murder game #6

[shinsengumi]

Five teams: only two will survive. Destroy the other team's * Flag * while protecting your own to survive.

✣ ELEMENTAL ✣
Drael .s
Fenton
Griffith .s
Hassan .s
Helene
Kristopher
Leonel .s
Odette .s
Reece
Vox
* Yvain *

❖ OTHER 1 ❖
Aeva
Alexiel
Ellias
* Indra *
Jasper
Joss
Luce
Rehn
Shryke
Tristram
Vaughn
Wolf

✶ OTHER 2 ✶
Aubrey
Fila
Gil
Laurence
Mori
Malis
Nessa
* Oberin *
Rhad
Shai
Shanar
Yasu

♡ MENTAL ♡
Cyrel
Hollingworth
Lisette
* Olivia *
Astor
Tir
Qalam-Qir
Roswell
Siegfried
Sohma
Thane
Tsing
Uilliam
Visvaldis
Xian
Zach

⌇ PHYSICAL ⌇
Ashleigh
Brigitte
Cabel
D'Ivann
Kevlahn
Kieran
Kin
Koh
Kol
Larsen
Laurel
* Solus *
Talbot

Comments

[cougar]

That was furthest from my mind, sir. I only thought to make the offense more palatable. But thank you.

[She dips her head to him, enough for respect and withdrawal. There isn't time to be emotional now—she moves to Odette's side, to support her as she marshalls the group.]

[thineownself]

[Alexei's words sound familiar to Rehn, and they cheer him right up. He'll be the one to tell Alexei what he wants to know. He's done it so many times before.]

[daughterofsand]

[Shai goes to the nearest window and tries to get a read on their situation. There are some tall buildings, but not anything tall enough to help her get a real sense of the lay of the land. Oh well...]

Anyone got any bright ideas about this?

[challengeseeker]

Going straight for the throat, huh?

[Ruthless, but effective. She can't fault the plan.]

But what about our Flag? Do we move together, or split up?

[favoured]

[As the conversation continues to evolve, and groups are decided, Leonel makes his way to Helene's side. The last time they spoke he'd wondered whether or not she thought of him as boy or man—he thinks he knows better now.]

Lady Helene. You look well.

[They're such simple words, but they manage to be warm and sincere despite everything.]

I'm sorry that we'd be meeting again under circumstances like these. Even standing right here beside you I find it impossible to imagine.

[cougar]

And you, Leonel. You look very well.

[She'd seen him already, of course, but the idea of approaching him first was... well, daunting. Helene's glad for the chance to speak to him.]

Our meeting again is a privilege I did not think I'd have. I'm very grateful for the opportunity. How unfortunate that the circumstances aren't... kinder.

[contagion]

[Once it's all decided who's going where and it's apparent they're going to part ways for a while, Drael makes his way over to Kris's side and touches his shoulder, gently drawing him away from the others for a quiet word.

Only it isn't a word: it's an embrace, full and strong. Drael holds Kris tightly to him and says nothing.]

[favoured]

[Her words make him smile—a little grateful and a little melancholy, the two emotions he's come to associate with thoughts of her.]

I'm glad that something good could come out of this. There's something I've wanted to tell you. [And he smiles, glad to be able to say this to the one other person who actually cares.] Solus is okay. Well... he's doing better.

I wouldn't have found him without everything you taught me. Thank you.

[cordiality]

[Kris is biting his lip, all prepared for a stern talk about everything he has to do to stay alive and keep the others safe. Instead he finds himself clasped tightly, and Kristopher clings to Drael like a man about to be thrown overboard.]

I don't want you to go.

[He knows he shouldn't say it. He knows he shouldn't put all the weight on Drael's shoulders, but...]

[cougar]

[How she'd love to hug him now, just for a moment. He's different to the boy she bedded, what feels like almost a lifetime ago, but still Leonel, and a part of her will always think fondly of him. Love him, a little.

The words bring comfort to a part of her that's been quiet for a long time. Something, somewhere, eases, and she feels herself breaking into a wide, true smile.]

That's wonderful. Leonel, I'm so glad. I'm glad for both of you. Truly, I couldn't be more proud. You're welcome. You've done so well.

[She extends a hand to him, open and unassuming. At the very least, a handshake?]

[favoured]

[That much he can accept, and gladly. Leonel meets her smile and takes her hand in his own, and for that moment it doesn't even matter what circumstances brought them to sharing this moment. This was important. This deserved to happen.

But there isn't much time. Leonel steps a fraction closer, lifting Helene's hand to clasp it against his chest and looking at her with all the urgency of his words reflected clearly in his eyes.]

Lady Helene. Please, stay behind. Don't place yourself in any more danger than you have to. You're not someone the world should be without.

[contagion]

I know.

[And, truthfully, he doesn't much want to go either. He's pulled in two directions at once, a part of him certain he'd be the best defense that stupid man could have and a part of him confident that his particular skills and knowledge will be more than useful elsewhere. Plus, the way things are shaping up, the scouting party looks to be more than a little law-abiding, and that's never the way to survive bullshit like this so-called game. Plus plus, he needs to find out where the other kids are.

So he takes his moment to hold Kris, and says softly.]

I don't trust anyone else to keep us alive. All of us. Every single one. I need you— [He swallows loudly, discomfitted.] I need you to hold up here, okay? There'll be other people to help too, so you need to... do what you can. I know you can do it.

[cordiality]

Mm.

[That's all he can manage for a moment, nodding as firmly as he's able and blinking rapidly. It's not fair for him to be weak, not now. People already think little enough of him as it is.

Shoring up what strength he has, Kris steps back from Drael—a bare half-step, his fingers still curled against Drael's chest, but far enough away that he feels like he's standing on his own two feet.]

If we could find any metal, I could maybe build a barrier. It might... it might help? But...

[All the materials he need might be in that building right across the street. Or that might not even exist in this horrible unknown place. Can he risk that search...? Kris shakes his head.]

If you see anything, tell me about it, okay? When you come back?

[cougar]

[It's enough. It's a moment, and it's enough. He's very serious, poor thing—but it is a serious matter. She'll not tell him that here or there, she's as safe in one as the other.

She inclines her head, her smile edging just a bit towards the edges.] I will stay, and gladly. My strengths are versatile, and I can definitely keep us safe. Don't spare a thought—focus on working together.

MENTAL

[peerless]

[There's a lot to think about, and most of it is horrifying, so Lisette starts with the thing that feels most important to her. She crosses to Olivia's side and places hands on her upper arms, the promise of an embrace if Olivia desires it.

To be marked a target can be no easy thing. Lisette smiles - she doesn't have much more to offer.]

Are you okay?

[contagion]

It'd help. Yeah, do that. Alright, Kris?

[It's harder than it should be. Drael squeezes Kris's shoulder, refusing to let himself shake. It'd be fine. This will work.

... He pulls Kris to him one more time, tight as could be, before releasing him and turning away, a bit more sharply than he usually would. Drael rolled his shoulder, no longer looking at Kris, and murmured.]

Yeah. I'll tell you, when we get back.

[synchronize]

But that's terrible! We can't do that, Luce, Aeva, we...

[Joss let out a sigh, shoulders slumped. He knew better, really. It was just so sad...]

[raptorial]

I can scout.

[Shryke blinks slowly, looking over at Indra before returning his gaze to Lucinde and Alexiel. He doesn't relish all the others having their eyes on him, but he knows what he's capable of.]

We can find a hiding place and move if we need to. [A beat.] I can try to watch for anyone behaving oddly, too.

[cordiality]

[It's so unfair of Drael to do that to him, to yank him closer when he's already forced himself to pull away—Kris draws in a deep shuddering breath when Drael turns away, and begs against his own fears that this won't be the last time.]

[faeriefire]

[Olivia's pale, a hand over her own heart, but the moment Lisette speaks, she brightens visibly, placing a smile on her face and giving a nod.]

Yes, yes dear, I'm all right. This is, well... certainly something.

[Her hands, gripped together, are shaking.]

[kingofnearmisses]

You gonna be okay scouting alone, though?

[Everyone else seems to have ignored the handsome lunatic yelling about an all-out attack, and Tristram is happy to do the same. He'd much rather have a chance of surviving this, thank you very much.]

[phasedoor]

Well, I think firstly we should find a way to keep him—[He indicates Oberin, who is studying his own knuckles.]—safe. Does anyone have any ideas?

PHYSICAL

[bloodbath]

[The rest of the team may be slightly concerned to see their Flag crouched down and rhythmically punching a heap of rubble, his knuckles growing more bloody and ragged by the second. Should anyone go near enough, it'll become apparent that he's chewing the inside of his cheek as well.]

[heterodox]

Oh, truly spoken, young lady! Completely barbaric, nigh on indefensible from any objective standpoint, but is it not fascinating? I should love to meet the gentleman responsible for bringing us here.

[Hollingworth claps his hands cheerfully. Is he oblivious to the mood, or trying to raise morale? Who even knows with him.]

[fideles]

[Somewhere along the line he's gotten himself a reputation for being an Ideas Guy, but this isn't exactly the kind of situation where you can come up with a plan on the spot. Laurence is muttering to himself without really realising it, looking around the environment and over the group surrounding him as he does.]

I mean, it's not like Cap'n Vis ever prepared us for this...

[But they might not have much time to waste. Laurence raises his eyebrows at their designated Flag—of course—but starts talking.]

We want... we want to keep the Flag some place with a choke point. One entrance and exit. If we can force other teams to come forward one at a time, or all lined up? We can keep him safe.

[Shrug.] But that depends on if we can find a place like that. And whether or not other teams are gonna risk coming looking. I know I wouldn't.