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?

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.

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.

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. ]

[finethanks]

[ The clap to his back gets a flinch of surprise, mostly since he's not used to it, and then he's lifting his drink to his lips with a sideways glance at Gladio. ]

I wonder what I did to be targeted like this? It's strange if anyone hasn't made tea, you know. [ Then, he drinks!!

And immediately has a tiny coughing fit. He's fine, he's not used to this. ]

[finethanks]

[ Stares at his drink... ]

Cheated, like on a test? [ What sort of cheat are we talking here!! ]

[bone_idle]

[ Sans tips his skull and aims a wink at Eichi. ]

If you gotta ask...

[ He extracts a hand from behind his head to crook a phalanx at him, indicating he'd better tip that cup. ]

[finethanks]

[ Bah! He lifts his cup higher. ]

I'm known as "Emperor", so I have to keep up that appearance to my precious fans and peers. [ That's his excuse before he drinks, and then has coughing fit pt 2. ]

[bone_idle]

Uh-huh.

[ The way that Sans continues to watch the self-declared 'Emperor' might just be understated concern for the way he keeps coughing, but, hey. Who knows. Maybe the guy can't hold his liquor. ]

[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."

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. ]

[finethanks]

[ It takes about a minute or so for him to recover, but finally he's letting out a heavy sigh and wiping a tear from the corner of his eye. ]

Ahh... For a moment, I wasn't sure I'd make it. I can rely on you all to take care of me, right~? This is only my second time drinking like this, you know.

[bone_idle]

I dunno. My first time playin' this game with humans.

[ That's probably not too reassuring. But not entirely true, either; he's seen plenty of humans getting turnt up at the rave he, uh, woke up in the middle of?

Man, he needs to check that 'napping in random places' habit before it gets him into trouble. ]

Whaddya think, guys? Is the little emperor in good hands?

[bone_idle]

[ Covering his grin with one hand, Sans audibly yawns (without actually opening his jaw).

And pointedly does not take a drink. Don't be fooled by his drowsiness - he's still keeping a furtive eye on the group for their responses. ]

[leatherdaddy]

[ Gladiolus makes an annoyed tch and shoots a glare at Eichi as he lifts his drink. ]

...Are you kiddin' me? Not even a schoolyard fight?

[eyeforaneye]

[ ... quietly drinks. ]

[bone_idle]

[ He cracks open an eye socket and grins: ]

Mmmmmnope. I don't have the HP for it. Or, I should say--

[ Aaaaand here it comes: ]

I don't have the guts.

[ nailed it ]

[eyeforaneye]

No one needs your commentary.

[eyeforaneye]

Agreed. [ On at least this one thing, anyway, as he takes a sip of his own drink. ]

... this stuff is disgusting.

[eyeforaneye]

I prefer not to comment. [ At least, as he subtly drinks again. ] But one way or another, Eichi, we won't just watch you die, I suppose.

[ This escalated to death so fast. ]

[leatherdaddy]

[ The larger man laughs, a boisterous sound that seems to come from his whole body. He also doesn't drink. ]

It's a good thing I've got a lot of experience dealing with sleeping princes. You sure you don't wanna water that down, your majesty?