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 Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 8:21 pm
Without thinking much about it, Gale reached out for Eva's hand, his fingers closing around hers. He said nothing at all, and did not hold it tightly, even; and it almost seemed as though he did not realize he was doing it at all. His eyes swept out around the small team, first going to Fini, her face pale, her expression wan, tired. He wondered whether this had been the first time she had encountered anything like this, but if he wanted to know, he said nothing, indicated nothing. Then his eyes went to Molly, pink-cheeked and worn; then to Bix, pale, uncertain. And then, finally, they went to Eva, standing beside him. Eva, who, despite everything that had happened between them, had never once disliked him or avoided him.
Gale remained silent, however, and moved away from her, his fingers squeezing Eva's gently before dropping them as he stepped towards the rest of the group. His other hand was lifted, pressed against the earpiece, brows drawing together. It was difficult to understand what exactly Mark was talking about - but he was not asking any questions.
Odd, thought Gale, pressing his lips together. Very odd.
He turned to the rest of the group, eyes meeting Fini's for a brief moment, his head dipping into the smallest of nods. All it indicated was I'd like to speak to you later, but he said nothing, again, trusting that she would understand what he meant.
"Come on," he said quietly, and waved a hand to the group, beginning the trek back to the portal.
It seemed to take forever. The entire way Gale's mind was never silent, never stopping, his thoughts going a million miles a minute, but always circling back to one thing - the cave.
The coat.
Finally back up in Caelius' office, Gale stood in the doorway with his team. His arm was still bleeding, and the rest of them looked...less than put together, but he remained numb and silent, waiting for Mark and Caelius to speak before he did.
...did he just...
...do I want to know.
The look Gale gave Mark was a highly suspicious one - the first show of any sort of emotion at all within the past twenty or so minutes. He swung his head back a little, avoiding Mark's fist by inches, and accidentally knocked into Fini as he stepped back.
"Gale."
Slowly he pivoted, his eyes falling on the Death Division Leader. There was a small moment in which neither spoke and it was silent - awkwardly so, considering the very deliberately blank expression Caelius was wearing.
"Sir," said Gale, drawing a small breath.
"We arrived at the Sahara Desert at approximately three PM. Unlike the previous times, it was dark and quiet and there seemed to be an excess of Insanity, which caused hallucinations and discrepancies in our readings and in our vision. There seemed to be..."
And on he went for several moments, describing the situation calmly and quietly until he arrived at the part about the cave. For a moment he hesitated, stumbling over his words, his cheeks dusting a light red.
"There...there was a cave behind the creature, it...inside there was..."
Gale struggled with the words, refusing to look around at his friends. He lifted his chin, meeting Caelius' gaze straight on.
"Inside the cave was a coat, sir," he said, and then paused for only a small moment before he said quietly,
"It was Benjamin Summer's coat, sir."
Drawing in a sharp breath, he continued. "I reached out and touched it, and when I did, everything collapsed around us, and the entire illusion shattered. And then we were...back, so to speak."
Gale tucked his hands behind his back, fingering the ring on his left index finger.
"That's all...sir."
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 8:43 pm
Even the presence of the other trainees in the room would not ease the awkward tension, that moment of silence as Mark hitched his breath, covering his mouth as if not to tell spoilers, as Caelius pretty much did not move a single muscle.
Finally a light rustle, the shuffle of papers. In a small, neat folder, now open on the desk, was a folder clearly labeled 'Gale Gentry: Profile Analysis'. The folder was not thick, nor the contents themselves, but the pages showed hints of being slightly perused. The first page, a simple layout with a small black-and-white photo of Gale and information regarding even essentials he would know, his name, a birthdate, a gender, a rank, was flipped over for a second, much heftier in content page. A personality profile. A few words popped out even at this angle. Indecisive. Inexperienced. Uncommitted. Low rationalization abilities.
"You mention," Caelius pressed, voice beginning to border just slightly more annoyed, "That Insanity causes hallucinations and discrepancies in your vision and then you conclude that you indeed saw a deceased Hunter's coat, discrediting your own information as potentially false. I will give you one last chance Gale, I would like to hear an accurate mission summary report from you."
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 8:56 pm
The look Gale gave Caelius was clearly one of astonishment mixed with anger, breaking the calm facade he had been trying to keep. The folder on the desk was his - he could see his name in small, neat print typed across the top, along with some basic statistics regarding his age, weight, gender, birthdate - and then - below -
Uncommitted.
Gale pressed his lips together, fighting the rising fury with every fiber of his being until he felt as though he could control it, exhaling slowly, subtly, as he kept his hands tucked neatly against the small of his back.
"That is an accurate mission summary report," he said stiffly. "sir. My information is not false. There was an excess amount of Insanity in the area. The coat in question was part of the illusion..."
Mark's voice abruptly echoed in his mind.
"And oh, the weapons tab- er, the um, well, great job, I'm sure you did it, hooray, pat on the back."
Gale's eyes cut towards Caelius again, the look in his eyes bordering on mutinous, though he said nothing else, realization sinking into his veins.
Tab.
Tablet.
"Weapons tablet."
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 9:12 pm
Mark may or may not have made a strangled sound that oddly sounded like a very muffled cheer, before he was glared at and quickly returned to looking very interested in the printer.
The folder containing Gale's information was promptly closed. "Congratulations." The Death Division leader replied rather flatly. "You can repeat what Mark told you. I'm sure you will set a fine example for others with your leadership skills in repeating others."
That was it, nothing else, no words of encouragement, even a single word, even something to say that Gale had otherwise failed. As the hesitation prolonged for a second longer, Caelius simply continued his work, as methodical and tedious as always. "You are dismissed trainees, with the exception of Ferdinand."
That was really it. No what-ifs for promotion, not even room for a single question. This was how they would always be as trainees and even then again as Hunters, that they would fight, face their fears, their uncertainties, gain old and new ones alike, continue to fight and fight and fight -
This is what lay ahead for those who fought. OOC - Please make a reaction/ EXIT post from this rp first. - Congratulations Gale you are a FULL FLEDGED HUNTER. Newly promoted Hunters (no longer trainees) as still expected to mingle and perform a lot of trainee-related duties, especially those who have not termed their three years for complete training as of yet. Not to mention mission debriefings never quite stop. - Though Caelius never quite said yes or no, it seems a few days later a coat was snuck into Gale's room, a more ornate coat, with a note attached on it that simply said "Sorry mini-me, this was the shortest coat I could find." It dragged past his ankles, and would take another week to find someone to get it adjusted. EVERYONE ELSE - You get +1 RP point for rping in this rp and +2 points for rping in a GM rp huzzah! Please make an EXIT post from this RP. iloveyouDIE - Simply RP staying after the mission and awaiting further instructions!
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 9:47 pm
The "congratulations" sounded the exact opposite of what it actually was, and Gale resisted the very strong urge to do what he wanted and flip Caelius the bird.
But that would have been immature, despite how very tempting it seemed.
"Thank you...sir," said Gale, biting out the words with as little snipe as he could muster, and to his relief there was only a subtle amount of irritation audible. He could not afford to piss off Caelius, especially not now.
Gale glanced over at Bix, his expression softening a little. He remained silent as he turned around, patted his best mate's arm reassuringly, and motioned for Eva, Fini, and Molly to follow him from the room.
They were done.
And it's over.
It's all over.
[ exit ]
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Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 9:55 pm
The walk back was awkward. Bix kept wanting to say something, to all of them or any of them but everyone's eyes were either glued to the path or their own feet. The debriefing was mostly the usual and despite Gale getting 'Congratulations' they were left with the ever present Caelius-induced feelings of failure and inadequacy.
"...with the exception of Ferdinand."
The albino hunter had pretty much forgotten about that part. The mission, the doubt and things said, were still bouncing around in his mind. He needed to apologize to some of his friends and perhaps have lengthier conversations with the others. He'd punched Gale and .... everything going on with Molly, if not in question before, was definitely up in the air now. Bix had a sinking feeling in his gut and it was hard to be positive after all of that.
Bix nodded to Gale. "Grats man..." a mumble, if that, and his eyes lingered on the girls. Eva, Fini... Molly. His eyes darted guiltily away when they rested on the curly haired hunter and Bix finally stepped forward, waited for them all to leave, and focused on the division leader in front of him... who looked completely bored as usual.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 5:52 am
Thinking too hard was beyond Molly. Thinking too hard was complicated. She just wanted to push everything that had happened to the back of her mind, maybe even pretend like she hadn’t heard those things that had been said… Grin and bear it, right? She shuffled back along with everyone else, keeping her gaze on her boots. Her time in Caelius’ office was no exception really. With that intense bored stare and the stifling awkwardness in the room, Molly just kept her eyes on her boots, shoulders hunched, as if she could pretend she didn’t exist at the moment. She didn’t like how the Death Division lead first discredited Gale’s report…but she did not have the gall to say otherwise. She did look up though, as Gale seemed to be promoted, and she couldn’t help but offer him a small smile, however brief. She’d have to give him a better congratulation later… Molly fretted as they were all dismissed with the exception of Bix, and she was worried. She had to leave without him? Leave him alone with…the Death Division Lead? Orders were orders though…Molly hesitated for a moment, not following Gale out quiet yet. She shuffled over to Bix, resting a hand tentatively on his shoulder and leaned to whisper as subtly as she could. “ Please don’t let him break your hand, okay? Please? It’s not very nice.” She heard about what happened to Jude during his time with Caelius. That was terrible. She looked like she might have wanted to say something else, but abandoned it, and gave his shoulder a timid squeeze before she quickly filed out after everyone else. [EXIT]
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 9:56 am
A solid ten minutes later, as Bix simply stood there, as Mark pretty much did his interpretation of a pee-pee dance, running around like a headless chicken as he tried to gather his papers and documents and more papers before attempting to salute rather smartly without spilling the contents in his arms, as the discarded runic laptop continued to hum in the background with some sort of screensaver that simply repeated random polygonal shapes, the Death Hunter lead finally paused just long enough to pull out another folder.
Ferdinand Wilkins Jr..
It remained closed. The tension escalated. How much of Bix had they written in that folder, and how much more did they still know?
"Ferdinand." Still, the folder remained unopened. "I have in your folder a personal request directed to you, an unfulfilled favour." Caelius finally looked up, expression one that was familiar, of someone who knew they held each and every card, and simply wanted to see others squirm. It was reminiscent even of the deceased Stacey's words that that echoed to the trainees from their last orientation with him: all trainees, even Hunters, owed the facility a favour. They owed their leads continuously.
Bix had no leverage to get what he wanted.
"While in general your excuses and attempts to remain useful are still exceptionally lackluster, I am willing however, to provide an exception." Slowly, meticulously, the folder was peeled open, revealing a single page, paper wedged between several other cleaner ones, crumpled, dark, written with a thick black ink. The Death Hunter lead looked directly at Bix. "Everything you continuously, ungratefully question may or may not be in this folder regarding your extended background, your doubts about your true family, if they may only be called that by blood relations. The question is, what can you provide for me in return?"
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 10:20 am
Did she say broken hands? BROKEN HANDS? Did Caelius break hands? Who had their hands broken?
If Molly had been attempting to help she'd only made the sun hunter's mood shift from uneasy to very worried. He wrung said hands in nervous anticipation for until the long minutes stretched out and the he simply slid them into his pockets.
Of course then Mark did his dance, his last minute gathering and futzing and also fled and Bix was there, in silence, alone with Caelius.
The minutes stretched out and his nose began to itch and he didn't want to sneeze in the silence so he choked it back as his eyes watered. Finally, somewhere in the blurry vision Caelius finally spoke and the trainee swiped at his eyes as best he could while simultaneously battling the tight lump that had formed in his gut.
His eyes glanced to the folder, any attempt to see what he could was useless, but talk of his 'blood relations' set his body on fire. The albino wasn't very subtle about emotions and his nervous eager curiosity, as well as rekindled anger at H, flared brilliantly in the flush that blossomed across his face.
"The question is, what can you provide for me in return?"
Perhaps it was the mission he'd just come back from, or perhaps his own edginess lately but Bix came back with blunt truth, "Probably nothing, sir."
He didn't sound mopey or upset but almost militaristic in retort, like a soldier answering a superior (which was, in essence, what he was). There wasn't much of a pause after his answer. "I've been instructed repeatedly about my uselessness as well as recently being told by Dr. H about my lack of rights to know about my bloodline. I am only a trainee and as a trainee I have no rights to anything. I would not presume to think that I had anything useful to offer you at all." Of course H made it sound a lot fancier than all that. Self-deprecation did seem to come easily accepted to Bix though.
Bix took a deep breath and then released it loudly but his face was set. Whatever fear he had of having his hands broken or being in trouble had seemingly disappeared. "That's not to say that I not am willing to do whatever is needed to prove myself. I want to know... and I'd rather not wait until a promotion. So if you need me to do something or..." Bix shrugged. "I'm willing to do whatever I have to."
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 12:52 pm
Whatever interest, which was a rather generous word when applied to this current situation, that Caelius may have instilled was promptly forfeited as Bix pretty much discredited themselves without the Division Leader even trying.
More awkward silence, heavy and extremely judging. If thin ice was a way to describe the conversation prior, the reaction the Death Hunter was giving Bix was akin to perhaps the trainee treading on tinfoil. Or perhaps a bed of jagged glass: it would be any second now that he would step on a piece a little too sharp.
"You would like to know," Caelius repeated, "But you do not know what you can offer, or rather, you presume you have nothing useful to offer me at all." Once again, a sharp stare. "I do not need someone like you to offer me ******** anything, if you personally do not think you have any ******** skills whatsoever and would like to enjoy a life of waiting for me to need you to do something, get the ******** out of this room."
Treading on a bed of jagged glass seemed like the better option at this point.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 1:22 pm
Bix just turned more red. It reinforced that he would never win. If he lauded his own praises he was clearly wrong and if he self-deprecated he was also wrong. His white brows drew together and he looked slightly more angry.
"I'm not leaving the room." He said definitely. He wouldn't walk away when his folder was right there with answers in it. "I wouldn't like to know, sir. I need to know."
Bix shuffled, knowing once again that nothing he could say would be correct. "I've got plenty of skills sir, weapon abilities, experience fighting. I've taken part in almost every mission presented to us sir while some other hunters were sleeping or reading or whatever the hell else they used as an excuse. I'm sure my file has all of it. I'm sure my mission reports are there. I am fully capable of taking on whatever you need me to do, what any other hunter needs me to do. I've helped out many of my fellow trainees on their own missions. I'm capable, sir." Bix just couldn't fathom why Caelius would ask him. What was the point when they all knew whatever they said would be wrong.He would also probably be told how incapable he was in the following moments. Really, what was the point?
"If I need to earn the information I will do it. I can do it." Bix just frowned. H had pretty much straight out said that 'earning' it was was what he would have to do. "I'll find a way to get it any way I can." Which meant that even if Caelius sent him away, he'd keep trying.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 7:20 pm
Had this been any other day, any other week of the day, Bix most likely would have found all fingers on both his hands, and most likely some other vaguely important bones in his body rather broken, maybe after a few Life Hunter medics peeled his body away from the pavement after falling three floors.
Thankfully, there had been two deciding factors to saving him from a world of agony. The first was something called the new Death Division assistant, see Mark, see: while most likely thousands of times more resourceful than the Sun trainee, also thousands of times more irritating. The second was something that several other Hunters may have picked up, especially those in his division, a general sort of distracted way of events. While loss of focus did not seem to be the correct term here, there was indeed a shift of focus. It seemed inherent in all the division leads recently, evident in their lack of interest in normally scheduled and assigned tasks, the way they did everything slowly, tediously almost, and most of all, a strange sort of reluctance to carry out usual orders. It was nothing said, though the small cues were there, though for someone like the Death lead, very subtle.
It felt like the calm before a storm.
"Very well then." And that was it, no more of the usual yelling, throwing of trainees out of windows, or usual banter that followed. The folder was closed quickly and firmly. "Though I am sure Allan is more than happy to inform you on what... he thinks is appropriate Sun Division behaviour, I would like to believe that his division is capable of other menial tasks short of hitting everything and hoping it dies. I will require information for information." A clipboard was propped on the desk next to Bix, the contents of it simple enough.
Intermediate Trainee Suspension.
"As an intermediate trainee, you will observe your fellow peers, those of your rank and status. State their defects. Elaborate. By now you should know the signs of an irresponsible intermediate trainee. I will deal with each and every one listed accordingly based on the severity of their actions you reported, or lack thereof, though if your observations lead to no result then you will take responsibility for them, by, as you said, having no value to the facility at all. I hope I make myself clear." OOC - Bix must go out and OBSERVE Intermediate trainees/ get to know them/ ask around (he should probably not show them the clipboard he needs to write notes no. Basically he is RATTING out the other intermediate trainees! Each trainee he writes on the clipboard will take punishment in one form or another, the decision entirely up to him and how he interacts with others/ reflects on other's behaviour - There need to be AT LEAST THREE NAMES on the clipboard. After he is done, he can return to this office to submit his report.
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 7:40 pm
Bix took the clipboard. Despite the ambiguity of punishment the title of the clipboard said enough. Suspension.
Whoever he reported was probably going to face something that they would not enjoy in the least. Bix nodded to the Division Lead but accepted the task without question.
"Very clear, sir." Bix knew he had to be honest or at least seem to be. He knew he was capable of being a rat, a tattle, a snitch. He'd could get rather petty when push came to shove but he knew that calling out all the people he disliked would also be obvious.
Perhaps he could manage this on the sly? Perhaps sneaking would be appropriate? If he mentioned to anyone what he was doing then it was sure to get more difficult. There was always the chance that Caelius told them anyway but it was a chance he would have to take. He needed that information.
"Thank you sir." He said flatly. He'd see the other man again when he had a few names.
[EXIT]
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Posted: Tue May 29, 2012 9:00 pm
She really didn't have much to say once they returned. And didn't want to think about it. At least not at the moment. Fini was just thrilled to hear Vashi's (annoying) voice in her mind again. His presence a comforting reminder that she would always - until she died - have him beside her. Even if friends faltered.
But she didn't want to think on that either.
Hell, she just wanted to take a hot shower and forget about all the awful things that had been said between all of them.
Although first, she had to work really hard not to cringe at the mere sight of the Death Hunter lead. He just made her nerves fry themselves out. And the way he just seemed to speak so coldly towards Gale? Yeah, she was ready to scram. Quickly. And be alone for a little while. She'd made as much of an effort as possible to not meet anyone elses eyes. She wasn't sure what her own expression showed right now.
:: ...Vashi? ::
:: I'm here, precious. :: He sounded as tired as she did.
With that comfort, as soon as they were dismissed - except for Bix - Fini fled.
[Exit!]
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Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2012 6:05 pm
[ENTER] Bix paused outside of the office door. He'd had the forethought to leave the cowboy hat back at his dorm. It was going to be bad enough without risking his little trophy. The albino hunter already had clammy hands, and jiggled the clipboard, tapping it with agitation against his leg. He took out his phone and sent two texts. Huni Pi I can't do it bro. No list. Giving it to Caelius blank. I'm not that guy. And a moment later again to his bro. Huni Pi If I don't come back you'll know who to blame. sad AVENGE ME! And finally one more text. Lucyal Sorry to have worried you. Not turning in the list. Gonna get myself in trouble probably. Guess I'm not that guy. Make sure Before avenges me. After a deep breath he knocked on the door.
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