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At the very least, Rep had to smirk at Jordan's somewhat catty reply to Candace. Ohoo, so he /could/ have claws when he wanted to. So much for always being nice. He had to wonder how the mist had managed to provoke his snippy response.

He didn't get to think about this for /long/ though as Candace gave him sudden reason to stare. "Pole dancing lessons? You are ******** serious?" It took all his self control to say no more than that. He even resisted the urge to make a joke at Jordan about her wanting to spin on his hammer. They were on a mission. But ******** hell it was tough.

He did bristle enormously however at the implication he would /ever/ step back and let anyone else take care of a fight for him, especially on orders from a woman. He was /trying/ okay, but that was just much much too trying for him. "I'm perfectly ******** capable of taking care of myself. I don't need other people to fight for me. I'll step back when I'm /dead/."

He was too busy getting irritated at Candace to actually notice as another assault, this time thankfully a shower of nothing more harmful than branches snapped him out of it, seemed like the ghost was on the ropes.

(( HP - 16
DMG -MISS
Charge 2/3
BOSS HP - 2 /50 ))

At Rep's question Candace nodded, giving a little shrug at the tone and stare. "It's a valid suggestion. It forces one to use all of their muscles, helps with flexibility, and if I start using a staff it'd teach me how to use one in a way." To Candace it wasn't a big deal, it was reasonable. Though she would not explain who suggested it considering there had been a bit of lecherous undertone to some of the conversation on Lance's part. Men.

That was a thought that was repeated when Rep got all up in arms and offended by Candace's suggestion. She bristled, very nearly snapping at him. No, Candace. Stay calm. He's an idiot. He's not worth it. "You're no use if you're dead." She said as calmly as she could manage, getting up off the ground and rubbing her back with a wince. She'd be fine, she just was feeling the shock of slamming to the ground from nine feet up in the air. That s**t hurt, okay? At least she'd managed to keep from letting her head hit the ground this time. No more concussions!

Candace turned to watch as Jordan obliterated the poltergeist. And he set fire to the tree as well. She laughed. "Show off~. Good jo--wait.." They're gone? Her eyes widened and all humor left her face. No..they were too late. s**t! No! Why the ******** did they take children!? Her fists clenched and her eyes narrowed. "That is so ******** up.. "

Jordan had it exactly right. Why the ******** couldn't Rep ever listen? She wasn't trying to be a b***h to him! "I'm not implying you're weak at all, I'm just saying know your limits. There's pride and skill and then there's stupidity, okay?" She was frowning, turning away to pick up her bag and then keep walking. "Let's just find what we can." Candace muttered quietly, fixing the ridiculous orange vest she was wearing.

Speaking from experience, are we? Or are you that bothered by children being taken. Atropos cooed, somewhat amused. Candace frowned a little more. Maybe a little of both. She didn't sound amused at all. Atropos got the hint. Don't forget, I'll never let you fail~. As you would say, you're too ******** awesome for that. Candace actually cracked a bit of a smile at that.

There was suddenly music heard over the sounds of rushing water from the custodial crew power washing the park and the loud construction of the park's new area additions. It wasn't louder than those noises but it was certainly noticed by Candace. She stopped walking, looking toward where she'd seen the lights flicker. To her right was the Haunted Mansion, but the music playing didn't seem to fit the actual ride's soundtrack. It didn't sound at all familiar to her. "..Do you guys hear that?"

"We're not a precision specialty team," Jordan said, and grinned. "Hope you like your ghosts well done."

He sobered at the reminder of what the ghost had said, though. "I guess that answers one of the questions, anyway. If it was telling the truth." He shook his head, troubled. "By gone, did it mean dead or kidnapped?"

To Rep, he said, "That may be so, but we have a year's experience and training on you. Don't be reckless, man. Nobody's perfect." The paraphrased echo of their midnight conversation was deliberate; Jordan watched Rep steadily to see if the other man caught the point.

He heard music then, faint and wavering, but when he turned his head to try to pinpoint the location, it faded away. "I hear it," he said. "It doesn't sound steady enough to be a recording left on." Lights flickered in the corner of his eye, and then were gone. "I get the feeling we're being deliberately distracted."

Rep's discovery made him frown. "I've seen this before," he said, and pulled out his phone, first taking a photo of the symbol scratched into the sign, then flipping through the photos stored in his phone until he found the pictures from the deserted house. The symbol carved into the wooden floor in the picture bore a strong resemblance to the one in front of them. He turned his phone around so Candace and Rep could see the screen. "Here, guys. Look."

Jordan's comment hit home effectively enough, Rep got the point rather loud and clear and almost immediately stopped putting up such a vocal argument over it all, looking away deferentially. "Well yeah. Okay." He fought the urge to pout. Why couldn't he just be as ******** strong as everyone else, he hated being the weak one, the burden. The problem.

He did gave Candace a curious look for her comment about Jordan, she had? His memory flicked back to the scar he'd accidentally had a look at while the other man changed on the sun mission. It had looked pretty life threatening. He didn't dare ask though, he wasn't about to insult the other sun by forcing him to recollect something like that. Still, he intended to ask later.

Rep eyed the phone's screen with curiosity as Jordan offered it, so this thing was a recurring motif? That was pretty worrying really, made him think there was something cult-ish involved here rather than maybe just some rogue monsters stealing away kids. "Yeah man, this looks the same to me alright. I dunno about the horsemen and s**t, I'm not huge on the info side of things but it looks like some cultish s**t to me. These guys want people to know they are involved." It felt like a trap.

He blinked as Candace tripped forward as if shoved, even though there was nothing there at all, immediately set on edge. "Not me."

Once again objects started being hurled their way.

"Looks like we have more ******** company."

Quote:

81- 100: BOSS ENCOUNTER:
- In the darkness, it seems easier to spot the poltergeist, though its form occasionally flickers in and out. It realizes that your team is by far friendly, and begans to throw various objects at you.

A family found dead and this symbol was there. Dead. She remembered that mission, she hadn't gone on it because it'd been done several times over. What more could she find that others had not already covered? But now she was wishing she'd done it if only so she could have seen this symbol for herself. "It's definitely worth taking note..termites? Th..that is disgusting..." Okay now she was glad she opted out of that mission. When Jordan suggested another option she raised a brow. "Then where could they be?" Did...Jordan know something? She eyed him skeptically, at least until a rock came flying past their heads.

"s**t! Are you kidding me?!" Candace groaned, backing away from the new poltergeist. Was this place just filled with ghosts?! What the hell! She couldn't do this as she was, her fear shield had taken a hit...

"We definitely need help. Like..one or two people should do. We need bandages, for sure. And...um..someone who can fight alongside us and.." But Jerry wouldn't come if she texted him. Maybe if Jordan..? But...Jerry wouldn't want to help if he found out she was here. Damnit.

Candace continued to back away as she scrolled through her list to find Harrison. She was going to invite him here anyway..



...A Mist. A Mist would be perfect.



That should do it. She didn't know who Jordan was getting but..damnit. She'd just have to distract it while Jordan called help himself. Summoning Atropos, Candace jumped. Her goal was simply to keep it busy for now, and with the way it slapped her she was pretty sure it was working.

HP: 20
Damage done: 2
Charge: 1/3; 0/2
Boss HP: 48

"It was disgusting," Jordan agreed with a grimace. He caught Candace's sharp look, but kept his mouth shut. If she wanted to know, she could damn well ask. Later.

As Candace finished tapping out a quick text and launched herself at the poltergeist, he typed one of his own.



He hit send, shoved the phone into his pocket, and summoned Ferros. They had to keep the ghost busy to give backup time to get here.

Cass's arrival was a welcome sight, and he grinned at her as he moved back and out of range of the poltergeist's missiles. "Thanks," he called to her. "We warmed it up a bit for you."

HP: 20/50
Dmg: 5
Charge: 1/3
Boss HP: 43

Rep was decidedly irritated at the prospect that they needed help, suppressing the urge to make snide comments about how people liked to take the easy way out.

That ******** angel always had to be a party pooper. He reminded him that fine, he knew he was at a limit of endurance, the ghosts hit hard, if this one was any stronger they were legit in trouble.

But it seemed like Candace and Jordan had people they could contact for backup, which was a relief, he certainly didn't, his circle of friends was beyond limited at this point.

"So I guess I have to ******** fall back." he snorted, doing exactly that for the time being, getting far enough back he could dodge the thrown objects a little better. It went against all his instincts and pride but seemed like it had to be done.

Even as he did so, Cass showed up. He was ******** impressed at the response time of the other hunters, though he'd be hard pressed to admit this, especially regarding a woman. Especially regarding a mist.

Still it was ******** hard, he felt useless standing back here watching other people fight battles he should have been tough enough to fight himself, rather ashamed by it. Robert's arrival was greeted with a grudging glare, the bandages were necessary and a help, but that didn't mean Rep was all that pleased about even more people around to witness his failure.

Robert was only too happy to return the fistbump, but his eyes remained on the enemy, automatically summoning Jezebel and holding her against him.

"I'm on it, boss." He saluted briefly, before turning to Rep and holding out his hand. "Nice to finally meet you, bro. Keep seeing you on the field but never get a chance to say hi." If Rep took his handshake, Robert would use his other to slap a band-aid right on the back of Rep's hand. It seemed like a simple Transformers band-aid, but it felt a lot better than it looked.

HP: 50
Healed Rep for: 2