shylarah

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

Sparks

The expression on Aurora's face when she spoke of her frame was one Sparks understood completely. Sleeping Thunder might be an agent of destruction on the battlefield, given their thick, stabilizing legs and massive gun, but to a pilot -- especially one with the soul of a mechanic -- they were a valuable partner.

"They're certainly impressive. Is that a railgun?" Sparks' eyes gleamed with excitement. "Oh, me? I'm with Guinevere -- that one over there." He pointed at a medium sized frame in white with gold and red accents, and a distinctive ring curving from shoulder to shoulder. The arms were mounted in an odd position, almost at the waist, but it still held a humanoid appearance. "She's a repair and disruption unit. Between me and Dancer, we can fix up whoever needs fixing, or even override an enemy unit!" He beamed. He was clearly fond of the frame.

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

Sparks

Once Lieutenant Ritsu dismissed them all, Sparks made his way over to the pilot she'd named as Aurora. The woman seemed a little distracted, having not paid attention to the little altercation between the redheaded man, the Tevranian, and the pilot called Griffith. Though she had asked a good question, about whether they would have time to work on their frames. Sparks was glad the answer was yes; he couldn't neglect the Guinevere's care.

"Hey, Aurora? It's nice to meet you. I'm John, but please call me Sparks -- everyone I know does. The lieutenant, she said you are good with machines? Which one's yours?"

---

Rhylaen

Rhylaen bristled when called a bug -- an exceedingly rude slur for Tevranians. And the redhead human just...folded? Offering his hand to the other pilot to shake? And then he had the gall to say he could protect her. Ugh. She opened her mouth to reply, but Lieutenant Ritsu cut in with a bellow, and reprimanded them for arguing. At least the lieutenant seemed mostly focused on the one called Griffith.

Once they were dismissed, she turned to look at the man who'd tried, however badly, to help her. "I defend myself," she told him. "Am no scared of 'big bad blond'. And...hearts. Not sweet. Meaty."

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

Rhylaen

Rhylaen blinked in surprise as the blonde pilot pointed at her and called her a thing. Her wide eyes narrowed, and she clenched her fists at her sides again. She was grateful for the redhead pilot's defense, but she wasn't going to let it stand without saying something herself. "Am no 'thing'!" she snapped as she turned to face the offending human, her speech accented and carrying a musical lilt. "Am Tevranian. Tev-ray-ni-an. If I can say, you can say too." It was clear from her grammar (or lack thereof) that she was actually speaking Galactic Standard on her own, not using a translator.

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

Rhylaen

The young Tevranian was both surprised and thrilled to discover that there were others of her species aboard the cramped shuttle. She spent most of the flight with them, talking quietly. Upon arrival at Fortress Ship Solaire, however, Rhylaen hung back and let the others disembark first. She was one of the last off the shuttle, along with the handful of other pilots. The fortress ship had decent gravity -- a little heavier than the lost Tevran, but not so much as to be an issue. It was probably based on Earth's gravity, Rhylaen figured. Most Galactic Federation places were.

The pilots were greeted by a woman in a blue-and-green pilot suit, and a hunched-over man with a walking stick. The old man immediately made a crude comment about Rhylaen, and her hands clenched at her sides. It was true -- a number of the remaining Tevranians ended up in children's entertainment because of their size and fey-like appearance. It saved on special effects. And yes, some desperate individuals ended up in brothels, where they were viewed as exotic. But there were plenty that chose other paths, like she had. Scientists, doctors -- even pilots. And she was plenty capable. Her Framewerk, the Electric Dragonfly, was exceedingly agile, and well-armored to boot.

She listened attentively to the schedule. When the mention of a squad leader came up, however, she made a quick negating gesture. She was hindered by her alien nature, and preferred a supporting role. And already she was getting glares from one of the other pilots. It made her wonder what she'd done to offend him.

---

Sparks

Sparks spent most of the flight into Fortress Ship Solaire chatting with those around him. Since he was in slacks and a T-shirt with the phrase "√-1 2³ Σ π and it was delicious" there was no outward indication that he was a pilot. The sight of the fortress ship took his breath away. It was massive, a feat of engineering to be sure.

He waited until most of the other passengers were off the shuttle to disembark, but had no problem being one of the first pilots off. The woman that greeted them had to be Lieutenant Ritsu, and his guess was soon confirmed. The old man was Executive Officer Lorenzo, the scientist behind the project. His crude remarks made Sparks cringe inwardly. The poor Tevranian! But his attention soon was drawn to the green-haired Lilim beside Lorenzo. Huh. Another AI, then. Good, that means Dancer won't be too out of place.

The mention that the pilot named Aurora was also a greasemonkey pleased him. He'd have to figure out which one she was, and talk to her. And an older Framewerk? his fingers itched, and he couldn't wait to get a look at it.

The schedule was rigid and mostly filled, something he rather expected from a place like this. And of course there would be competition for the squad leader slot. Sparks didn't particularly want the role. He took a moment to look around at the others. One of the pilots, a younger woman in a school uniform, seemed upset. Homesick? or perhaps nervous? He didn't know, but he felt sorry for her.

When questions were asked for, Sparks raised his hand and waited for acknowledgement. "Is there some sort of introductory info packet, with things like a map of the ship and staff rosters, stuff like that?"

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

@Shifter_Master is it deliberate that one of the first planets lost would have been lost a couple hundred years ago, yet Aurora is from there?

ᵗʰᵉ Last Avatar.

_{...^▇▇▇_ Z I O T E A__^{▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇}}
________^{_{Tu Zin}}

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Ziotea had always stood out just a little thanks to her bright red hair. It was unusual, in most places, and drew attention. However, ever since her arrival in Tu Zin, she'd been subjected to more attention than usual. She was an outsider in a place that didn't get many newcomers -- and they all assumed she was a bender, because she was fleeing the city. That made her interesting. Ziotea did not enjoy being interesting. Her usual attitude wasn't great to begin with, and the additional attention made her even more grumpy. At least she'd found a place to stay at the tavern, and a means of income by way of doing message running and assorted small jobs around town. Everything was going fine until the town leader, an earthbender named Unye, had contacted her a day or two after her arrival. There was an expedition being formed to investigate recent disappearances in and around the city. Ziotea had heard about the disappearances, of course. Some thought it monsters. Some thought it spirits. She thought it likely a load of nonsense, until she was asked to investigate. It was framed as a request, but of course she knew it was more likely a demand. We will give you shelter, but we want something in exchange. That was how things worked, after all. It was the day before the expedition was to leave when a strange-looking caravan came into town. Traders. Mostly of things advertised as mystical when they truly weren't, but also of some normal stuff, and two peculiar items. Ziotea recognized one as some sort of drone, the kind that patrolled the Wilds. She was quite familiar with them, since she'd spent a good amount of time outside the wall. They were annoying before, and now that she was a bender, outright dangerous. You couldn't negotiate with a drone, after all. The other was some sort of funny-eyed lizard. Ziotea decided she was probably going to buy a week's worth of rations, but she was curious what was under the tarp. She could hear faint noises coming from beneath it, like a person in pain, and a metallic scraping. "What's under the last tarp?" she called, her voice easily carrying over the sound of the crowd.

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

@Shifter_Master I agree, all three pics are great but I think the third is the best. ^.^

Drawing Characters! [Open!]

@Mae Oh, that's gorgeous! and thank you!

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

@Crusader Lord Hey there!

Nerves In Carbonox Reforged: A Roll-Your-Own Giant Mecha Roleplay

That's odd, because I can see the image.