third of five in age.

Other: The Red Cloaks are an elite unit of five members existing only within the 72nd Battalion. Typically there are five, but historically there existed as many as ten at one time (it was a particularly famous period for the Battalion, and thus enlistment was high for their specific mission). They act as mentors and overseers for the newest recruits (often acting as “squad leaders” for the groups of newbies who haven’t seen much action) as well as the strongest defenders and fighters for the entire unit. For the most part, their original squads with which they joined and learned alongside are now dead, so they find comfort in teaching the new recruits rather than trying to form those bonds over again, only to lose them. Some, however, received the promotion and still have former, living squad members.

Vena Sera

Alois Heidrich

STATUS: Living
Name: Alois Heidrich
Age: 15
Gender: Male

Appearance:


History: Living in a Titan infested world can make things really suck. The lifespan of any one person depends solely on the strength of the walls that surround them. Despite being a manmade feat those structures are not impenetrable, Titans do get through. It is rare, but breaches have happened, and each time it has humanity has had to either drive back the menace or be pushed further back inside. Luckily for those in the Karanese district there hasn’t been such an event for some time. It is relatively quiet on the Eastern front and as such those within the walls can live peaceful lives. Some places aren’t quite as lucky, but thus far Karanese has been spared.

One would suppose then being allowed to live a safe life would lead to contentment. Yet for Alois, it has been anything but. He has known peace all of his life despite other districts facing the Titans, and has been brought up by a loving, caring family. Neither particularly rich nor poor, they have lived a comfortable life, they always have. He has two loving parents and a younger sister, all of whom care for one another. It would be a picturesque setting for anyone in this hellacious world humans are made to live in, but not for Alois. He has never been able to enjoy the peace as others do, or relax quite enough. He’s always been a little… Off.

Even as a young boy Alois showed unusual signs of aggression. And not necessarily outright violent aggression. He has always seemed to enjoy tension and violence, or rather, it excites him. Hard to say, but as a result this peace of theirs has little appeal to him. He simply does not feel he fits in with the current status quo. It was inevitable then that, once he had come of age he would join the military. It didn’t matter what branch, or where he ended up. He needed to be doing something with himself. Something exciting, something dangerous.

Gold

Rodrick

STATUS: Living
Name: Rodrick "Tinker" Driuker
Age: 15
Gender: Male

Appearance:


History: Rodrick - known as Tinker or Tink to his friends - comes from a long line of soldiers. His grandfather was a pikeman on Wall Maria, killed by a jumping aberrant. His father manned a cannon on the same wall and lost a leg when another Titan threw back the cannonball fired at its head. Tink figured that it was his duty to join the army as well. Tink’s house is on the edge of the Shinganshina District, right against the wall.

Tall, with grey, piercing eyes. Tink’s name is well deserved. He is rarely seen in public without tinkering with some new weapon or another. He already sports a fair number of scars from testing out new projectile weapons or blades. Tink decided that he could best serve his city by joining the Scouting Legion. When he heard about the 72nd Expansion Battalion, Tink knew that he had found his true home. A place where he wouldn't be judged for his antisocial tendencies, a place where he could test his weapons in the field, a group that would perhaps accept him.

The real trick would be to survive it all, though.

Cicoco

Kiryuu Zero

STATUS: Living
Name: Kiryuu Zero
Age: 15
Gender: Male

Appearance:
Click for higher resolution.

History: Born behind the Wall SIna, Kiryuu Zero, was born into one of the wealthiest families in Sina. Growing up Kiryuu was extremely interested in the mysteries of the outside world and all of its history. Growing up all of his friends mocked his last name "Zero" meaning that he wasn't intelligent. When Wall Maria fell to the Titans, Zero expressed his knowledge of the outside world and how there may be an answer in the old cities. While all food was being rationed behind Rose, Zero felt it unfair that the wealthy families dont have to participate. Zero ran away from home into the military to try and join the 72nd Battalion for the opportunity of finding the answer to the Titans.

Shingeki no Kyojin - Name Pending - Closed (4-person) RP

Name: Ava Ekkehardt
Age: 16 – just turned
Gender: Female

Appearance:
Click for higher resolution.

History: Ava was born in the Wall Sina and, try as every babysitter, teacher, and noble around her might, they could not stifle the sense of wonderment she felt with the world. The girl was never one to hide behind lies or false truths so after the fall of Maria, she knew that they were all going to be facing danger that they never would have thought imaginable. She had never seen a Titan before in her life, but she rationalized that there were a lot of things she hadn’t seen… and she wanted to see them all. Her parents were horrified and pulled every string they had to prevent her joining of the military. However, Ava stuck to her guns and enlisted, she was there on the first day, facing the insulting drill instructors and even a bit of discrimination for her roots.

Shingeki no Kyojin - Name Pending - Closed (4-person) RP

Name: Jonah Althaus
Age: 15
Gender: Male

Appearance:
Click for higher resolution.

History: Jonah was born in the Wall Maria to a father in the Garrison Corps. His mother died giving birth to him, leaving him in the care of his older brother and father. Their city was a small one built near the wall, but a fair distance from any of the gates. They weren’t even prepared with any kind of evacuation plan when the Titans came in 845. The boys couldn’t find their father anywhere, so they sprinted home and Lykos, his older brother, had an idea… an idea which would forever change Jonah’s perspective on the world. If they killed themselves, they would never have to face one of those hideous beasts, see one as it lifted either of them into the air and… It made Jonah shudder just thinking about it. From the kitchen, Lykos took a knife and said he would go first, to show his little brother that it wasn’t anything to be afraid of in a situation like that.

When their father returned in a panic, he would find the small, eleven year-old boy trembling as he tried and tried to use that knife. His brother lie in a pool of crimson, liberated from what the havoc outside. Jonah, on the other hand, would not get to join him. His father relinquished the knife from his hand before the boy even knew of his presence. In tears, he fought, cried, and worked as hard as he could to convince the man that it was the only way they could be safe, but he was far from being as charismatic as Lykos was. He and his father moved beyond Wall Rose and very few people of the town made it out alive. The older man was discharged from the military due to an injury that gave him a permanent limp. Because of the food shortage and his discharge, Jonah’s father was one of the ones selected to sacrifice himself, reducing the population and making rations more attainable. By this point, Jonah had already decided to enlist and he knew that the Survey Corps was for him. If he couldn’t escape the way that his family could, he would damned well do his best to do what they never could: see it all. And, if he had the luck, maybe he wouldn’t return from that first mission.

Shingeki no Kyojin - Name Pending - Closed (4-person) RP

Never leave the walls... That's what they always told us. Books from outside were prohibited, the majority of people wanted absolutely nothing to do with the world beyond those fifty metre-high walls. We had everything we needed inside - farms, factories, markets... We all wondered how much more there was at some point in our lives, but it was never long before they were squelched by talk of the Titans. Among our parents and their parents before them, there were those brave enough to leave the walls for the good of us all. The Survey Corps represented everything people wanted to be, everything people were too afraid to talk about, and everything they pretended not to think about; the children who still held onto those dreams of seeing the outside world dreamed of joining as their only route out of these menacing walls. Of those children, many of them didn't even try to enlist in the military, even fewer graduated from the Training Corps, and fewer still survived their first mission.

Even the members of the most famous group of soldiers, "Levi's Squad" as they were referred to, went into battle with no expectation of survival. Another regiment, however, was less talked about than even the work of the majority of Survey Corps soldiers. The 72nd Expansion Battallion was founded during the approximate century of peace that mankind experienced after the walls were completed. Their mission was not only to research, capture, and eradicate Titans beyond the walls; in fact, they were deployed for extended periods of time, sometimes months on end, with no form of communication back to their home. Their job was to scour distant lands in search of some lost form to counter the Titans, find a location safe or free of the monsters' influence. Many of the soldiers know that finding a new location is rather unlikely, as is finding a countermeasure to the seemingly omnipresent beasts, but what else can they do apart from their duty? With what little life they get to have, these people get to see more than any other. Their survival rate can be shockingly low, based on the size of their deployed troops per mission, but they see more than just the forests and plains beyond the walls. They go farther, faster, than anybody else. They see the dilapidated metropolises that some believe to be only legend, the ruins of ancient civilizations, the wastelands ravaged by the Titans, and the untouched, natural land which has seen nothing but peace since man's extinction. Nobody, save for the select few who are crazy enough to join, know whether these sights are truly worth what they must endure to find them.

The few new recruits who flock to the squadron seem to think so.

---

Alright guys, so that's a little bit of backstory to what we were thinking - it keeps the roleplay a bit more varied and prevents us from copying the anime's plot. We will start near the end of our characters' training as cadets, they'll, by whatever means, move into the 72nd Battalion, and follow them during their missions and return home. The year will be about 850 at the start of the roleplay and they'll deploy for their first mission just before the fall of the Wall Rose. When they return home, there's is nearly no way of them knowing what state their home will be in upon return.

So, that's the basics, I have to head to work now, I'll edit this post later with my own character(s).

Far From Home

Scared...

Afraid...

The words rang in his head over... and over... He stared at Suto in shock. He pressed his index finger and thumb to the bridge of his nose, squeezing his eyes shut. He wasn't afraid of anything... There was nothing to be afraid of - he wielded nearly every ounce of power that was possible in Aincrad. He had the wealth, the rank, the guild, the gear, the levels... What was there to frighten him? Red eyes flashed into his vision behind his eyelids, growling and snarling in his mind. It had no form, this cretin of the subconscious and yet it held every form. It was all the Yaris, Kenshins, Fitches, Sutos, and Alphards of the world. It was an embodiment of white lies gone wrong, a projection of arrogance and pride, of avarice and greed. The face staring back at him was himself, ready to do whatever it takes to get ahead. It was prepared to lose others for the sake of a weapon that would only last for five or six floors. He opened his eyes breathlessly, only to see Suto grasping his coat in tears and fiery passion. Nero couldn't remember the last time he felt so strongly about something, the last time he was so sure of anything as Suto was about this.

The next thing he knew, he was reeling back from the force of having his forehead smashed into Suto's. At first, he thought that the boy had struck him, and then he saw Jason standing there above them. The boy didn't respond with epiphany or the realization that they were being ludicrous. Then the word struck again. Fear... But what did they think he was afraid of? His teeth ground together, "I didn't as-" He started, rising to his feet until his collar was yanked back slightly. Kazaro strode past, silently announcing his involvement.

"Stop. There's a time and place," He said calmly, "All three of you."

"But, si-" Nero started before being silenced by his superior.

Kazaro's blade was confidently sheathed at his hip as he stared directly at Jason just as he had finished his piece, "I suggest you not speak to my men as though they are children. We've all been here for a long time and age has very little to do with how we've all been affected. I wager that few, if any, of the people here were able to cope with it properly. By laying blame on Kayaba, you find the easiest way to shrug off your own guilt. He may have trapped us here, but the dangers and deaths... those aren't him. Those deaths go to the people tackling obstacles far too big for themselves or their groups. That guilt does rest on our shoulders. A PK'ing guild doesn't say ridiculous things like 'it's Kayaba's fault that we kill people.' Taking responsibility for something is different from blaming yourself," he said flatly.

Nero couldn't help but think of the story that Kazaro had told him about his first day in Aincrad... He's had to live with that burden since they got here... But he couldn't have possibly known what would happen from that duel, so did that make it harder for him or easier to keep moving?

"I will keep my men under control, you worry about yourself, Jason," Kazaro didn't raise his voice or speak pointedly, not an ounce of anger or disrespect came from him. "We'll all work better if we keep to our pairs and keep an eye on one another's backs. If any of you want to address this subject, you can do it when we're in a safe zone, or you can all split up, I don't really care."

His eyes moved to Nero, then to Suto, "You two will be fine - stand up, brush yourselves off, and get yourselves ready. This fight's gonna be big for just the six of us."

Kimi had remained silent through the entire altercation, striding to Alphard as soon as Jason walked away. The girl was so much taller and armour-clad than she seemed from the air, as Kimi had often seen her since the start of the fight(s). However, now that she was up close and they were standing still, she was just massive compared to the young teen. However, she didn't back down at all, holding her back erect and respectable, clearing her throat to gain Alphard's attention. "Lady Alphard," She started, choosing a fitting honorific for her - the people of Aincrad who knew of her would often refer to her by the knightly title. "I was hoping you would allow me to join you and Jason come the end of the next fight, officially. I know you don't know me well, but I wanted t o start working my way into a more proactive role for the people of Aincrad and I think that the best avenue would be through your team," She finished, her hands clasped behind her back in a reserved, but confident stance.

Digital or Real?

Oh, nice! Glad you made some dough. :D I'm kicking ass at my promotion to full-time, I think, and that paycheck is glorious.

Digital or Real?

It was a shot in the dark, if she was allowed and wanted to go, that would be an absolute blast. Otherwise, he'd spend Valentine's Day halfway across the globe, feeling guilty for missing it. He'd already tried to get out of going and his mother refused to let him stay home alone while she was overseas. The boy was content moving from the subject in order to revisit it later, though it was likely that Rachel needed some form of answer soon, lest they run out of plane tickets. However, he enjoyed pointing out their classmates and just spending time with her; he realized sometime during their lunch how natural holding hands had become. Their fingers locked and he barely even felt her hand in his. In fact, when they separated, his hand felt unnaturally empty. He smiled, a change of pace was rather welcome - he'd never felt like they were in a rut, but it was always such a treat to go "adventuring" with Sasha. She was so hungry for exploration and his mind was more than inquisitive enough for his curiosity to follow her wherever she wanted to go.

"I'd love to," He said somewhat brightly, trying to keep from sounding too excited about spending time with her. Enthusiasm was interpreted too much like desperation by the other kids anyway. As she went on to explain the place more he listened intently, rising before pocketing his hands and rocking on the heels of his feet. "Oh, I'd feel so bad," He lamented with an exaggerated tone, "What ever would I do with so much guilt for all my life..?" One more goodbye and then she was gone off with her friends. Did she talk about him as soon as they were separated? Or did she do what he did and keep all of it locked up inside her head, reveling in the moments past in reservation? He shrugged and brushed away the question, perhaps it was none of his business anyway.

The day couldn't go any more slowly and James was working over time to keep cool during class. He didn't hear a word any of the teachers said after lunch, but he rarely did anyway. He'd already finished the chapter for most of his classes. His biggest problem with grades was ignoring his homework; the assignments never felt helpful, they were just boring and wasted his time. Unless it was Maths or Foreign Language, he actually enjoyed doing the homework for those classes. Ironically, very few of his friends understood his interest in them. He worked ahead, but "studying" was a word he worked hard to keep out of his vocabulary, as he'd always been able to keep up without paying much attention and doing more self-teaching. Whe nthe final bell sounded, he packed his things away in his locker and put his free reading book in his backpack with very little else, as he was notorious for never taking home a textbook. Currently he was reading Black Swan Green by David Mitchell; he had seen his father reading the author's work and simply picked up one of the first titles he could find. He slung the single-strap bag over his chest and stuffed his hands in his coat's pockets. However, he didn't have to close the front today, as the air hadn't gotten any colder since lunch. He found Sasha waiting for him and walked more slowly to meet her, savoring the moment of her waiting. When he finally reached her, he couldn't resist the small smile that perked up the corners of his lips.

"Hey, Sashie," He said teasingly, "How'd the rest of your day go?" He asked curiously, trying to resist the powerful urge to ask about her joining them for vacation.