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 Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:29 pm
Tier was still walking when Iri's air spy communicated with him. He suddenly stopped and turned to look back; Kwubara and Ren weren't moving. Since they were still outside it was still possible for someone to attack right now. Tier wasn't going inside until they went in first.
"RRRRRRRR, WHAT'S TAKING YOUR TIME. THINKING HOW TO MOVE AROUND A TREE?" He shouted to Ren.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:38 pm
At first, Iri's face just turns red. Then, she claps a hand over her mouth. After a moment, it's obvious as to what is happening. Especially when she seems to be choking. But, she's trying not to laugh. She fails miserably, though, and finally cracks up. And then falls backwards. She almost looses her mysterious bottle of alcohol, but a wing shoots out to soften its fall as she lands on her back, still chuckling. Was it really that funny? Maybe not. But, the Fury's been under a lot of stress. And that really helped.
After she's calmed down a bit, Iri sits up on her elbows, grinning in her lopsided way. "You know, there's so much I could say about that right now, but I think I'll leave it alone. For your sake, sweetie. And, for the record, I wouldn't let you get drunk. Not right now, when our situation is a little grim." She scratches the back of her head with her free wing elbow and adds, "And I thought I had a hard time putting a filter on my mouth. Damn, Reeve!"
Jin blinks. He hadn't expected her to get a drink with him. So far, the woman's seemed to be pretty serious. Much more so than his instructor. Then again, he believes this one is much older, too.
Remembering the bottle at his hip, he taps it and offers her a friendly grin. "Alrigh'. But only if ya promise me two t'ings: One, ya will nah go tryin' ta get yerself plastered. Sommat be on yer mind, but that's ne'er a good way ta get rid o' it. Two, try ta talk it out wit' me? What are comrades for, af'er all?"
Jin hopes Lina doesn't feel like he's prying. But, she may see something else behind his words. Though he's young, he's responsible enough not to get trashed every time he's depressed. Loads of young guys do that. And, he's the kind of person that genuinely gives a damn. It would be easier to let her get drunk and forget things for a little while, but he knows it just hurts worse when you have to remember it all over again.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:43 pm
"I.."
He cleared his throat and raised his voice, "I forgot my backpack at the Tsuchi Dojo. Its very important that I get it..! I'll travel underground so it'll be safe.
I'll be back soon!"
The texture of Ren's skin started to mimic the ground's texture and he sunk into the earth.
Kaimen-sama would.. he would have chased them!
Ren would start traveling underground towards the Tsuchi Dojo. Then from there he would continue in the direction from where Ishira went to.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:51 pm
Watching Ren tunnel off, Reeve sighs. He doesn't share in any of Iri's humor, though once upon of time he would have been pleased to make her laugh that hard. "I knew it. Another spy."
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 8:55 pm
Lina looked at Jin then smiled.
"Alright, I'll agree to those terms."
She offered her hand to the dragon. A large smile on her face before her next words.
"But don't you just assume I'm a lightweight."
Her expression returned to a more neutral state.
"Family problems have been coming up, it's also why those two were here trying to start something."
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:08 pm
Iri narrows her eyes, immediately sobering up, and looks in that direction. The air spies catch her up, and she grimaces.
"I don't think he's a spy. That was Kaimen's student. He went on a mission with Jin and Lina. And that was a lame excuse if I've ever heard one. Kid never learn how to lie at least semi-convincingly?"
An air spy suddenly touches the ground and begins to slither along like a snake. It's following Ren. How? It transmits the vibrations coming from the ground, and Iri directs it from there.
Iri looks in Tier's direction. "Oi! I've got a spy after the kid. Do you want to keep tabs on him yourself? I figure we need to discuss a few things, but that can wait. First off, I want to make sure the students are safe."
Jin takes her hand and shakes it, assuming the gesture was meant to make the agreement. What it would have meant in one of his cultures, anyway.
At the mention of family problems, Jin's grin fades to a rueful smile. That brings back memories.
"Ah know fam'ly problems, alrigh'. Human father 'n dragon mother, one mortal 'n no longer young, 'n tha other an eternal bein'."
Jin sighs and scratches the base of an antler. Then, repairing his grin, Jin wraps an arm around Lina's shoulders. "Whilst we can, let's go have a drink. Ah got a feelin' Iri'll be callin' me back soon, so let's hurry! Lead tha way, you be more familiar wit' tha place than Ah!"
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:13 pm
"True enough I suppose, where would you like me to start?"
She led them to the kitchen
((gonna be slow for a bit))
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:15 pm
Tier watched Ren leave but he didn't follow him. He listened to Iri's air spy before replying, "Tier won't babysit that kid. He's still crying about Kaimen's death. Let him do as he pleases until he comes to his own senses. We have more important things to discuss right now.
Keep tabs or don't keep tabs."
He turned and walked towards the Rai Dojo again before entering it finally and waiting in the main room.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:30 pm
Iri rolls her eyes. This one can be difficult. She remembers that now. Yes, she's grateful Tier's still around. Very grateful. But she has a feeling they shall clash, and often. Unless she's very careful about choosing her words.
The Fury closes her eyes and falls onto her back again. "Kaimen was his teacher, Tier. And he's just a kid. I know he needs to toughen up. People die. It's just part of the profession. But we all mourn in our own way. I don't expect you to babysit him. Or go after him. Just try not to take it as a weakness. It's part of being human. Or... Yeah, at least, anything that's close to human."
Then she goes silent for a few moments. What's the most pressing matter? They needs teachers. That's for sure. Iri assumes Tier is still the Mizu Sensei. And she still holds Kaze down. But Tsuchi will need a replacement. Tutsumi is back, but Iri's not sure if he will ever claim the position of a teacher, even in the Taijutsu Dojo that was recently established. Lina says Daizing's gone missing, and Reeve won't claim the position of Rai Sensei, so that position needs to be filled. And, has she ever even seen a Ho Sensei? She's sure there was one, but never saw the person. And she assumes that spot needs to be filled. Then there's the spot of Headmaster...
This is gonna take a while.
"Okay, easiest and probably most important issue right now. Security. I have something in the works. And I'm ready to beef it up. But anyone have suggestions or preferred methods?"
Jin shrugs his shoulders and pulls out a chair for Lina. He won't sit down til she does. Part of the manners his father taught him. No matter how crude the dragon can be, he always treats a lady well. His father might come out of the wood work to pulverize him if he doesn't.
"Ah dunno. How 'bout Ishira. She be tha most recent problem. Yer thoughts?"
Jin takes his bottle of liquor and sets it on the table. Then he makes for the cabinets and begins to search for glasses.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:38 pm
Reeve tucks the ring back in his pocket, and ties a bandage from another around where his chest was exposed. Slowly picking himself up, Reeve heads for the kitchen.
"Two teams, one for harassing the enemy while the other rebuilds and defends. The kids will obviously be on the defensive side. I bet you can guess which team I want. They can't attack us if they are defending themselves," Reeve suggests over his shoulder. "Neko doesn't have that kind of manpower, and the people he does have aren't as experienced. That's why he tests them."
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:42 pm
Tier could hear where the voices were coming from and entered the kitchen. He recognized several faces except for Reeve's. Tier stood next to the entrance of the door and listened to the conversation proceed.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:54 pm
Iri pushes herself up and follows Reeve. While she reattaches the bottle to her waist, her wings beat dust and debris from her clothes. And she thinks. The idea is promising. She likes it. But who goes and who stays? And, there's another problem.
"Eh, do we really have that kind of manpower? No way in hell I'm gonna stay here while people go out and fight. But, the students can't stay here alone. So, I suggest building manpower first. You need time to recuperate, after all. And, I do have a few people I can call on for favors, as far as defensive members."
Jin turns and looks at Tier. So much for fun. Time to get back to business. He walks over to the table and sets a glass down in front of Lina. Then sets his down and nods to Tier. He smiles as Reeve and Iri walk through, always trying to make the situation a little lighter.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 9:54 pm
Lina takes the offered seat after remembering how that was normal.
"Really I don't know. I have a rule, someone gets a second chance from me then that's it. Ishira betrayed me by pretending she still one of us, then letting Neko get something from Reeve's mind through something she brought here and gave him."
She shook her head.
"She came back the same day to launch an attack after some copy or spirit or something said things would be better for us if Ishira joined with her. Mind you all this still in one day... I offered her the chance to surrender after she gave a threat that breaks an offer of healing."
She shook her head
"I just don't know"
She didn't acknowledge tier
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:06 pm
"Fufufu. The ones who have fickle hearts can't be trusted; that's fact. Kansou betrayed us when she fought Kaimen for a prize Bao promised her."
Tier's train of thought went back to what Reeve had suggested. He felt the need to add something equally important to the equation.
"Not only is Nekojiri a threat, but Bao Steel is also still alive. We would be fighting on two fronts. Bao has access to trained Shinobi Soldiers."
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 10:28 pm
"Lina, I was there for all of it...I know a lot happened in a short amount of time, but I think Ishira is redeemable. She did betray...us. But she didn't do that solely for her. He's pulling her strings and I think she can be a different, better person, free of him."
Reeve scratches his head, as he turns toward Tier, nodding.
"Honestly, this is the first I've heard of him. I just assumed Kaimen fell to some sort of Nekodgery. ((That's a pun, ladies and gents!)) But if this Bao has an army at his command, what option do we have besides -though I loathe it- turtling up here and bleeding them white as they come? Oh, by the way, Reeve Rhion ex-Sensei of Rai and former Project Bardiel pilot for Nekojiri. I can sort of read Nekojiri's battle plans, because thanks to Lina, there, I got away, but this Bao Steel...I dunno.."
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