April Catch-All

[leatherdaddy]

who: Gladio and a lot of scrawny dudes YOU
what: Two missions, and a whole lot of bad decisions social interactions
when: April catch-all means... all of April!
where: Various
warnings: Warnings will be in subject lines!




Mission: Brownout (closed to Reaper, Sans, McCree, Gladio)

Mission: How to Train Your... (closed to Gladio, Sans, Gooeygetsu, Eichi, Sasuke, McCree)

I Never (closed to mission-goers; tag in with your I, Never and threadjack away!)
 
Training Sessions (OTA who wants to play out survival, weapons training, etc)

Comments

Mission: Brownout (Reaper, Sans, McCree, Gladio)

[bone_idle]

Sans isn't sure what time it is when he feels the first attempt to wake him, or the second, or the third, when Gladio winds up cuffing at his ribcage through the mound of rumpled blankets. Too early. Turns out big and burly doesn't have time for this nonsense, because he ends up scooped out of bed and carried unceremoniously over the guy's broad shoulder.

Well, that works just fine for him. The skeleton sleeps right on through any of the other preparations that follow -- hell, he doesn't even know if the guy established a kind of base camp along the way, IF he did, or even if it's necessary, for that matter.

Look, after a day full of classroom training on what he's being expected to do, all Sans wanted to do was sleep. For, uh, 12 more hours. Yeah, right on through the rest of this "mission".

The morning is resplendent, with sun streaming through a thickening canopy of young leaves, setting the myriad reflective surfaces of the Abandoned City aglitter as the group of four set out into the more dangerous regions beyond the inner gate. Birds are singing, alien flowers are blooming.

Mornings like these were practically made for walks in the park. Their path, leading towards the compromised southern outer fences, is only haunted by a few weaker predators who shy from the size of their group, preferring to go after much more vulnerable prey. Rest assured that this relatively peaceful march towards the outer fence will not last, for ever since the outer gate began malfunctioning, stronger monsters have become more bold in their daily and unceasing tests of the compromised perimeter.

But why the hell is the mission leader carrying around a limp skeleton? And why's it dressed in a blue hoodie, black track shorts, and fuzzy pink slippers? What's this supposed to be, a mascot?

Anyway, it's a nice day out. Maybe you guys could consider doing a little hunting before this is all over, yeah?

[hellshot]

He isn't a stranger to mission prompts, to gearing up before setting out--and the dreaded night-before parties that most goddamn military units are so fond of having a day before an important mission. He understood them--don't get him wrong. A lot of men enjoyed partying before setting out on what could be their last night to be alive, but in his opinion, heavy drinking before going out on a dangerous trip just solidified a man's likelihood of dying on the battlefield.

And yet, here he is, a dead man who was made to join in on the drinking anyway. Getting ready alongside the skeleton that he swore slept more than a cat, a too-big kingsguard, and what was effectively his estranged son.

He's doing his damndest to ignore McCree and his sour looks (Gladio neglected to tell the guy he'd be going on mission with the Cowboy), and he walks behind the odd pair as Sans is carried along like part of their supplies.

He's already sour, so noone would be surprised when he speaks up about this.

"...You're going to have a damn fine time dealing with shit if we get attacked with that hanging off your back." His tone is low; irritated. They've already ran across a few small troubles, nothing of too much consequences.

"And I'm not fond of carrying deadweight."

[leatherdaddy]

"Aaah? Why are you complaining? You're not even carrying him."

Gladio's boots are heavy with every step, but not from being overburdened. On the contrary, the bag of bones snoozing away on his back is about as light as you'd expect. The terrain itself is hard and footing uneven, and Gladio's long since given up stepping lightly. A little adventure to get his blood pumping and chase away the lingering after effects of last night's 'revelries' (more like 'rivalries', amirite) would be a totally welcome change of pace.

Despite everything, though, Gladio is not in a foul mood. In fact, he seems to have more of a spring in his step the further from civilization they get. This is a man who loves the great outdoors. He looks behind him and jabs a thumb in San's direction.

"...'Sides, do you know how to repair these fences? Our sleepy skeletal buddy here is our ticket to completing the mission."

Speaking of, have a back of the hand against the side of your face -- skull, whatever -- Sans, he's not going to let you keep snoozing because Reaper has a point. "Hey, wake up. Free ride's over."

Mission: How to Train Your... (closed to Gladio, Sans, Suigetsu, Eichi, Sasuke, McCree)

[leatherdaddy]

It's been a long trek past the perimeter, a long day of hoofing it over terrain smooth and then rough and rocky, where lush greens are only found secreted away behind razor sharp rocks and scruffy, thorn-ridden plants, every bit the part of hostile and inhospitable. They'd made camp to refresh themselves for the hunt ahead. The more tell-tale signs Gladio sees on the way the more excited he seems to get. Where he swears he should see the thick, veiny leaves of a head of some type of plant that reminds him of greens, are bitten down to the root. Scratches on the ground where large taloned feet may have searched for more. This is no vacation home, but it's a perfect breeding ground for Chocobo, which have found themselves a haven beneath the shade of mossy rocks and thick patches of briar.

"Oi! Check this out!" His suspicions are confirmed when Gladio happens upon evidence of their goal and holds a small tuft of smoky grey down in victory. "Know what this means?!"

He beams at the party, but then his smile falls. There's another sign too. A big one.

One tree, bearing a mark on one side of bark rubbed off from beaks has been raked into by massive claws. Gladio quietly drops to a knee and prompts the others to do the same, lifting a finger to his mouth.

"...Know what that means?" He whispers, pointing with the fingers that pinch the down between them towards the claw marks.

You know what hunts Chocobo, right? Big, hulking beasts - all muscle and razor sharp claws and teeth. Maybe none of them will recognize it, but whatever it is... truly such a beast is a behemoth to have left such a mark.

[bone_idle]

During the night at camp, whoever landed second watch duty ended up with unexpected company, when the skeleton, looking haggard and all smiles (as usual) emerged from the tent to have a sit. Whether a conversation happened or not is debatable. Maybe it isn't even important; by morning, he's back inside the tent, snoring into the pillow he's made of his hoodie.

Once again, Sans is entirely uncooperative about getting upright and mobile at the early hour that Gladio typically rises. Perhaps straws were drawn and Eichi's luck ran out, because he's the poor guy tasked with carrying the dozing skeleton like a macabre backpack during most of the trek to the hunting site.

Ok, seriously. WHY does Gladio bring this guy? What value, precisely, does Sans add here? With a quiet snort and wiping off a little drool from his mandible, he finally wakes up thanks to... who knows. Maybe the intensity in Gladio's tone? Some bleary blinks at their surroundings, and he gives Eichi's shoulder a tap to let him down.

Not even a 'thank you' for the lift? Rude.

"Whatever it is, sounds like a big deal," rasps the skeleton, who remains standing once he's let down, seeing as he's already so short and doesn't need to crouch. "Buddy, we gotta talk about these field trips. They're a titanic drag," he whispers, reaching over to pluck the tuft of down from Gladio's fingers, eye lights peering down at it in mild interest. "Eh, but I won't let it ruffle my feathers."

[liquidate]

Loudly whispered, "What does it mean?"

Suigetsu's crouching with them, but it's only because he's a sucker for following directions others give him. Fingers in the grass, remaining rather still for a restless guy, he squints in the directions Gladio is trying to motion out — and completely misses the point of the entire exercise. If there's a huge animal out there rustling around and clawing up trees, shouldn't they go find it and pet it?

Y'know like they're all supposed to be doing? (No.)

...

Straightening up at this injustice, unbothered that he's ruining the necessary quite, hand on the curve of a hip.

"I'll tell you what it means, it means I'm bored. Enough of your vagueness and your stupid puns." Suigetsu points to them and singles the two out, before glancing back at the others. "I woke up early for this and it was awful. Let's lure this thing out, already!"

I Never (closed to mission:)

[liquidate]

(post your character's "i never" starter below, which can be as simple as one a line of dialogue or a very weirdly specific scenario — then respond to everyone's answers! i'll put the first up to demonstrate, but feel free to threadjack, they're all sitting around a campfire drinking and making merry!)

I never abused a helpless, unsuspecting animal for my own personal gain.

[liquidate]

(stares directly at sasuke. it's time to duel.)

SPUTTERS

[leatherdaddy]

[ W-well okay, this is quite the 'I never' to start with. Just what is with that icy stare Suigetsu's shooting over to Sasuke? ]

...That's messed up.

[eyeforaneye]

[ ... quietly drinks. ]

Never have I ever made tea. Really.

[leatherdaddy]

[ This one comes with a clap on the back right to Eichi. Maybe don't take more than a small sip, don't want you dropping out of the game early. ]

[bone_idle]

[ Sans rolls his eye lights, but has yet to touch his drink. Grinning -- as skeletons seem to do so effortlessly-- he drones dryly: ]

Should'a known the muscles were just for show. Howzabout something a little more exciting next round, huh?

I never cheated when no one was watching.

[bone_idle]

[ Sans laces his phalanges, tucks them behind his skull, and sinks into the pillow he's made of a bedroll and his own hoodie, propped up against the cooler. He's watching for who drinks with an indolent grin. ]

I never physically attacked anyone.

[finethanks]

[ He absolutely has to clarify with "physically" but he's still smiling like he's the most innocent person in the world. And he's pretty sure everyone here has, which is why he chose it, but he's still pointing his smile at Suigetsu.

Alcohol has already gone straight to his cheeks to flush them pink. ]

Never have I killed another person.

[eyeforaneye]

[ His face remains expressionless as he tells a blatant lie, sharp eyes fixed on those seated nearby solely to ascertain who drinks.

It's hard to learn who's dangerous when you've done a number of incredibly sketchy things yourself. ]

Never have I ever had a sibling.

[finethanks]

[ now that he's buzzed he's getting creative enough to do things where he can learn about others!! ]

Never have I ever gone to bed at a decent hour before a mission.

[hellshot]

Because fucking seriously.

You're almost all wasted and we're running out of nighttime hours.

The skeleton gets out of this one because I doubt bones need to sleep.

[How wrong is he.]

I never was indecent enough to walk around naked.

[finethanks]

[ The game is supposed to be done, he's on the ground, this doesn't really count. ]

At dawn, after the night of REGRETS

[leatherdaddy]

[ Gladio had ventured out as quietly as he could, concerned that the intensity of last night might have left a certain someone in their party alone and slighted. He could have sworn he went out this way, but here?

There's only a lake. ]

...Suigetsu. Where did you go off to.

[ But the sun hasn't quite peaked out from the horizon yet, but judging from the lightness in the sky? It's not too far off. This is the perfect time to run, and as Gladio digs the steel-toed boots into the sandy shore, he misses home. Misses the cold and hot thrill of air piercing into his lungs only to be shot out again, his legs pumping, churning the sand, fighting it for purchase.

Running along this shoreline will be good work for his endurance, so might as well warm up for it. ]

i for one have never lied about being dead

[peacekeeps]

[ guess who's here and has a big cheesy grin and hard liquor probably. also is doing only a mostly OKAY job at disguising how salty he is at SOME PEOPLE HERE ]

I've never intentionally manipulated someone into hurting someone else.

[eyeforaneye]

[ A half-lie, now, but at least it's not as blatant as the last one. ]

Never have I ever eaten from the trash.

[leatherdaddy]

...And I mean trash. Dumpster, garbage can, waste disposal... not someone you don't like.

[ It's sad he needs to clarify that, but DAMN if this wasn't the most grim game he's ever played someone introduce him to CAH ]

[eyeforaneye]

... why would this even occur to you to say? Who cares about learning something like that? [ Alcohol is at least enough of a social lubricant to get him from "quiet" to "unnecessarily judgmental". ]

How would that even work with a person... [ And please don't answer this. ]

Training Montage

[leatherdaddy]

[ OOC NOTE: Put your top levels for training here! ]

[bringbackgold]

Otabek arrived at 0755 that morning. He wanted to be sure that he was early on his first day training. He got up early, stretched, went for a run, and then made his way to the location that Gladio had sent him. He was accustomed to waking up early, at least. He always had to in order to make sure he had plenty of time to train both on and off the ice. He was trying to do what he could here, as well. He was going to have to make sure that he made time to continue doing it, but the training that Gladio was offering was particularly useful here.

So he made a point of prioritizing this for mornings.

He was a little unsure of what to expect, so he was sure to dress comfortably so that if he had to do a lot of movement, he could easily. He hadn't been lying when he said that his skills were basically zero. He had never handled a weapon before, and he didn't really have any survival skills. He knew how to cook, sure, but he was limited to knowing how to really do it over a stove. He had really lived an easy life.

But, he was nothing if not a persistent learner, and he always worked hard. So, it was important for him to let Gladio know he was serious, simply by being there early.