waking the dead 2.0 || october 11-14, 2063 || the black forest

[icarusalsoflew]

WHO: The War Hounds, all NPC operatives on call for destroying the Nemesis, and whoever else
WHAT: It's a tense vigil, a bad fall, an emotional departure, and then some.
WHERE: The unnamed Zangyaku outpost of Tengu within the Black Forest.
WHEN: October 11-14, 2063
SAFE FOR WORK? Probably?
OTHER NOTES:
+ I'll have some open posts labeled with specific dates for people, and you guys are also welcome to make your own together with any planned threads.
+ You guys are actually free to re-thread any scenes between each other here too, if you like. I won't be able to re-thread the Brigade stuff, though.
+ You guys are welcome to call or text people who are not actually in the Black Forest.


[ OCTOBER 11: PRE-ENGAGEMENT

There is no way that you could possibly get used to it: the eerie, bestial shrieks; the worrisome tremors; the rotting trees. This place feels cursed, and every single other operative in the area beyond your group have the masks of men who are ready to die.

OCTOBER 12: POST-ENGAGEMENT

For what should have been a victory because there wasn't a single casualty, the air in the outpost is heavier than ever.

Can you blame any of them, though? Their leader nearly lost it today, and the fucking idiot who was responsible for that is passed out comfortably in his room.

OCTOBER, 13: AFTER DINNER

The War Hounds, it seems, has gained one man only to lose another.

Maybe this one was for the best.

OCTOBER 14: WHOLE DAY

The Blade King has not been cleared for travel yet, so you've got free run of the outpost until midnight, October 15.

]

Comments

[bostova]

[ She doesn't look over to Kaien, just brings her glass up to her lips and fixes her gaze straight at the Black Forest. ]

I don't know what you are talking about.

[ Look, it's not that she's the one who wants to talk. She's just here to listen to any grievances you might have. And it's not like she's going to say that out loud, because no one has to know she's willing to try this whole 'let's be friends' thing out. ]

[steelsinger]

[ Blinking at that, then chuckling with a rueful shake of his head. ]

Right, of course.

[ But he's grateful, really. It doesn't feel right, opening up about what's getting his goat to the ops around these parts.

Getting that bottle then. ]

Well, don't mind if I do.

[bostova]

[ This time around, she looks at him and nods. ]

Go ahead. You look like you need it more than I do, anyway.

[ And then she goes back to her drink, gazing off in the distance again. While the purpose was to get Kaien to unload, she isn't going to press him, if he doesn't want to talk. At least, she hopes that the alcohol would help his mood a little. ]

[steelsinger]

[ Her words strike him, if only because he's not used to being so transparent. Either that, or she was particularly perceptive.

His money was on the Option A. Sorry, Bostova, he believes in you, but... yeah.

Anyway. Taking a good, long swig. ]

How are your blademates holding up?

[ Let's focus on other people first. ]

[bostova]

They're dealing.

[ She shrugs and pulls out a pack of cigarettes, so she could smoke while they drink. He's welcome to get one, if he wants to. Not gonna stop him. ]

They have their different ways, I guess.

[steelsinger]

[ Oh, no worries: he's helping himself to one after you're done lighting up. ]

And what about you?

[ He's gotten the impression that while you and Brigade have an understanding, your relationship with him is much more professional than, let's say, Brianna and Brigade. ]

[bostova]

[ She shrugs and takes a puff from her stick. She doesn't answer immediately, though. Eventually. ]

I'm glad he's gone.

[steelsinger]

Why?

[ It's just a question. No judgment, no presuppositions. Kaien isn't that kind of guy. ]

[bostova]

Hmm...

[ She's still looking off in the distance, cigarette between her lips, hand on the bottle. ]

We're better off without him.

[ Besides, "I never liked him in the first place" was a lie. ]

[steelsinger]

[ Well, there is that. ]

Well, you might actually be right there. I can name a few higher-ups who feel that way too.

[ Sip. ]

Course, I'm inclined to believe that he's better without the lot of you right now, rather than the other way around.

[bostova]

[ She thinks about it for a while, taking her time with her cigarette and her alcohol. She shifts on her seat, then leans back comfortably and kills what's left of her stick. ]

Either way, wouldn't it benefit all of us in the end? Now that he's gone... and when he comes back.

[ Because one day he will be back. One day. ]

[steelsinger]

You might not be around when he comes around, though.

[ Just calling it as it is. Some Prometheans take centuries. Others don't make it back at all. ]

[bostova]

[ She smiles, and it might be sadder than she'd intended. ]

I know. But that can't be helped.

[ She'll just... have another cigarette. Yes. ]

[steelsinger]

[ Hou.

Well. He's not going to point that out to you. ]

Hey, at least you guys could go and visit him if you REALLY wanted to. And maybe when tensions aren't so high.

[ Because that's a lot more feasible now that it used to be. ]

[bostova]

[ She snorts. As if she would. Too much effort, too. She'll just stay here with her cigarettes and booze, thank you very much. ]

Maybe.

[ But if everyone else wants to... ]

[steelsinger]

[ Amused by that reaction. It figures.

He won't bother saying anything else, though. He's perfectly fine with drinking and smoking quietly in your company until you get bored or until he has to go. ]