Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ramsden looked at the girl, studying and evaluating her physical characteristics; he had learned though you can judge how strong or enduring someone is just by their looks though. Regardless of him waiting for his Commander to respond with the yay or nay of the slightly more-than-enough amount of supplies he requested or for Paul's response to his sayings, he turned completely towards the girl.

"Well you definitely do not have to feel offended... Juno I presume? I'm not sure if we've actually met before either, Benjamin told me about you so I do remember the name, however as for meeting you, I am uncertain; So that makes us square in that sense, but we will be getting to know each other quite well very soon either way. From what it sounds, Paul has been watching over you making sure you stay safe. From here on out though, it looks like I, along with one or two others unless Commander and Paul decide you only need me, will be taking that job. That's what we were discussing, but we had almost finished so, don't feel as though you interrupted. All I'm waiting for is my confirmation for supplies because it would appear... Erin I'm trying to talk here and your scraping is increasing in volume do to your drying blades. I do believe the Toxic is in you blades well enough, they're a very light shade of purple." Erin looked down at her blades and sure enough, it appeared almost as if they were a pure metallic color once again. A very light and flushed shade of purple remained on them stating it had sunk into the very tiny nicks and grooves along her blades, but also that she had wiped some of it away. She ceased her sharpening and spreading procedure, then looked to Ramsden as if to say she was sorry. Although it was really more her saying, "I 'hologize" then anything that showed she was sorry.

"It's fine. Good job on that spreading though. That should stay in those blades for at least a few hours. We still have to work on your p's though. They still sound like h's." Erin looked at him with a playful angry look and said, "I stab you next if you no shut up." Ramsden snickered slightly and rubbed his thumb along the top of her head twice. "But anyway, as I was saying, it would appear as though many people or pokemon or greater forces of the undying almighty presence just seem to want you not alive. Myself, Erin, and Zips do not intend to let that presence win. I would assume they told you about your switch of guardians already but if not, then I'm sorry this is so sudden. But, there is something slightly more important than introductions at this time.

"So, back to our previous conversation, may I have my supplies Commander; I understand they are a little abundent, but from what we've heard, I feel we're going to need the extras. And Paul, do you have 15 minutes to spare, or must I be on my way with her as soon as possible?"

Zips still floated by him, creating a very low very quiet hum in the air as he patiently waited for the answer from both as well.

Lexi had seen the record option and even as she watched the encounter the device stored the images. She wasn’t bothered by how Alex seemed to be agreeing to the woman…much. It made her wary, but it could be all lies just as easily as all truth, and she doubted Alex would suddenly flip back to working for this lady…though her dependence on the drugs was a definite unknown. The girl unknowingly came to a similar conclusion to Alex about the need for drugs, in that the woman likely wouldn’t die without them…but she couldn’t know how much Alex perceived them as a required thing, and that was the only thing that was making her nervous. She wasn’t going anywhere near the late professor’s house tomorrow if she could help it…she’d go tonight if she had to…One thing that did help was that she knew that the threat existed…Alex couldn’t trick her into this trap if she wanted to.

Then some scratching sounds distracted her, and she looked over the edge to where a machoke was miming something to Lorenzo. The drugs…no scratch that…injection, Lorenzo, death…the drugs would kill Lorenzo? The drugs are really poison? And that first part…drugs, X, and no? was that a nevermind or something else…the drugs aren’t the exterminant’s drugs maybe? She wasn’t sure exactly what the machoke was trying to say, but she wasn’t sure she wanted Alex to have them…Though, where did this machoke come from, and why would it be helping them?

((So iD bracerS and I have both run into Brobdingnagian time constraints, mostly due to senior seminar non-jazz. There will be postage eventually, but I can't guarantee it until this weekend. If the gods crack a smile, it'll be up like Wednesday afternoon or some such. But crack is a dangerous drug and we should not depend on it for punctuality.

Also if you PM'd me (I think there are two of you...), one of us will get to that even sooner.

Your patience is the very font of clemency.))

((Well then!))

Paul nodded. "Good. You'll cut it, I'm not worried. We have plenty of time for you to get prepared, if you're on the job." The Commander was apparently mulling over this decision, which was understandable - it was a strange one. Teleporting men, overarching forces of heaven only knew what - things like these didn't come up very often.

Paul turned to Juno. "All things depending, 'we' may not be leaving. Commander Brighton wants me to perform some of my duties around here," although they were far from actual duties, Paul preferred to refer to them as such for the Commander's blood pressure, "and I may have to catch up with you later. If that's the case, someone, possibly Ramsden, will be ensuring that you and Willam make it safely to Glenville and then to wherever else it is you're going. I'd probably keep in contact with this fine gentleman here via radio, and I could therefore follow and catch up when the time was right. That said, I may be going with you anyway. We'll see."

Juno wasn't sure whether or not she liked Ramsden. On the one hand, he was open about what was going on. On the other, he seemed to be the kind of guy that would ignore anything that didn't pertain to the mission. I'm not the only kid here you know. She was, however, the only one without a bike. Stupid bike-stealing cult. I wish I had it back.

She looked at Paul in slight confusion. "So you may or may not be going with us." She wasn't sure how to feel about that. This was Paul. This was Creepy Stalker Dude. This was the idiot who lit a fire IN A TUNNEL and nearly killed everyone by lack of oxygen. This was a jerk who didn't really listen to her (she'd be fair and say he was working on that). This was a weapon-hording man who didn't like to answer her questions unless she demanded answers.

But this was also a man who had been taking care of her and keeping her safe. She'd probably get her foot chewed off by Evie before ever admitting it, but she'd grown to like the insufferable geezer. Could he replace her father? HELL to the NO. But could he be some weird overprotective family member?...yeah. Just maybe.

When Ramsden brought out the jacket, she stared at it with skepticism. Is this supposed to be a subtle jab to get better clothes? Eh, who cared. She carefully put it on top of the shredded jacket she was already wearing. My father's jacket stays with me.

"I'm not from these parts, and the last place I stayed wasn't exactly defensible... or comfortable... and Johnston's probably got his goons jizzing all over the place........." The last part was quiet, as if the thought was drifting off to that horrible place horrible thoughts go, after speaking it Maddy gagged a little bit "But I can tell you, the way I came, seemed like mine might have been the newest steps since the dinomons" Her watch lit up it's indiglo green digits and chimed quietly "Well, we better get moving"

((I do plan to switch my formatting to tabbed dialog fairly soon, but right now my posts would look so scarce))

((Whoooo, here we go! Oddly, I think these are the only two places that require postage. Tell me if I've missed you.))

Commander Brighton raised his eyebrow at Ramsden's entrance, exit, and re-entrance, and maintained a bemused face while the man detailed his qualifications, his requirements, and his scyther's actions. Willam was initially shocked as he followed Juno in, still uncomfortable with her decision to go with Paul, but having heard it, become resolved to stay with her and keep the militant dog from doing her wrong. Something about their equivalent ages, or her apparent concern for him, drew him to her, and not in the same way he'd been drawn to women before. Admittedly, she was still more girl than woman, but he'd learned from experience that survivors of the Calamity grew up faster than most.

"Adult-" He cleared his throat, finding it had gotten dry. "Adult and two 'children,'" he sneered, pulling himself up straight. As a side note, unbeknownst to everyone else in the room, he had pocketed a dropped cigarette lighter on his way indoors. "I've got my own bike, too, so she doesn't have to displace your precious bags."

"And who the f*** are you?" Commander Brighton asked as soon as Willam had finished talking.

The boy snarled. "I'm Willam f***ing McFadden and I'm making sure a pack of army dogs doesn't try to chew this chick up and spit her out." He jerked his thumb in Juno's direction, his other hand slipping into his pocket where his pokéballs were, anticipating they'd try to restrain him.

Unsurprisingly, Brighton didn't move. In fact, he chuckled. "Juno, you have men fighting to be your bodyguard. I still don't believe half the hell what Paul is saying, but if you need to get back up to Glenville, we'll get you there. Ramsden, go with her - if she wants you - and take the kid. Grab your ammo from the warehouse, but don't be stupid - we'll send Peregrine after you if you are." He winked jokingly. The Minutemen knew Peregrine. She was the best sniper that had ever graced Riverdale, and not just because of her aim; she had a fearow that flew like an owl at night and struck with the accuracy of laser surgery.

The Commander met Juno's eyes warmly. "Ms. Galledeigh, I have the utmost respect for you and your family, and I trust you to know what you're doing. I'm an old fart, but in my opinion, Paul is the better man for taking the job I've asked him to do, and assuming Ramsden and this McFadden kid don't kill each other, I think between them you will be at least as well protected as with McCulloch. If you need anything, head off with Ramsden to the storehouse." He thought for a moment and considered Willam critically. "Mr. McFadden, you stay here when she goes." The kid glared, but understood his position.

He turned back to Ramsden. "That said, if I call up Glenville and don't hear that Juno is there, alive, and well tomorrow morning, you and I will have a conversation." The black look of warning in the Commander's eyes made it clear that this was one of Brighton's famous "conversations" - the kind that both participants usually did not leave alive. "If I'm understood, you're dismissed; I have business to discuss with Mr. McCulloch."

Once Juno and Ramsden had exited, Brighton turned his attention to Paul, not really concerned with what Willam heard and did not hear. Willam was a rat and a street urchin, but he'd tied himself to Juno like a faithful puppy, and he needed as much truth as possible so he didn't do something stupid. "So you have a priest who thinks someone turned Juno into an X-man and a teleporting psychopath out for this girl, and she seems to trust you at least a little. That about the sum of things?" Assuming Paul would nod his agreement, Brighton rumbled on. "Alright, well I'll keep an eye out for them and let 'em know what you know. If you can give me a description, I'll tell the watch. As for Woodmount... well, you know they're a bunch of damned fools, and I've got scouts tellin' me there're upstarts in Cliffshire who want a war, and Lord Almighty knows that those two've been out for our blood since they started starvin'. Wish I could help 'em out, but imports are scarce and we ain't got exports to speak of, yet. Nebraska says they have plenty of food, but ain't got the gas to transport it; this whole world's a damn mess and you know it." He stopped himself and restarted in a tired, I-don't-need-anybody's-sh**-today tone. "Hmm, seems I've become a ramblin' man. Look, Paul, you and I both know how this s*** gets handled. If you see a resistance leader, kill him or her the f*** dead. We don't have the resources to waste on a goddamn tribal warfare. Take what you need."

---

No one forgets Codenames Red and Blue. Stupid little girl. The Bishop's mien changed almost immediately. "That's interesting, that Beati heard I'd gone AWOL that quickly. And he sent you? I seriously thought you were supposed to die after the mission. So what's the plan? Video tape me to death with your little rodent?" She grinned first, and then laughed out loud. "So then why bring the kids with you at all? Couldn't get out without them? What'll you do when you send them back to Beati and he finds out you're alive? Damn, girl!" She cackled. "I took you for easy to manipulate, but not stupid!"

Meanwhile, the machoke was looking somewhat helplessly at Lorenzo, still trying to communicate with him. A low noise ground out of her throat. She repeated the injecting motion. "Arechhh." She shook her head no, and made the throat-slitting gesture again. "Kirrrhh, yuhhh." Then she gestured toward herself, a "come with me" motion. "Khh-mmmm. Khmmm. Shaffe." It caught Lexi out of the corner of its eye and made the same motion to her.

((Sorry I've left this group with little to do for so long; once again, I'll try to post more often for those people involved in conversations and such.
Also, tonight I'm sending out a PM to each of you commenting on your posting style; this is something I've intended to do for some time, because this RP is not just about being the most badass Pokémon RP on the interblags, but also about improving your writing ability. Yeah, I know some of you just joined, but trends are pretty easy to pick up wink ))