Gato Community College. (game thread)

[Evrant-Knight]

"Vampire and Demon relations are a long the lines of 'tolerating each others existence because one doesn't have anything the other really wants.' Past that, who knows, and, I for one don't really care." Stated Seth as Daniel approached him, dismissing his two subordinates with a simple hand gesture, upon closer inspection, Daniel could see that one of them was actually a human.

"Don't you have an odd presence ..." He noted, sensing something a bit off with Daniel. "So, what can I do for you?"

"Well Seth, from what I've been hearing, the area has had a spot of bother with some cultists that have recently sprung up. As luck would have it, I'm here for similar reasons; so I figured, why not offer a helping hand to someone who actually seems to be doing something about it. Plus, given how Sierra is currently looking a little bit on the rough side of things, and that is putting it mildly mind you, you're gonna need all the help you can get."

 

[DarkRawen]

"My brother is quite right, Marie would likely not appreciate it if we just gave you the stone." The young woman said the stopped to think. "Still ... if we aren't allowed to really 'play' with you, I'd rather you be gone sooner rather then later. The stone you seek is hidden near that which originally bound us here, and to find that, you need only follow the cold. By now the stone is likely encased in ice as well, but given who you've got here I doubt it'll be an issue to free."

"And don't both trying to destroy the seal that binds us to this place, it's really only a formality at this point, after all, why leave when Marie provides us so many opportunity to 'play with people'..."

I suppose I do feel slightly better knowing that they're just psychopaths rather than poor trapped children. Even so, what would the purpose of having someone with a need for a place like this train us?

He supposed he could try asking Seth, but so far, the demon had ignored and evaded his questions without hesitating. Besides, Sol had no reason to ask Marie herself, that meant talking to someone he considered quite unpleasant. Even ignoring the fact that she was bossing him around.

"Very well then, thank you for the help," Sol replied, politely, and turned to the others.

"I see... I assume you Mira will have no problem getting it. Lets start looking for a cold spot..."

"Y-yeah..I"m with Tomas..lets get this test done and over with!"

"Normally I bring a small thermometer when hunting ghosts, but I think I left that in my suit-case..." Of course, he did tend to keep the smaller items around too, just in case, so it could be there. He started looking through his pockets. Silver bullets, the post-it-notes, his rosary... from the looks of it, he must have left it in his suit-case.

Yeah, figur--- wait.

Bringing it out, he opened his hand.

Bingo!

"Seems I brought it after all, that's fortunate." A small thermometer lay in his hand. It was a fairly expensive one, capable of detecting change in temperature within seconds. Of course, holding it in one's hand had the tendency of causing an incorrect reading, so he had a small metal-chain attached to it.

"It'll make it easier to find the coldest room," he continued, and started walking to the coldest place he could remember, hoping to skip a couple of steps. Feeling the cold on his cheeks and hands, he looked at the thermometer, only looking up every now and then to make sure he didn't walk into a wall or something.

 

[figment of mind]

"The stone you seek is hidden near that which originally bound us here, and to find that, you need only follow the cold. By now the stone is likely encased in ice as well, but given who you've got here I doubt it'll be an issue to free."

Mirabelle couldn't help but feel near useless after the ghost said that, mostly due to not being able to feel cold temperatures. Still, she did find some amusement in the fact that her greatest asset against the golems was now her greatest roadblock. At least she had others there though that could sense the temperature.

"I see... I assume you Mira will have no problem getting it. Lets start looking for a cold spot..."

...oh dear lord, please let him be talking about just smashing the ice and not actually finding the stone. she thought to herself, trying to figure out how she could do it, though that stopped mattering once Sol brought out a thermometer. She was thankful for that...but why had he brung a thermometer? ...Maybe it was best just not to ask. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, after all.

Once Sol started moving she followed him, walking a little behind him so as to not end up smacking into him when he stopped suddenly.

 

[IFS]

"It'll make it easier to find the coldest room,"

"Lead on then," Juliet said, growing increasingly bored of the test. What did this prove after all, a block of ice could be time consuming but with adequate strength and tools was hardly a serious obstacle. Oh well, they seemed to be near the end of it now, and she could derive some small amusement from how William was hiding behind her.

Turning to Will she smiled and put a comforting hand on his shoulder "Don't worry," she said "we're almost done, everything's going according to plan."

Well a rough sketch of the plan at least, it wasn't as if they could have anticipated ghosts or the new refrigerator problem after all, but they had adapted accordingly.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Reality Marble

As the group followed Sol deeper into the deceptively large building, the unseen eyes of the twins could be felt on the group, along with the occasional creepy whisper and wrong door choice met with a scene of rather unsettling cruelty, even by 'sadistic torturer' standards. Finally though the group came to the coldest place in the building, a small room in the corner of the basement.

The Topaz was on a pedestal in the middle of the room, and was less iced over then one would think given the cold. The room it self however wreaked of blood, and there was a very heavy feeling of danger that just hung in the room, not helping the feeling was the flickering lights and the walls and floor covered in dry blood spatter. The Twins, in their 'child forms' stood in the room, by the pedestal, each with a pleasant smile on their faces.


Court Yard
Seth quirked an eye brow at the offer of aid, due to being here for a related reason. "Oh? Similar reasons you say." Seth thought aloud, intentionally. "Firstly, what can you tell me about these attackers? Weapons, Armor, any Markings of note? I would like to know who attacked one of my charges. I don't take attacks on my people very well after all." Seth said as a Gungnir agent walked up to Seth, handed him a folder, and left. "After that, I'd know who sent you. I get the distinct feeling your working for some one, not unlike our Gungnir here."

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"Oh? Similar reasons you say." Seth said aloud. "Firstly, what can you tell me about these attackers? Weapons, Armor, any Markings of note? I would like to know who attacked one of my charges. I don't take attacks on my people very well after all." He then asked as a uniformed agent, this time with a patch that said Gungir approached them, handed a folder to Seth, and then promptly left. "After that, I'd like to know who sent you. I get the distinct feeling your working for some one, not unlike our Gungnir here."

"Well, the demons that attacked myself and Sierra were heavily armoured for one thing, no didn't distinct markings as far as I could tell. As for the weapons they wielding, whilst they all carried lances initially, one of them was turned into a bow and started taking shots at me; whilst the one that I had marked as the leader attacked Sierra with some kind of bastard sword. Once they had enough, they sprouted wings and flew away. Not sure if that helps much." Daniel said as he recounted as much as he could remember from the attack.

"As for who I'm working for? Well you're right in saying I'm working for someone, however, for reasons I can't specifically say who I work, just that they handled cases of an otherworldly nature."

 

[Athol]

Finding himself at loose ends, Viktor picked his way around campus until he found the room where he was to have met the rest of the ?team?. This should be interesting. Pushing through the door, he stopped for a moment and blinked. Aside from the oddly uniform colour of everything, something just felt off about this place, and it took him a moment or two longer that he?d like to admit, to realize why that was. With no one he recognized in sight, he crossed to room to where the people, he assumed were the instructors, were standing.

?Pocket dimension, that?s a handy little trick.?

 

[DarkRawen]

As Sol walked towards the source of the cold, he paid little attention to his surroundings. However, he could hear the whispers and feel the stares, and when he looked up, another horrible sight met him. Sol had seen enough not to get scared, but it still gave him chills, forcing his senses and mind to stay sharp. There was no room to relax, even if he saw no danger. He wondered how it affected the others, but were too busy keeping an eye on the thermometer to check. As they got closer, more and more blood appeared.

Well, this is unpleasant. Expected, but unpleasant. Hopefully it's all dry enough not to get on my shoes.

"Is it just me," he said, using the scarf to cover the lower part of his face when the smell of dry blood filled the air. It was mostly a mutter, directed at no one in particular. "Or is the only thing this task has done so far to make it clear that Marie is not a nice person? Is it some kind of threat, I wonder? Show up, or I send you to the torture ghosts?" Despite his words, he sounded oddly optimistic, mostly so that no one would take him serious.

I do wonder if they should, though.

Then they arrived at the location of the topaz, a place that felt ominous and dangerous. Next to the pedestal where the topaz lay, the two twins stood, looking like children again. They were smiling pleasantly, but Sol couldn't help but feel like it was a trap. Before they got too close, he stopped, and turned to the others, whispering.

"So, Mira was supposed to pick it up, right? Go ahead, I've got your back if something happens. Those who can do any kind of magic, be prepared as well. They could mean no harm, but I don't know."

He found his post-it notes and located the right spell, a spell that forced ghosts to keep 10 meters away from where they were, more than enough to keep the ghosts confined to a corner, should he need it. He had one that was more... permanent as well, but it was far too expensive to even consider using.

Turning back to the ghosts, he smiled as pleasantly as they did. "I don't doubt you heard that," Sol told them in a diplomatic way. He still held some pity for them, if only because of what they apparently had become. Children or young adults, becoming that twisted had to be done through a terrible process. "So, if you know what's best for you, you behave."

 

[figment of mind]

Following Sol, they eventually seemed to arrive at the coldest area of the building. Once they arrived though, Mira couldn't ignore the fact that the room was covered in blood and gore, almost certainly a bad sign for most. Still, this was a reality created by Marie to train them in and if any of them actually died...well, she would have hell to pay from Seth, if he was as bad as Sierra suggested. Speaking of dying, she hoped Will didn't keel over from a heart attack due to this room.

"So, Mira was supposed to pick it up, right? Go ahead, I've got your back if something happens. Those who can do any kind of magic, be prepared as well. They could mean no harm, but I don't know."

"...Right. I guess uh...guess i will just go an get it." Mira said, feeling as though it shouldn't be that simple...lord knows it hadn't been so far. Still, there was the chance that it was...besides, they wouldn't know either way if she just kept standing there, so she began moving. Once she got to the twins, Mira gave a little nod and said, "Excuse me.", before reaching over and grabbing the topaz, breaking any ice away that she needed to.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Reality Marble - Gym

Duncan gave Viktor a nod as her walked in. "Your to late if you wanted to join the group, they should, by now be at ..." Duncan stopped, and looked at Marie "You did order those little monsters of your to not harm the group right? I'd rather not have to go save them cause you forgot to tell them to leave the group be." Duncan said to a now, annoyed, Marie "Oh please, they know better then to harm any one who isn't 'marked' and since none of them are marked, they'll be fine."

Seth

"Well, I'll find out soon enough who you work for, I pay to many to much to not be able to find out such thing. Though, I have a theory already." Seth said as he sent out a few texts relating to the demons and how they should proceed. After a moment of considering what to do about Daniel. "As for our cultist problem, I'm more interested in why your masters care, if your working for who I think you are, they have no interest in those islands, in fact the current theory is they are only using the Human realm as a base to try and cause a massive disruption in the Demon realm by playing The House Tepes and The Queen against each-other."

Reality Marble - Building

As Mirabelle took hold of the topaz, the twin pulled out party poppers, and with sarcasm thick enough to paint with, congratulated them for finding the stone, right before they where abruptly thrown out of the building and just dropped at the front door. After the group collected them selves the returned to the gym with all haste. The Golems put up a better fight then before but the group still pushed through to the Gym, where the trainers, and now Viktor where waiting.

?????

"Oh Setheros, you've been holding out on me ..." A voice said as they looked down on the now sleeping Sierra, what was left of the knights that had injured her strewn about the room a Doctor and Nurse just standing there, a glassy, distant look in their eyes.

 

[DarkRawen]

When the group had finally returned to the gym, Sol was just... well, just done with the assignment. Very done. The party poppers, the sarcastic congratulations, and getting thrown out of the building.

And these are the instructors?

Sol didn't need instruction, not from the college, so he didn't care that much. However, he pitied the people in his group, if that unpleasant Marie and her likely as unpleasant colleagues was their only source of combat and group training. He had already decided not to speak to the trainers, but then he noticed Viktor. Walking over to the vampire, he spoke.

"Oh, hi Vik, you took long," he started, friendly but clearly not pleased. "Not that you missed much. I'm sure you've been through a lot of training in your life, so, how does this sound for a task; Walk through a woods, getting shot at by some golems, being forced to walk in a group. Sure, our solution for getting through was good enough, having the people not affected by the knock-out paintballs protect the rest, but it would not work in an actual situation like it, because there would be guns." He sighed.

"Then, once inside some godforsaken building, ghosts appear, and, surprise surprise, there's no combat, only talking to creepy ghost twins and then finding the coldest room in the building and taking the topaz. Then..." Sol rubbed his forhead.

"Then the ghosts bring out party poppers, kick us out of the house, and send us back home, so that we can walk in a group again. So, we have way too many people being sent out on a mission where at worst 2 would be needed, where the main task is; Follow the thermometer, and where no one got to show their skills, and where the only team work includes walking together like sheep. Surely I cannot just be going insane, and that's a ridiculous first task, right? We were supposed to show how we worked together, but instead we were running an errand. Oh, and also, apparently that woman," he pointed at Marie. "Keeps mentally unstable ghosts in order to torture people. Real classy."

He huffed, though a creeping smile on his face made it clear that he wasn't angry. Actually, ranting a bit helped, especially when he knew that it was done. Besides, he could leave soon.

"Anyways, that's that, I suppose. As I said, you didn't miss much. What have you been doing during this trainwreck?"

 

[Athol]

Viktor raised an eyebrow at the man?s ?little monsters? comment. Just what the hell kind of training are they doing? The women?s reply didn?t do a whole lot to raise his confidence. Before he could begin to question the presumed trainers about just what was going on, the rest of ?his? team pushed through the door. He was about to ask how the training went when he say the look on Solomon?s face; he was about to ask the hunter how it went when he just began venting.

"Oh, hi Vik, you took long, not that you missed much. I'm sure you've been through a lot of training in your life, so, how does this sound for a task; Walk through a woods, getting shot at by some golems, being forced to walk in a group. Sure, our solution for getting through was good enough, having the people not affected by the knock-out paintballs protect the rest, but it would not work in an actual situation like it, because there would be guns.?

"Then, once inside some godforsaken building, ghosts appear, and, surprise surprise, there's no combat, only talking to creepy ghost twins and then finding the coldest room in the building and taking the topaz. Then...Then the ghosts bring out party poppers, kick us out of the house, and send us back home, so that we can walk in a group again. So, we have way too many people being sent out on a mission where at worst two would be needed, where the main task is; Follow the thermometer, and where no one got to show their skills, and where the only team work includes walking together like sheep. Surely I cannot just be going insane, and that's a ridiculous first task, right? We were supposed to show how we worked together, but instead we were running an errand. Oh, and also, apparently that woman keeps mentally unstable ghosts in order to torture people. Real classy."

"Anyways, that's that, I suppose. As I said, you didn't miss much. What have you been doing during this train wreck?"

?Well I was going to ask you how it went?? Viktor replied, offering a sympathetic smile. He wished he?s been surprised by Sol?s description of the ?training?, but it fit too well with what he?d seen of Gungir?s set up from the get go. A crude, slap-dash and half-assed approach that did nothing effective but waste people?s time; as much as he wished he could blame Seth, it was obvious that these were decisions made farther ?up? the chain?the demon was just having to work with what he could get.

Grimacing, Viktor sighed. ?Sierra got jumped by some sulphur suckers and got clipped pretty good, so I had to go play ?white knight?. Fortunately some Good Samaritan stepped up when she got jumped so they didn?t kill her. She?s with the docs now, but they?re not letting her take visitors yet.? Letting out a frustrated sigh, he took off his eye-patch and rubbed at the scarred ruin of his left eye.

 

[Evrant-Knight]

"Well, I'll find out soon enough who you work for, I pay to many to much to not be able to find out such thing. Though, I have a theory already." Seth said in a vague, possibly threatening manner to Daniel as he sent out a few messages to some people, quiet likely his underlings.

"As for our cultist problem, I'm more interested in why your masters care, if your working for who I think you are, they have no interest in these islands, in fact the current theory is they are only using the Human realm as a base to try and cause a massive disruption in the Demon realm by playing The House Tepes and The Queens against each-other."

"And I take it that these recent occurrences lend credence to this theory of yours then? Well I guess it's only a matter of time till the truth gets found out. Better be prepared for whatever comes our way." Daniel said as he looked around the courtyard. When he had a moment, he'd contact The Order and request information regarding House Tepes and The Queens; knowing about them might shed some light regarding what might set the two off.

"Anyway, enough about that for now. I'm genuinely curious as to the kind of set up you have here Seth. Both in terms of the College itself and this Gungir task-force that I've seen running about since I arrived."

 

[Knife-28]

Even before the ghosts had popped up Jarrah had sorta fallen to the wayside and let the others take charge. After all, Juliet and Sol had experience with ghosts, and with his fur keeping him safe from the cold he was fine with taking a back seat and relaxing. At least, as much as one could in a house filled with psychopathic ghosts.

Like Sol, by the time the group returned to the gym he was more then done with this 'mission' and was glad that Sol decided to say as much to Viktor.

"Anyways, that's that, I suppose. As I said, you didn't miss much. What have you been doing during this train wreck?"

"Sierra got jumped by some sulphur suckers and got clipped pretty good, so I had to go play 'white knight'. Fortunately some Good Samaritan stepped up when she got jumped so they didn't kill her. She's with the docs now, but they're not letting her take visitors yet."

"Seth mentioned that she'd been attacked before we started." Jarrah said as the concerned he'd felt, which had to be push aside to focus on the 'mission', come back in force. "She'll pull through, right?"

'Christ, we're down two members now, with Lenah still injured as well.' He realized suddenly, and that wasn't even counting those like Issac who had left because of the bar attack. Jarrah resisted the urge to give an annoyed sigh of his own, instead choosing just to wait for Viktors answer.

 

[DarkRawen]

"Sierra got jumped by some sulphur suckers and got clipped pretty good, so I had to go play 'white knight'. Fortunately some Good Samaritan stepped up when she got jumped so they didn't kill her. She's with the docs now, but they're not letting her take visitors yet."

Oh. There's a lot of details we didn't get.

He was still more concerned with whether she would make it through than the details themselves. From the sound of it, she would be fine, else he assumed a more dire message would be given. Of course, it was sort of disheartening that it had been decided that it was more important for them to train than to actually be in the field, helping her out.

Someone interrupted the attack, though.

Whoever that was, Sol didn't know what he felt about the situation. On one hand, of course it was good someone had interfered. On the other hand... why did demons try to murder Sierra? Again? And why hadn't there been anyone there to help her? Anyone from Gato, obviously, there had been one person. And then Vik had gone. Why had someone been sent out that late, and why only one person? Why had they still been training, when they should have sent out to retrieve her?

Something is terribly wrong about all of this. And not only the fact that someone is clearly targeting Sierra.

"Seth mentioned that she'd been attacked before we started. She'll pull through, right?"

"I really hope so," Sol said, repeating something he had said before, and sighed. "I suppose we won't know just how she's doing for a while, though. Although..." he picked his phone up, and started writing a message to Lenah, asking her if she had seen or heard anything. An email-icon flashed on his phone as well, but when he clicked it and saw his brother's name appear, he pocketed his phone again. Sometimes he regretted he had even given Sam his email.

"I've sent a message to Lenah, if she knows anything, she'll let me know. For now, I all we can do is wait." With the last statement, he also sent a look towards the trainers. Hopefully, they would be dismissed soon.

 

[figment of mind]

To be honest, she found the party poppers a bit overkill in the sarcasm department but let the ghosts have their fun anyways. After all, they had what they were sent to get, so she saw no point in ruining their fun. Heck, she was just happy that they still weren't tormenting Will, though their sudden throwing out of the group seemed to make it clear that they didn't seem to have any current plans on it.

After they got back, a couple of the group went to talk (or in Sol's case, rant) about things with Viktor, who she guessed had only recently arrived. For a moment, she wondered how the mission would have gone if he hadn't been in a meeting would and had instead been there...though, she admitted that she didn't know enough about him to make a good guess. Of course, she could remedy that easily if she could go over and talk with him as well...but she was the one holding the Topaz and thus the one who had to drop it off.

Letting the others talk, she instead made her way over to Marie and handed over the Topaz, saying, "Here you go, the stone you asked for. Sorry if it still has a little ice on it."

 

[Athol]

"Seth mentioned that she'd been attacked before we started. She'll pull through, right?"

"I really hope so, I suppose we won't know just how she's doing for a while, though. Although... I've sent a message to Lenah, if she knows anything, she'll let me know. For now, I all we can do is wait."

Nodding approvingly to Sol, Viktor looked at Jarrah. ?She should be alright.? He replied, with a bit more confidence than he actually felt. ?Full blooded abyssals are about as tough as they come, so I can imagine even a half-breed would be tough to put down.? Thank God for that, we?d?ve probably lost the district if those assassins had succeeded?which begs the question, why try and take her out in hand-to-hand? There?s almost no way they would?ve escaped unharmed even if they?d been successful?unless the ?trigger men? didn?t know exactly who, or what, their target was? ?[small][/small]? He muttered. Another question he needed to ask Sierra; well with any luck they?d let her have visitors soon.

 

[Outcast107]

Tomas

While Tomas hate to agree with Sol in his little rant, he did bring up a lot of points. Sighing as he dust himself off as he stood up with the rest of the group. He like the whole golem idea, as it was a great way to force team training and watch each other backs. Though the others 'missions' so to speak were barely worth it.

He also wanted to rant to the higher ups, but decide against it. While Sol could hold his own, he didn't know what the trainers would do to the rest of them if they complain about the test. He wouldn't want to get on the bad side of someone who has spirits who tortures others for enjoyment.

William

William was just glad to be finally out of there. He wouldn't have to worry about that ghost in keeping touching him all over the place. It was creepy enough he couldn't see whoever was doing it, but with the cold shivers that happen everytime they did tease him was just pushing too far.

While William listen to Sol's rant, he couldn't help but think that it was a alright idea for the group. To see how well they do in a fight, to solving problems that they might run into that need some thinking outside of the box. Though he guess Sol is better train they are so he would feel different in the approach.

 

[Lunar Templar]

Seth
"And I take it that these recent occurrences lend credence to this theory of yours then? Well I guess it's only a matter of time till the truth gets found out. Better be prepared for whatever comes our way."

'Still not seeing how this is England's problem. Unless there's been similar activity there as well. Will need to look into it.' Seth thought as Daniel spoke

"Anyway, enough about that for now. I'm genuinely curious as to the kind of set up you have here Seth. Both in terms of the College itself and this Gungir task-force that I've seen running about since I arrived."

Seth snickered a bit. This Daniel talks as though he knew more about Seth then he let on. "Well, the firstly, neither the School nor Gungir are mine. The school, has been around a while now, built by humans and 'supernaturals' to improve the lives of both, I mean I'm sure you've run into more then a few 'like us' that have no greater ambition then living quietly and happily, well, this schools goal is to further that aim for those the phrase 'quiet and happy' means a trade of some sort but maybe can't hide what they are well enough to get into a 'human' college." Seth started as a few students walked by.

"As for Gungnir. That is to deal with things the campus security can not. I assume you heard about the terrorist attacks on this and other like institutions? Gungnir was born of the neglect of those who currently hold most the power in supernatural community. You know, the really old ones that cling to tightly to the 'old ways'. it came out that a few of them found out about the attacks and did nothing. Armed with this, The head of Gungnir, Gaius Von Broun started laying the ground work for this. The groups aim is simple, to protect the supernatural community from those that would harm it. That includes normal humans that have ties to it, such as those like Sierra's mother, who knew nothing of 'this side' until she had to rise a half demon child, or maybe have a friend who's a werewolf or be descended from a line of mages who's talents have gone dormant for several generations." Seth continued "After all, can't exactly trust a group like the Iscariot and the like to give people like them the protection they'd need should a group like these terrorist find out about them."

"Being that you seem to be a man in the know Your probably wondering why, I of all demons, am here. Selfish and 'scheming' as I am, right? That's simple. First off all, I was asked to. Specifically as a financial backer for the organization. I'm only handling a squad due to a lack of experienced staff. Secondly, well, even I have my moments of philanthropy." Seth said with a smirk.

Reality Marble - Gym

Marie gave Duncan a 'told ja' look as the group came back, though listening to Sol rant about the mission made her snicker a bit. 'Hunters' she thought as Mirabelle handed her the stone. "It's fine, the Twins shouldn't have even made contact, let alone been sarcastic enough to break out party poppers." Marie snickered "Didn't know the little devils where capable of humor that didn't rely on some one being in mind breaking pain. Good to know really. Anyway, good job coming back with your team intact, as well as adapting to the unintentional involvement of an 3rd party." she said as she tucked the Topaz into her pocket. "For now I say return to your handler, or go see about seeing your wounded squad mate if she's allowed visitors." she said dismissing them.

 

[DarkRawen]

Solomon

"She should be alright. Full blooded abyssals are about as tough as they come, so I can imagine even a half-breed would be tough to put down."

"Good to hear," Sol replied. When he heard Mira talk to the trainers, he got a bit closer, though he had to chuckle when he heard Marie and her final words.

"For now I say return to your handler, or go see about seeing your wounded squad mate if she's allowed visitors."

"Right. No feedback on what needs to be fixed either, of course not. Just... don't expect me to return. At least till we get part elementary school parts. Just be happy I didn't pocket the topaz," Sol said, and turned heel, only to turn back. In almost one swift motion, it looked at best sort of whimsical.

"Oh, also. The two others. Well, actually, I already heard her" he pointed at Laura, "speak and she wasn't very pleasant either, so, just you, I suppose. Duncan. I do apologize if you are a decent guy, kind of hard to tell. I'm normally pleasant, I just don't deal well with people who don't know what they're doing telling me what to do. So, if you're a good guy, don't feel like any of this was directed at you."

With that, he went out, not sure if he wanted to go see Sierra or Seth. He hadn't received a message from Lenah beyond the; "I'll do what I can". Not that he was sure what to think of that one either, knowing Lenah that likely meant something more than lying in her bed and listening for what she could. As a matter of fact, he was sure she was moving about by now, trying to find out exactly where Sierra was.

So, Seth it is, then.

On one hand, it was fairly easy to find Seth. Green hair probably helped a bit. On the other hand, he was busy talking to someone in a grey coat.

Why does this guy look like he walked out of a detective novel?

He supposed trench coats just did that, though. Made Sol happy his was leather. Sure, it looked like he belonged in a Van Helsing movie, but that was at least sort of correct.

Do they need to keep talking, though?

"Hey, Seth," he said, pretending that he hadn't noticed he was in a conversation. "Could you do something about those training sessions? I don't want or need to go, and I figured your handsome smile would make them dismiss me. Oh, I didn't notice you were talking to someone, hello there," he said, smiling pleasantly to the stranger.

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Lenah

Lenah had overheard Seth talk about moving her to a less interesting part of the group. Research, or helping, or something like that. She was not happy about that. Sol, on the other hand, was busy getting to know people -probably a little too well, knowing him- and doing missions that sounded far more fun than lying in a hospital bed, broken ribs. It really wasn't fun, she couldn't drink, or even play music, because they didn't allow her to.

Really, there's nothing to do here.

However, today was different. Something had gotten Sierra, whom she remembered as a half-demon and a girl with large, -badly hidden- breasts. Lenah hadn't been there long enough to get to know most of the others, though she had gotten some visitors. According to Sol, she had been sent to the hospital, and no visitors had been allowed yet, nor had they gotten a lot of details. He had asked Lenah to see if she could hear something. She had known Solomon Thorn enough to get that he expected more than just some hearsay.

Time to find Sierra.

Lenah got up. Then she took a sip from her special water so that she would be able to move without getting too tired.

Now, she's probably just out of the operation room, which means she'll be put... Hm...

She left her room, and started walking slowly, looking for any clues about where Sierra would be taken.