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

[royalwarden]

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.

[beautifuldeath]

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.

[costofpeace]

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

[cougar]

[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?

[costofpeace]

[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.]

[cougar]

[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.]

[costofpeace]

[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.

[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.]

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[royalwarden]

[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.

[contagion]

[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.

[lightfingers]

Hey! I'm not a kid!!

[Fenton shouts protest, like a child.]

[fixations]

[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.]

[cordiality]

[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.

[longtermlove]

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.

[royalwarden]

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.