"Crestfallen" wasn't the correct word, wasn't quite strong enough to describe the emotion stabbing like cold daggers into her chest as Nevada ignored her--the emotion that evolved into cold swords next when she stood accused. Just because Aria was branded a traitor didn't automatically make her an enemy. It . . . It wasn't blind faith, it was trust.
< < They are one and the same. > > The Binding had forced Thane to get a recap of everything through her memories, all one-dimensional and passive as he so disliked. And what he had seen thus far had evoked mixed emotions.
So Stormy felt like she stood alone on this matter, and no brisk weather contributed to the chill she was feeling inside.
When Aria turned her back, she took it as a signal to confer with her partner a little more discreetly. Turning a little, Stormy leaned in close and swallowed. "You're right," she said in a softer tone, "that is our mission. But d'you really think we should be antagonizing them when there's people's safety at risk? We haven't gotten any leads since we got here, so I think this is worth investigating." She paused, then touched Nevada's shoulder. "I get it, Nevada, I swear I do. If you want me to explain to Lance when we get back, then I will. I'll come up with something. But unless you have a better idea . . . the longer we take, the worse it'll get."
It was cautious navigation, avoiding Nevada's question, avoiding bringing up alliances, avoiding directly asking her to swallow her prejudices, justified as they were, for just one mission. She didn't say it, but everything in her being said, Please. Just finish the mission, and then they could talk.
Nyxtsuki Moon
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 5:48 pm
Nevada stiffened even more, if that was possible, gritting her teeth and refusing to allow Aria to shake her faith in Lance, in the one she believed to be a better leader. She trusted Lance more then she trusted Aria, and it could be blind faith in a shared pain, or it could be that she connected with Lance the way Stormy connected with Aria.
"I don't lie to Lance..." She let her shoulders sad, "I can't to him." It was said in a small voice, the one person who knew her secret, it was the only person she could trust...And Otto...Even at this moment, Stormy was a wildcard and she felt the pressure of being the only one in the group on her own side.
As Aria turned, her gaze landed on Stormy and she had to resist the urge of doubt in her best friend. "I don't want to trust her. Why is it when we have an attack on the Island, it's because of Aria's little garden? Why is it when we find out, it Halloween, and now we're on a mission and we just happen to run into Aria WITH Halloween 'inspecting' another fear infection?" Nevada hissed, "No you don't get it." She rubbed her face, "Fine...Fine." She whispered more hushedly.
"Aria..." Nevada looked up again, "I don't believe anything till I see it. our mission is to see this end, and we've still yet to find the source...the one who poisoned the water." She looked over at the purple trimmed...thing and the red one..."I can't give a report worthy of a promotion unless I dot my I's and cross my T's. I want to know more."
Aria turned to face them, shrugging. "If you two want to know more then fine. Investigate away." She pointed towards the southeast, adding, "The village in question is over there, if you want to take a closer look at it. I'd be quick about it if I were you. If this is what's happened to the animals..." She trailed off, shaking her head.
The person Aria was with spoke, their words forming a question. Aria nodded. "As for us, we're withdrawing. If there's more hunters as you say, the last thing we need is a manhunt for me when there's more important things at stake. For what it's worth, stay safe. You too, Lina."
Aria's gaze lingered on Stormy before she turned, briskly leading her companion northward. They still had the third figure with them.
The OOC
You can now move to the village or opt to follow Aria.
If you choose to follow Aria, roll 1d20. If you roll under 17 you're noticed; if you roll above you're unseen.
Ol-j-man
Nyxtsuki Moon
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 7:06 pm
So the alternate realm was telling: there and here, Nevada had unshakeable loyalty. Maybe--No. She shook her head internally. It didn't matter that they had opposing views they couldn't seem to reconcile at the moment, it didn't matter that there was an accusation within every word Nevada said to her, that every syllable was a chance that their close bond would finally hit a snag so immovable it would bend everything out of shape--none of that would shake her trust in her best friend. Arguing was only natural, politics and ethics simply the crux of it. Normal people had that.
"That's why I offered," she said quietly, swallowing down guilt. As it had been in the trials, so it was here: Stormy was always too quick to step in and do what she thought was best, even if it was morally ambiguous, if it meant someone else didn't have to.
She said nothing as Nevada addressed Aria, running her thumb along her fingers to get feeling back into them. But that one word--Lina--rooted her to the spot, and the former leader was met with a wide-eyed stare even as Aria turned and left with her companion and their cargo. You too, she thought much too belatedly.
Leaning over, she reached for her weapon (wiping it off at Thane's request) and turned to Nevada once more. They had a heading: she just needed a leader to follow. "You okay?" Stormy had to ask nevertheless, brows tilting with concern.
She didn't look at Stormy, when her name was called. It was like all the signs were there. Stormy wasn't on her side...Or if she was, she was doing what Stormy did best, be a middle man.
"Aria already told us what's at the village, Decay, probably bodies. More poisoned water." Nevada looked at the retreating forms, and the one with red trim. They knew more, and much like she didn't trust Aria, she knew the mist...excuse her, former mist leader was hiding.
"Follow." She said quietly, moving silently behind the mist leader.
Except her following wasn't so quiet and she wasn't even sure why she was bothering to be so...
It hurt not to get even a little acknowledgment for her question. Worse, she underestimated how deeply rooted her friend's distrust of Aria was. But even as her mind screamed at her to stop Nevada, all Stormy could do was nod her head a little.
She followed after, wincing all the way. This wasn't right, this was putting personal feelings ahead of the mission . . . And Nevada wasn't nearly as quiet as they needed to be. She hastened her steps as much as she dared, hoping to reach her and yank her back before they were noticed.
The pair would swiftly find their ex-leader standing in front of them, weapon level and pointed towards them. If her companion's face wasn't masked, it was possible that he would be glaring too. Or wearing a bemused expression, or rolling his eyes at every opportunity. As it was, he stood still with the prone figure of their prisoner slung over his shoulder.
"Don't tell me you two have a bad sense of direction," Aria groaned. "The village is that way and you'll find your damn answers there. Go on. Shoo." The division leader made a shooing motion, waiting until they had turned around and began moving before she too and her companion continued on their way.
The OOC
You can either go to the village or continue to try and follow Aria, at which point pls roll higher than my roll to remain undete-- ARIA ARE YOU EVEN TRYING? Blah. Also thanks to Gaia being a butt you'll find the roll to beat several posts down.
Nyxtsuki Moon
Ol-j-man
Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 5:59 pm
"So, those are your people?"
"Were," Aria corrected. "Not anymore, and likely never again."
Her companion fell silent, thinking. "Perhaps we are more similar than we first thought we were."
Aria drew up short as her companion froze, free hand reaching back as if to ward her off. She raised her weapon as he reached up, pulling the cloth mask free from his face.
He looked human: tanned skin with dark red hair pulled back into a top knot. What set him apart were the large, fluffy animalistic ears that brought to mind a gryphon however he bore no wings or tail. His dark eyes narrowed as he scanned the forest, signalling silently to Aria.
Stormy was going to open her mouth and say they were just fine, except . . . they had made circles in the forest. Whoops. Chagrined, she backed off and hoped Nevada would--
--sigh. Well if they were going to pursue, they needed to be a lot better about it. Controlling her breath, Stormy followed after with far more cautious steps until Nevada gave the signal to stop. Crouching low beside her, she peered through the leaves and did her best to ignore the knot that was slowly forming in her chest. What indeed . . .
Marushii
ladies where were these rolls one turn ago :U
Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 7:47 pm
With one fluid motion the prisoner was shrugged off his shoulders, the companion's knife sliding up and into the ribs of the prisoner. Both of them ignored the body as it dissipated, weapons held up and at the ready.
Nevada looked around, watching the body dissipate and then to where the halloweener and former leader were pointing at.
"Goddamn it. We should've gone to the village..." Nevada hissed as leroy was summoned. "Stay back and play defense." Nevada threw her head at Stormy, before showing her place from the woods for Aria...
"Well...We had a really REALLY bad sense of direction..." Nevada fired at the beast, getting smacked with..hoove things.
"Bullshit!" Aria called back, jumping and rolling to one side as the monstrosity attempted to run her down. She bit back a wince as a stray hoof caught her, adding, "I highly doubt you followed out of the goodness of your heart, either."
"Not the time!" Her companion snapped back, "The point is --"
"Moot!" Aria interrupted, "Just -- screw it. Let's put it out of its misery and no we're not capturing it and no I'm not riding something that's liable to bite my a**!"
Moot frowned, slashing at the beast and lopping off one of its extra twig-like legs as it ran past. "Spoilsport."
The OOC
First set Aria: 6 dmg, Second set Moot w/-8 mod: 7 dmg
She was surprised with herself for not cringing: the memory of slicing that Lifer's throat seemed to had dulled her sensivity on that end. Stormy did, however, still shudder at the sight of what had once been a horse.
But of course now was when Nevada wanted to go to the village, after she had tried to tell her several times it wasn't worth pursuing Aria at the time. Now. Holding back a long-suffering sigh, she nodded at the order and joined the battle. Thane's jewel was still glowing, so she capitalized on what Fear they had gathered prior and, with quick mental conferral, activated it: Nevada would feel, with a quick touch of the blade, something cold creeping over her, much like the feeling of someone walking over her grave. An additional thin layer now sat atop her shield, visually giving her what looked like skeletal armor.
"Go get 'em," she cheered, backing off as the creature garbled a shriek and struck out with several hooves. "Nice to have a name, though, Moot! I'm not really sure there's a place you can sit on it without getting eaten . . ." She'd apaprently forgotten Aria's advice about talking while battling.
HP: 13 Damage: n/a Charge: T2 Barrier activated! Nevada guarded for 10 HP for 1 turn gj Boss HP: 84
