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 Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 9:34 am
At the command, Lark automatically inclined towards the keg, her hand finding a glass of its own volition. Filling it up with a substance that had the same color and consistency as urine (in fact, she wouldn't have been surprised if her boss was actually buying horse piss) Lark replied over her shoulder, "Fraid so. And it would seem they're here to stay. Well, as long as they keep up their guard and wits, I suppose they're here to stay. But, in general, kids don't last all that long."
She allowed the foam to run over before turning off the tap. Some of the vile substance still trickled down, but such was the quality of poor tavern keg. With a final wipe of her apron, she sent the glass sliding across the counter to the man. "As for Jack's beer, I'm cutting him off. I'd rather have him sober when we talk to the leader next."
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:02 pm
"I hope they last long enough to realise their mistake and just leave before they get in too deep." Willhelm picked up his beer and drank it quickly, he figured he should take it like ripping off a bandage, just do it quickly, you'll suffer less. Placing his half empty glass back on the counter he smiled, "All the things I've seen and done, even I wouldn't get between Jack and his beer. Haha anyway, it's gonna take a lot more than one missed beer to sober him up." He took out a pack of cigars and a lighter from his coat pocket and placed them on the bar. He then took off his long coat and draped it over an empty stool beside him, noticing some people stiffen up and whisper at the sight of his pistols slung at his waist. Even in times of war people don't take to kindly to the likes of me.
"So what have you done to expect some hassle from our fearless, yet altogether snivelling, leader?" he asked, taking out a cigar and lighting it. He took a long drag of his cigar and then finished the rest of his beer, taking another drag to kill the taste. "Gonna be some trouble tonight?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:23 pm
Rubbing where she supposed a man might have some stubble to work with, Lark nodded solemnly. Her eyes tracked to where the leader was, but she looked away again quickly when their sight connected. "We can't just disappear... They'd know he was getting rid of us, and that wouldn't sit well with some of the other more sensable members. It has to be done subtlely, provide doubt as to whether or not our deaths were intentional..."
Lark looked to Jack, knowing she'd find no solace there. What's more, she wasn't exactly looking for comfort; it wasn't the thought of dying that left her sickened. It was the thought of leaving a job unfinished that really burned at her.
"Let's get some order going, eh?" shouted one of the members, and an outcry for order (which was, ironically, louder than the previous chaos) rang out amongst the members of the Resistance. Slowly, the noise died down and some semblance of order was restored. The leader had found his way to a table and was standing on it.
"I hereby resume this meeting. Now, where was I..? Oh, yes. Progress reports. As you may or may not know, we have suffered heavy losses of late. As such, we have recruited many young, bright faces to aid in the stabilization of the Resistance. Training will be necessary to provide them with the tools they need to survive and thrive, so I will be assigning some of you as mentors.
Regarding the earlier sentry shift, we will not be producing as much security as before, due to the losses I described. Although, on the flip side..."
Lark tuned out. She didn't really care to hear what he had to say. The only thing that mattered was staying alive long enough now to fulfill her duties: she was meant to infiltrate the Council. It was a calling. She didn't want to be silenced for anti-Resistance propaganda. Sighing, Lark unconsciously topped the man's glass off.
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Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 3:28 pm
Corliss looked at Terrence admiringly. What a great kid he was. Too bad he had to go through this. It just wasn't right.
She sat there, staring at the kid, and waiting for him to return. She smiled. This was what she was fighting for.
Finally some kind of order was returned, and she listened attentively, taking in every word, and smiling when young, bright faces were mentioned.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 1:25 am
Terrence scurries back to his seat, but not before he gives the woman a kiss on her cheek. He kind of felt bad for his own mum, now. He probably wouldn't get to see her that much and he'd bet she was just as worried as Mrs Emily. He sure didn't want to think about his mom crying like that. And he really didn't want her thinking what if his brother and sister wanted to join the Resistance, too. And maybe they would. He did and he'd never have thought that would happen before it did happen.
Terrence sat and immediately reached out to hold Corliss' hand. It made him feel better; he knew Corliss and she was nice to him. He wished he could act that grown up too so nobody would worry about him. It would probably help if he didn't hold her hand so much, but Terrence didn't let go.
He sat up straight and paid good attention, even to the stuff he didn't really understand. If he paid attention and did what he was supposed to, nobody could complain, right? Terrence couldn't just give up and go home, even if people worried about him. There was plenty to worry about when he was stealing to eat, too. At least if he helped the Resistance, maybe no one would have to do that any more. And if he didn't help, well... dad always said bread doesn't bake itself. If you don't want to help, you can't cry cause it's bad.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 6:02 am
('allo everyone.. @anex, glad to see you're back...was wonderin what was going on here...^^; looks like I'm the late comer after all))
So this is what a bar looks like...Micha had simply bled out of the gathering. He was there but thanks to his tendency to fade into the background, his movements were largely ignored by the group as a whole. Not that he particularly noticed or cared; the first rule of invisibility was not to meet anyone's eyes in the first place. His eyes were busy transversing the plane of the bar. He bore through the grime riddled chairs, the tables with years and years of muck and stain, noting the sometimes detailed etchings of knives along the edges and the secret messages from long ago on the walls. His hands soon followed his eyes, touching, lightng upon every surface he could reach, pupils dilating enough to take the whole place in, imprinting his environment upon the surface of his very skin until without even needing to look, he could point out every access point into the establishment.
His eyes picked up the vantage positions- one up by the loft to his right, the other in the dark corner by the bar- the best places for a long range assassination. Maybe a poisoned dart or some other suitable projectile. No guns of course, in a place like this guns would always be messy. He noticed the creaking floor panel by the round tables and the slightly open window high above one of the dusty lamps. Without glancing up Micha could pick out the best places to take down a running target- his hands found a tiny notch in the wall and he peered closer to investigate. All around him the meeting went on and on, voices rising and falling, laden with so many different emotions. He could almost feel every quaver- it was like standing in the current of the wind- his eyes calmly continued to creep around in a full circle until it returned to the bar.
"I hereby resume this meeting. Now, where was I..? Oh, yes. Progress reports. As you may or may not know, we have suffered heavy losses of late. As such, we have recruited many young, bright faces to aid in the stabilization of the Resistance. Training will be necessary to provide them with the tools they need to survive and thrive, so I will be assigning some of you as mentors.
Regarding the earlier sentry shift, we will not be producing as much security as before, due to the losses I described. Although, on the flip side..."
Micha supposed this was the person in charge of his meeting. It mattered not- his only ties to the resistance came through the chain of command and on the chain of command his closest link to the bureaucracy was his recruiter. No one else mattered.
One hand slipped into a pocket and the other wrapped its way around his spine, a drag falling into his left leg as he slowly made his way toward it. He half sat on a stool, back lightly touching the wall, and pressed his right hand flat against the bar. Is it hollow?
"I'd like a..." His eyes strayed to the least empty glass closest to him and head inclined soon after, "....Whatever he's having." His eyes moved up to the tender and in the half second, absorbed as much as they could before flitting right back down to the flat surface of the bar.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:52 pm
Shannon was sprawled languidly against a wall, to all appearances unaware of the feet kicking dangerously close to her head, her deeply shadowed eyes half-closed, disinterested but alert, like lounging cat. A rare smile played at the corners of her mouth, but it was completely without humor. Her too-thin arms were folded nonchalantly over her stomach. One would have almost thought, judging from her posture alone, that she was an Egyptian princess, reclining on silk pillows instead of a filthy floor, and wearing robes fit for royalty instead of colorless rags that barely counted as clothing at all.
Her eyes flicked sharply from one person to the next, taking in details with skill born of long, hard practice, though no real interest showed behind them. She was doing this on automatic, not out of any concern over spies or anomalies. Her gaze lingered for a few seconds longer than normal on a boy with blonde cornrows and even features; he was taking stock of the room, as well, though he seemed to be more interested in the layout. The ironic smile widened. Who would have guessed it; someone else who had some clue as to what they were doing.
Shannon herself, however, already knew the layout, having had the severe misfortune to enter the bar on several previous occasions. It was the familiar ache in her stomach and weakness in her limbs that was taking up all her attention, now. She didn’t feel the hunger, not anymore. That was a survival mechanism, she knew, one to make sure she was able to continue functioning. All she felt now was the dull hurt, and the weakness; that was the worst bit, the weakness. She felt, knew in some deep place of absolute understanding, that she was fading, and would be completely useless in a very short time. And screw the resistance, useless meant helpless. If she couldn’t take care of herself…
“…have recruited many young, bright faces to aid in the stabilization of the Resistance. Training will be necessary to provide them with the tools they need to survive and thrive, so I will be assigning some of you as mentors. Regarding the earlier sentry shift, we will not be producing as much security as before, due to the losses I described. Although, on the flip side less security may make it easier to keep our operations covert, so-”
Still born on the tide of intense but direction-less anger, Shannon snorted. “Oh, right, things’ll definitely start going our way now that we’ve got fewer sentries,” she said loudly, “Why didn’t we think of that before! That’s been the missing angle all along, the reason we’ve been losing; we’ve had too many defenses!” She smiled, the expression falsely bright in her gaunt face. “But now that we’ve fixed that, and have the added bonus of bright faces and mentors, the battle’s as good as won! Good work, everybody.”
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Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:21 pm
Several snappy replies came to Lark at once, but she remained silent, staring at the man hollowly. For no reason in particular, she hated his guts. Hated them enough to stick him with a knife and carve him like a turkey (It would be a pain to do that, since she had never carved a turkey in her lifetime). And what would the penalty be for doing so? Death? Laughable, that notion. Then what was stopping her? That nagging little thing called sensibility, of course. The poor fellow, some random Resistance member, was someone she hadn't even met before. There was nothing he could have possibly done to incur such irrational anger. So, she simply grunted and did as he wished, sliding another glass of the vile substance his way.
"...which leads to a point that I was specifically asked to address by our head of command." The room drew into silence, eyes anxiously tracking over to the leader. Word from higher-ups? No one knew the higher higher-ups. They were always words to no face, and Resistance members rightfully doubted their existence. Regardless, it was an actual message from these mysterious entities.
"They have an agent who has seen the stranger. They exchanged a few words after a brief introduction and this is what the stranger had to say to you." Pulling a thrice folded leaf of paper from one of his numerous pockets, the leader unfolded it and began dramatically, "The people call out, Help us in this hour! They are helpless and remain helpless. They have no will to act, except if it is to cry like children for some harbinger of hope. But you, the Resistance, are different. You defy the Council with not just words but actions. You are the body I need to undermine your government. Yes, the crude murmurings of the people have verity in them. If you can free me, I will deliver you to the land you have always sought; it is a promise."
Lark found it hard to restrain from snorting. All she had was this leader's word, which went about as far as she could chuck him. But she willed it to be the truth. What person wouldn't want an icon of hope... a savior? She glared at the leader when he flicked his eyes to her and Jack. Instead of scowling, though, he smirked. The first would have been preferrable. The latter sent a shudder down her spine.
"That is all the announcements for tonight. I will be making my rounds, giving you each your assignments. Please make yourself accessibly alone at this point. Except for you four," the leader said, pointing at Jack, Lark, Terrence, and Corliss in turn. "Come here."
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Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:42 pm
Micha sniffed at the drink presented him and took an experimental sip. It was...he cast about for the right words to describe at and failed, resorting only to shoving it down his throat as quickly as possible before it triggered an upheaval from his guts. The drink traveled like molten fire through his throat and he blinked back a reactionary droplet of tears, eyes flicking up when he felt another pair on his person. The bartender looked at him with a fixed expression and he looked back just as blankly. There was something in the other man's eyes, it flickered for a moment and then disappeared as his eyes jerked back toward the commotion behind.
Micha didn't bother to look around, his attention taken more by the color and consistency of bar drink than the conversation that ultimately would have little bearing to him as a person. His little finger dipped into the glass and he raised it up to the light for better focus...perhaps it was a flammable substance. That would account for the sharp burning in his stomach...
"That is all the announcements for tonight. I will be making my rounds, giving you each your assignments. Please make yourself accessibly alone at this point. Except for you four. Come here."
In spite of himself, Micha's brown eye flicked over to the person who gave the command and then to those the order was given. He put his glass back down and got to his feet, making slow and deliberate steps as he walked around the room and toward the door. Bar drink wasn't what he expected and the room was stuffy with too many unsaid words...perhaps he could get something to eat in the street market.
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Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 11:48 am
Jack wasn't exactly happy about Hunter cutting him off from drinking, but for once he didn't say anything. His eyes went to the man beside him, Willhelm, and shrugged his shoulders, giving him a slight smirk for the comment about his lack of sobriety. Jack looked back to Hunter when he felt the man's eyes on him. He thought he knew what the other was thinking and couldn't help but agree.
In the back of his foggy mind somewhere, Jack registered that the leader had taken the attention back to himself and resumed order, continuing with his little speech with no little amount of satisfaction. But Jack's attention wouldn't be stolen. not until the words "head of command" silenced the room. He turned in his chair, actually focusing on what was being said to him.
Jack didn't know whether he should dance in joy or laugh in everyone's face. The words he was hearing didn't seem real. The stranger had actually given them a message, a flicker of hope in such a very bleak time? He struggled to believe the words, desperate for that hope.
He began to smile at the news, actually smile. But the look their leader gave them- that damn smirk- crushed down whatever feeling other then hate that Jack might of brought to the surface.
"Except for you four. Come here." Jack was already standing, his eyes shadowed as he turned to Hunter. "I don't feel good about this at all," he said icily, even though he knew the statement was obvious and not needed. He squared his shoulders and stood up straight, suddenly thankful for missing that one last beer. "Well, come on kid. It wont do any good to keep that slimy wolf waiting." Jack strode forward, cutting through the crowd as the people hurried to scurry out of the way of his bulk and hateful stare.
He stopped a few feet in front of the leader. His hands clenched into fists when he saw the children out of the corner of his eye. "Sir," he said with a slight nod, hardly containing his disgust.
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Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 1:13 pm
Terrence did smile at the words from the Stranger. He trusted without need of evidence, he believed the words as they dropped from the leader's mouth. He needed to believe them. Because if the Stranger's message were a fabrication, a thought that never even entered the boy's mind, then the hope it gave was a lie. A soul crushing lie, the sort that was too unbearable for a clear heart like Terrence had to even consider.
Terrence continued to smile until the leader pointed at him. Immediately he began to feel nervous. Had they done something wrong? The two people that didn't want him to be here were called up, too. And Corliss; did he get her in trouble because he was staying by her? He hoped not. Corliss was his friend and you didn't get your friends in trouble.
Well, he couldn't get out of trouble by sitting there and hoping to be forgotten. He lets go of Corliss' hand and smiles at her, though unbeknown to him his slight panic is noticeable. "I hope they're not gonna mentor me. They don't like me much, huh? But I'll show 'em." He slips out of his chair and darts forward, then slows to a walk. Adults didn't run all the time. He could be an adult, too.
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Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 7:44 pm
Corliss jerked her head up from where it had been drooping dangerously close to the table top. A message from the Stranger? This man, with little but rumors by way of information about him, seemed very distant to her. She wasn't so naive as to take all those rumors without a grain of salt. But if this message could be trusted, then the Stranger was more than just an idol to follow and hope for.
She didn't have much time to ponder this further, however, when the leader pointed to her and told her to approach him.
She blinked. Now Corliss was fully awake. Her?
She wasn't sure whether to feel nervous, as if he was going to berate her for falling asleep, or excited, as if he was going to give her some special assignment along with two people who were clearly veterans in the Resistance.
The pride and excitement eventually won over, and Corliss bounced to the leader with a cocky air, beaming at Terrence. Terrence had been chosen, too! Pride for the boy quickly choked out the vanity she had felt, and she could barely stand still while she waited for the reason why they had been singled out.
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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:18 pm
((Sorry for the absence. Been really busy. As a matter of a fact, still busy so this post is going to be short. Just wanted to let you guys know that you can control the leader dude if it will help progress the plot. I don't want to hold everything up. My character will just go with the flow until I have more time. Again, my apologies))
It came as a surprise to be singled out. She had expected something... more subtle. He had practically just pointed at her and said, "Okay, you're next. Step outside and don't keep the executioner waiting." He was more intelligent than that. It must be something else. Some other reason. But... what? Standing up straight, Lark hesitantly followed in Jack's wake, Resistance members turning away and shaking their heads. What a waste.
The leader had snaked through the room, confronting the quartette person by person until she, Jack, Terrence, and Corliss had all ambled over to him. More accuarately, it had been Lark who ambled. Jack, Terrence, and Corliss had each propelled themselves with some sort of fueling emotion, be it hate or earnest excitement. Glancing at them all evenly, even the abnormally intimidating Jack, the leader smiled. Not the filthy smirk that he had given Lark and Jack, either. It was a pleasant, business-like smile that was reserved for making good first impressions and delivering horrible news. Either way, it was certain that the two veterans weren't going to be pleased with his expression.
"I'm sorry to have called you four out like that. I realize it may have been embarrassing, and for that I must reprimand myself. However, the matter I am now bringing before you is not something that should be discreet. Most certainly not. It would like for the whole congregation to get wind of the fact that you two are now mentoring these bright, young hopefuls. They have so much untapped potential and it is essential that they are guided with firm, steady, loyal hands. I believe it would serve to lift the spirits of the whole Resistance to have some youthful faces around here. To stay. I believe you two are up to the task, so there shouldn't be any questions on your part." He gave Jack and Lark a warm grin, which translated into fowl play. "And if the two new-comers have any questions, I'm sure their mentors can answer them easily. Isn't that right?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 5:39 pm
Corliss scrunched up her eyebrows curiously, and as soon as she'd found a gap in the leader's speech, she spoke.
"Hey, what's with this?" she said indignantly, a little louder than maybe was necessary. "Why do I need a mentor? I'm not like...some little kid or something! I know what I'm doing, I've prepared and everything, and I'm sure there can't be too much complicated about a bunch of people trying to rescue some dude!"
She had been excited about the lightening of authority she had anticipated by joining the Resistance. But a direct mentor...that didn't sound good. What if they tried to dicate her every move or something?
((Not too sure about this post but kinda in a hurry so sorry lol))
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Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 7:01 pm
Terrence didn't say anything. After all, he knew full well he'd be getting a mentor. He'd just hoped it wouldn't be people that already didn't like him. He lifted a foot to scratch at the opposite leg and peers at Jack and Lark with some trepidation. It wasn't going to be easy changing their minds, not at all! Miss Emily would be a lot better. If he was nice and good and didn't get hurt, he'd bet she wouldn't cry any more.
But he couldn't really just complain about it like Corliss was. He was a kid; any time he complained, it was throwing a tantrum and he got ignored. Well, he wouldn't shout or cross his arms or glare or anything. And he wasn't all that scared of them, he thought, straightening up some and forcing a smile up at Lark. He was going to be the really hard one, Terrence figured. Jack was mean, but acted like he didn't really care beyond having something to be mean about. Lark didn't get as loud mad, but he sure seemed to really have an itch up his butt about a kid in the Resistance. Lark kind of reminded him of mum, too, be he'd keep that thought to himself.
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