kodachi | murder game #6

murder game #6

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[There are a few people he recognises here—most jarringly, Helene—but they're all united by their purple armbands and the information they just received.

Solus isn't here...]

Do you know each other?

[He's not trying to be leader, but someone has to start this.]

Yeah, some of us do.

[Drael takes note of the purple band on his arm, then points out the participants he knows as he takes stock of them: Fenton, Griffith, Hassan, and Kristopher. That means Fila, Malis, and Shryke are somewhere else. All told, could be worse.

Drael rubs the back of his head, rolling one shoulder.]

So we all okay on how this works?

It seems clear enough. [Oberin has to be protected. It might be too soon to share that information with her new teammates, but it's always the truth.]

The longer we wait, the more time our enemies will have to prepare. Those of us who are combat-ready should head out immediately.

Well if you don't mind very much, I'll be staying right here. If anyone makes an effort to attack me, it'll simply be the last thing they do.

[Yvain lifts his chin, then sits himself down rather primly on then nearest not-quite-destroyed wall. In response to any funny looks thrown his way, he lifts his chin even higher and retorts.]

You think it's good military tactics to send your most valuable person out into the field? Tch, wars were only ever lost that way.

[Hassan doesn't say anything, but he is fuming. Visibly fuming. This was never going to be easy.]

[While the others are looking into the more aggressive side of things, Helene moves alongside the man grinding his teeth. She doesn't reach out to him physically, as she usually might—he's a complete stranger to her, but she still worries.

Under her breath, she asks.] Are you all right?

[Hassan wouldn't usually speak his emotions so easily.]

That man doesn't deserve to be protected.

[He says it lowly, but there's no chance of mistaking who he means.]

[Yvain is a decorated veteran, and Helene doesn't know this man—it's clear he's from the other side. She places a finger beneath her top lip, refraining from voicing an opinion either way on Yvain's value. Instead, she says.]

But his survival ensures our own, and that of those around us. That blonde man implied to know you—surely there are those here you're willing to protect?

[The words catch in her throat as she finishes the sentence, and suddenly Larsen's absence looms like an open wound.]

[She thinks him to be some weak link in their chain. Hassan sighs, and reaches into his coat pocket for a cigarette.]

You have nothing to fear from me. I won't do anything to inhibit your survival—or his.

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.]

[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.

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.

(no subject)

favoured - 2017-01-29 21:48 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

cougar - 2017-01-29 22:01 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

favoured - 2017-01-29 22:08 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

cougar - 2017-01-29 22:22 (UTC) - Expand

[She actually knows this man. He was a war hero, before he disappeared into a strange nomadic life. There have always been strange rumours about him, but nothing outright treasonous.

Now he's speaking to her as though she's a fool. Odette's used to that.]

If you stay with us, it won't be as obvious that they should be targeting you. But if you want to stay behind, we have to at least conceal you. And you shouldn't stay here alone.

[This woman, she's all right. She seems to have some sense about her. Drael nods in her direction.]

Should we figure out what we can all do? I'm not any good from a distance, but I can kill someone damn quick up close.

[The details aren't really necessary. He gives Kristopher the side-eye, resolute but always worried. A second later, he adds.]

The kids should stay here.

Hey! I'm not a kid!!

[Fenton shouts protest, like a child.]

[Griffith scoffs, of course, quite haughty and pleased with himself... until he realises that Drael said kids plural, and he doesn't know who else that could mean apart from himself.]

Oh, come on! You think that piss-sucker's more helpful than I am?

[You're welcome, Kristopher.]

[In such a horrific situation, this isn't exactly the problem Kristopher was expecting. He can't keep from turning pink at being spoken about so crudely in front of so many strangers, but he replies with all the quiet dignity he can manage.]

No one said anything like that.

No need to be rude! We're all friends here. Or allies, at least.

[Reece adds the third line after casting a glance in Hassan's direction—that man still looks pretty angry. This woman who's doing a good job of coming off in charge—he's sure he's seen her before, somehow, once maybe—is the person he directs his next words to, cheerful and deferential.]

We're a pretty good-sized group. We can probably half go look for the others and half move around more defensively. We should mix up ranged and melee, but I can do both in a hurry.

That's fine. We can set a secure base point for him [She jerks her chin at Yvain] and arrange a rendezvous time. One group can scout for enemy Flags, the other can keep the base point secure—if the scout team doesn't return when they're supposed to the base team will have to take over.

[Should she ask them if they agree? Not this time. This situation needs control, not too many opinions.]

I'll lead the scout team.

[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.]

[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...]

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.

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?

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.

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only