futurology | VIDEO; UN: HAWKEYE

[Instead of any person, the scene presently on the screen is of a backpack lying in the snow, overflowing with child leashes in a variety of different colors and patterns. The voice that pipes up has about as much warmth as the chill tundra wind and is just loud enough to cut through the continued wailing of infant squidges nearby.]

It appears that some of our superiors question our ability to properly watch over these small creatures.

[Though if the delivery was sent in earnest rather than as a practical joke, she can't say she disagrees with the assessment, at least not with regards to a certain subsection of Team Audentes. (Fortune might favor the bold, but it certainly won't favor anyone lacking basic common sense as far as she's concerned.)

Regardless, she presses on.]

While I should hope that none of you will need one at the moment [judging u if you put a leash on ur infant squidge tbh] some of you may find them necessary at a later point in this mission. There seem to be enough for each recruit to have one.

[Unfortunately.

A brief pause follows, enough time for a resigned sigh.]

With that said, if you are concerned about caring for a living being, I'm sure there are several of us willing to provide advice.

(ooc: i bought a bunch of child leashes as an ac reward as i was completely out of ideas, feel free to handwave your character grabbed one.)

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[ well that's just unfair ]

Where are you? I can bring them over.

Half a klick southwest of the main camp. I can meet up with you once I've finished here if it's easier.

'Finished here?'

Gathering food supplies. [ a beat. ] We don't know what's waiting for us moving forward. We're better off saving our rations for when we need them.

'Unfortunate'?

[It's an echo of his statement but colored by surprise. Not the descriptor she would have expected, from the impression she's painted of him so far. (An overall kind man, and responsible at that if his behavior around his squidge is any indication.) Her own interest in serious dating and marriage is near non-existent, but she can see why others might show an interest in him.

Dryly:]

You don't seem like that bad of a marriage prospect.

[Behind them, Remington and Aki have started up a game of fumbling pattycake.]

Have you found a good place to gather them? There hasn't been much near me.

[Because that is quite the good idea.]

But when a task is needed, it matters not if I enjoy it or not. (She doesn't hate caring for the squidges. It's tiring and confusing at times, but they are children and she plans to be a mother someday anyway. This is good practice.)

[It's really a very cute game of fumbled pattycake. Aki is losing somehow, but that isn't stopping it from trying its (polite) best anyway.

By all means Riza's remark could almost qualify as a compliment. In fact, it's alarmingly close enough that Shizuo actually visibly winces a little. Automatically folding in on himself a bit where he's sitting, he shifts to set aside another freed plushy and takes up a new one, averting his eyes all the while and rather thankful for the shades he's currently wearing all of a sudden.]

--Well, that's a surprise, then. [It's almost a mumble, half to himself. He prods at the fabric ear of the cat-shaped harness he's just picked up, twisting it a little between his fingers.] ...But yeah, 'unfortunate'. I'm not a good person for any of those sorts of things.

[Oh, right...he starts on the leash parts now, belatedly.] Guess that's probably a weird thing to say, but it's true.

Why not?
You seem like the type of pretty and tough girl all the guys would be about... especially if they want a little terminator for a kid.
_{[ look.. he can be really sweet sometimes. Riza is just catching him at a good time. ]}

[She has a point. Even so...]

I hope you're at least allowed more choice in other areas of your life.

Do not think me a martyr, my lady. If it made me truly unhappy, I would not offer.

[She smiles faintly at that, though it does not carry particularly well over the limited audio.]

I'm glad to hear that.

[In the meantime, they are a team. It seems pointless to hold each other at arms length.]

Just Riza is fine. Or Lieutenant Hawkeye, if you really must.

(She knows her limitations, but there is something warm in her voice - gratitude over Riza's concern, perhaps.)

Then just Alayne will suit me. (Lieutenant...) Are you a...soldier? A knight?

(A female knight?)

It's a pleasure to meet you, Alayne.

small>[Or speak to, as this particular case might be.]

And yes, I'm a soldier in my country's military. I have been for many years now.

The pleasure is mine. This is my first time encountering a lady knight. (After all she has endured, she can appreciate such strength; such bravery.)

I take it that you can defend yourself well?

['Lady knight' gets a chuckle out of her, if only because the last thing she'll imagine herself as is a chivalrous knight riding in on a majestic steed.]

I'd like to think so. [She sobers a bit, here.] Though I've found that my weapons aren't as useful as I once thought they were.

Is that due to the change in environment? The...machinery...of ALASTAIR is unlike any from Westeros. I do not even know where to begin.

[A little terminator for a kid......thanks, Gintoki.

The words are surprisingly kind, enough to get another faint smile out of her (though one colored by sadness). Her own future isn't one she's discussed with many people, privacy having long been a core foundation of her personality, but opening up is easier the more months that pass.]

It's a personal choice. There are some wrongs I need to correct first. I suspect that course of doing so will take the rest of my life.

For the most part. I've encountered creatures during my time with ALASTAIR that I never would have imagined could exist, many of which are surprisingly durable.

[Much to her annoyance.]

Do you know much in the way of self-defense?

[The last few missions had not been kind; whatever she can do to mitigate injury or loss of life, she will.]

(She has seen beings that she would rather give a wide, wide berth. Yet they cause her fear; not frustration.)

I...do not. I know I would not last in a battle.

[Ideally they would avoid battle altogether, or at least only send out those qualified to fight, but her limited experience here has taught her otherwise.

She pauses a moment, contemplative, before speaking up again.]

Would you like to learn?

Yes, I would like to very much. (It would give her some peace of mind. She will never be like Arya, but surely she isn't a lost cause.) Would you teach me?

Of course. When there's free time on this mission, or once we're back in Oska, I'd be more than willing to help you learn.

I do not doubt it, but is it worth the risk?

[It's not a particularly surprising answer; he is quite young after all (in her eyes) and more suited towards exploring whatever adventures life still has to offer him rather than settle down already and raise a family.

She watches the squidges play another moment more, surprisingly content for this single point in time. (That feeling, of course, fades quick as it always does)]

Do you think you'll miss them once this mission is done?

[They can't possibly be allowed to keep them when this is all over...]

Page 9 of 11

VIDEO; UN: HAWKEYE

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

:'(

no subject

voice;

no subject

no subject

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

no subject

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

voice;

no subject

no subject