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 Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 4:43 pm
"We should find a place to stay. There's a small groundskeeper's cottage nearby. We won't sleep in the rectory." Sasha delicately cleared her throat and moved forward enough to squeeze Wash's shoulder. She could see the tense way he carried himself.
Sasha started moving towards the cottage, which wasn't too terribly far away. As she walked, she talked.
"The first time I was here, the main estate house seemed to be possessed. Beneath the rectory is a crypt where there seem to be the remains of some sorts of knights - 'Knights of Mela' - there were also a great, great amount of family pictures in the rectory, as well."
Sasha fell thoughtfully silent, feeling oddly anxious.
"Once we set up, we'll head to the rectory, I think. I wanted to... check on something there."
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 5:26 pm
Even without knowing the specifics of the mission or what might be laying in wait for them on the other side of that portal, five days didn't sound too bad. It would do him good to get off of the island, even if it was a jump from the frying pan right into what could have been a blazing inferno. Evan followed after the others through the portal, eying the buildings critically. He didn't just see them as merely rundown and in need of repair; to him, they held the endless potential of the unknown. The cottage could have been a safe place to camp out, but it could also keep them all trapped in a centralized location if it turned out they weren't alone out here. They would never be able to see an attack coming from outside if they were in there. "With all due respect, Ma'am," Evan called softly to Sasha, "unless we know for sure that we're alone out here, it might be safer to set up camp outside, on higher ground."
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:39 pm
Evan's suggestion made sense to Sasha, in a way. She'd never really considered that being outdoors might be safer because to Sasha it stood to reason that indoors meant safety. She paused long enough to consider his suggestion before lifting her slender shoulders in a shrug. "We aren't alone out here. I firmly believe that this place is haunted. I'm not sure why, and I'm not certain who it is. When I've come before, I stay away from the estate house. There's a large tree that's been carved out, and I've slept there before. The rectory previously housed.. well, it's been occupied until rather recently." Sasha glanced over her shoulder at Evan. "If you think it's best to stay outdoors, I trust your best judgement."
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 6:55 pm
"Just... out in the open?" Jerry wasn't sure he liked that idea. Campfire or not. Dangerous things had happened here. Dangerous things that had rattled a tough egg like Sasha to the point of tears. "I er... didn't bring a tent or anything-" He hadn't known what was needed for this mission, truthfully, save a few changes of clothes and his cannon.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 7:48 pm
Haunted? Amazing! They really were ghost hunters!
"You don't need a tent to camp out." Dylon piped in, smiling happily all the while. "It won't be comfortable, but if you lay down some soft clothes or whatever, you can sleep well enough. Kind of like camping out outside the Apple Store for the new iPhone."
Yes, he'd totally done that.
"Oh, um.. if it is this dangerous like you say, maybe we could take shifts when 'bedtime' rolls around?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:11 pm
It was really something, watching Dylon smile, and Sasha had to wonder just how badly this mission of hers would break it. Break him, really. It would be interesting to see how long that pretty smile of his would last. A shame, really. "Shifts will be a good idea. I'd like you all to see what we're dealing with here, just to get a feel of the layout. I'd also like to explain more about our reasons for being here." Sasha cleared her throat. "If you'd rather, Jerry, you can sleep inside the cottage, and we can set up just outside of it. There's no real 'high ground' here, so to speak - but there is a forest along the perimeter, as well." She never stopped walking. "If nothing else, we can leave our supplies at the cottage, check out a few things until nearly nightfall," if we're still alive by then, "and then decide how and where to set up camp." Every now and again, she would call out for Nona. There was the slightest glimmer of hope that she might get a response, thought it was growing dimmer by the second.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 9:18 pm
"Outdoor's ok." Wash glanced back.
"'nless Jerry needs someone to bunk up with." Joking wink. Being tense was grating on his nerves, he needed to relax before he got a cramp.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:01 pm
At the wink, Jerry's face went red. He had had enough of that sort of thing with Mr. His Highness, thank you "I'll... stay with the group, thanks. I suppose if we could divide up the tasks? I could lead a quick scout if you'd like." He tried to keep up with their Leader, her restlessness putting him on edge.
She had backup this time. It couldn't be as bad as facing a haunted property alone, right?
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:06 pm
Wash couldn't help it - at the blush, he guffawed, and had to hide his grin.
"Awww, Jerry, you sayin' I ain't hannsum enough for you? Do you hear this man, Sasha?" It was nice that they could be together again and joke without that awkward tension. It was a little strange too- but maybe he wasn't giving his friend enough credit.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:08 pm
Jerry stopped in his tracks, nearly dropping his pack. "FOR THE LAST TIME I AM NOT GAY!!!" He retorted, perhaps just a bit too loudly for the trainees.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:15 pm
"I think it's important for us to stick together, and doubly important for us to stay away from the estate house, especially after sunset." The byplay between Jerry and Wash did little to soothe her rattled nerves. There was no smile on her face, only a tension in her eyes and a tightness around her mouth. " Please be quiet," Sasha snapped, looking mildly annoyed. The cottage came into view, and Sasha cleared her throat. The battered rectory loomed in the distance beyond it. She slowed her pace and shot Wash a sideways glance. "As I've said, we'll secure our supplies at the cottage, and then do a quick run through the rectory first. I don't think there's any sort of need to set up a base camp right now." The small group would find the cottage looking rather ramshackle, long abandoned. "Be careful," she spoke in low, terse tones, moving to peer through a cobwebbed window - just to make certain there was nobody inside.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:19 pm
A white rabbit lay in the middle of the sitting room floor, it's small frame heaving weakly. The creature was still alive, but the matted blood said not for long.
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:29 pm
Narrowing her eyes at the rabbit, Sasha backed away from the window and turned to face the others.
"Come look."
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:33 pm
"What is it-" Wash stepped up to the window, sobered by her admonishment, and couldn't help but stare.
"The hell?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:37 pm
Evan frowned in disapproval as Jerry yelled. "Hey, thanks for giving up our position. You know what they say about denial, right?" he asked as he walked by Jerry on his way towards the cottage.
His frown deepened as he looked through one of the dirty windows at the rabbit struggling to stay alive. "Are there any predators in these woods, do you know?" He asked Sasha, never taking his eyes off of the small, bloodstained form. "If not, it might not be a good idea to head in there. There's trees around; we could stow our gear in the branches for a while and come back for it when we're ready to set up camp."
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