my oath shall be sped;

[agogemod]

WHO? Everybody!
WHAT? The January TDM.
WHEN? The mythic dimension of Vorspiel.
ANYTHING ELSE? Violence, as always. Please warn in subject lines for anything beyond physical violence, and move to a personal journal if things go beyond PG-13.

JANUARY TEST DRIVE MEME;

Vorspiel; a land of song.

arrival for new recruits

You wake up in a patch of verdant forest, with the birds chirping all around you. You're not in a clearing; your body lies between the trees. Near you, a frail woman with tired eyes rocks back and forth. You have none of your clothing, just black military-issued underwear, and none of your previous possessions beyond the one you chose (if you remember choosing) to bring with you.

When the tired woman notices you've come to, she speaks in a tongue you won't recognize, but somehow understand, in tilting tones that somehow always rhyme. Tired and sorrowful though she is, if you have questions as to what's going on, she'll answer: you are a member of COST, a paramilitary organization of time travelers fighting against the Regency, a tyrannous kingdom of the future who are trying to stamp out freedom and individuality in the name of peace.

She will provide you with the clothing necessary to fit in, and show you how to use your BCE implant to look up information on this dimension and its social and political mores. She won't let you leave until you're properly dressed to fit in, but once you are, she'll wish you luck. She thinks you'll need it.

And, she says as you depart, if you see the Gods, spit on them. They will do you no favors here.

ARRIVAL FOR VETERANS

While on BASE, you'll receive a message on your BCE.

URGENT MISSION: VORSPIEL UNDER MAJOR ATTACK. ALL POSSIBLE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO PROVIDE AID.

ACCEPT: Y / N ?

Selecting 'Y' will instantly teleport you to Vorspiel. Or maybe you're not the volunteering type, but your BCE glitches and signs you up anyway. Them's the breaks.

When you appear in Vorspiel, you'll find yourself in that same forest with the same woman who is ushering new recruits. She will give you clothes and wish you luck-- though luck, she says, is something true heroes have in short supply.

VORSPIEL

Regardless of how you got here, your BCE will have a short rundown of the situation once you arrive.

Vorspiel is a mythical, magical dimension rich in rare and precious resources. During the course of the war, it's been fought over by both sides. The Regency has recently allied with the leader of the misty country of Nibelheim to issue what is known as a Time Break; a sort of spell only possible in ancient dimensions such as these. Essentially, linear time has been destroyed in this dimension. Everything is happening at once, simultaneously and perpetually, a never ending cycle of lives and deaths and battles. While Vorspiel is a vast dimension, its borders have become warped; it is possible to walk from one country to another across the sea in a matter of moments, by accident. While the BCE is trying to send people to Nibelheim, it's entirely possible it misses the mark completely, or sends them to several places before they reach Nibelheim.

This chaos is meant to be a punishment: bow down before the Regency, or nothing will ever be the same again.

There is good news, though. Vorspiel is a dimension of inherent magic; singing or humming or whistling certain magical tunes will have an inherent effect upon one's surroundings. The BCE lists all the spells, though it notes that some have varying results (AKA go wild, guys, have fun), and the ones named after people will do little unless the person in question is present (a statistical unlikelihood).

As you enter different parts of Vorspiel, the BCE will sometimes give you different assignments, prompting you to take this action or that. If you have any questions about how this setting works, feel free to ask!

THE RHEIN

You come upon a giant river with clear and beautiful water. The sun shines down upon it in yellow light, and wherever the light touches it, gold floats to the surface of the water. The BCE will prompt you to fetch as much of this gold as you can-- it is an extremely powerful magical resource, rheingold-- but it will not warn you about the Rheinmaidens.

The rheinmaidens are mermaids, essentially, and at first, they are very friendly and gentle, singing nonsense songs and welcoming you to their home. But as soon as you begin to make any moves toward the gold, they will curse you, dive for you with surprising speed, and attempt to drown you. They will be vicious, and their natural element is water. You're in their territory, taking their things, as far as they are concerned. They have every right to kill you.

Killing the rhienmaidens will work... for a minute or so. And then they will rise again. Wounds will undo themselves-- whether they're inflicted by the rheinmaidens or you. Drowning doesn't seem permanent either-- you're pulled under, and all air escapes you, death befalls you... and then you wake up a moment later, standing on the shore.

Time has been fundamentally broken. Nothing done here is permanent.

WALHALL

You stand outside a fortress bathed in rainbow light atop a glorious mountain. Around you, the air is cool and still, and the roof of the sky seems terribly close. No matter how far toward the fortress you run, you can never make it inside. And thundering footsteps are coming just around the mountain pass, coming for you.

Lumbering giants wander around the fortress, searching for something they mutter and murmur is theirs. If they see anyone around, they will attempt to carry them off, kidnapping them for unknown purposes. They do not seem interested in eating their catch; they seem more interested in kidnapping it. Still, they are dangerous, brutish and sloppy with their strength. It is best to avoid them if possible, hiding in the trees.

Or perhaps you'd rather fight these fifteen-foot monstrosities on your own?

Of course, if you kill them, they just... come back. Death cannot be permanent in a place where time has been caught in an endless loop.

NIBELHEIM

The misty country of Nibelheim is located within a network of caverns dug into the side of a great mountain. It's a foggy, polluted place that brings to mind a city on the brink of the industrial revolution, not unlike Victorian London, though Nibelheim is entirely underground. There is smoke and smog everywhere, and living conditions are generally poor. The rich class is one family, ruled by a Nibelung named Alberich. He has various objects of great power that keep him enslaving his fellow Nibelung, working constantly in factories of his making. He has allied with the Regency to achieve this goal, and the time break within his home dimension is due in large part to his planning and plotting.

Human visitors to Nibelheim aren't unheard of, due to trade, though they are in a minority. Nibelungs, for the record, look and feel and act completely human, but they are ultimately alien, averaging a foot shorter in height at least, having naturally sallow skin, large eyes, hairless regardless of gender, and long, nimble fingers. They are a race of people made to live underground, and it shows; most can see in the dark, and climb nearly any surface. They are famed as smiths and metalworkers. Most just want to make a living and feed their families, though Alberich's clan keeps them in line.

Your duty here, the BCE says, is to try and befriend these people, the average Nibelung, and spark some kind of revolt. There are Regency spies everywhere, however, so be careful; you cannot call for rebellion in an open voice on every street corner. No, it's better, safer, to be subtle about it. Win the trust of a local businessman, seek out influential Nibelungs and figure out their opinions. Be tactical, be clever, be quick.

And avoid Alberich and his family at any cost.

But if you can, try and save some of the Nibelungs. Due to Alberich's machinations, Nibelheim is the only part of Vorspiel that has been untouched by the time break, but that will only stay true for so long. If you can convince any Nibelungs to join COST, they will do so willingly; you'll just have to escort them to safe places in hidden back rooms within dingy bars and forgotten libraries, the places where COST cells have been fermenting under the nose of the Regency. Don't get caught, and be careful; save as many as you can.

AT THE BASE OF A GREAT TREE

A man lays dying. He looks very much like the woman who introduced you to this place. Regardless, he lies in a pool of his own blood, a stab wound through his heart. The time break keeps him from ever truly passing into the next life; as soon as he dies, his eyes open, and he begins the process of his last painful moments once again.

Each time, he begs you to avenge him and find his love (or sometimes his sister; he seems very confused), and if you ask him his name, he will only respond that he is, "the woeful one". And then he will die again, for the hundredth time.

In the trees, warriors watch, poised to attack. They see you communing with their enemy, and they wish to defeat you as well. These warriors care little for your protest; they are locked in an endless battle that they cannot free themselves from, and you have just joined it.

IN THE FOREST

There is a serpent, larger than anything you have ever seen, sitting at the mouth of a cave. It sits upon a hoard of gold that may be familiar to you. It may not, but the BCE will inform you of what it is: rheingold, an incredibly potent and valuable magical resource.

Regardless, the serpent will attack anyone that comes near it or its hoard, even by accident. It, too, is caught in an endless loop of battle long over, for it calls you boy and foolish young man regardless of who or what you are. It speaks in a deep and sonorous voice, and will not stop until its head is cut off. The creature is obnoxiously large and highly dangerous, and battle with it will be long and painful, not least because, like everything in this place where time has been so fundamentally broken, it is very bad at staying dead.

Be careful when you fight it -- if you accidentally get some of its blood in your mouth, you will be suddenly and temporarily able to understand the language of birds. Which is cool, but also, you know, distracting.

The birds will tell you to find the Valkyries, who will bring you great fame and glory. They will also tell you to run, for Fafnir does not die so easy.

AT THE END OF THE WORLD

You are at a funeral. A golden-haired woman stands upon an unlit pyre, standing next to the man who, she sings, is her dead husband. Her song is beautiful and loud and incomprehensible, and when the pyre is lit, the fire swallows her whole. But the burning doesn't stop there; it begins to destroy the assembled mourners, the forest around it, the castle, the very river burns. The fabric of the world crackles and sets to flame.

Run from the flame all you like, but it always licks at your heels.

There is a trick, though, to saving your life. If one is truly unafraid of death, the fire cannot harm you, or anyone you touch. The BCE won't warn you of this; it doesn't know. But if you are unafraid, you can simply walk through the flames unharmed.

It will bring you to a wide field atop a mountain, where a woman lies sleeping. It's the same woman at the funeral, peaceful in sleep, unmoving, unsinged. She can be awoken by a kiss.

Of course, awakening her will begin the cycle again: the pyre, the fire, the fearlessness, the clearing. Over and over again, endlessly, until the BCE manages to pull you out.

This is the will of the Regency.

As a final note: This will not be the main mission for January. This TDM is meant as a one-off to dump characters into a setting they don't have to read a ton of infopages for, while still getting a sense of what Agoge could be (and as always, this TDM is game canon).

The main mission for January will be the Gallipoli campaign, as detailed here. Future missions for Agoge are always listed here months in advance.

NAV. NETWORK LOGS OOC MEMES PLURK

Comments

Yoshitsugu Ōtani | Veteran | OTA

[hakanai]

I. WALHALL (SANRIN)
Yoshitsugu's entry into this place, this land of Vorspiel, is just as chaotic as probably everyone else's is. After agreeing to help he's shunted... somewhere. Then somewhere else. Then somewhere else again before it finally settles down (for now) and he finds himself on a huge, imposing mountain that probably isn't his actual final destination. Apparently alone.

It's not an ideal situation to be, but taking things in stride Yoshitsugu finds a tree to sit against while he regains his composure. A large fortress, cold air, the sense of being incredibly high up? Grunting to himself, he opens his BCE and begins to search through the information it has to offer. There's no immediate danger so before trying to find a way down, out or... whatever, best to learn about what he's dealing with.

Unfortunately this lack of danger does not last more than five or ten minutes. The footsteps come heavy, fast and close, like the one making them knows Yoshitsugu is here, and he stares in their direction before promptly getting to his feet and hiding behind one of the thicker nearby trees. Whatever that is, it's big. Really big. And there aren't that many trees here for the creature to look behind.

Yoshitsugu, and anyone else nearby that he is currently unaware of, will be found if he doesn't do something.

There had been little to time to memorise more of the spells the BCE had mentioned, but Yoshitsugu remembers one in particular that might help him here. If it works how he imagines it might. So he closes his eyes and hums softly, the same set of notes over and over, hoping it really will be useful.

A giant rounds the corner, talking to itself, as the spell begins to take effect. Begins to take effect really swiftly. The mountain pass is about to get a lot greener, and any nearby allies may want to watch where they're stood because more trees basically explode from the ground and shoot upwards as grass and flowers start to spread. The giant himself screams with anger as one such tree knocks it to the side and begins to yell into the thickening, tiny but very much real forest, and Yoshitsugu himself is drawn out of his humming by a rather spiky bush sprouting up around his body. Oww.

This... wasn't quite what he was aiming for, but fine. It'd buy him time. Maybe. There's no guarantee this magic will last for long so fight, or flight, it's time to decide. Perhaps you'd like to make yourself known and help him decide? Or interrogate him about what just happened? Just remember that giant is nearby and it now knows for sure that someone is here.



II. AT THE END OF THE WORLD (SHUKUYUU)
If there is one thing Yoshitsugu can say with complete honesty, it is that he does not fear death. It's probably something taught rather than something he was born with. An orphan of war and a man with a body prone to sickness, he has long known that dying naturally of old age was something that would never happen to him. Spending the time he does have in fear of a death through sickness or battle would cause it to be wasted.

So he developed his philosophy of going with the flow, at which that knowledge of an early death sat, and lives his life moving with it. Even if that movement takes him through things like a rain of arrows, which he has literally stood in the way of several times in the past whilst causing his loved ones no small amount of worry.

Death isn't something Yoshitsugu seeks out, either. He wants to die well. But if it comes at any other time, well, so be it.

So when the maiden's fire began to spread, and absolute chaos explodes around him, he doesn't even bother trying to run. Instead he just stands and waits, watching the flame as it comes closer and anticipating the first burst of pain... except it never actually comes. Yoshitsugu is only rarely surprised but this does it. He watches the orange flames engulf his feet, his legs and more, but nothing happens to him. It's even rather pleasant, bringing nothing more than a pleasant warmth.

After a few seconds of this he hums thoughtfully, turns around, moves a few steps and grasps at the wrist of someone at the edges of the flames. Someone who should just now be feeling the fast-spreading fire's effects.

"Does it hurt?" he asks; the fire warms his pale-grey eyes, which are narrowed and intense as he gazes at this ally. Probably an ally, anyway. If it's not someone he's seen before, well, Yoshitsugu is good at spotting newcomers into the unit. Regardless, if this person was someone affected by the fire? They aren't anymore, not from the moment his fingers curl around their wrist.

Daenerys Targaryen | GoT | oldie vet

[dorzalta]

I. THE RHEIN
It seems all too unnecessary to collect gold--rheingold. Magical? Valuable. There are always things like this, viewed as such by others. So many believed her dragons to be something to collect, as well. A way to amplify their own magics. Invading one's territory to do this very thing, despite these entities (half fish, half women... much like the mermaid card in her fortune deck) being so welcoming... it seems wrong.

Second-guessing on a mission she agreed to? She promised Grothia her aid, and so she would provide it.

"We should collect it," she says to you, already lifting her skirts. Funnily, you'll catch a glimpse of pants beneath her dress. "Perhaps this will aid us back on Base."

The funny thing about something which seems so simple is that it's usually a lie. She wades into the water, ignoring how it weighs her braid down the further in she treads. Stomach. Chest. Up to her chin, with nothing to press even her toes against. The mermaids laugh and swim around her, playful and happy, and she thinks this is why COST likely assigned her this task. Befriend the natives.

A beam of sunlight settles within arm's reach, and after sharing a smile with one of the women, she turns her gaze toward the gold. "It's so--"

Shrieking. Splashes of water. She glances back over her shoulder to where you are (whether you're in the water with her, or standing upon the shore), but before she can speak, there are arms. So many arms wrapping themselves around her, dragging her beneath the water's surface.


II. IN THE FOREST
Skirts long since abandoned, Dany treks through the forest with you, her hair in a simple twist to stay out of her face. No time for elaborate braids--especially not after her drowning fiasco with those mermaids. Clothing still slightly damp, she aggressively swipes at the air in front of her, flicking through the BCE's list of spells. Dragon, one spell is named.

"They're not words." She sounds just shy of frustrated. "I don't understand the point of sharing this. They expect us to sing to protect ourselves?"

Ridiculous. It might've helped, had her mouth not filled with water. No way to sing or hum when one was in the middle of drowning.

There is a clearing ahead, drawing her focus from the melody--haunting as it is--of the Dragon and to the... "What is that?"

A large creature, lizard-like, not at all like her own dragons, sits upon a pile of--

"Rheingold." She looks to you. "We need that."


II. AT THE END OF THE WORLD
An unlit funeral pyre. A golden-haired woman and her dead husband. Dany bows her head, listening to the song the female sings. There is decidedly something unhappy about her in this moment, something haunted in her gaze as she looks to you moments later. "At least there is no witch, this time."

She stands, fingers linked together, back stiff as steel as she stares into the flames. Flames which roar to life. Flames she recalls standing amidst herself, once long, long ago as she bade farewell to her dead husband. The wound from this recent loss of him still remains. Newly scabbed, easily picked open by this scene, causing blood to flow freely once more.

Like a cornered animal, she is. Serpents and mermaids. This mission is a terrible, terrible thing.

So caught up in the thought of what's occurred--bullets, lizards, a fireball's explosion--Dany doesn't notice when the flames engulf all around it: mourners, the trees, the skirts of her dress.

In the Forest

[frogfractions]

"Song has an inherent sort of magic," Prelati says as they walk, reaching down to heft her skirts up over a branch. They've had their share of misavdentures, so far, so in a way she's almost enjoying the forest. She won't say it isn't inconvenient to trudge through, but at least there's nothing to try and kill them. Yet.

She raises one of her fingers, points up to her own lips. "Singing is communication, and understanding and communication are the one power humans have. We can express ideas far more complicated than any beast can. Singing's a distillation of that, so of course, it has power."

She's sung before, to enhance her alchemy, though she's nothing compared to the Relic wielders - warriors who fought using weapons that only activated when they sang. She isn't familiar with the full mechanics of how those girls did their work, but she got beaten up by them enough to get the gist.

... But then there's a giant lizard sitting on a horde of gold, and Prelati's pausing mid-lecture to lift up her glasses, rub at her eyes. "Would you like to come up with an actual plan, this time? That thing will eat us alive if we let it. Even if death isn't permanent, it's hardly a pleasant experience. Basically, let's not rush into things."

Ryuji Sakamoto | Veteran | OTA

[ryuji]

i. Rheinmade-in-heaven

[Fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice, shame on you. Ryuji has vivid memories of walking up to the lake, taking in the environs as his BCE instructs him to gather as much magic gold as he possibly can. Seems fake, like- what would all this gold just be doing fluttering about under the water for anyone to come up and steal, and why would there be beautiful mermaids lulling you in and making you feel like a million bucks? Of course, he's already drowned twice, and although he can't remember exactly what it feels like as the last molecule of oxygen starts to leave your lungs, he knows it's definitely not a good feeling, okay?

So for the fifth cycle, he's completely fine with not getting himself killed, instead, waiting by the embankment of the water, leaning on his back as a cooperating Rheinmaiden sings to him, his head in her fishy lap- and he's almost sure that this particular one has killed him in one of the cycles previously, but hell, this is good and he's not about to give up on being doted on by fantastical, impossibly beautiful fish women.

You approach the water, intent on fulfilling the mission, and Ryuji waves a hand up in your direction, precautionary and, yet somehow, bored.]

Dude, don't even try it. They'll kill you.

ii. How to train your dragon

[This is straight out of a scene in one of those MMORPGs that Ryuji's played before: World of Battlecraft. The concept is kind of overdone by this point- a large, ferocious creature is busy protecting the treasure that you want to abscond away with and you're left with a few options: SLAY THE HELL OUT OF IT (eh, he looks at Fafnir from a distance and practically sees the red skull marks over his head), evade it and stealth through, or trick it somehow.

After a few respawns, he turns to you-]

Let's try somethin' else. I don't think we can kill it.

[He opens up the spellbook.

Hell yeah. Maybe there's a sleep spell in here.]

Let's figure out what some of these do.

iii. The tree giveth and the tree taketh away (featuring: the Metaverse)

[Ryuji's last skip in this time series- he never actually makes it to Nibelheim (thanks, COST), he's seen this man die way too many times for it to be comfortable. This time, he's a little bit wiser (a miracle), as he looks upon the addition of another COST member to the scene. Finally, someone with better senses than him to keep playing out this motif over and over again. Just as you approach the tree, Ryuji springs forward and tackles you to the ground.

See, the thing is, those warriors in the branches have shot arrows at him more times than he can count- they shoot before asking questions, they murder without contemplation. Ryuji's trying to save the both of you, but it's too late- errant arrows fly straight into the both of you just before the mocking bony hand of fate resets the hourglass and the both of you are at an enclave just a short walk away from the tree. Ryuji lets you have a moment or two to compose yourself, let you realize that the wounds aren't there anymore, before he debriefs.]

I'll give you the sparknotes version. That dude over there dies, over and over again. He asks you to avenge his love, and then eventually the warriors in the trees attack. [Ryuji activates his BCE, hovers his finger over the Metaverse app.] I was hopin' someone else would get here.

[He smirks, confidence bleeding out of him the same way arrows had defeated the both of you a few moments ago.] I ain't got enough time to explain this outright. So let's steal the warriors' hearts. You in?

i

[chariotry]

[ He does not approach the water with the intent of taking the gold, but something far less precious.

The rheinmaidens have gathered around the bank of the river, watching him as he treads over the mud with fixated gazes, like they're waiting for him to suddenly make a lunge for the precious resources floating in the water. Instead, he's yanking the arm of the boy who's made himself comfortable on the lap of one of the maidens, lifting him up forcibly and dragging him behind him as the mermaid retaliates. The singing has stopped abruptly and she's making a lurch for Achilles, seeing his interference as a prelude to an attack.

He's too quick, especially with the advantage of being on land, and all he has to do is step out of the range of her trajectory to avoid her. ]

Move. [ To Ryuji from over his shoulder... Get outta here, boy. ]

Primrose Everdeen | New Recruit (ota)

[littleduck]

I. Songbird
Music wasn't always a part of Primrose's life growing up. Her father used to sing a song that she can barely remember, and her mother's never been fond of anything that might get her family noticed by the Capitol. It was her sister that taught Prim how to listen for the notes of the mockingjay, and how to sing to them if they should ever be around. Katniss was always the brave one that ventured outside the District walls. Prim had to learn melody and song in hushed whispers in the bed she shared with her sister at night. Still, she knew how to replicate sounds she heard because of what Katniss taught her. Here, she was able to put that skill to good use.

Magic wasn't something that existed in her world. Here, all she had to do was be brave enough to sing out loud. It took her some time to feel up to doing so, of course. She had to observe others for a while and wait until she saw an opening where there weren't many others around. Standing off to the side, she sang, and was gifted with an explosion of light that splintered off into fragments no larger than fireflies. It was beautiful, and she spun about to try and see them all. Her pigtails spun outward as she did, catching a couple of the little balls of light in the process.

She quickly learned that these lights, while seemingly beautiful, were also incredibly dangerous. The end of her pale hair caught fire, making Primrose gasp and use her bare hands to put it out. She had just unleashed hundreds of little fireballs upon unsuspecting people. Gulping, Primrose looked around to watch them flutter around other people and buildings. This might end terribly.

III. Nibelheim
Being here reminds Primrose a little too much of District 12. It's unsettling at first, but she quickly adapts. If the appearance of the people here bother her, she never lets it show. Instead, she blends in as best as she can. Her small stature and slight frame help, even if her hair stands out among the crowd. Having grown up starving and poor, Prim knows exactly where to look for those that crave rebellion the most. She looks for the children who are suffering and befriends them, then goes back to speak with their family. After having lived in District 13, Primrose understands the importance of recruitment. She knows how to speak quietly and act like she's speaking about looking for a dagger with with which she can protect herself. For a girl that's never been good at lying, she's able to craft her story easily.

She's not Katniss, she'll never be able to spark an entire revolt on her own. But she can lead good Nibelungs to join COST. Whether it's because her words are convincing or because they feel sorry for the little wisp of a girl that comes trying to motivate them to make a change, Primrose is able to sneak several groups into one of the cellars where veteran COST members are waiting. As she parts ways with her new friends, she brings her fingers to her lips and gives the three fingered salute that's well known in her world. It means goodbye to someone you love, but beyond that it's become a symbol of gratitude and admiration.

Her hand drops away when their attention shifts away from her and onto the future. The older, more experienced veteran takes over recruitment and Primrose falls back. "How many more do you think we should attempt?"

There's only so much they can do here before she ends up getting caught.

IV. Great Tree
Primrose happens upon the dying man entirely by accident. She never has been given the freedom to wander before, and now that she has it, of course she winds up in the wrong place at exactly the wrong time. Her training as a nurse and medic are more important than caution when she first spots him, and she presses her hand against the kit she's put together and keeps on her belt. She may not be a fighter, but surely she can make a difference here. Forgetting about the issue of time that exists in this place, Prim takes off at a run to crouch at his side. She begins checking his vital signs, listening to his pleas for revenge. He dies and Prim looks just about ready to cry. She's failed him.

When his eyes open and he gasps to life only to begin the cycle of death anew, she understands she can't save him. Her hand goes to his and she listens, nodding as he asks her to find his sister. She thinks of Katniss and grips his hand a little tighter, and promises she'll do what she can.

He dies several times with her right there with him, and she isn't sure what to do. Her heart doesn't want to let him just stay there alone, but she understands that's what must be done. She could get a group together to move him, maybe, and so she stands in order to pull away and do that. But as she takes her first steps she hears the sound of others nearby. Years of watching the Hunger Games help her know she should always stop and look around to critically observe her surroundings if time allows. Cautiously, she stops and looks around.

The sight of warriors in trees with weapons horrifies the girl and makes her face go pale. She needs to be brave, even if she's trembling. Her hands raise up in the air to show she's unarmed as she calls out, "I'm not here to fight you. I'm a healer. I only meant to help."

The weapons are pointed at her, and she swallows a lump that forms in her throat. She may not be a fighter yet, but she suddenly is filled with an urgency to learn. All she can do now, however, is hope that someone who might assist her is nearby.

V. End of the World
If there's one thing she can thank Panem for, it's ridding her of the fear of death. Primrose is terrified of many things. She's afraid of pain, afraid of watching people she loves dies. She doesn't have the heart to hurt others. But she doesn't fear her own death. The fire around her reminds her too much of the explosions in the Capitol, and at first Prim cowers off to the side and watches the chaos unfurl around her. It's a pity that such a beautiful funeral would turn into something like this, she thinks.

She eventually runs, but never seems to escape the flames. They're always surrounding her, causing her to have to move through them. Each repeat of the cycle is the same, Primrose growing more angry each repetition. When she finally stops attempting to run, she moves through the flames, and finds that she's unable to be burned. Understanding that no harm can come to her here, she takes to learning the woman's song, and starts to try and save the other mourners. In this strange place where everything moves in circles, she takes advantage of the repetition to attempt to break the cycle.

It doesn't work, of course, and she just ends up walking through flames again only to end up near someone. Coughing deeply from the smoke inhalation, she looks to them with concern.

"Are you hurt? The fire, did it burn you?"

She can at least try to help them, even if she can't fix anything else.

IV

[hakanai]

He's seen this happen enough times now to know exactly where each warrior is and what they will do to anyone they spot; the brutal, bloody cycle here is a true reflection of the cruelty of the Regency and Yoshitsugu will be glad to leave it behind. Glad to step away and pour himself into the efforts to fight back against the power that is messing with time, with the flow, and free this poor soul from his agony.

But he has lingered here despite that for a purpose. It's obvious by now that plenty of newcomers to unit are trickling into this land and in each and every spot he's been to at least one has showed up. Remaining to ensure he doesn't miss one who can't get themselves out of the situation had seemed wise, and right now that decision is proven to be so.

Those warriors in the trees? Primrose may spot the soft purple glow flickering between the leaves before the explosion of light happens and some kind of power knocks the attackers over in one huge wave; Yoshitsugu himself, scarf wrapped around his face to conceal his mouth and with a long baton held tight in his right hand, runs between them towards the unarmed young woman and grasps one of her wrists with his left.

"We need to leave."

There's no room for argument, and though he lets her go after a second there's obvious expectation that she will follow when he begins to run again. Behind them one of the warriors groans and tries to pull himself to his feet. Sure, no death here will be permanent as things stand, but that doesn't mean they should welcome it.

Augustine Gheorghe Vlad Tepeş | New Recruit | ota

[immortalrose]

Tʜᴇ Rᴇᴄʀᴜɪᴛ

[There's nothing like waking up in between nowhere and tomorrow. The bitter chill in the air gets to Augustine first before he even opens his eyes. This is the first time in a long time that someone got the "jump" on him like this. Vampires are typically acute and shrewd. Augustine is no different in that regards even as a dhampir but someone managed to catch him completely unaware and in his skivvies no less.

All mental swearing and cursing aside, Augustine notices the old crone as soon as she spoke. The tongue she uses is unfamiliar to him but somehow he knows it. It almost sounds like Gaelic to him, one of the old tongues. He listens to her for a time, not immediately going on the offense but not exactly trusting. Whatever nonsense that's been thrust upon him now takes precedent over the personal battles.

Seems that Karmilla and her twelve malevolent sisters will have to wait. Bummer. After battling Raevelyn in the district city of Winshire, Augustine hoped to kill the vampress and consume her ability over shadow. While he posssesses his mother's command over illusions, commanding the shadows would've been a great boost to his powers but that's neither here or there. Faced with a predicament that honestly left him out in the cold in the middle of an icy forest, Augustine gladly accepts the clothing.

The thick fur shawl drapes nicely over him adding a hint of warmth to his chilled flesh but the pale blue and gold tunic and other accessories clash a little too much for his liking. Instead, he keeps his thoughts to himself and listens to the rambling old woman. What catches his attention immediately is when she starts explaining the BCE. Seems that he's an unwilling recruit of this mysterious COST organization. While this wouldn't be the first time some strange cult tried to recruit him, this is probably the first time he's ever been kidnapped by one.

To be frank, he doesn't quite know how to feel about that.

Now off on his own, Augustine decides to test the BCE out after that quick tutorial. You would think he would've recalled someone implanting this thing inside of him but lo' and behold! This kind of technology is rare even in this realm but it doesn't surprise him that it exists. The world he's from was a very different place prior to the Great War. Tech likened to this could still be snagged from the ruins of the old cities but the risk of enduring radiation poisoning usually scares off most salavagers.

Nevertheless, does it really work? Time to find out.]

-
@CALDERA | ALL

If this is nothing more than some elaborate ruse, I'll be impressed.
Is anyone out here in this forest?

Tʜᴇ Rʜᴇɪɴ

[Despite how much Augustine admires the celestial warmth of the sun, he doesn't immediately race out there to embrace it. Sunlight weakness him significantly despite being a halfbreed. Old vampires like him don't fear it too much but the sun's rays do weaken him. Fatigue comes much easier to him now than under the cloak of night. This is a bad set up, especially since it seems his mission is to steal the rheingold from the shimmering sirens that protect it.

Augustine always liked gold but he would be a fool to try and tangle with these rheinmaidens here and now. While they indeed seem welcoming and beautiful, Augustine knows the beauty is only skin deep. This is why he lingers by the trees near this river, his silhouette hidden by the shadow of the canopy above.

Just what is he suppose to do now? They'll tear him to pieces of he helps himself to their gold. While some of his magic still works here in Vorspiel, Augustine knows he's at a great disadvantage. Had this been the dead of night, he would use the moon's grace to weave his illusion but out here during the day, he's damn near powerless. This wouldn't be too much of problem if he could rely on his other powers but Augustine doesn't want to awaken that beast.

So, he waits. He waits for the opportunity to arrive. Maybe some idiot will waltz over and brazenly steal the gold. If so, Augustine could use their interference as a distraction.]

Nɪʙᴇʟʜᴇɪᴍ

[The Nibelung are an interesting race. They appear humanlike in their general appearance but there's certain differences about them that makes Augustine think twice about them. They're almost elfin-like in appearance, nearly gaunt too. While they seem no different than most, their inhumanly large eyes make the dhampir cringe some. The lack of hair is also a tad unsettling but as a people, the Nibelung seem Inquisitive but kind.

Augustine wins a few curious glances from some of the busy workers before a handful of them wander over to him. He hesitantly greet them with the most awkward smile before attempting to speak with them. That's the precise moment that his BCE chimes in and tells him of his objective. A slight scowl settles upon his face.

Is he to spark some kind of revolt here by befriending these odd looking people? Seems like it.

The ones who've gathered around him admittedly don't seem too bright but there's another nearby who stands away from the crowd. One who hasn't taken his eyes off him since he arrived. Augustine gives this Nibelung a brief glance before turning towards the other "agent" nearby.]

What's your make one that one over there?

[He might as well ask. Seems like they're being watched.]

un: @kyloren

[ergosphere]

[The BCE was easy enough to figure out, though the tech clearly did not fit in with the forest around them. Or the ridiculous clothing he'd been provided. With no other option but to accept it and learn about his new surroundings, and thus how to escape it, Kylo decided to familiarize himself with the network. There were already a plethora of messages, though most of them were not worth reading.]

You're not the only one.

princess allura | voltron | new recruit

[juniberries]

1. ARRIVAL | NEW
[It's a different awakening than before. Still cold as it had been in cryostasis, but unprotected as though out in the open. She wakes up with her eyes snapping open, feelings of dread, of a battle lost still set in her bones, but she's no longer in the Blue Lion, no longer wearing her armour, and instead there's a natural calmness that feels remarkably out of place when compared to the dangerous vacuum of space and a planet set to blow.

At first she believes herself to be dead, and that the ancient belief of an afterlife a reality. But as there had been before, there is someone here to greet her as she wakes in a panic, to explain everything in an unfamiliar lilt; time has passed, she was recruited to a cause and agreed to it (for peace...why wouldn't she agree to such a cause?), and the fact that she remembers nothing about it is not an uncommon occurrence.

As she leaves the woman and heads onward, Allura takes a moment after changing to try out her BCE, trying hard to ignore the familiar pang of loneliness and confusion.]

@ALTEA | @ALL
This is Princess Allura of the planet Altea. I have been informed of the situation and, while difficult to believe I have somehow forgotten so much, I understand that we are here to fight against a tyranny for the sake of peace.

I am looking to see if my teammates are here. If the Paladins of Voltron mean anything to you, please respond.

[And as she looks to her BCE before sending out the message, under-breath she utters another 'please.'

She cannot imagine being here alone.]


2. AT THE BASE...
[A dying old man with a familiar face. Seeking vengeance and asking for her to find his lost sister...or love? (Hopefully not both) Allura is desperate to help him, ignoring the churn in her stomach at all the blood and resting his head in her lap, attempting to draw a familiar energy into her, feeling that familiar glow of energy, trying to heal him and keep him from dying but it's to no avail.

Her hands are stained red from having tried to pour her healing quintessence into him, the bottom of her skirts dyed red as well. And while ordinarily she is trained and ready to fight at a moment's notice, she's too caught up in the familiar tale of death and vengeance to notice those in hiding, waiting to attack.]

I promise, I will help you. [She speaks quietly to the dead man, setting him back down on the ground. But it's then his eyes open once more, and this being her first encounter with a time loop thus far, she stares down at him in confusion as he begins to repeat himself again. She had been told of this, even has experience with being caught in a timeloop, but...it's just as befuddling now as it had been before.

A warrior some ways away prepares to draw his bow, the familiar pull of a drawstring just barely audible.

Allura, still unaware of the danger behind her, tries to make sense of the situation, standing above the once more dying man, wondering just what the quiznak to do.

So someone should...probably help her before she finds herself embedded with an arrow.]

2

[horsepowered]

[Vorspiel was a place that in many ways, reminded Chiron of his own home. Not because of the landscape or the animals or the buildings, but because of the feel of the place. There was magic, yes, but there were also things of legend present. The Rheinmaidens were sirens if he had ever met them and...

...and the man at the tree, dying time and again, that put him in mind of Promethus. There was no bird eating his liver, but the cause of pain was still there, and the threat of death was there as well. Not from the gods this time, but from other men. (Perhaps not men? They were hidden, and Chiron was willing to entertain the possibility that others might also have such excellent aim.)

Likewise, Chiron was willing to guess that the other figure now at the tree was not aware that she was being watched. Or if she was, she had underestimated her enemy. A healthy mix of curiosity regarding the man at the tree and not wishing for someone else to become injured along with a dying man propeled him forward towards Allura.

His feet were swift, and he made little noise as he darted out from his own cover. There were no words to announce his approach. In theory, the movement would cause arrows to be fired, thus alerting the two at the base of the tree that there was a threat of attack.]

Shinobu Jacobs | Just barely a vet | HOPE YOU LIKE FIGHTING (OTA)

[rippedoff]

FIGHT 1: THE RHEIN

[Thievery wasn't exactly Shinobu's idea of a good time, as it seemed to be a bit of a step down from what she was more used to in her former job as an assassin. However, if that's the orders she was given, she had no problem with complying – even if the quick and flashy was more her style, she had plenty of experience in doing more stealthy kills on contracts too, so she could adapt to that if that were required.

So, she decides to try to stalk the perimeter of the river, trying to keep to the areas with boulders to take cover behind. However, no order given to her was able to prepare her for the eventual sight of what appeared to be mermaids, who were already in the process of entertaining another intruder. Shinobu stares on, for a couple of seconds, just to take in the purely bizarre sight of them singing to their guest. However, she's quick to try to take advantage of the situation, figuring that if they were distracted that she could try to make way with some of the gold gathered nearby them.

However, even as she keeps a steady eye on the rheinmaidens, as soon as she's able to lay a hand on the rheingold, the scene takes a dramatic shift. Turning sharply toward her, even Shinobu's quick reflexes only give her enough time to draw her blade before a couple of rheinmaidens dive toward her, as well as whoever was there before her.]

So much for that idea. [It's all Shinobu's able to get out before she's brought under the water. She drew her blade, she was probably going to be okay, but you might have your own problems to deal with.]


FIGHT 2: WALHALL

[No matter where Shinobu turned to, it was starting to get frustrating that she could never really seem to make way to the fortress that was clearly there, in plain sight. However, her attempts to scale the mountain come to an abrupt stop as she hears the booming of footsteps advance toward her. Knowing enough to know that's probably a good cue that she should probably hide, she's quick to find some cover behind a rock formation in the area. To her surprise, it seemed that someone else was hiding there was well.

She's initially quiet as the lumbering figure passes by them. However, as she turns her head around the rock, she finds that there's another one just standing there from the side she just came from – essentially, they were being pincered in the area by two giants that were (as of now) unaware of exactly where they were.

Turning her head to the other person there, she finally speaks in a quieted tone.] Looks like we have no choice, guess we're gonna have to fight at least one of them.

[The smile that spreads on her face is evident of how she was entirely too happy about this prospect.] Can you give me a boost? I might be able to jump one of them.


FIGHT 3: FANFIR

[At least this time when the BCE tells her to go steal some more rheingold, Shinobu goes in fully expecting to run into some kind of fight. And honestly? That was more her style than just plain theivery anyway.

As she enters the cave, though, she notes with a little amusement in mind that the way this giant snake berates and tries to put her down before an inevitable fight is almost cut and paste to how other assassins (particularly the male ones) would try to break her down before a rankings fight (but hey, at least this one seemed to somehow get the gender confused, it was at least a step up from the misogyny). By now, she learned that the best way to deal with that, though, was to just stand there and listen to it, not bothering to argue back.

However, allowing this thing to go on and on might give your character the chance to strike first or to try to take the gold for themselves. Though they might find that that Fanfir wasn't quite as arrogant as it seemed, quickly trying to entangle your character with its tail, leaving Shinobu a little peeved, in the process.]


[Feel free to make adjustments to this prompts as you see fit! I'm not all that picky.]

2

[mutagen]

[Giants? Ain't nothin'.

Jake's done questioning things for now, and being thrown into the midst of chaos while wondering what the hell is going on isn't anything new for an ex-mercenary who used to hunt massive bioweapons. While he's crouched - in these incredibly uncomfortable clothes that he actually hates - Jake is not all that concerned about taking on the giants. They're puny compared to his regular kill list.

Glancing at the stranger, he gives her somewhat of a less impressed look before slowly turning, hands folded over each other and pointed downward. Yeah, he can give her a boost. Gave Sherry a million of 'em.]

Hurry it up.

[Sounding less snippy than he does exasperated he even has to deal with a couple of monsters, as if it's such an inconvenience. After launching the girl up with an amount of strength that might be startling, Jake turns again and rises, staring down the other one.]

-- Guess that means I've got dibs on Ugly Number Two. [His head cranes to one side in a crack, beginning to approach the creature.]

Suzuha Amane | Steins;Gate | New Recruit

[parttimesoldier]

A. THE RHEIN

[After three attempts at snatching some gold and three near-drowning-experiences, Suzuha finally takes the wise course of action and retreats farther up the riverbank to reassess her strategy. Tussling with the creatures on their own turf was a terrible idea, who'd've thought?

The rheinmaiden she fought with was watching her carefully as she sat down on a nearby hill with a sigh. It didn't look like it was out for blood, but it definitely didn't have that same serenity to its features that had been there when Suzuha stepped into the water the first time.

She didn't really know much about fairy tale creatures or how to handle them. Time to put that BCE to use and seek out some advice or backup.]


@TWINTAILS | ALL
Man, why couldn't all this fancy gold be guarded by nice mermaids? Like the ones from kids stories, and stuff.

...And in case anyone is wondering, I definitely wouldn't challenge these guys to an underwater wrestling match. Just, y'know. Putting that out there.

B. NIBELHEIM

[Subterfuge. The quiet, slow build of revolution. Careful movements right under the enemy's nose. Forget the mermaids and magic and gold--this is where Suzuha felt right at home. How she knew she made the right decision in joining up with COST. She's lived this life before, struggled day in and day out under the thumb of one too-powerful and too-controlling ruling force. Throwing herself headlong into another struggle hadn't exactly been her original plan, but she couldn't sit back and let a threat even worse than SERN come into power. That meant there was work to do.]

i.
[Most of Suzuha's work in the past had been through fighting, direct attacks and counter-attacks against SERN forces, though recruitment work like this still fell into familiar territory.

Encouraging rebellion in a run-down society like this was tricky business, akin to nurturing a sapling in rough, rocky soil. It took time, a keen eye, and equal measures of gentle and stern encouragement. Time wasn't necessarily on their side in this case, and it made stirring up trouble into risky business. So Suzuha did what she could where she could, taking on the role of a downtrodden trader-turned-laborer and mingling with the locals. It was an easy role for her to take on; the situation here reminded her far too much of scenes from back home.

Her work eventually pays off, and she manages to catch word of a meeting tonight in one seedy bar at the edge of town where some of the more lively rebellious factions in the city were supposed to gather. A legit tip or a trap laid by Alberich and his ilk? Time to find out.

You've paired up with Suzuha to stake the place out and attend the supposed meeting. The bar is dimly lit and somewhat crowded, but the two of you have managed to snag a table for yourselves off to one side of the room. Suzuha catches your eye and nods slightly toward one of the Nibelung hanging around a table across the room where some sort of card game was being played. He'd been the one who tipped her off about the meeting. She speaks quietly, masking her words by feigning taking a sip from her mug of watered-down, slightly sweet ale.]

I recognize that guy, the one wearing the gloves. Not sure about any of the others.

[Not an encouraging sign, but she hadn't had much time beforehand to get more familiar with the radical elements of the populace.]


ii.
[Not every plan works out the way it's supposed to. Suzuha's managed to get a few of the locals looking to join up with COST to the safety of the hideouts without too much trouble so far. That sort of luck wouldn't last forever.

You and Suzuha find yourself escorting a pair of frantic Nibelungs to the safety of another COST base. It should have been a simple mission; the base tucked away in a half-collapsed old library wasn't terribly far from your rendezvous point. Only the pair being escorted neglected to mention that they'd been under suspicion from the authorities for a few days now.

And that suspicion came bundled with a pair of guards watching their every move.

Suzuha rounds the corner, returning from her brief reconnaissance to where you and the two Nibelungs waited in the shadow of a run-down bakery. There's an urgency in her step as she approaches.]

We need to move. Now. A few of Alberich's thugs are right behind us.

C. WILDCARD

Toss me anything else you might come up with, or PM me if you'd like to plot something specific.

B-ii

[lonelywar]

[Sifting between the various objectives that they were given in this bizarre world, what he found in Nibelheim suited him best too. Not because he was particularly good at infiltration. Actually quite the opposite, Ashitaka always seemed to stick out just a little bit, an unfortunate symptom of generally being a foreigner in a foreign place. Some of the more subtle elements of what the mission called for were also lost to him, for he was far too blunt and straight-forward to be able to handle such finesse. But it was something he could find heart in. He still had his questions about COST and their methods, but they were less and less nowadays as other things took up the forefront of his mind. What was happening in this world was clearly dangerous, and the people of this city were scarcely more than slaves. If they could liberate some and get them to a place of at least relative freedom, it was a cause he would feel better dedicating himself to.

He had met up with the other agent some time ago; so far they had worked together fairly well as she had the kind of know-how and intuition Ashitaka natively lacked. In return, he followed directions swiftly and reliably. It was about all he could do, but things had been going well. They had managed to spirit away a small number of the native Nibelungs to other cells of COST operatives, but, well. It's only a matter of time before things go south.

The conditions of the city were deplorable, constantly choked with a noxious smog that made his stomach churn. At some point he obtained a short length of cloth that he could wind over his nose and mouth as a makeshift mask, largely ineffectual but at least helpful in making him believe it had some effect. Ashitaka remains crouched, carefully watching the two they were escorting, before the quick staccato of footsteps across the stone ground alerts him to Suzuha's return.

Ashitaka doesn't pause, having thought that this would be the case. He had the feeling of being followed - someone who hunts usually could recognize it from experience on the other side.

He shepherds the two Nibelungs in front of him, falling into step alongside his companion.] What do you think we should do? [What is visible of his face harbors a severe expression as he considers options.] Is it worth it to split up? One of us could draw their attention away as the other gets them to safety.

Chiron || veteran || ota

[horsepowered]

1. In the Forest
The birds are speaking of Valkyries and Chiron cannot help but begrudge the birds. To speak but give no indication of where to go to locate them is a frusteration that he can't put into words. Well, that he doesn't have time to put into words, as the great serpent he has been drawn into a fight with is making to attack him again.

It is with an astounding amount of force that the serpent slams itself into the ground, only a few feet away from where Chiron was. Was. He is now flying through the air due to sheer force, and he lands a ways back in the forest. The bow that was in his hand is now far flung from him, and that is an issue.

"Ugh," he manages, getting up and onto his feet again. "Where did that thing land?"

2. Nibelheim
It was not easy to move through Nibelheim. Chiron was too tall, too obvious, too made for a forest. The city, as wonderous at it was to witness, was also the anthiesis of his home and the life he lived.

That obvious element also made it harder to escort the defecting Nibelungs to the safe havens that COST had set up. There was no reason to show a tourist an ancient and unused library. Yet that was the destination that he was heading for, Chiron and two of the city residents.

The winding roads that lead to the safe haven were an advantage, to be certain. Thick smog and roads that were more like a rabbit warren meant that locations were harder to find, and easy to escape from if need be. But it also meant that that same thick smog could cause an issue for anyone who had legitimate reasons to access the same safe haven.

Not one to panic, or to even think himself lost (just finding the smog an issue, even for his eyes), Chiron looked around. A familiar face would be more than enough to find the correct path.

1. In the Forest

[excelsus]

Before the giant serpent had the opportunity to close it's maw around Chiron, it's large head bounces off an invisible surface. Well, it is invisible until the creature rebounds, then there is a noticeable green flash that ripples across the invisible barrier currently surrounding his companion.

Outwardly Dorian seems calm, but he's never even encountered a dragon the size of this beast. He should be thrilled or at least nostalgic given that snakes are symbolic of Tevinter and this one was massive, impressive even, but it also looked as though it could swallow them both whole. So his enthusiasm was rightly curbed.

"I think it flew about twenty feet in that direction," Dorian gestured with his head, unwilling to spare his hands for a moment due to channeling his own magic, "I can hold this barrier for nearly a minute so you might want to be hasty."

Jaina Solo | Star Wars Legends | New Recruit OTA

[twojedisticks]

I. Arrival
[There are stranger things than waking in a forest, clad in military-style underwear. Don’t judge, the life of a Jedi can be very strange. Really, the only hard part is being briefed while in this state. There’s very little confusion about her presence here, as the choice to join COST would be easy for a woman with a hyperbolic destiny of always being on the front lines. At the moment she’d rather be studying the implant itself rather than actually using it to research this. . . dimension. She keeps tracing fingers over the implant, and only practiced restraint keeps her from focusing her senses on exploring how the miniature machine interacts with her own body. It’ll have to wait. For now, there’s work to prep for.

There’s always work.

Ah, but the local fashion is a far cry from the utilitarian jumpsuits she prefers. She’d consider crossdressing if the men’s wear was any more likely to involve trousers. As it is, Jaina is willing to take the heavy skirts as a good opportunity to hide her pick for the one weapon she could bring with her. It would be a dead giveaway to walk around openly wearing technology, wouldn’t it?

It’s the comment about gods that finally gets her to snort as she departs. She’s already spent a campaign impersonating a trickster goddess.]

It’s a little late for me to start being respectful about anyone’s pantheons. I’m going to get myself labeled a heretic no matter where I go in the universe.

It's good to have life goals.

II. Walhall
[Even as short as she is, Jaina is confident in her ability to face down a giant. To borrow an old cliché, size mattered not. But time isn’t behaving, and she knows it is better to avoid killing normally – it might make it better that the giants get back up within a few minutes, but then, it might make it worse to kill a being several times. So she tries to get an op together, makes a custom mailing list so they can coordinate without giving their positions away. Maybe that’s going to be a karking mess, too, but she must try something.

Take to the trees. Observe. Try to distract the giants from potential kidnap victims. Out of habit, Jaina lifts her chin to try toggling the microphone switch of a pilot’s helmet, before remembering to access the BCE instead.]

From: @STICKS
To: custom list “Wompa Patrol”

I have eyes on a giant near the west wall. Maybe we can get tall, dark and ugly stuck trying to search a well. Convince him there’s something he wants in there. What do you think?

II. Walhall

[immortalrose]

[When a response is heard, it's from a curious username, one of the other new recruits. Seems that "Sticks" isn't the only one keeping an eye on that big walking heap of ugly.

Augustine been lurking about for awhile.]

From: @CALDERA
To: @STICKS

Sounds like a good enough plan but which of us want to volunteer as tribute? We need a decent enough distraction to get him in there.

spike spiegel | cowboy bebop | new recruit | ota

[tigerstripe]

i. arrival
[ Spike’s been here before. Waking up on his back on the ground, half naked, staring up at the sky, someone looking down on him. Well, maybe it’s not always a copse of trees and it’s not a creepy, sad looking woman, either. But here he is, contemplating the weird state of his life and desperately needing a cigarette. He doesn’t even know where his own clothes are, so the cigarette’s a no go. A real shame.

He thinks for a moment it might all be some dream, that maybe he ate one too many weeks-old vegetables on the Bebop, or he’s finally taken one too many hits to the head. The chilled air and the clothes the woman offers to help him “fit in” don’t really give him confidence, either. He is surprised to see she nudges his handgun over with a foot after she’s answered his barrage of questions. Where he is, what this place is, how he’s somehow a member of a group he’s never heard of before, the implant…

None of this makes sense. But the cloak around his shoulders is warm (but does nothing for his bare chest), the gun feels heavy and real in his hand, and when he checks the clip, it has 15 rounds. 15 chances to make his way out of his place and get back to the Bebop, if that’s where he was snatched from. The woman seems tired, sad, and though he should threaten her and use her for the information she may not have shared with him, he doesn’t. She won’t have any useful answers. He knows.

So instead, he tries accessing the BCE implant. ]

@SWORDFISH | ALL
Anyone got a cigarette?

ii. in the forest
Nice to meet you, too! [ A giant, legged snake. As if waking up in the middle of the forest wasn’t bad enough, he’s walked right into the path of the strange serpent. The strange serpent who tries very much to take a bite out of him. Gunfire cracks through the forest in quick pops – one-two-three – but the beast doesn’t go down. Twelve rounds left. Never mind the thing’s sprayed him in the face with its blood.

He can’t afford to waste his bullets, he’s not been in this place long, and there aren’t exactly other weapons around. So he takes a few steps back, putting distance between him and the weird creature, when he hears the voices. Birds? He’s losing his mind. ] I’ve already got all the wealth and fame I need, thanks!

[ Getting rich fast never works, and neither does shooting a giant serpent-beast. So, Spike heeds the birds and turns tail, running through the forest, hoping the creature doesn’t pursue him. Twelve bullets left. Death by giant serpent would be an exciting way to go. ]

iii. spell time
[ The BCE holds a wealth of information, and try as he might, Spike can’t seem to crack it. He wants more information than the thing is willing to give, and in his tinkering, manages to wind up listening through some of the spells and reading the descriptions of others. Some remind him of the dramatic and expensive shows one could see in the brightly lit streets of Mars, some a little too dissonant for his tastes.

He’s just made it into a small part of the town when he begins to whistle absently, hands behind his head in a careless stretch when the ground suddenly disappears underfoot. He lets out a grunt of surprise to find he’s floating. Not of his own accord and without control. ] Hey!

[ He’s used to navigating through zero gravity, but whatever this magic is, it has its own ideas. Sorry, he’s just going to casually float by you, upside down or sideways, looking bored and unamused. He might even run right into someone. He’s whistling up a storm though, hoping some tune will stop the spell. It might just make it worse. Or better yet, sweep others off their feet, too. He’s charming that way. ]

iv. nibelheim
[ The cavern erupts with noise, people scattering and stumbling in the walkways. One merchant cries out for help, and the sharp hisses of Thief! Where? What? ripple through the crowd.

For all that Spike enjoys staying under the radar, he knows there’s benefit in chaos. He’s new to this mission, to COST and whatever it is he’s supposedly done to be roped into their ranks, but he can understand saving innocent lives. Who is he to turn down a good distraction? If it draws eyes away from the few civilians being lead to safety by veterans? Why not. So he tears through the crowd, nudging and dodging people, some kind of fruit clamped between his teeth, his pockets stuffed with a few other food items. Best not to ask. ]

A guy's gotta eat! [ He waves a fisted handful of something – some kind of nuts, maybe? – to the vendor, laughs, and rounds a corner as the huffing and puffing man tries to come after him. Which means that any poor veteran relaxing nearby? They’re going to get a visitor who stumbles up and drops some fruit into their lap, and he’ll steal any head or eye-wear they have, too. Sorry! ]

How do I look? [ A grin. It’s a bad disguise, but he plops down beside his poor victim, crosses his legs and leans back into the cavern wall, taking advantage of the darkness. He’s still chomping away at the fruit. ]

i

[twojedisticks]

@STICKS | @SWORDFISH
Fresh out. Add it to the shopping list and pick it up on the next grocery run.

[Jaina is pretty certain there's no grocers in this dimension. But hey, ask a dumb question, get a sarcastic answer, right?]

Natasha Romanoff | MCU | new recruit

[tothefly]

{1. whispers in the shadows-nibelheim}
This is what she was made for. The role she was born to play, or one of many, really, so it's not much of a surprise at all when she reads the mission statement her BCE delivers. And really, what else does she have to do? She's got nothing but time to kill until she can go have a conversation with the organization that supposedly recruited her--figuratively, if not literally, who knows with the way time is broken in most of this world--and Natasha has never been a woman accustomed to idleness. So, inciting rebellion it is. Quietly. A whisper here, a veiled implication there. Rumors and stories filled with allegory.

It doesn't take her long to find the right place to start. The bar is dark and dingy, like most of its kind here in Nibelheim, the kind of place you go to drown your sorrows in drink or tell them to a sympathetic barmaid who always has a smile for you. That barmaid in a lot of cases over the next few days happens to be her: Rauda, they call her, red, and she doesn't argue with the name. It's apropos, after all.

Despite the close quarters in the dark and cramped rooms, she doesn't seem to have any trouble navigating the crowd of chairs, avoiding hands reaching for her with a smile or a scolding word as she makes her way close to a recently seated table. Looks like she's not the only human here, though there's not really any foolproof way she's determined to weed out the genuine humans of this place from those displaced like her. Yet. So the conversation is fairly innocuous, to start.

"An ale for you?" she asks, voice a confident lilt. "The smoke from the factories is terrible today, I'm sure you'll want something to wash it from your throat."

{2. deja what-a great tree}
She's no stranger to a trap, and the tableau before her is far too perfect to be anything but. One lone warrior dying from a stab wound to the heart, no sign of blood anywhere but directly around him, no sign of anyone else nearby? Every nerve ending she has is on edge as she watches from concealment in the bushes deep on the far edge of the clearing. And her caution pays off, she sees, as she watches another hapless adventurer spot the dying man, running to his side and kneeling, only to be swarmed by what looks to be a sizeable regiment of other warriors as the wounded man dies. The adventurer runs, but judging by the agonized screams not far off, his story ends just as painfully.

And probably just as permanently, thanks to the ruined and collapsing structure of time, she thinks, as the dead man suddenly gasps, gulping for air, a wheezing sound that almost echoes. His groan of pain does echo, and she's about to turn and move away when another hapless passerby is drawn to the sound. She should probably let this one die, too. It's not her concern, not part of the mission statement. But it's bad form to let a potential ally die, even if it isn't permanent, and who knows when they might return the favor?

A hidden warrior bursts from the bushes with a yell while the newest arrival kneels beside the undead man, but that yell is cut short by the sudden appearance of a knife sprouting from his chest. She's already in motion, drawing the short sword at her belt. It's not her best weapon, but it's the one she has, and she'll use it as well as she can. "Hope you're armed," she says to the stranger as she makes her approach, eyes fixed on the trees and the swarm of men erupting from them all over again.

{3. those who favor fire-end of the world}
She's never been a sentimental woman. There's no room in her world for regrets and sympathies, no place for it in the spheres she travels in. At least, this is what she tells to the people who get close enough to merit an explanation. But this doesn't mean she's immune to emotion, despite her tendency to choose practicality, what's in her head over what's in her heart. The woman's song doesn't elicit tears, but there's a certain look in her eyes as Natasha watches her, something bleak and distant. Like she's seeing something a thousand worlds away.

The song reaches a crescendo and she turns to leave, her eyes meeting those of the person standing nearest her. She opens her mouth to speak, but whatever words she might have intended are swallowed by the cracking of the pyre as it roars to life. Roars, and then roars louder, and the veiled look in her eyes turns to one of inquiry as she turns towards the blaze. The flames are too close to run. There's no point, even as the adrenaline pounds in her veins, and Natasha has never been one for futility. Instead, she takes a breath that she's sure will be her last, closes her eyes. "This isn't exactly how I thought I'd die," she says as the flames swallow her, and there's no fear in the words, only resignation and--perhaps--a deeply amused irony.

3

[dorzalta]

There's something terrifyingly humbling about dying. Something which leaves her shaken to the core, no matter how much time has passed between water and this. A funeral pyre.

Drogo's death--the Regency attack on him--is still fresh in her mind, and this woman's song leaves her chest aching in ways she's not yet experienced. Empathy. She is no stranger to this specific kind of loss. Twice she's lost him to death. The third time, she'd never truly had him. And yet, and yet... no matter that she was raped, learned to love the chains which bound her, there was still a place of fondness in her heart for Drogo.

This may not be her khal's funeral, but she stands and pays he respects nonetheless. And in some ways, this is like saying goodbye properly.

The redhead near her looks to be kissed of fire. Oddly subdued, Dany merely watches as the other makes to leave. But before much of an exchange is made betwixt them, fire roars to life. This, too, she watches impassively, making no move to flee. A dragon doesn't flee.

Fire cannot kill a dragon.

And so the flames consume her, revitalizes her, wraps her in its loving embrace and strengthens her as it licks clothing away. As fabrics turn to ash, Dany closes her eyes and tilts her head back, breathing the heat in.

"I never thought I would die beneath the water," she eventually says to her companion, when the heat recedes. It's a surprise to witness the other woman remains in one piece, not a charred corpse. "It seems death has no use for you today."

a2 | nier: automata | new recruit

[recommission]

((Just gently voicetesting atm. I'm always happy to match brackets/prose!))

i. nibelheim;

She isn't built for subtlety, so none of this doublespeak and sneaking around is in her repertoire. Upon successful arrival in Nibelheim, with nowhere else to go, A2 is a visible visitor, carrying on meaningless conversations and inserting herself into larger groups of locals, a superficial and noticeable, cranky, but harmless outsider come to push no harmful subterfuge.

She knows to look for quiet places, dark places, holes in the wall. Of course, everything down here is dark, everything small and dark and utilitarian. She settles on a sort of half-tavern, sharply scaffolded, where these hardworking people tend to congregate once their jobs are complete. That said, if there are any younger Nibelungs, she'll be shooing them on their way before she approaches the door.

"Let's go." If you weren't planning on entering this bar, that's too bad. You've just been voluntold you're accompanying her. But if you don't follow her, it's not like she'll care. She can do it on her own just as well.

ii. in the forest;

Don't care.

[At first, it seems this android's lost it. She's not talking to anything else human-shaped, because nothing human-shaped seems to be around her. She's dropped against the forest floor some yards round the back of the cave, a sword easily taller than her and at least twice her width pierced into the ground and resting at her shoulder. Her legs are folded beneath her, doll-like, as she recovers on the forest floor, preparing for a second round with Fafnir.

Of course the damn thing bounced back.

The target of her barbs becomes apparent with closer inspection, when she raises one forearm to scrub the monster's blood from her mouth. Undeterred by her attitude, the birds keep tweeting advice to her, about staying safe, making good choices, thinking her actions through....]

Do I look like I'm not busy? [This time, there's an edge to her voice, and A2 gesticulates angrily as she hurls a pebble and the peanut gallery. The birds quiet, but probably not for long. In that silence, A2 quietly whistles a bar or two of music for no reason she can discern. Stops abruptly. Rolls her eyes util they close.]

This is stupid.

iii. at the end of the world;

[A2 doesn't seemed moved by the song. It would even seem like she was ignoring it entirely, except she stands still and watches all of it from start to finish, eyes fixed, one leg cocked to the side as she waits. She only moves when the fire grows, bent leg taking a step back as the flames from the fire blossom and spit up in unexpected, burning gusts.

Without further flinching, without hesitation, she walks into the flames and through them. Maybe it's a disappointment that it doesn't burn, but she keeps going, walking through the snarling heat until she emerges in the meadow, cold wind at the peak of the mountain disheveling her jaggedly-cut hair. She stands above the sleeping widow, head bent and expression unreadable.]

Some dream, [she scoffs. It reminds her of some story, some old fairytale that no longer belongs to anyone, meaningless and empty.

But A2 won't kiss the sleeping woman, so she'll be here...for a while.]

ii.

[trample]

You're telling me. [ Actually, Eren, she probably wasn't telling you anything. In fact, she was probably talking to herself. But he just up and assumes she meant him, because it made for an easy conversation starter. ] I didn't sign up for fairy tale garbage like this.

[ His harsh tone is more justified if one took a closer look at him. He's fully kitted out. Having been brought here directly from pre-Gallipoli training, he was equipped with enough arms for a small army. He's quite obviously not happy to be using these weapons of somewhat-large destruction against creatures of myth, but what else was there to do with his time? ]

I've gone and wasted about half my munitions fruitlessly on that scaly bastard. I'm starting to lose sight of the point. If there ever was any. [ He sighs, leaning against a nearby tree with his arms crossed before giving the girl a closer look. That was one hell of a sword. ] Why are you fighting?

Jeyne Westerling | ASOIAF | New Recruit

[goodandtrue]

I. The Rhein

It seemed a simple enough task, collect the rheingold that floated to the surface, plucking it like daisies from the fields. With the warm sun gleaming against the water, she could clearly see the large pockets of gold, but not the waterbed below. It didn't seem to matter. Everything was beautiful and quiet, which any warrior might know spoke of trouble, but for Jeyne, it only meant a simple and easy to complete mission. For her first time collecting for the BCE, it was almost a relief.

There were even maidens singing in the water. Mermaids? Not only were they beautiful, but they seemed friendly and kind. It was only as Jeyne approached the water, slowly wading from the shore that everything shifted. The wind seemed to turn cold against her skin and the singing stopped all at once. The heat of the sun changed as the maidens dove forward, calling her a number of names in their language.

Before she could reach the shore, they were tugging at her skirts, pulling at her and dragging her back into the deep water. Jeyne struggled to keep hold of the ground, digging her hands into the soil as she screamed for help, if there was anyone nearby to hear her.

'They are going to drown me!' It was a sickening realization. Instinct and adrenaline reared up as she fumbled around, reaching out to grab a large branch in the mud. Her hands circled around it and brought it back, striking at the women with all of her strength. She kicked and struggled, hitting and fighting back against them. She was not a violent girl by nature, but she would be as fierce as the wolf she married.

There was someone coming, she could hear their footfalls buried under the screams of the women. She couldn't risk looking up and letting her guard down as she continued to hit and swipe at the maidens. Instead she yelled at the figure, "Pull me up! Help pull me up! They will drown me!"

II. Nibelheim

The Nibelung were no different than the other men and women Jeyne had come across in her husband's war. They were people tired of oppression, wanting only to survive with their family and to find better conditions. Perhaps it was her sympathy that aided her the most? Or her experience under the Lannisters, being sold and shipped away as though she were little better than a stockyard animal. Whatever the reason, she was able to reach some of the families. It was a blacksmith that first responded to her appeal and agreed to follow her to a safe house. There was little that needed to be said to convince him, the exhaustion was already in his eyes.

Collecting his family, she lead them through the alleys, back towards the abandoned library that COST gathered. It was only when they passed through the doors that the blacksmith's wife realized that one of her children had been separated from them along the way. With a quick reassurance, Jeyne hurried back out into the streets, searching for the child.

She was easy to locate, as small as she was. Once she was in Jeyne's arms, she hurried back along the route she came from. That was the mistake. Alberich's men were patrolling the area and the look of fear on her face would be easy to recognize, something would be amiss about her.

Holding her breath, Jeyne ducked behind one of the bars, trying to search her mind for another route. "Which way do I go?" She asked out loud. There was another person passing, wearing the same issued clothing she was. "I need to get back to the library. Do you know another way?"

III. At the End of the World

The song is beautiful, for as little of it as Jeyne understands. She could see herself in the woman, bearing the loss of a husband but searching for strength in something, looking for a way to be as brave as he was. She watched as the pyre was lit, allowing herself time to mourn as well, never having had the chance properly before. There was always someone interrupting her or pushing her about, acting as though Robb's death was something she should be pleased with. 'I loved him,' her heart whispered into the wind. 'I should have been allowed this.' But her mother refused to let her.

In the flames, there was peace and quiet, a chaos of its own against the pain and sorrow. She didn't notice the fire spread or reach beyond the pyre, she didn't feel the heat until it was next to her skin. Her body responded first, jumping backwards as it seemed to follow. There was nothing to do but to run, but even that seemed hopeless. As fast as she could be, the blaze was directly at her heels.

"Where do we go?" She called to the person near here. "This fire is going to burn the entire field!"

1

[rippedoff]

Shinobu's thought of process, for the task the BCE presented to her, was to try to stick to the shadows as much as possible. If it were so easy to just pluck the gold straight from the surface of the water, why wouldn't the rheingold be pilfered already? There had to be some sort of catch.

As she's stalking the perimeter of the river, though, it seemed that someone was already ahead of her – someone unfamiliar. While Shinobu was rather new to COST herself, she had been there long enough to at least know the faces of everyone that was lurking within the base. It wasn't like there was a whole ton of them to remember, at any cost.

Regardless, Shinobu knew nothing of this woman's abilities or what she was really capable of, so she had no reason not to believe she couldn't handle herself. As the other woman is being entertained by what appeared to be mermaids, Shinobu tries to advance further away to see if she could use the distraction to try to find a spot to steal the gold further away.

Before she can get too far away, though, the other woman is suddenly ambushed by the rheinmaidens, and it appeared they were about to try to drag her underneath the water. Shinobu still makes no move to try to help, until she's being addressed to directly. She was not a heroic type by nature, after all. Well shit. There went that bit of cover.

However, she wasn't completely heartless either; it was obvious now to Shinobu that this other girl did not have the capability to fight her way of the the situation. Seeing no other way around this, she sternly draws her attention to the scene at hand, quickly withdrawing her katana from its sheath. Wasting no time, she swiftly stabs one of the offending maidens in the shoulder, enough to draw her grip away from the captor.

Taking the chance of an opening, Shinobu reaches with her prosthetic hand (disguised under a glove, to not confuse the inhabitants here) toward the other girl, roughly trying to bring her to the shore.

"Hurry!" Because if she had to guess? This bit of a rescue attempt was likely going to piss them off, inciting them to only become more aggressive.

percy jackson ♆ heroes of olympus ♆ new recruit

[ripstides]

THE RHEIN

[ first of all, spitting on the gods is like his jam. shouldn’t be too hard, right?

( famous last words. )

the BCE makes his skin itch for a number of reasons. the biggest being that demigods and technology don’t mix because it’s a whole lot of not fun to have monsters drop little pins on your location like an x on a map. he wonders if it’s as bad as a cellphone, or if any of that matters now. whatever percy thinks, whatever he feels, gets put on a brief hold when he accepts a mission and ends up at the bank of a breath-taking river.

he’s naturally suspicious after years of quests and having it drilled into him the hard way that when something looks too good to be true ( see: the rheingold floating on the surface of the water ), it usually is. the mermaids ( naiads? ) appear peaceful enough, but so do sirens up until you’re either lost at sea or shipwrecked. as excited as he is to be in the presence of water beings, he wades in slowly, ankle deep. ]

So.. which one of you is Ariel? [ he tries with an already fading smile. tough crowd. ] It’s just.. I was thinking: I need gold, you guys obviously have an abundance of it. Maybe we could trade? [ it’s when the singing stops that percy uncaps anaklusmos and lets it expand into a full-size sword, bracing himself for the surge of movement towards him. he’s knee-deep, almost to his thighs now, and it’s too late to turn his back to an entire cluster of ticked off mermaids. ]

Guess we’re doing this the hard way. [ let it be known that inwardly, he's apologizing to sally jackson for kicking a screeching woman in the face. outwardly though, take no prisoners. ]

WALHALL

[ he runs.

he runs to the sound of the earth shaking behind him, beneath him. it’s not the first time he’s felt as though every step will be his last because the grass and dirt under his feet may collapse and swallow him whole. his first instinct is to find a hiding spot - behind a rock, up a tree, yet there’s something about the latter that makes his stomach clench. the sky seems to hang lower here, hovering over him, menacing enough to put people on their hands and knees to crawl away from the crushing weight of it.

( and he remembers how heavy it had been once, supporting the sky on his shoulders. )

percy’s crouched in a tree, trying to come up with a strategy when someone screams. that’s it. he’s done planning. he can’t think. someone’s in trouble. self-preservation is important, sure, but he can’t just sit by while someone else suffers. it isn’t in him. neither is formulating a plan from a distance.

he drops from the branches, hits the ground running, riptide already drawn and in hand. he’s not concerned with stealth. in fact, he’s trying to make himself a bullseye. not a difficult task by any means. he’s a pro by now. when he skids to a stop, he scoops up a rock roughly the size of a baseball. it should do the trick. he winds up and hurls it at the giant that’s just plucked someone up like a daisy. ]

Hey, stupid! [ for good measure, he tosses a couple more, intent on getting the giant to drop said person, or to distract them enough that the captor can help him take down the giant. ] Come on! Over here! Show me the face only a mother could love.

[ he'd feel bad but.. you know, monsters. ]

the rhein

[ryuji]

[He's on the other side of the impossibly long river, enjoying the nice dip with the mermaid folk, now that he's died a few times trying to get the gold. There's a certain niceness to not dying again- not being plunged underwater and having his last few breaths escorted by the inevitable doom and gloom of the visage of these vixens. Ryuji's settled with the idea that this mission is a probable bust- there's no way in hell anyone is going to get any of this magic gold, so he might as well live it up a little, right?

As long as he shows no intent of coming down to get the treasure, they treat him kindly, brush his hair, sing sweet lullabies to him to keep him in a state of rapturing bliss, and everything about this mission is about the closest goddamn thing to nice that he's had since he signed up to join COST a few months ago.

Then, of course, the singing turns to screeching, and fingers that were once in his hair adoring him and keeping him safe are now scratching as the mermaid looks off in the distance at the sight of a boy entering the water waist deep. Ryuji doesn't notice at first, not until she's completely left him high and dry in the water and heading straight for Percy. He looks on with a stifled pain----

Oh no. This kid's gonna die.]

YO! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKIN'

henry cooldown ★ veteran ★ ota

[handsomefoil]

ＶＯＲＳＰＩＥＬ  ＯＶＥＲＶＩＥＷ

Traveling to different dimensions, planes of existences, and even getting stuck in his own subconscious, Henry's seen enough weird shit to at least vaguely prepare him for the clusterfuck that is Vorspiel. Yes, he agreed to answer the call, so at least it wasn't a nasty surprise but it still doesn't make it any less shocking.

The list of songs that the BCE provides is only lightly considered, if he's got the time for it, and wherever he is, he pushes onward...

１． ＴＨＥ  ＲＨＥＩＮ

Henry knows stories about mermaids—sirens—that lure sailors to their death, so it's natural to be a little suspicious of these women in the water. They are beatuiful enough, with songs and words pleasing to the ear, but he also knows a little something about alluring and beautiful women. The pool is approached with some caution once he spots them.

That being said, he's still not planning on backing down from his position near the pool. He's determined to harvest these apparently powerful resources, even if he's not 100% sure of what they do or what they're for. It's probably foolish to go along with everything COST says, especially in such a strange world where he feels like he's a glitch, but he's always been one to take strange things in stride.

Also not one to tip-toe around something that doesn't leave you much choice, he simply waits for the best time to approach the river bend and reach for a nearby piece floating up to the surface. He doesn't know how they'll react, and they don't seem to fully understand his own speech so resorts to just taking. Naturally, that doesn't bode well for him.

They shriek angrily, diving at him with terrific speed. He startles just a moment but fortunately doesn't lose his footing on slippery rocks, as he snatches up a piece and brings a hand to his saber handle hanging off on a belt loop.

Time does its freaky thang and offers your character a couple of options:

ａ） He goes down. The rheinmaidens latch onto his boots, then his pants (he curses them for being a bit baggier than how he's used to wearing his clothes, allowing them grip) and drag him under. Not the type to call out for help, he tries to fight them off, trying to activate his saber before he's fully submerged but he drops it during the struggle. If you help him, he'd be grateful to be spared the indignity. If you don't (or are too late), he drowns before your eyes.

ｂ） He fights. His saber stabs straight through the creature's gut, and she releasing a piercing wail as her insides burn and cauterize immediately. A nauseating stench fills the air and he grimaces only slightly as he cuts the blade down to tear through her body, letting her flop lifelessly into the water. More clamber after him as he stands his ground, clutching a tiny piece of gold in his hand, raising his saber to fight.

If you don't move for whatever reason, he'll yell: "Just going to stand there?" If you do jump in right away to help, he'll snort to himself: "It's great how the BCE omits some crucial info, isn't it?"

２． ＴＨＥ  ＦＵＮＥＲＡＬ

Like a scene straight out of an epic, he can't help but be in awe as she sings. One minute his skin feels prickly and cool, then is immediately heated by the flames swallowing her. He sucks in a sharp breath, eyes wide and watching as the world rapidly came apart. There's a slight panic at first, thinking he should probably move if he doesn't want to get caught in the ripping of the physical world (or at least what he thinks is physical).

If you are unafraid of death like Henry is, then you'll find yourself standing next to him as he's backed up against a wall as he'd been edging away from the fire at first. While not afraid of death, he'd much rather avoid being burned to a crisp by fire since that's...well, painful, and kind of unnecessary? But by the time the fire had drawn too close, he'd sort of gotten the idea that this fire wasn't harming him and simply lets it wash over him.

He takes a few steps, regardless of your actions, simply out of not wanting to just stand around doing nothing. The scenery changes and you're both on top of a mountain where the woman appears, laying down in what appears to be peaceful slumber.

1. a

[excelsus]

Dorian's not much for heroics to be personally honest and he's almost 50% certain that going after gold that's in plain sight where there are other living creatures is probably a bad idea. He's never actually seen a mermaid, but he can assume they are similar to dragons and dragons liked to guard their treasure...how could this be any different...aside from the fact that these fish women weren't dragons...but technicalities.

His mother wasn't a dragon, but she had the attitude of one, so he's able to draw the parallels whether they make sense or not.

So when Henry is grabbed and he goes under Dorian is momentarily torn between self-preservation and what is right. Fortunately he's good enough to understand what's right and plunged himself in after Henry regardless of his inexperience with being a hero. The only good thing about this was his ability to swim...not expertly, but he did grow up seaside so he could hold his own in the water. He didn't particularly like it, but he doesn't particularly like being wet outside of taking a bath either...still.

Now that he's in the water he has to decide what spell to use, what would be the most effective down here. Storm was obviously out of the question, he's no interest in shocking the shit out of all of them. Winter as well. The only thing worse than being shocked was being cold in Dorian's humble opinion and he's not about to freeze the water around them. His safest bet at the moment was Mindblast, a spell he wasted little time in firing, it wouldn't kill the mermaids, but it would stagger them, forcing the hold on Henry to loosen enough for the man to shake free.

It's the only help he's getting, given that Dorian has to pull himself up to the surface as well, breathing under water is something of a problem for him.

"Yes...quite, I should probably warn you that there is a serpent guarding treasure as well...massive thing. Might want to avoid trying to go for the gold," Dorian was busily trying to wring the water out of his ridiculous outfit, so the warning was a bit distracted.

ryoji mochizuki | persona 3 | so new | ota!

[impend]

vorspiel (arrival)

[ Best wishes in the new year, he said. Has that happened? Had they changed their mind, perhaps, as he turned away? Was this -- but it's not afterlife, even though things are too unreal to be anything but. Disorientation, feeling like his limbs are attached too-loosely to the rest of his body, feels like his head is attached too-loosely to the rest of him, but Ryoji recovers enough to get himself into the clothing provided, using the scarf as sash; the bright yellow stands out against the dark tunic, but it's nothing like how the rest of him stand out with his pale wan face and dark hair. He's already conspicuous enough as is, probably.

He should have been paying a little more attention to what the woman was telling him, really, but half his mind (half his heart) was still in the place he left, the faces gazing at him with mixed fear and something else he can't quite place. Time-travelling. This place, where it was constantly in motion, being shaped and re-shaped without an end in sight. It's supposed to be a punishment, they said, see how powerful the Regency is, nothing can stand against it. Maybe that isn't true. After all, they had chosen to go against the flow of fate, to stand their ground against Death. There will always be hope - and maybe, he can have a hand in it, in this place. ]

@ROKKR
If anyone is around out there, do you want to team up?
It's scary being in a strange place all by yourself, you know!

the (rhein)

[ The first two times, when they grab for anything they could reach, his hair his sleeves his scarf and pull him down under the cold wet flickering half-light of the water it's a little bit scary, but it's not as scary as standing on the shore of the river once more, clothing dry, not a claw-mark in sight.

Ryoji doesn't want to hurt them, not really, because what wrong have they done? Even if the instructions given by the BCE were true, even if it was order that should be followed, shouldn't there be some sort of respect given to the ones who were here before? It feels intrusive and rude to just come in, he a complete stranger, and take whatever he wanted. It feels wrong.

The next time, he makes his way towards the waters but doesn't stray too far into the distance where their hands will reach. If you're still alive and not drowning or being attacked, he'll address you. ]

Maybe we can talk to them. They don't seem like they're doing this without reason.

at the (end of the world)

[ It all reminds him of something else, this endless cycle of death and rebirth that exist in this world. In a way, that's all there is to it - he understands this, that death is the end of all things but also there is some kind of logic to it, a brief half-beat of rest before the tune begins anew. Life will always continue on, that's what he'd learned. This fire is just one of those things. Something else will arise out of the ashes - only to burn again, maybe.

And what was he to fear death? It's something inside him, he breathes and lives it (ironically speaking), and Ryoji doesn't move away even when the flames catch the hem of his scarf and flares right up to lick at his hair and his cheeks. He should be scared, but it's such a little thing, the flames. It's nothing compared to the pain of knowing of one's true self.

This is not final, he thinks. This isn't the end of all things.

The clearing is so green it hurts his eyes to look at, and Ryoji looks around - a little confused, a little awed, but more curious than anything else. That was the same woman who'd been singing earlier, the song continuing even as she burned.

Ryoji doesn't draw closer; he rocks his weight back on his heels with a hmm sound caught in the back of his throat, and looks around the surroundings. Clear, clear sky, the silent trees waving in the breeze. ]

....I don't think I'm quite the sort of prince that she's looking for.

the eternal (wildcard) option

[ wildcard! hit me up with ideas here or via PM i'm open! ]

un: @WEHFRIED

[gerechtigkeit]

I'm familiar enough with this place. Where are you located?

[While not his legend, per se, it's still the Nibelungenlied, and he knows how this story goes. And he's already highly irritated the Regency has meddled like this with a home that isn't his, but Siegfried is still attached to in a way.]

Noctis Lucis Caelum | Veteran | OTA!

[fessus]

[ He’d accepted the mission after a moment’s deliberation after seeing it appear on his BCE. A few thoughts had occurred to him. Should he ask if others are getting involved? Should he decline to focus on their training? That’d be convenient for him, sure, but always there’s that nagging in the back of his head that he has certain responsibilities other people don’t, whether it’s true here or not.

It doesn’t mean he won’t complain a little when the time is right, but he’ll still respond with that glaring "Y". ]

THE RHEIN

[ This is not where he was expecting to end up. The message had made it sound as if he were being ported into a war zone, which explains the dagger at his hip and the magic flask he has tucked beneath his— what the hell is he wearing? Baggy, oversized reddish pants with an equally dull brown tunic draped over them? Fur-trimmed cloth boots?

This is almost more distracting than the fact that there’s the buzz of beautiful music in the air along the picturesque river, still a far, far cry from a land under attack. Where are the other COST agents? ]

… Hello? [ Acquire the gold in the river says the BCE and honestly he has a few misgivings solely on the basis that he has no idea where he is. ]

NIBELHEIM

[ It had started with him helping a merchant struggling to carry his belongings. Next had been helping his business partner clean out his store for a pittance he then refused, not really seeing any reason to hoard foreign money. That had won him enough favor to be invited to a meal, to listen in as voices grew hushed and yet heated, to listen to the name “Alberich” on their lips instead of just reading it in BCE briefings.

For a king he’s never had any real love for politics, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t had the odd lesson or two in currying favor and speaking diplomatically.

By morning he’s got names of potential dissenters, people to seek out for COST’s effort. Well. That’s a happy accident.

Maybe your character runs into Noctis while he’s at a restaurant meeting with one of those esteemed members of society, or maybe they’ve been overheard speaking about COST and have been ushered into a dark back room to meet with one of their new leaders in the rebellion… this twenty-year-old prince turned king, seated at a table talking strategy for saving the Nibelungs. ]

WILDCARD

[ Message me for any other specific prompts or go nuts! I’m super open. ]

@BURGERKING

[dipolar]

Where are you?

olivia | fire emblem: awakening | new recruit

[winces]

WALHALL

[ the fortess is neverending, but the walls are the perfect acoustics for a lullaby. or rather, the closest thing to a lullaby olivia can call upon at the time. follow it, and you will find a path that speaks of some kind of struggle — a fallen iron sword amidst scrapes along the rocks, torn fabric where someone must have attempted to run off but failed. keep following it, and you will find yourself staring at the feet of a giant, tipped over onto its side and snoring — loudly.

standing beside the fallen giant is olivia, skin still flushed from her kidnapping, breath uneven from her song. when she sees you, she holds a tentative hand up in warning, her soft voice gently tapering off on a melody before she dares to speak. ]

I.. I think it's sleeping.

[ she bites down on her lip, eyes wide with an unspoken but who knows for how long. ]

NIBELHEIM

[ for one reason or another, you and olivia have decided to join up. strength in numbers and all that, or perhaps you merely crossed paths and recognized each other of the same organization and decided to be efficient, expedient. whatever the reason, the two of you are in this together now, but maybe you're regretting it in this moment, when you realize just how much of a bleeding heart your new partner is. ]

They need rest, [ she insists on a quiet voice, despite how much it wavers in her faltering confidence. she isn't facing you, instead, turned towards the two children you've recruited — no, saved — one in his teens, the other looking to be just shy of ten. she is currently resting her head on the teen's shoulder now, who sits slumped against the wall of an alleyway you've all tucked yourselves in.

chancing it, olivia glances over her shoulder at her unwitting partner, a small frown on her lips. they need to keep moving, but she is definitely unwilling to continue pushing them to do so. ] Give them an hour. Just one.

AT THE BASE OF A GREAT TREE

[ olivia is tired. she has lost count how many times she has watched this man die, how many tears she's shed for him each and every time. by now, her own body feels hollow, dried up of every ounce of sympathy and sorrow she can muster for him, and yet she persists, kneeling by his side, clutching onto his hand as he dies, again and again.

maybe it would be better to just walk away, to try and free oneself from this torturous cycle. but olivia cannot bear it in her heart to see someone die alone, regardless how many times she's provided him that company. her head hangs low, her breathing shallow. dizzy with grief, with dehydration, she wonders if she is dying as well. ]

walhall

[servant]

[it's the magic woven into the tune that draws him, a curiosity that wins out despite knowing firsthand the dangers of sleeping enchantments. merlin actually moves faster after finding and picking up the scrap of fabric, because it suggests that someone's in trouble.

that someone was almost him, but he manages to catch himself before he can topple over the sleeping giant's foot. merlin exhales quietly once he regains his balance, eyes already wide before meeting hers. he nods in agreement, that same thought in mind.]

We should go.

[the sorcerer whispers back to her, beckoning with his hand. he's a stranger, but at least he's not fifteen feet tall.]

Ariadne | OC | New Recruit | OTA

[demonicbeauty]

THE RHEIN

It was funny. How much your body could miss something while your mind was otherwise occupied. Ariadne couldn't remember the last time the forests had been safe. But as soon as she woke up, she felt a rush of belonging that she hadn't felt since she was a very small girl. Her senses were flooded with it; the scent of the untouched earth, the delicate latticework of green and gold above her, the way the air kissed her skin. She could practically taste the sweet leaves. So much of her past was assailing her all at once. It was hard to focus on any one thing. Even the woman's voice. Ariadne tried her best. Anything shaped like a Human was a potential threat, after all. Even if this woman's scent was a little bit...off.

She did her best to pay attention. COST. Regency. Some sort of mission. All the same as life before. And yet different. Ariadne wanted to ask how she'd arrived in the first place, but she held back, sensing that any answer she received wouldn't be satisfactory.

Still, she was grateful for the clothing. A dress was hardly going to help her move around the forest, but Humans were always so particular about modesty. And the long scars running down either side of her back would only solicit questions. She wished she had a mirror; she'd grown accustomed to them, living among humanoids. So when she finally heard the rush of water, she crept up to the bank to try to look at herself. She knew, of course, that her priorities were elsewhere. But for an Alastrian, blending in always had to be top priority. Or else you were a liability. Ariadne was pleased to see she looked Human enough.

Hopefully not too Human, though, she thought as she gathered up her skirts in her arms and started to step into the water. Back home, at least, water-dwelling creatures usually weren't too fond of Humans.

WALHALL

When Ariadne knew the terrain, she could slip in and out of a place like smoke. Unfortunately, an open space and an unfamiliar castle were not exactly terrain she took to on the first try. Oddly enough, her mistake had been eerie Human. When she saw the fortress, she did what people normally did when approaching: She called out. Just a simple greeting:

"I'm here in peace!"

Which had been the truth.

Unfortunately, it seemed that the...creatures...whatever they were, didn't care for peace. But they did seem to care very much for petite brunettes in cumbersome dresses. Ariadne sized up the length of their strides and about how strong she reckoned they could be. And immediately shed her dress. The undergarments were infinitely easier for fighting. And, unfortunately, it seemed that fighting was the only avenue open to her. These weren't creatures that wanted to talk.

With a metallic ringing, five long, black talons extended out from the tips of her fingers on her right hand. She positioned herself in a wide stance, ready for the first giant to approach. But she didn't give it the opportunity to get the first blow. Whipping her head to one side, she let her long braid curl around its ankle. With a quick pull, she brought its leg out from under it, slashing at the bottom of its foot with her talons so it wouldn't be so quick to give chase.

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus | New Recruit | OTA

[artistictyranny]

[ Yes the full name wasn't completely necessary and I'm sorry. ]


NEW RECRUIT/VORSPIEL

[ Nero can handle her fair share of misfortune. Waking up in a new place, agreeing to mysterious work by a mysterious group she knows nothing about, and apparently being a regular person again instead of a magical being outside of time and space; such things are odd but she can take them in stride.

One of her migraines flaring up, though? She could do without it. She'd honestly rather be stabbed in the face. ]

@IMPERIOUS
I don't suppose anyone has something to make a migraine pass?
I'm in quite a fix...

[ Though by "quite a fix" she means to say she's in the kind of blinding pain that only goes away after a full day's rest in the dark...or with whatever antidote her infernal mother took to her grave. She very much can't do the former in her current situation and the latter is impossible. ]


THE RHEIN

[ The BCE knows how to play to her interests, she'll give it that. Fetching that gold glittering all along the surface is tempting, but more so for the rewards it might bring rather than its value. ]

Hmm...such treasures would aid us immensely... [ She spares a glance at the rheinmaidens once more, and she hesitates. Seeing those beautiful maidens singing in such voices that would shame a nightingale, she's torn and her indecision shows plainly on her face. All that gold must surely be a trap, and she realizes how folly it would be to go after it when she recalls tales of sea maidens from her own world. So obvious a treasure with women born of the water all about the place? What else could it be but a trap!? Although, it isn't her sole reason for hesitating. ] To steal from those most beautiful...if there's anything that could be called a sin, it'd be that!

[ Nero doesn't even spare a glance at the gold as she makes her way toward the rheinmaidens. With a smile from one ear to the other, she holds her hands out widely at her sides to show she means no harm. ]

Sweet ladies, allow me sing with you!

[ Probably not the best idea given her singing talent. Or lack thereof. But hey, maybe someone else can pilfer the Rheingold while she distracts the maidens with her, shall we say, unique voice? ]


IN THE FOREST

[ She misses her sword. Aestus Estus would make fighting all the more comfortable, but alas, now isn't the time to be thinking such things. The dreaded serpent won't give her a moment's pause to better acquaint herself with her weapon: a simple sword better suited to the environs than her own. But, while the sword isn't her favored weapon from her days as a Servant, it's not so different from those she practiced with in her own time. The only difference is it hails from those tribes her fellow Caesars did their best to try and conquer.

As with any battle, she doesn't go it alone. Her way is to simply attack the beast with as much force as her frame can muster, but she's quick to dodge to assist any other teammates taking on the serpent. ]

Watch the beast's tail! It's almost as dangerous as his mouth! [ She doesn't let her call distract her, and she just barely avoids getting the wind knocked out of her by that very tail. As it is, it merely trips her and sends her ass over teakettle to the ground. ] ...damn it all.


WILDCARD

[ I'm open to any other ideas you might have for a thread! Just lemme know what's on your mind. ]

Rhein

[scarletfantasy]

[While she was instructed to collect the gold from the river, she was cautious in doing so. Something as valuable as this was never this easy to take. Her instincts were telling her to stay away, and it wasn’t just her adversity to flowing water telling her that.

Upon hearing another voice, the vampire went to investigate. Intending only to observe what would happen when she tried to take some of the rheingold. It was only once she saw what was happening that she decided to make herself known.]

You idiot! Those are sirens! Get away from them!

midnighter | vet | ota.

[thingpuncher]

a. WALHALL.

Of course he signs up. Of course he ends up on the edge of a fucking mountain. Of course he immediately switches into his uniform. Blending in is for chumps, anyway. He's on duty.

The mountain is huge, and the giants are huger. Midnighter has only his fists and a very cocky smile. He stands right where they can see him, and holds out both fists, an obvious fighting stance. The one nearest stares down at him dumbly from fifteen feet up.

Midnighter doesn't seem fazed. Finally, some action. "Fi fie fo fum, motherfucker."

The giant punches the ground, but Midnighter has more than enough time to dodge. By the time the giant's noticed, he's running up it's arm.

b. AT THE END OF THE WORLD.

Midnighter, however, is afraid of death. He's afraid of dying unfilfilled, useless, stupid, never getting what he wants out of life and going out in a whimper instead of a bang. It would take a lot to kill him, but being consumed by flames? That'd do it.

This fear isn't something that keeps him up at night, doesn't haunt his thoughts, but... It's still there. There enough for the flames to judge him unworthy, to eat up his coat and melt the rubber of his boots.

Just because he's afraid of death, though, doesn't mean he won't die to save someone else. He sees someone else caught in the flame, maybe running like him, maybe not. Doesn't matter. He throws off his coat and tosses it to them. "This'll hold it off for a while. C'mon." He reaches for their hand.

c. NIBELHEIM.

The whole dragon thing was stupid when its head grew back, but at least he got something neat out of it. Midnighter, covered in dragon's blood, drags a dragon's head around the dusty, dirty streets of Nibelheim with him. At least there aren't any birds here. Those fuckers won't shut up.

He drags the head into a bar, and seems unfazed by the horrified stares the local patrons give him. He hefts the head up onto the counter.

"How much can I get for this?"

c YOU INVITED THIS

[dorzalta]

The trail of blood would be something she'd not spare a second glance under any other circumstance. Blood is so commonplace in her world, to grow wary of it now would be silly.

...But to realize that the blood he dons and the head he lugs like a trophy is a dragon's is enough to have her world erupt in flames. The shift is nothing more than her conversation with Rider promptly ending. Her nostrils flaring, the cup she holds creaks under her grip. She's half tempted to sing the dragon song the BCE supplied. Let him face a dragon's true wrath.

She might've, were he not a supposed ally. Still, her chair clatters to the floor as she abruptly stands, and of all the things she does, reaching for Rider's spear is the last even she expects. What will she do, stab him until the head is replaced? It's stupid is what it is.

A spear pierced Drogon. Stupid men think they can do what they like to dragons without recompense...

Stupid thought it may be, Dany still lifts the weapon, and gods, it's heavy despite the training she's suffered through back at Base. So heavy she abandons it--a loud clatter when she realizes her folly in lifting it to begin with--and storms after Midnighter. Past surprised patrons. Past the trail of blood on the floor.

"Did you enjoy hacking its head off like a savage?"

Rey | Star Wars | New Recruit | OTA and SPOILER FREE for The Last Jedi

[garbagepilot]

(there will be no spoilers for The Last Jedi. This is a spoiler free zone, so feel free to tag with no worries of finding out something you don't want to know!)

[The Rhein]

[It's not the gold Rey is interested in at all, despite knowing the value of it. She'll take some at some point, try to use it to trade for food if nothing else, but it's the setting that has her lingering here. The sound of running water, a river, all the green, that's what she cares about. She's wary of the strange creatures in the river as she kneels down by it, staff set just to the side in easy reach if she should need it, but when she reaches into the water it's not to take anything.

She just has the oddest urge to touch it, all that fresh water in such a great quantity, seemingly endless, it's like a wonder after a lifetime of living on Jakku. Water there was always stale, slightly metallic after being kept in metal containers for so long, and she can't resist cupping her hands in the river and pulling up a handful of water to drink straight from her palms.

Around her the mermaid creatures seem unsure, a few move towards her when her hands breach the water, but when they see she isn't taking their gold they hover just out of reach. It's not until Rey goes for another handful of water that she realizes she's not alone, glances up at whoever might have just walked up alongside her.]

I don't think they want to share.

[The gold, she means, and she's not exactly warning out of a sense of being concerned about anyone else getting dragged into the water. The thing is, though, if it does happen, and she does see it, she knows she won't be able to just stand there while someone else is attacked.]

[Walhall]

[Is she going to fight the giants?

Hell no. The second she spots one it's right up a tree, an easy climb when compared to the corpses or ships crashed down in the graveyard on Jakku, because at least the branches are easy handholds, not hot enough from the sun to burn her hands even through heavy leather gloves. Before long she's standing on a heavy tree limb watching the creatures lumber around, trying to track their movements and figure out exactly-

But then there's snapping from below and she whips her staff off her back, holds it ready to smack away whatever monster is coming after her... only to realize she isn't the only one who thought to climb up this tree. After a moment, she feeds the staff down, holding tight onto one end.]

Here. I'll pull you up.

[wildcard!]
(feel free to run into Rey anywhere you like! You can also pm this journal or hit me up at blahblahren to plot stuff out!)

Walhall

[ergosphere]

[Kylo wasn't running from the giants, but rather rethinking his strategy, seeing as they wouldn't stay dead. He had an opportunity to retreat while the giant regenerated, but there were very few places to go after that. The fortress must have been some sort of illusion, and the nearest shelter, if it could be called as such, was a tree.

The branches were solid up top, but the first one he grabbed near the ground snapped under his weight. Before he could just jump up, someone was thrusting a staff in his face, offering --

No. He knew that voice. Face twisting in rage, Kylo launched himself up into the tree, landing on the nearest tree limb that would hopefully support him. It was her, of course. The irony of being rejected by her, and then offered help in such a short span of time was not lost on him.]

You!

General Armitage Hux | New Recruit | OTA

[neutronium]

Arrival

There is very little about this that Hux likes (though again is that truly a surprise?). Not being allowed his normal clothing, instead having to pick something more lose and akin to the clothing worn by Tatooine bumpkins (at least he was able to choose black in both his tunic and leggings), only having his blaster with him...being told that he was supposed to fight against the side that clearly was in the right-

--well. Hux would see about that.

He wasn't about to let some strange old woman speaking in tongues tell him what side he belonged on in a fight. Especially when he knew very well he was being told to advocate for chaos, the very antithesis of his being.

Let them think he would fight for them, he could play subterfuge as much as necessary. Hux had not worked so hard in his Galaxy to get where he was, only to get wrapped up in a Resistance in another world.

After adjusting himself to his device, he decides to try it out.

Network
--
@Control @all

I am newly arrived, and have been provided the basic information for new recruits. I have a simple question for those of you have been longer:

How do you know what they say about COST and The Regency is true? Why believe one or the other?

Forgive me, of course--as a new recruit, I tend to not trust any side easily. I'm merely trying to gain my barings.

[Liar.]
--

Nibelheim

Hux wandered the strange corridors of Nibelheim, reminded of the stories his father told of the industrial plants on Parnassos, when Phasma and the others had been forced to work until he had been well enough to escape. Though, Hux had to admit, the complex's that Phasma worked in had to be cleaner than this.

Hux had wrapped a black scarf around his hair and face (well more a scrap of fabric) to try and keep some of the smoke from getting in his lungs. It most likely would do very little good, but the attempt should be made.

He knew what the BCE told he should do--befriend these people, try and spark some sort of revolt. But, well...Hux might attempt to do one, and not the other. If he wished to get in good with the Regency, might as well bring some names, shouldn't he?

On the corner seemed to be an established general-type store. Hux knew quite well that purveyors of goods knew more about a place more than anyone save perhaps a bar-keep. Pushing past another human without giving an apology, he opened the door to step inside.

network.

[thingpuncher]

[time to play dumb asshole.]

>>@TRENTCOAT

cost feeds me and tells me who to punch
what more does a man need

Jesse McCree | Overwatch | new recruit

[good_bamf_ugly]

The Rheinhardt

[Perhaps being a bonafide cowboy (from the 21st century), it was inevitable that McCree would be drawn to the prospect of gold collecting. There's no obvious warning it will be a difficult venture as he casually saunters towards the water's edge. He's mindful of the rheinmaidens occupying the waters. They don't speak in words but their sounds are welcoming enough that he takes them at face value. The gold can wait a minute, it'd be impolite to not introduce himself first. He kicks off his boots and takes a seat on a large flat river rock, ideal for hanging his feet off of and getting a better look at the rheinmaidens. They seem curious enough about him, cutting through the water and gradually getting closer to him. McCree talks the entire time in smooth easy tones, even if they don't talk back; nearly like he's talking to a lost child. Incidentally, flecks of gold float their way towards his hairy half-submerged legs. That's super convenient.

He goes to scoop a handful of it out of the water and in the blink of an eye he's violently yanked under. He thrashes and instinct takes over as he grabs his revolver. Shooting a gun under water is mostly a crapshoot, but whatever's on him is close enough that the loud bang stuns and dissuades them just long enough for Mccree to make a break for the surface. He gasps and processes exactly what's happened and paddles desperately for that rock. He only manages to get a stroke or two in its direction, and belt something of a half a scream out before he's dragged under again.

He's caught completely by surprise and is, unfortunately, completely out of his element.

a) Help a stupid cowboy before he dies.

b) Oops he died. He comes back to his senses standing at the river's edge, sweating and gasping for air. His body is tense and his hand flies to his revolver, though there's nothing to shoot at. All he manages is to stand there dumbly, staring at the rheinmaidens innocently swimming around. Birds chirp and the sun shines, as if all was right in the world. Might have to give him a second to let the whole time-loop business really sink in.]

Base of a Great deku Tree

[Well if this ain't a sorry sight. McCree contemplates putting the old man out of his misery but he'll have to save his bullets. He's keenly aware he's not the only one here as silhouettes move between the tree branches and more and more pairs of eyes loom over him, eager to ambush. McCree stands with his arms splayed wide, fingers wiggling in the air over his revolver, daring them to make the first move. The very second they do it's already all over.

Six loud bangs ring out into the air and the heavy weight of six bodies falling to the ground thump-thump-thump follows shortly afterwards. McCree tumbles backwards and reloads his revolver in one smooth movement, taking aim at the other warriors who are still intent on attacking him.

...Honestly he looks like he can handle this on his own... so long as he doesn't run out of bullets.]

End of the world as we know it

[EVERYTHING IS ON FIRE. This is not okay. McCree's first instinct was to get anyone else caught in the flames to safety over his own but before he knows it everything is swallowed whole in crackle and smoke. He's more alarmed at how easily disorienting it is but secondarily he realizes he's not burning or dying. This only adds to the confusion of this scenario. Warily but steadily, he marches in one direction until he comes across a wide field atop a mountain. There the woman lies sleeping.]

What in tarnation... [He drags a hand over his tawny brown hair and down his beard, perplexed. He convinces himself this is a surreality, a dream-state, the result of too much liquor. Another Tuesday, maybe. All this is, probably. He approaches the woman and gently nudges her, notes she's not dead but not waking either. Is he supposed to do something? Was that fire some kind of omen? Was this one of those loop-things? Was he supposed to set her on fire???

No, probably not, but he's short on any other ideas. He can't just leave her here... so he gently picks her up and cradles her limp body in his arms bridal style and starts wandering around. He's only a little aimless.]

end of the world pls forgive me

[heilt]

( there were many things that angela had learned to control her fears of but dying wasn't one of them. she could push the fear aside when her job or someone else needed her more but it was still there deep down.

there'd been many people at the funeral, and a lot of panic once the fires had started raging. she's trapped at first, flames roaring all around her. then others walk through it. it takes a while for angela to read out herself, but as she does things become a little clearer.

she's searching out any that are injured, perhaps touched by the flames, when she sees the figures on the hill, the woman in his arms, their slow descent down. it has her moving, attention first on the woman, checking for a pulse, any visible signs of injury )

How did she get over there?

( it's a comment more than a question, a thought as angela checks her over, not yet having registered who is carrying her. the woman had been there at the pyre, had been consumed by flames and yet she looked untouched by them. did she have their healing factor also? )