Mission: Fertile Ground

[somnioergosum]

Who: 2B, Daryl Dixon, Jason Todd, and Ronan Lynch
What: A team assembled by force is volunteered or voluntold to go collect soil samples and test them. They’re surrounded by predators. Things, predictably, do not go well.
When: April 17th
Where: Outside of the perimeter, in a fertile land surrounded by wild boar
Warnings: Violence against (and probably death of) animals

Ronan appreciated the chance to explore beyond the perimeter. He did not appreciate that he was doing it under supervision or the class they’d made him take. Soil samples? Jesus. But there was a chance of getting chased by carnivorous creatures of which no one had given him a clear description. That probably meant no one knew. Now that was exciting.

For once, Ronan was waiting at the perimeter early. He did his best not to look like he had been there long. Arms crossed over his shoulder, he examined the huge truck they’d loaned them for this mission.

He rapped on the metal. “Made to take damage,” he commented to himself.

If the others didn’t show up soon, he might just hop in and take off before no one noticed...

Comments

[dirtyredneck]

Daryl was at the perimeter fairly early himself, though he didn't see the point in getting there too early. Enough time to do a quick meet'n'greet of the people he'd been requested to help protect and then go and get on with things was all he was really looking to have. Learning faces and that sort of thing.

He came dressed as he normally did. Dark shirt with the sleeves cut off, dark jeans with patched holes in the knees, work boots, some knives both hidden and not on his waist, and crossbow across his back. He'd been told they didn't expect to encounter anything needing heavier ordinance, maybe some wild animals on the predator side of things that anyone with a hunting background should be able to handle. It was just soil samples after all.

He recognized the truck as the one he'd been told to look for and came around to the driver's side to see if there was anyone inside yet. Spotting the kid, he gave him a quick look over before moving over to lean against the side of the truck to wait for the rest of the team. Wasn't sure the kid was with them, but he figured there wasn't much other reason for him to be hanging around.

After a moment, he pulled out a smoke and lit up.

[howlongiwonder]

[2B arrives on time, neither early nor late. Even if it's just sample collection, she's taking the assignment of a guard seriously and came prepared, two swords of differing sizes secured on her back.

Of course this just means the expedition is now joined by someone wearing a frilly black dress and heels and also carrying heavy melee weapons, which is not an everyday sight. To say the least.

She gives the vehicle they're going to be using a quick glance, then stands next to it, arms folded in wait. Her glance moves towards the rest of the expedition (not that the blindfold makes it easy to notice), followed by a quick nod.

So far there aren't any surprises. Hopefully it will stay that way.]

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl doesn't even try to hide the confusion her appearance causes. She's dressed like she's about to take center stage at a strip club - aside from the weapons of course - heels and all, but standing like she's supposed to be there for the mission. The smoke in his hands gets ignored for a few long moments but eventually makes its way back to his mouth before he squints at her.]

You see okay with that on? Or ya blind?

[howlongiwonder]

Yes, I can see fine.

[Indeed, 2B checks to make sure - no disturbances in the visual feedback on her side.]

Don't worry about it.

[Not a very talkative person, this one.]

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl stares for a moment or more longer before grunting softly and seemingly turning his attention back to the area and waiting on their fourth. He was making sure to keep her at the edge of his vision just in case though.

He wasn't much of a talker with strangers, either.

But he was sorta considerate enough a person, so he held out the cigarette box to her in case she wanted to have one.]

Let's wait for others to join the thread, maybe?

[howlongiwonder]

[2B's gaze moves down to the cigarettes. What's this, something similar to what Daryl just had in his mouth? Must be a human thing.

Either way she doesn't really need it, and if it's important supplies or something, she knows where to find it. So for now she just shakes her head briefly.]

sure :)

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl gave a light shrug and withdrew the offer. Put his own smoke out carefully and stuck the un-smoked half back into the box with the others before tucking it all away. He didn't need to waste them and a quick one here and there was enough for him.]

[batbullets]

[Okay, so he was a few minutes late. In his defense, Jason had been having some trouble figuring out if he needed to wear his Red Hood helmet, or if he was better off leaving it on his bed. Given the weird things that were out beyond what Jason considered Riverview proper, he figured the helmet was a good idea.

So here he was, red helmet on, both of his trusty guns strapped in, possibly looking every bit the crazy person that people suspected him to be back home. Granted, that was until he saw 2B's get-up. At least Daryl and Ronan looked like they were a little more suited to their expedition. Thankfully, no one could see his face, so if he looked judgemental, it was kept private. He nods at both Daryl and 2B in greeting, though, before turning his attention to Ronan, who he's at least a little familiar with.]

What, no bunnies today?

[dirtyredneck]

[The mask was a little on the weird side, though definitely not as weird as the woman as far as chosen methods of dress were concerned. The real difference and thing of note was that this guy seemed to know the kid.

Daryl tilted his chin up in a return greeting before moving toward the door to hop in the driver's side. The door the kid was half-blocking with his body.

He jerked his head toward the other side of the vehicle.]

Grab shotgun if you want.

Now the gang's all here, let's get a tag order

[somnioergosum]

[Great two masked people, one of whom knows him from a fucking petting zoo.]

You going to suffocate in that?

[He quickly turns his attention to Darly as the guy advances on him. Ronan moves to secure himself next to the truck. It's no BMW and probably impossible to race anywhere, but it is heavy machinery and so Ronan wants it.]

Hey, you guys were late.

[Spoken as if he weren't early.

Ronan dangles the key up before jerking it back into his palm. The cruel tilt of his mouth suggests that he's not giving up that easy. Except he tosses the key right at Darly's face. He's sure the guy will catch it. Probably.]

You get shotgun the ride back. Let's get this over with. The blind mice ready?

mind if I go first?

[howlongiwonder]

[2B takes a long, unimpressed look at the two jockeying for the driver's seat. Shouldn't there be a chain of command to designate who's the leader in times like these? Well, whatever.

She heads for the back of the truck, content with taking a seat there - or even just hang off the truck if there's such a need. Doesn't seem to be the case though. But, there's one thing that's been puzzling her.]

Bunnies? What's that about?

[batbullets]

He was in charge of the petting zoo during the festival.

[This said matter-of-factly enough to where it's obvious he isn't making fun of Ronan or putting him down.]

Then again, whatever beasties we come across would probably look at them as bait, so...

[Shrugging, Jason chooses a shotgun and nods his thanks at Daryl. He's more used to his pistols, but every little bit of ammo helps, right? He follows 2B to the back of the truck. The macho posturing isn't really him. He's liable just to shoot someone to get what he wants, but they're a team here, and he's not about to do that.]

Name's Jason, by the way.

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl catches the keys easily enough, though his frown at the kid deepens into a glare. But he also doesn't say anything to indicate he's agreeing to let the kid drive on the way back.

He climbs in and waits for everyone to get seated before he turns the engine over.]

Daryl.

[He says by way of greeting and then tries to set the truck into gear. It's... not very successful as it starts to grind painfully. The truck's a stick shift and Daryl's used to automatics outside of his bikes. The ride will not be a pleasant one if the jerking forward motion of the truck as it tries to accommodate Daryl's attempt to get it moving is any indication.]

[somnioergosum]

[Ronan winces. Not at the reveal of the petting zoo, that's all internal. No, he's got a literal front row seat to watching Daryl struggle with driving. It's like he's teaching Adam to drive all over again only Daryl is too old to be pretty.]

Did no one teach you how to drive stick?

[He knows better than to wrestle for control once they're in the truck, so the snide remark is all he's got for now.]

I'm Ronan. I'll be your shit-handler for the evening.

[howlongiwonder]

2B.

[That should make do for identification. No need for a full designation when time is of the essence, and this mission might be one of such times.

For one reason or another she remains tactfully quiet about the petting zoo thing. The jerky start, on the other hand...]

This ride is rather rough, isn't it.

[She says, otherwise sitting down completely still, seemingly unbothered except for, you know, the comment.]

[batbullets]

Just a precursor to whatever hellish monsters we'll eventually come across, I'm sure.

[Jason leans back and pulls his helmet off, shaking his dark hair loose. He sets the helmet next to him and shrugs.]

Who drives stick anymore anyway? Automatic is better. Voice-controlled is best.

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl shot a quick glare at the kid before putting his eyes back on the road.]

It's movin', ain't it?

[At an absurdly slow and jerking pace, yes, but moving all the same, dammit.

He did spare a second glance behind him at the 'voice controlled comment']

Voice-controlled? Like, you tell it shit to do and it does it?

[A derisive snort escaped him and he shook his head.]

No thanks.

[somnioergosum]

[Ronan kicks the floor of the car. Watching the pace of this truck is going to kill him faster than a drag race ever would. But he can agree with Daryl on one thing.]

Yeah. Sounds like a good way to drive off a cliff. That might be your thing, but I'm passing.

[batbullets]

[Jason shakes his head and sighs. Bat-gadgetry. He sometimes forgets just how privileged he was with those at his disposal.]

Yeah, because people don't drive off cliffs on their own. I realize this is uncomfortably becoming my catchphrase here, but don't knock it til you try it.

are we in tag order right now or just tag in whenever until the fighting starts?

[dirtyredneck]

And if they can't fucking talk for some reason? Or say a word it don't recognize cause you got a weird accent? Had to put up with that stupid shit on those automated phone calls. One of the only good things about the world going to hell was getting rid of that crap.

[There was a long list of good things, actually, and every petty annoyance he'd ever had about sales calls was on it.]

[somnioergosum]

[OOC: We'll stick to tag order but skip 2B until they get to the place or Sunday, since the player is away until Sunday and gave permission to be skipped while they're gone.]

[Ronan looks ahead, urging them to get there faster. But he tilts his head to look back at Jason, wry grin on his face.]

I'll be the instrument of my own destruction.

[He points at Daryl briefly before letting his hand fall to rest on his thigh.]

He gets it.

[He emphasizes his Henrietta drawl there, which is more a mix of Appalachian and the Carolinas than a Virginian accent. It's clear that Siri would have a hell of a time distinguishing the vowels and syllables.]

I'm back

[howlongiwonder]

A finer level of control lets you exercise more precise maneuvers. This could be important if we find danger.

[The woman speaks up and she says some pretty weird things. Especially for someone who mostly relied on issuing voice orders to her pod (the pod is not here though). Or someone who doesn't really know how to drive for that matter.]

But, whatever gets us there.

Re: I'm back

[dirtyredneck]

[Daryl snorted, quietly pleased everyone else seemed to have a sensible head on their shoulder, but didn't say anything further while he focused on getting the vehicle to where it needed to be.

He wasn't much for idle talk anyway. And as long as no one tried to talk down to him about his driving he'd be good.

He'd been given loose directions to the location and assumed everyone else had as well. Part of a small packet of info he'd been handed when he signed up to help out and get his ass out of the city for a day. Didn't seem like the kind of 'mission' that would see much trouble, either. And if it did go well, maybe he could let them all drive back together and take the long way back. Do some hunting.]



[[ooc: My apologies for taking so long, work handed me three all-day split shifts the last three days because of no call-no shows and I had no time until this morning. Will be around this evening if others are!]]

Onward to adventure

[somnioergosum]

[Ronan hated the whole drive there. His feelings don't change when they make it to the location. The trees are all wrong here, not like they are in Virginia or his dreams. Worse, the area to collect samples from looks like a fairy ring to him. It is, objectively, a beautiful expanse of field hemmed in by a forest, the only side not ringed by trees the way they'd come.

If anything had been there, the sound must have scared them away. Ronan sees no sign of anything living, but it sure smells like something calls it home.]

I'll tell you when I'm done.

[He unslings the satchel that contains everything he needs for soil collection. Not waiting for anyone to verify that he won't be gored by something unpleasant, he walks off to find a good spot.]

Re: Onward to adventure

[howlongiwonder]

[2B stayed mostly quiet for the ride. With a focused expression on her face, she was trying to ignore any further rough moments and prepare for a possible attack. An attack that never came.

Now that they're at the destination, she doesn't stray too far from the truck, but that expression of focus is gone - replaced by curiosity. Her hand touches a tree's bark as she looks up at it. She's no stranger to nature and yet...]

Everything is different here.