Once more with feeling!

[hellpyre]

Who: "Team 3" for the Sword Materials expeditions (Rin, Lady Duke, Ax, Shion and Nezumi)
When: Day 69
Where: Starting at the Bastion and heading out to the Skyway. Again. Again.
What: LAST SUPPLY RUN
Format: action
Warnings: none yet, will change if needed

[There were only two more things needed for the sword, and while the last run had yielded some goods, it had also come with the discovery of another survivor. The fight had taken a lot out of Rin, more emotionally than physically since she had recovered within a day of it, but she had more than one person harassing her about wandering off on her own and getting in to trouble yet again.

So her mood was somewhat soured come the next time she gathered people for a run. She asked some of the other newbies that had arrived, since she figured some of them might want to get in on what the others did on a regular basis, and snagged Duke as a somewhat-veteran of the Skyway treks, too.

It started off the same way the other two had - her waiting for them to gather before they headed out.

Hopefully this one would have less Gasfellas to deal with...]

Comments

[notduchess]

[ Duke won't actually comment on that problem with heading off on your own, but the knight will probably indicate that people should search in pairs.

But the knight is ready, waiting near that Skyway entrance with a sandwich. Breakfast. ]

[your_minutes]

[Ax is unarmed, except for his tailblade, which is as formidable a weapon as any sword.

No sandwich for him. He hasn't been eating well in the Bastion, though hopefully with enough Shards that will change.]

[aswaitsthesky]

[Wanting to do something, Shion had volunteered to head out and help search for some supplies out on what he'd been told is called the Skyway. He felt indebted after all to those who had found him and Nezumi out there and wanted to see what it was they did here.

So he'd take care of two things at once, learn more about this place and help return the aid that they'd received.

However, being not yet familiar with the grounds, hopefully everyone would forgive him and Nezumi for being a bit late, right?]

Sorry, I hope we didn't hold anyone... up... [And so sorry Ax, but he's just going to stare a moment. Because he's never seen anything quite like you. Sure people COULD look like that back home but that'd be an awful lot of modifications. Or a very intricately designed avatar. This wasn't helping with his clinging hope that this is some VR game they are trapped in...]

[hellpyre]

[Ax isn't the only one with a tail, though Rin certainly looks far more human-like than the blue alien.

Rin shakes her head when Shion arrives.]

Still waitin' on your friend.

[vindico_mus]

Well then, I guess we're ready to go.

[Excuse him while Nezumi gives Rin a nod... and then walks right up to Shion and smacks him lightly upside the head with a sigh. Really - he's seen more elaborate avatars in other games and he's seen more outlandish mutants down on Level 2. So whether Ax's appearance and Rin's tail are both real or designed - he hasn't decided which is 'reality' yet either - there's no need to be obnoxious about it.]

Don't stare at the other mutants, Shion. It's annoying.

[That said, he starts to pull on a pair of leather gloves and glances at the others.]

So how far are we taking this little sortie out today?

[hellpyre]

[Her tail is real tyvm and it's a pain in the ass to have one sometimes. Literally!

But of course she has no idea what's going on in either of their heads, and all she sees is the affectionate bap on the head from Nezumi to Shion. She doesn't laugh, but there's a faint twitch at the corner of her lips.]

Burstone Quarry. I got some information from Nathaniel that if I'm gonna find raw materials, that's the place to go. But we gotta keep a sharp eye out - there's a lotta enemies there. One in particular is a huge Lunkhead the locals like to call Sir Lunky.

[your_minutes]

[Ax twists one eyestalk to look at Nezumi, then thought-speaks to the group at large, obviously offended.]

≪I am not a mutant.≫

[vindico_mus]

...Do you have something against mutants?

[Arching a brow, Nezumi merely returns the look with an impassive one of his own. And then he gives a graceful and flourishing bow towards Ax.]

Ah, forgive me erroneous association, my fine lord. We wouldn't want to presume you share a commonality with the likes of us.

[notduchess]

[ And just as snarky as the guy he looks like-

Duke sighs. ]

Then lets get names out of the way, and use those. [ Before we start deciding verbal fights need to be followed by physical ones- ]

I'm Duke. If you want to be fancy, I'm a captain.

[hellpyre]

[Rin was about ready to pop off with a 'girls, you're both pretty!' at the two of them (which in retrospect would have been odd to say to an alien even if it's supposed to be a sarcastic bark to shut them up) but Duke intervenes.]

Rin Okumura, exorcist in training from True Cross City, Japan. My only title is exwire and it basically means I'm a newbie still so it's better just to call me Rin.

[your_minutes]

≪Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill, Andalite aristh. I serve the human Prince Jake.≫

[aswaitsthesky]

[Shion was definitely a little abashed at the chastisement, gee thanks for doing that aloud in front of the... whatever he was too, Nezumi. Face flushing, he dipped his head in apology toward the blue stranger.]

Sorry, I didn't mean to... I just haven't been... out much.

[And he could swear he just heard that voice in his head. Was his neural jack working again...?] Asahi Shion, but you can all just call me Shion. I'm just a student back home pretty much, but I hope I can help out somehow here.

[vindico_mus]

There's no need to be modest, Your Highness.

[Nezumi cuts Shion a sidelong smirk, then offers the strangers another bow before canting his head to the side.]

My name is Nezumi and I have no titles beyond 'mutant' or perhaps 'that actor formerly suspected of being a terrorist', so it's only fair to warn you now that it's on your own heads if you get yourselves injured or killed. I'm only here to keep his majesty here from getting hurt - I'm under no obligation to do the same for any of you... unless you intend to pay me.

In that case, I'm open to negotiation.

[And here he gives one last mockingly-friendly smile then pulls an actual book from his pocket - the marvels of VR really he found it the night before in an empty room - and begins to read Molière's Psyché.]

[notduchess]

[ Yeah, any positive impression points Nezumi gained from looking vaguely familiar just jumped off the skyway with that. Duke had been planning to just heal people as usual, but since this guy was going to make a fuss about it-

Well, here's hoping that he can't heal, because otherwise it would just sound really stupid. The kid is starting to sound a bit like one of those recruits who only wants to protect nobles or something shitty like that. ]

That'll work grand for you. There's no money here, so unless you want to start a collection of shiny rocks, here's the offer you're getting. You and your friend? You want any help when you get injured? I can fix your bruises, scrapes, and broken bones, so long as the last don't stick out of your skin or something. Is that good pay?

[ Just because there is One Person You Care About, it doesn't mean you should be a rat about being helpful to the only other survivors.

The knight still might go about and ask the other one if he wants to learn how to fight later. He doesn't seem like a dick- ]

[hellpyre]

[Seriously, Nezumi? Worlds ended and you're stuck with a ragtag group of survivors and that's what you spout off?

Rin already wanted to haul off and hit the guy, but Duke intervened again, preventing her from starting a fight. For the best, really, but she was still mildly annoyed. She was going to have to keep an eye on him...]

... if we're finished here, can we go? The sooner we get to this the better.

Terribly sorry, I didn't track the thread properly!

[aswaitsthesky]

[Head whipping from side to side, Shion lifts his hands and waves them to lend emphasis to how very much he didn't agree with Nezumi's introduction. He was just trying to rile them.] Don't mind, Nezumi, he's just... really prickly at first! And just so no one gets the wrong idea, I'm not... I'm really not royalty or rich or anything like that. [He shoots a dirty look at his companion before trying to smile apologetically at the others again.]

Of course we'd be grateful for such help if it's needed and I can help with some first aid too, but hopefully it won't come to that! For now I really don't want to hold you all up any longer... Sorry, Rin! Lead the way.

[He takes a deep breath and braces himself for what may be a very long day...]

It's fine! /shoves thread back in to moving again

[hellpyre]

[Well at least one of them was somewhat levelheaded, even if Shion looked about as battle-ready as a twig. But Rin wasn't about to write anyone off just yet, even if she was irritated.]

It's fine, it's fine...

[she waved a hand dismissively]

Try to keep together and try not to get too far from the group.

[And with that final warning, she moved towards the exit, leading her little team out on to the Skyway. Soon enough they were all on the path the Burstone Quarry. The entry is narrow, but it seems fairly bright... until Rin gets them past a closed wooden gate by breaking it down. Beyond that... it's strangely dark, almost tunnel-like.]

... cheery.

(ooc: the link is to a Let's Play of Bastion that shows the entry of Burstone Quarry, if you want to click for a visual of the area.)

[your_minutes]

[Ax doesn't have much patience for people who refuse to look out for the good of the group, and Nezumi's attitude rubs Ax the wrong way.]

≪There is no money here, or kingdoms to be royalty of.

[That is a dark tunnel, and Ax would rather never ever in his life go into dark tunnels.]

[vindico_mus]

[And yet, if their reproach or disapproval reaches him, he makes no show if it. Instead, he simply tucks the book back into his pocket and hums softly to himself as they set out.

Once they reach the entrance, however, he steps past Rin and Ax both, gives Shion a hand motion to stay back, then shrugs a shoulder.]

Wait.

[In that moment, two small bodies scurry from inside the folds of the cloak around his neck and make it half-way down his arm. Both mice sit back on his hind legs and look up at him with intelligent, grape-colored eyes, and he nods to the entrance to the Quarry.]

Recon ahead, and retreat immediately when you find a threat.

[As the two mice scurry down to his outstretched palm then hop over to scurry the rest of the way to the ground, he glances over his shoulders, he gives his wrists a flick, authorizing the command through his neural-jack to unsheath his weapons as he looks at Shion. And as he begins to speak, two long blades slide down from the sheaths at his elbows down to a good foot past his fingertips.

He did love flat-space tech.]

Cravat will give you a warning if they find anything, so if anyone hears one of the mice squeak, be prepared for an immediate threat. How's that for playing nice?

((OOC: Anyone can give the warning 'squeak' to give them the heads up in case of monsters in the dark - this just makes it harder to ambush them!))

[hellpyre]

[Mice? That wasn't something Rin was expecting, but she watches quietly as Nezumi speaks to them and they scurry off. The comment earns a smirk from her, though.]

Better. I'm likin' you better already.

[She took a couple of steps forward, poking her head in to the darkness. It wasn't completely without light, but there wasn't exactly a lot of it. She was trying to limit how much she used her flames, but it looked like there might be a need for it now.]

Right, gimmie a second here...

[She went for the sword on her back in the case, pulling the blade out. With it, a rush of blue flames came from it and surrounded her.]

Right. We got a look out and some light in here, let's get goin'.