Wayward

RATTLECHOMP

The night passed by with its terrors. Toni tossed and turned for hours, unable to settle to position to set mind and body at peace. When rest finally came to her, it was unsettled, outright tormenting at times. The sleeping dreams barreled upon her relentlessly; nightmares of Rue dominating the night's repertoire. In some, she was battling them as they sought to do harm unto mortals. In others she was consoling Rue that were despaired by their existence in the human plane. In others still, Rue were attempting to take over the bodies of herself and her love ones, as though they were demons Hellbent on possession.

Waking came her with a suuddenness unlike any she had experienced. She throbbed and shivered, head burning with a fever, and her face was covered by a thin veil of sweat. She shot upright, grabbing her stomach as her muscles cramped. For a minute or two, she stayed sitting in her bed, easing her pains. When she at last felt strong enough to ruse to her feet, she did so with a labored slowness. Almost as quickly as they had come about, the feverish symptoms receded as Toni set foot onto the floor and tracked to her window.

She pulled back the curtain, and sighed in relief. The first light of dawn was still just creeping into the distant skies. Her worry that she had slept in assuaged, she went about with the final preparations for her departure. Her travel backpack had been packed the previous night: a spare change of clothes, ammunition, a few provisions of food, and a water catine were among her essentials. She put the finishing touch by stowing a pipe, matchbook, and smoking herbs into a side pocket; whether she would have a chance to stop and smoke, she didn't know, but she felt right in bringing the items along anyways.

Dressing appropriately for the journey to come, she strapped her boots securely, fastened a holster with a sixshot revolver (a gift from an insistent Olivia) to her waist, and grabbed her backpack. Drawing the curtains and dousing the lamps, she parted from her bedroom. Checking both the clock on the wall and the pocket watch she had been left by her late father, she confirmed the time: 7:00AM. She would have plenty of time to get to the station. Walking down the hall, she heard no sound coming from her brothers.

Just as she had planned, she was leaving before they woke. She opened the door to the outside. Already standing on the front walk was Mrs. Maribelle; somehow, Toni saw, she was looking saddened in a way she hadn't the previous night. "Everything should be all set for you, Ma'am," Toni said. The older woman didn't respond, but looked back at her like a medium looking into a crystal ball. "Mrs. Maribelle?"

"Oh. Sorry dear." Olivia snapped to as though pulled from a trance. "Yes. All will be well. Stephen and James will be fine under my care. She placed another comforting hand upon Toni's shoulder, and hugged her quickly before setting her on her way. "Be careful Antonita. Your journey may be more trying than expected. But I know you will succeed."

Toni departed, passing through the front gate of the apartment courtyard with no more than a side eye back. Her trip through town was uneventful, the early hour of a Saturday seeing most people sleeping. All that were awake and about were the shopkeepers preparing for the inevitable rush of commerce. Toni nodded to the ones she knew, who looked at her, puzzled as to what had her out so early. She paid their bewildered stares no attention.

Her mind was focused on her destination. Atop a hill overlooking the city from Lumin Park, stood the white gazebo. She had heard talk of the Darklight Corridor. But had she not been required to go there, she might never have given the place any thought or notice. As she scaled the hill leading up to the Corridor entrance, the prickling sensation ran across her skin. She looked around, and, seeing nothing, felt best to ignore the feeling for the time being.

Only as she started down the marble steps did she begin to wonder about what Olivia had said. More trying than expected? Was it possible the older woman knew more than she was letting on?

Toni didn't have much of a chance to dwell on the question. The sight of the cathedral-like station caught her off guard, leaving her too awestruck to think of much else. Her eyes would come to a machine with four spidery legs, housing what looked like an entire ecosystem in a terrarium atop itself. That's where she also noticed an elderly woman sitting on a bench accompanied by another woman not far off from Toni's age.

Toni stepped forward to join the other two. From her pocket she pulled a folded copy of the flier, presenting it to both women. "Uh. I'm guessing I'm in the right place," she said. "Antonita Hawkes. But I go by Toni."

RATTLECHOMP

"Stephan. James. You both know Mrs. Maribelle from next door."

Antonita Hawkes looked deeply into the eyes of her two younger brothers. Stephan, 15, and James, 13, looked back into hers with confused and disparaged expressions stealing their usually energetic composures. Her eyes kept a fixed, reassuring gaze at them until, finally, both nodded "yes," in unison. Toni returned their gesture, and turned to face the woman next to her.

Mrs. Olivia Maribelle, Toni's neighbor, A stern yet kind woman of 50, who had lost her husband not long ago, stood facing back at her. She placed her hand gently upon Toni's shoulder with a soft smile. "Dear. You have nothing to worry about. You need to take this trip to better yourself for your future. I'll be here bright and early tomorrow so that you can make it on time."

"Thank you, Ma'am." Toni bowed graciously to the older woman, grateful that her neighbor and so readily taken to an accepting and supportive role in her life. After leading Mrs. Maribelle out of the apartment, she returned to the living room, where her brothers still stood, perplexed. "Sis," James spoke up. "Where are you going?"

"Yeah." Stephan chimed in next. "And why do you have to go?"

"I... I have to go out of town. Just for a few days, I promise. It's a trip for... for my job training. The one that I'm in to work in medicine. It'll help me find work later on. And then... and then things will be better for us." Toni paused for a moment, seeing both brothers exchange looks, first of uncertainty, and then of acceptance. "Good. Now. I need you two to go off and get some sleep. I'll be right behind you; we all have early mornings tomorrow." Her brothers nodded, and walked from the living room and over into their shared bedroom.

Toni remained behind, watching them as they entered their room and closed the door behind them. A tear rolled down her cheek. Nearly two years had come and gone since the deaths of the trio's parents, and still, Toni felt uneasy in her ability to properly care for her younger siblings. She hoped that the trip she had spent the evening packing for would be worth leaving them in the care of someone else. She trusted Olivia; just the thought of not being around herself after being such a constant in their lives shook her to her core.

She shivered. The hairs on her body prickled up. Immediately, her instinct kicked in, and she power walked from the living room out onto the front patio looking out into the apartment complex. Across the way, a dark mist lofted and drifted as though looking towards her. Rue. She had been seeing them since she was a child, but only recently had she been informed of their name and nature, and that she was one of a unique type of people that could properly perceive and interact with them; the most extreme of these had lead to her inadvertently discovering she could manifest an energy field that could repel the beings. The one in question, however, seemed little interested in her or her brothers, as it floated higher and eventually listed away and out of view. "Good." Toni said to herself as she turned and went back into the apartment.

"Good night Sis!" she heard her brothers say together.

"Goodnight." She responded as she passed their room and retreated into her own at the end of the hallway. She flopped down onto her bed, thinking of her parents as she fell asleep.

Mom. Dad. Forgive me.

Age of Darkness: Despair of the Golden Goddess (LoZ RP)

@Dark Cloud

Orin and his company recoiled against the piercing screech from the behemoth tektite, all of them shielding their ears as they took a collective step back. As he recovered his posture, the Captain steadied himself, and braced against the quivering earth as the creature rammed its leg into the ground beneath it. Holding strong, he analyzed the aftermath on the beast's body. A break in the outer shell had exposed the soft tissue underneath. He turned his attention to a quick surveil of the passage, noting that the integrity of cave had been compromised. "Ergh." He blustered, shaking his head. There's nothing for it.

"Go for the open flesh!" he called out to his team. He signaled silently to his squad. In tandem with his troops, Orin too dashed in, slashing at the opening in the exoskeleton. As he made his move, his squad backed off, following through on the prior signal to feign their charge. For Orin, his intent was set on convening with the lieutenant standing opposite him in the formation. There, he would pass his orders: they were to evacuate camp as quickly as possible; only take what was necessary for survival and future strategizing.

The Witches & Warlocks of Tanner 2.0

@Hedgehawk

Caitlin Morgan Cade

Earlier…

Parting ways with Jaz, Caitlin went back into the house. She made her way up the main staircase, and down a hallway that rounded to the back side. All of the doors lining the hall were shut tight… save for one at the far end, which had been left slightly ajar. "Home sweet home I guess." She kicked off, stumbling once, having forgotten that her board wasn't underfoot. Laughing it off, she walked her way to the open room. Her hand hesitating, she pulled the door open slowly at first, flinging it fully open as she peaked inside. A light grin etched across her face.

Beyond the other side of the door sat a small room, ten feet by ten feet of floor space. Its furnishing were minimal: a twin sized bed occupied a spot against the wall halfway to the far side where a single window draped with a lavender curtain set filtered in the afternoon light. A four-drawer dresser stood against the wall opposite the bed. "Just like I left it." It was a room Cait was familiar with. She had stayed a fair share of nights in the Coven House… usually because mom and dad had seen it as a better way to keep her from sneaking off; the Coven had always had tight security.

Cait made way to the bed first, noting that a large suitcase awaited unpacking. As promised, their belongings from home were already delivered. Unpacking, though, could wait. Immediately, Cait set the suitcase aside, and flopped down onto the bed. Opening her backpack, she rummaged and rifled through the contents. "Please, please, pleass… Yeeaaah." She spoke coolly, removing from the inside of the backpack the ground, rolled herb of choice. Feeling victorious, she set the joint and a lighter from her pocket on a nearby nightstand and set about unpacking.

==========

Cait was settled in by the time the party was set to start. Not much for fancy dressing, she gravitated towards her Favorite Jersey, an unscuffed, untorn pair of gray Carhartt pants, and her Favored Vans cap, turned backwards. Dressed, and enjoying the subtle irony of her going to a party her first night back, she took up the joint and lighter from her nightstand. She lit the joint, and took a smooth inhale. Savoring the onsetting buzz, she exhaled and headed down stairs.

People were already gathering in for the festivities. A table of snacks and drinks was set up in the dining room looking out towards the veranda. Someone… Miles, if Cait recalled correctly, had just come in from the veranda. Visible on the other side, standing alone, was someone Cait recognized more readily. Carlisle. Ignoring the festivities for the time being, Cait made tracks across the room, and poked out onto the veranda. "Car… Dude… Come on in… it's a party!" She looked to the joint in her hand, and back to Carlisle. Hundredth time's a charm? She held the joint up in an offering gesture. "You uuh… Ya wanna hit this?"

RATTLECHOMP

I apologize for posting in the character tab earlier. Been a touch off step of late.

Made edits. Kept things vague. Toni's parents simply died in a transit incident. DCF is now simply the "authorities." Also figured EMTs proper might not be a thing in IC so I changed it to being a medical practitioner.

Toni

WHAT IS THE CHARACTER'S NAME?
Antonita "Toni" Jade Hawkes

WHAT IS A STRANGER'S FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING THEM?

Caring; Protective; Motherly; Responsible Beyond Her Years

At the young age of 21, Toni carries herself in public with the dignity and sense of purpose seen in people twice her years. She is a caretaker both by nature and by dedicated choice, quick to assist whenever and however she can. While most evident when around her brothers, she has a strong protective streak, willing to stand up for those who are down, and will even "take the heat" to save someone else the trouble. She is punctual, and bears a strong work ethic. Her degree of compassion is to the fault of being unwilling to genuinely reprimand or punish anyone. However, cutting through these great qualities is an underlying feeling of stress and strain, and the fear that she won't be able to keep all of the plates spinning.

WHAT IS THEIR PROFESSION AND HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT IT?
Having been kept from pursuing a comprehensive education in order to care for two younger siblings, Toni hasn't broken into a desirable career path. She presently works the day shift at a warehouse. By night, she is pursuing training to become a medical practitioner.

HOW HAS (NOT) BEING A HOWL AFFECTED THEIR LIFE?
She's been thus far unaware of the term "Howl." Through her childhood and teens, she didn't suspect much of the Rue. Nor did she feel that she had any obligation to deal or interact with them in any capacity. It wasn't until more recently that her status as 'Howl' has impacted her life. Knowing that the phantoms she's seen since childhood are both capable of and willing to cause harm to humans had put her on edge. She's grown hyper vigilant in her defense against the Rue, checking the apartment for them routinely when she's home. She's yet to tell her brothers of her experiences, feeling that they're happier off not knowing, and fearing the repercussions if thr authorities caught wind that she was seeing "ghosts." However, Toni's effort leave her regularly exhausted making it difficult to focus on work and her career development.

WHY ARE THEY IN OAKEN CITY?
Two years ago, Toni's life crashed down around her without warning. Her parents while out one evening, were victims in a transit incident that left both of them dead.

The death of her parents left Toni in a position of burden an responsibility. With no other known family to fall back on, the duty of caring for her two younger brothers fell onto her as a legal adult; not wishing to split the family up, Toni applied for and was granted legal guardianship of her brothers, Stephen and James. Following the trial, settlements, and hearings, Toni made the decision to move to Oaken City, where she could more readily afford start life anew, away from the memories of her parents' deaths.

DO THEY HAVE A HOWL ABILITY? WHAT IS IT?
Going even back to her youth, Antonia had quietly observed the obscured visages of the Rue. At first she wrote them off as tricks of the light. But after seeing one in earnest for the first time, she began to consider them more life ghosts or spirits. They appear to her in a primitive form as masses of black and gray mist. Where she's more gifted is in her ability to sense nearby Rue the same as she can feel the breeze against her skin.

It wasn't until she had finished the move to Oaken City that she had her first violent experience with a Rue. The one in particular seemed attracted to the sadness and despair shared among herself and her brothers. It was in this encounter that she discovered she could do more than simply see and feel the phantasms... as it hovered and swooped in as though to attack her, a field of luminous energy enveloped her, against which the Rue knocked and was pushed back before retreating entirely.

RATTLECHOMP

Toni

WHAT IS THE CHARACTER'S NAME?
Antonita "Toni" Jade Hawkes

WHAT IS A STRANGER'S FIRST IMPRESSION UPON MEETING THEM?

Caring; Protective; Motherly; Responsible Beyond Her Years

At the young age of 21, Toni carries herself in public with the dignity and sense of purpose seen in people twice her years. She is a caretaker both by nature and by dedicated choice, quick to assist whenever and however she can. While most evident when around her brothers, she has a strong protective streak, willing to stand up for those who are down, and will even "take the heat" to save someone else the trouble. She is punctual, and bears a strong work ethic. Her degree of compassion is to the fault of being unwilling to genuinely reprimand or punish anyone. However, cutting through these great qualities is an underlying feeling of stress and strain, and the fear that she won't be able to keep all of the plates spinning.

WHAT IS THEIR PROFESSION AND HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT IT?
Having been kept from pursuing a comprehensive education in order to care for two younger siblings, Toni hasn't broken into a desirable career path. She presently works the day shift at a warehouse. By night, she is pursuing training to become a medical practitioner.

HOW HAS (NOT) BEING A HOWL AFFECTED THEIR LIFE?
She's been thus far unaware of the term "Howl." Through her childhood and teens, she didn't suspect much of the Rue. Nor did she feel that she had any obligation to deal or interact with them in any capacity. It wasn't until more recently that her status as 'Howl' has impacted her life. Knowing that the phantoms she's seen since childhood are both capable of and willing to cause harm to humans had put her on edge. She's grown hyper vigilant in her defense against the Rue, checking the apartment for them routinely when she's home. She's yet to tell her brothers of her experiences, feeling that they're happier off not knowing, and fearing the repercussions if thr authorities caught wind that she was seeing "ghosts." However, Toni's effort leave her regularly exhausted making it difficult to focus on work and her career development.

WHY ARE THEY IN OAKEN CITY?
Two years ago, Toni's life crashed down around her without warning. Her parents while out one evening, were victims in a transit incident that left both of them dead.

The death of her parents left Toni in a position of burden an responsibility. With no other known family to fall back on, the duty of caring for her two younger brothers fell onto her as a legal adult; not wishing to split the family up, Toni applied for and was granted legal guardianship of her brothers, Stephen and James. Following the trial, settlements, and hearings, Toni made the decision to move to Oaken City, where she could more readily afford start life anew, away from the memories of her parents' deaths.

DO THEY HAVE A HOWL ABILITY? WHAT IS IT?
Going even back to her youth, Antonia had quietly observed the obscured visages of the Rue. At first she wrote them off as tricks of the light. But after seeing one in earnest for the first time, she began to consider them more life ghosts or spirits. They appear to her in a primitive form as masses of black and gray mist. Where she's more gifted is in her ability to sense nearby Rue the same as she can feel the breeze against her skin.

It wasn't until she had finished the move to Oaken City that she had her first violent experience with a Rue. The one in particular seemed attracted to the sadness and despair shared among herself and her brothers. It was in this encounter that she discovered she could do more than simply see and feel the phantasms... as it hovered and swooped in as though to attack her, a field of luminous energy enveloped her, against which the Rue knocked and was pushed back before retreating entirely.

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

@FourtyTwo

Paris, France. One Week Prior.

Charles de Gaulle Airport.

A steady silence imposed itself over the bustling noise outside of the CDG terminal.

Riding passenger in the front seat of her mother's car, Michele had spoken little of her upcoming "trip." Her mother had, of course, badgered her for nearly a week about it; it wasn't every day that a French woman took up a job in New Zealand. Then, it also wasn't every day that a former gymnastics star got recruited into a clandestine counter-terrorist operation. Somehow, though, Michele had landed in just that position.

Naturally, she couldn't divulge that to her mother. It had been a clever ruse on the part of Raven Squad to set up her cover story: Michele had been hired to coach an international dance squad based in New Zealand. All of the documentation had been doctored to perfection on the diligent hand of RS's tech experts; Skye Lyons even promised to set her up with a real gig to validate her alibi.

Even still, Mich's chest sunk when she thought of how much of her life she had had to keep away from her closest relative.

Top secrets on top of top secrets.

When she set foot on the sidewalk outside of the terminal, she was looking solemn and secluded. Even as she hugged her mother, "Au revoir, mére," drifted out from her with the distant tone of someone that might never return home. And with no further exchange of words, Michele crossed into the terminal, not looking back. Somehow, she believed her mother knew more than she was letting on; mothers always had a way of knowing.

=========

Kaitiaki Homestead

Though it had been a week since she had arrived at the Homestead, Michele had yet to completely unpack her belongings. Less so had she fully engaged the other members of the squad. Outside of the brief, strictly business interactions in the common areas, she kept well enough to herself. A sharp memory of her first mission two weeks ago had had her reflecting since she had arrived at the base.

She had met with a few operatives in Milan. The sting operation was the one that put most of her former criminal enterprise behind bars. More than one of her new colleagues had called her out for being too soft on the crooks, especially, they emphasized, considering what the syndicate had put her through.

It was true enough that she hadn't been particularly aggressive; she had opted to implement anesthetic tactics during the raid, leaving most of her ex-cohorts passed out on the floor. This was partly for wanting them to face justice rather than vengeance, and partly out of knowing that more than a few of them were deep in it for similar reasons to her. And it wasn't like she spared all of them; Carmine and his inner circle had either been beaten to dead pulp or turned into Swiss cheese. Mich had personally done the honor of offing the boss.

Even so... Some, particularly the 'Gentleman' Stafford, had chastised her for leaving too many living bodies behind.

She hadn't responded to anyone's criticism though. She had known what she was doing, and was vindicated when the tabloids and newspapers wrote off the raid as the work of a "low man on the ladder looking to usurp the crime boss."

But still, she was being prodded... the next mission wouldn't leave room for survivors or witnesses. Mich understood that fact. The past week had been spent steeling herself for the inevitable necessity of blood on her hands. She loathed killing, having done so for unsavory tasks. If it was justified though...

=========

After progressing through her series of morning stretches, Michele dressed herself casually, and proceeded to the common area of the Homestead. She was late getting to the socializing, but was just in time to hear Skye's rundown of the next mission's details. She listened quietly and carefully. The case seemed heavier than she could say she was prepared for. Going from taking down jewel thieves, art smugglers, and drug traffickers wasn't quite on the tier of wrecking up arms dealers... particularly ones with big money and politicians backing them.

She proceeded wordlessly on the ending of the debriefing. With no backing down, she knew it would be best to pull together her arsenal.

=========

Aralsk

Partycrasher

The cold desert night had begun to give way to daybreak along the Aral Sea. Arriving by the dead of night, the Raven Squad team was already within range of their target by the time the sun touched the eastern horizon.

Michele's night had been rough. Weighing the value of her weapons in relation to the mission had stolen more of what little sleep she was allowed than she cared to admit to the squad. In the end, she had chosen to leave her climbing gear and shotgun behind; with little space in the DPV, she worried she might take up too much space... though conversely, she had been convincing about bringing gear for a shallow dive with her despite Queen's insistence that the Aral Sea was too dried out for it to be of much use.

At her immediate disposal was her HK433. Holsters at her hip kept guard over her M9, FNP-90, and taser. Her Tactical Suit, fresh from assembly by RS's R&D, had been outfitted with sheathing compartments for her tonfa pair. Though she wasn't entirely sure how useful they'd be in an open desert, she had stocked two smoke canisters.

As it was her first true mission, Michele, designated "Hornet" had been ordered by Queen to ride, and stick with her for the time being, and do as she said.

Hornet was doing well in following Queen's orders. Her last set of instructions were to stay at the DPV and stand guard; the last thing they wanted was to get caught on their ass end by surprise. However, the guard duty was quickly chipping away at Hornet's patience. Her assault rifle at a carrying position, she bobbed and rocked back and forth from heel to toe. Every few seconds she circled the vehicle scanning out the surrounding desert. No danger out here for miles... Save for the arms dealers nearby anyways.

Hornet was just about to break from her sentry duty to check on the situation for herself when Queen came bolting back to the DVP. Seeing her leader's intent immediately, Hornet secured herself in the nearest passenger seat. There was no time to fasten in; Queen revved the engine and drove in a hurry. Hornet, though braced for the acceleration, nearly dropped from the back end of the DVP before finally securing herself next to Queen.

"What's the problem?" she asked, her English adorned, as always, by a noticeable French accent.

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

@Wayward

Yep one part at base to introduce your character, one on mission with a timeskip. This round of posts is either the last including an element on base or moves on to the mission itself completely so hopefully a little less ground to cover!

@FourtyTwo

Getting a post together. I'll post it when I get home.

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

So are all of these posts time skipping between meeting at the base and out on the mission?

Raven Squad: Second Storm (Military/Spy-Fi RP)

Jumping on to apologize. A truck took down a power line by my house this afternoon so we've been without power. So my post will be delayed to tomorrow.