#technetronictactician

JADESPRITE: -She drifts -- or rather nyooms down toward the lakehouse encampment, green glowy gooing her way through one of the walls and looking around for just about anyone that's in sight.-

DIRK: -HE'S HERE. just sitting around the living area with his leg bouncing restlessly. he glances in jadesprite's direction when she oozes in.-

JADESPRITE: dirk!!

JADESPRITE: everyone

JADESPRITE: we need to go

DIRK: -OH GOOD. AN EXCUSE TO STAND UP. he does that.-

DIRK: What's up?

JADESPRITE: somethings happening at the hq

JADESPRITE: terezis there

JADESPRITE: i think this might be our chance

JOHN: -stands up- 👀

ROSE: -She's fiddling with her needles. The creepy ivory quills she got from deep down on LOMAT. She's going to be using them pretty soon, it seems, might as well be ready.-

ROSE: You mean already?

JADESPRITE: -she nods- we should head there now

JADESPRITE: im sure shes going to need our help

JOHN: -isn't terezi supposed to be dead??? but now is no time for questions he has BEEN ready for action.-

JADESPRITE: where is everyone else? we should get everyone

URSAIS: -SHE'S HERE TOO. Bear rumble.- should i rally th' troops? they're on standby.

ROSE: Some injured, but I suppose most of us are... around the area.

ROSE: Do you have a large bell we could ring to summon them? Communicators would probably tip them off.

JOHN: i have an airhorn.

JOHN: :D

DISCIPLE: -her eyes peek from atop a shelf-

JOHN: -he really wants to use the airhorn.-

DIRK: Use the airhorn.

JOHN: yesssssssss.

JOHN: -....-

JOHN: -dramatic pause-

JOHN: -HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK.-

DISCIPLE: -YOWLS!!!-

DIRK: -🙏-

JOEY: 8D

JOEY: should we come up with a battle cry?

MITUNA: WH47 7H3 FUCK

LATULA: -well shit an airhorn wakes her up-

MEULIN: -YOWLS FROM SOMEWHERE-

LATULA: SH1T DUD3.

LIFERA: -FUCKING POWER LEAPS DOWNSTAIRS- W)(AT'S )(APP-ENING??

JOHN: (ehehehehhehhehehe.)

JOHN: put up your dukes! it's time to fight!

LIFERA: GLUB???

PENNY: -GROGGY AS SHIT. Walks in.- ugh????

ULFURA: -She's currently outside, just feeding and petting this GIANT ASS DRAGONFLY. Her precious...-

HEITOR: -probably fiddling with the electricity or something-

URSAIS: -texts her and everyone.-

ULFURA: !!

URSAIS: -i really need to think of a cool name for this little abnd of rebels but for now you're just URSAIS'S CREW.-

ULFURA: -SHE IS OKAY WITH THAT NAME!!!-

ULFURA: -At this message, she runs to the lakehouse door and all but KICKS it open.-

ULFURA: WE'RE GOIN'???

PENNY: -squints at everyone...-

HESONY: =He's just been looming in a corner this entire time but was currently ourside on self-appointed guard duty. Since they arrived, he has been uncharacteristically quiet. Best not draw any unnecessary attention to himself and all that.=

URSAIS: we'rRe goin'. and we'rRe gon bring the pain. t' wherRe the fightin is thickest. -glances at dirk.-

ERIDAN: -was watching Sunny this whole time from his brooding place in the ice cream truck. Yeah he knows that color and name bruh. He knows it.-

MICEXA: -She's already paying attention to all this... and heading out to tell Sunny what's up. ANOTHER FACE ERIDAN CAN RECOGNIZE, INCIDENTALLY.-

MICEXA: Hey.

ULFURA: YEAAAHHH!!! LET'S DO IT!!! -jumps and PUNCHES THE AIR.-

ULFURA: SHE'S ALL READY TO GO!!!

ERIDAN: -He's reading all about it on the Alternia newsfeeds, don't worry.-

ERIDAN: -taking this time to change back into his combat gear. Good thing he's outside.-

HESONY: Hey. =he replies, his expression softening a fraction.= Are we moving again?

MICEXA: Yeah.

MICEXA: To the HQ.

JOHN: are we gonna go grab jake? my dad? -IF THEY WERE BRIEFED ON A PLAN...john might've just forgotten it.-

HESONY: =stares like she just grew an extra head= What.

JOHN: -forgive him-

JADESPRITE: it seems like terezi is going to try to get them out

JADESPRITE: but of course if they need help we will help them

JADESPRITE: right?

ROSE: Death really doesn't take the way it used to, does it?

JADESPRITE: no, it doesnt

JADESPRITE: theres definitely something different about her, though

JOHN: lucky for us! -laughs nervously-

JADESPRITE: ... -glances around like maybe she shouldn't have said that-

JADESPRITE: either way, we need to get moving

JADESPRITE: -floats toward the wall-

DIRK: -just grunts about that and tries to raise his voice over everyone's excitement- Ok, I need some of you to stay here and watch the injured. The rest of you follow Jadesprite.

DIRK: ... Like, through the door.

MICEXA: Yeah.

MICEXA: ... This is it.

REDGLARE: -STARTING TO STAND TO LEAVE ANYWAYS-

JOHN: -just starts shuffling towards the door even though he's a doctor....-

JADESPRITE: -schlorps through the wall on that note!-

PENNY: .... so whos stayin?

JOHN: -NOTHING TO SEE HERE.-

DIRK: -points at rose's white board of THE INJURED.- If you're on this list, you're not going.

DIRK: That means you, Redglare.

HESONY: =he laughs, shaking his head= We're going towards the people who want to kill us...

HESONY: =he patted her shoulder and squeezed it.= Okay. We don't stop.

REDGLARE: -STOPS AND STARES DAGGERS AT THE WHITEBOARD-

ROSE: -...one dagger-

MICEXA: -she reaches up to cover his hand with hers, her grip a little tighter.-

MICEXA: You don't leave my side.

REDGLARE: >;|

DAELOS: -Also not too happy about this arrangement because he's on that list.-

REDGLARE: -SITS LOUDLY-

PENNY: what about Riley?? shes sure as fuck not going.

DIRK: Of course she's not.

DIRK: -LOOKS AROUND SUSPICIOUSLY... is she trying to sneak away...-

HESONY: Wouldn't dream of it.

PENNY: -SHE BETTER NOT BE-

DEREK: -walks in- Dont worry I locked her in the bathroom.

HESONY: =also dropping eaves on the people behind them=

PENNY: ... -sNORTS-

PENNY: good deal.

ROXANNE: Good call. -At Derek, yes shes totally been here.-

PENNY: I uh.

PENNY: (God damn it.)

PENNY: I can stay and watch her.

PENNY: and the rest of you folks. nobody get any crazy ideas.

JOHN: -where's kankri? john wants to make sure he stays behind with his tiny knife and otherwise complete lack of being able to defend himself, but also one more hug would't be bad...-

PENNY: -LOOKS ESPECIALLY AT REDGLARE-

KANKRI: -Hes certainly staying behind to take care of people, he knows he and his little knife would be useless on this type of mission.-

MICEXA: .... -sighs a tightly held breath before glancing at the dragonfly.- \|/e should start boarding up.

REDGLARE: 3xcus3 m3?

REDGLARE: Who 1s th1s wom4n. D1d w3 just... coll3ct h3r.

REDGLARE: -GLARES AT PENNY WOW-

JOHN: -SQUEEZES HIM FOR STRENGTH.-

PENNY: ;)

PENNY: from the dump specifically.

KANKRI: -John so help him dont you be reckless.-

PENNY: hi. Im your new nanny.

JOHN: -He's going to be as nonreckless as you can be while you smash people with a hammer and use magic wind powers.-

KANKRI: -J o hn.-

HESONY: =he nodded giving her shoulder one more squeeze. No more promises of living through this. That only ever brought back luck.=

REDGLARE: >;I

URSAIS: -MOUNTS THIS DRAGON FLY like it's no big deal.-

MICEXA: -Well, she's going to do her best to make sure it's true, even if unspoken. She heads for the dragonfly.-

MINDFANG: -Also she is ready to brawl, she even did some maintenance on her arm even without your help Hesony. Now it probably wont fall off while she fights.-

ULFURA: ALRIGHT COME ON GET YOUR FANNIES ON BOARD!!! -gestures aggressively at the many rows of carrying seats on this dragonfly's butt.-

RUFIOH: -Waiting outside for people to gather... he's anxious as he shuffles his wings but. Didn't come here to sit on his ass. As much as he would like to. Shit's scary...-

ROXANNE: -Climbing on board with no time to waste, shes got important people to save.-

HESONY: =yeah, but i bet that piston still sticks, Wolfchow=

JOHN: -While he's huging people, Dirk and Rose also get a squeeze b4 they board. Wait? Is that Rufioh? Also hugged? Meulin? Hugged.- be safe you guys!!!  

LATULA: -HUP. She's climbing on-- she got used to the dragonfly a while ago, slinging out her rifle as she takes a seat.-

LATULA: 41ght!!!!

JOHN: -he's very liberal with these warm hugs.-

MEULIN: -HEY SHE IS HERE, peering out from around the lakehouse.- AH--

MEULIN: EVERYONE'S GOING?

MEULIN: -snugs JOHN!!-

MICEXA: -climbs RIGHT ON BOARD. It's possible she's ridden something similar before at some point as well... but either way, she's not hesitating to get a move on.-

URSAIS: -sitted near the front.-

JOHN: -after he's done spreading his love around, he hover into one of the farthest seats cuz tha back of the rollercoaster is always the most fun.-(

LIFERA: -She runs out and climbs on board, too, also toward the back. She figures they're going to need people watching the butt.-

JOHN: B)

HESONY: =clambers on=

SOLLUX: -And he, meanwhile, finally drags himself out of the lakehouse. His appearances have been infrequent, but he's here now, quiet as he navigates awkwardly toward the dragonfly and then floats himself into a seat.-

SOLLUX: -MAY HAVE SAT ON SOMEONE??? We just don't know.-

URSAIS: o//o -SUDDENLY HAS SOLLUX IN HER LAP. jk. or not???-

SOLLUX: -hello-

SOLLUX: -is this what seats are supposed to feel like???????-

URSAIS: -....clears her throat. casually picks him up and places him into the seat next to her instead.-

SOLLUX: .... 0h.

URSAIS: safety first 'n all.

SOLLUX: ...

ROSE + DISCIPLE ALSO: -OH IF EVERYONES CLIMBING ON THEN THEY ALL GET ON THERE-

SOLLUX: -slowly rests face in hands.-

SOLLUX: -there's no other choice. he's going to have to die today.-

DIRK: -you son of a fuck-

HESONY: =pondering how this crew has survived for so long=

SOLLUX: -LOOK BITCH-

DIRK: -no fuck you-

DIRK: -ANYWAY HES ALSO HERE. AND THE REST OF THE ONES OF MINE GOING.-

JOHN: -WAVES AT THE REST OF THE GROUP!!!-

JOHN: -the ones staying behind, i mean.-

[[ WHAT AN EXPEDIENT PROCESS. Once everyone going is on, Ulfura eyeballs the whole troupe. ]]

KARKAT: =is here=

ERIDAN: -Hi everyone. This fish is here. Most people probably don't know who he is??? He's just a guy sitting here with a big gun in his lap, half his face wrapped up in scarf.-

ERIDAN: - >> -

KARKAT: =SOME DOUCHE=

ERIDAN: -Yeah, true.-

ULFURA: -climbs the dragonfly and gets on the upper part of its back, grabbing reins and settling in up there.-

ULFURA: WE READY??? GIMME THE WORD!!!

ROSE: As ready as I can possibly find myself, yes.

JOHN: heck yes!!!

JOHN: let's try our best everyone. -anime voice on purpose-

JOHN: -the only way to respond to this horrifying situation is to be INCESSANTLY CHEERFUL.-

SOLLUX: (i swear t0 g0d egbert.)

JOHN: (ehehehhe. get fucked.)

RUFIOH: }:o

RUFIOH: -gonna be flying with the gang off to the side... Gives the dragonfly a pat though. Wishing it the best of luck and a safe flight.-

URSAIS: go ahea' and kick off, pupper.

URSAIS: we got a lot a shit to do an little time t' do it in.

ARANEA: -does rufioh mind if she joins him? her wings are getting strength back but she figures she needs them for the battle... so she's giving them a stretch!-

[[ The dragonfly flickers its wings in buggy acknowledgement. It feels so FRESH and reassured now. ]]

RUFIOH: -He does not mind at all. Side eyes Aranea.-

DAELOS: -stares through the window in the rain at her. he wants to slay their enemies alongside her again. :(-

ARANEA: -reaches dramatically for daelos with her heart...-

ULFURA: YEAH!!!

ULFURA: LET'S DO THIS!!! COME ON FLAP FLAPS!!! -tugs the reins gently and nudges the dragonfly with her communing powers-

ARANEA: ::::) -at rufioh-

DAELOS: -just be as ruthless as possible for him-

ARANEA: -SHE WILL-

ULFURA: HOLD ONTO YOUR BUTTS!!!

[[ The dragonfly suddenly lurches, kicking off from the ground, and its wings start flapping wildly to take them up into the sky. Takeoff and landing is the hardest part. ]]

RUFIOH: -pchooooooooooo time to fly!-

URSAIS: -This part always makes her a little queasy. She doesn't like being off the ground. ʕ灬￫ᴥ￩灬ʔ-

ERIDAN: -scrunches up his face at the wind buffeting his hair. He thinks he smells rain on the horizon...-

JOHN: -basically uneffected-

[[ They rise into the sky quickly, if not weaving side to side a few times between the wind and the dragonfly adjusting to its new weight. It soars above the treetops, higher into chillier air. The pressure and wind aren't super comfortable, but Ulfura keeps it from going too high. They're on the way, headed straight for Golden Valley. ]]

ROSE: -Twirling those needles in her hands, thinking. Working off nerves. This... really is happening. The flying doesn't bother her-- it's everything else. It's the fact that she can't even fathom seeing something useful with her powers, or the fact that she can hardly conjure a spark. She just focuses on breathing. Deep breaths. Think. Don't get impaled by a fork.-

ROXANNE: -Is probably sitting next to Rose, because its unlikely she would let anyone else take the seat next to her daughter right now.-

ROXANNE: -And she also glances at her with a touch of concern, but unfortunately most of her expression is just determined sternness for what is to come.-

JOHN: -YELLING to be heard above the wing flaps and buffeting air.- SO! I DON'T THINK. I KNOW THE NAMES OF LIKE ...75 PERCENT OF YOU. YOU WANNA LIKE...TELL ME THEM? -he has his own ways of working out his nervousness.-

HEITOR: NO

JOHN: WELL I MEAN. OKAY. THAT'S VALID. IF YOU WANNA BE A DICK ABOUT IT. ANYBODY ELSE?

ERIDAN: -No. Giving John the cold shoulder. Don't look at him, motherfucker...-

JOHN: -He has his eyeballs on you Eridan. All over you.-

MICEXA: ... -does she even want to yell above this wind...-

HESONY: .... =well he sure isn't going to be an ass! He glanced up to see a flying human. Okay. He will accept this.= ....Hesony. =He says, in his regular voice.=

MICEXA: -side eyes Sunny like pls-

JOHN: -HE IS FLYING WITH EVERYONE ELSE CURRENTLY. ON THE BIG BUG.- HEY...SUNNY? SUNNY? OKAY. NICE TO MEET YOU! I AM JOHN.

HESONY: =EXCUSE only FRIENDS call him that. Whatever=

HESONY: Greetings, John.

MICEXA: -gosh.... she loves this grumpy doofus-

MICEXA: MICEXA NESHEN. PURSUANT SEAKRAIT.

JOHN: COOL. EXCELLENT. THANKS FOR HELPING. -

MINDFANG: -John do not thank them for anything.-

MICEXA: -just sort of softly grunts at that.-

JOHN: - He doesn't know these are the peeps that fucked up his friends otherwise he might be less friendly. -

HESONY: =Anything for Terezi's friends, no matter how ungrateful they are.=

HESONY: No problem. =he says instead=

ERIDAN: -gazing at these legislacerators. Saying nothing. Sipping tea with just the look in his eyes.-

[[ Below them, they'll being to see signs of smoke and fire, and the vague sounds of explosions and weaponry through the buffetting wind. In patches where they can see, it looks like there are scattered Alternian troops fighting little scads of rebels. The further they go, the more fire there is. Looks like quite a few things blew up down there. ]]

MICEXA: -why's this bitch got an in flight beverage...-

LATULA: -SHARP INTAKE-

LATULA: sh1t dud3 th4t lookz pr3tty n4sty.

URSAIS: - EL SQUINTO-

LATULA: no off3ns3 but 4r3 your p33poz gonn4 b3 4bl3 to hold out?

JOHN: - promptly shuts up at this point. he's totally stoked and not sick/scared-

[[ The dragonfly sways here and there to try to avoid the plumes of smoke. It's likely Ulfura is guiding it around them; bugs tend to react badly to signs of fire. ]]

URSAIS: - bracing herself- worRy bout yerRselves.. we'rRe used t' this. shit.

URSAIS: an' stay brRave.

SOLLUX: -he doesn't seem to react much there next to Ursais... just tilted his face out toward the outside of the seat, almost like he would be looking down at the ground if he could see.-

[[ They fly over lakes and green landscape -- it would be beautiful in just about any other circumstance, but today, the serenity of the landscape only seems to be feel cold and empty for the reality of what's happening below. ]]

JOHN: -equips Zillyhoo. It makes him feel better, even if it does put chanting voices in the back of his head.-

JOHN: -zi-hi-hi-hilly hoo~-

URSAIS: -ʕง•ᴥ•ʔง-

HESONY: =Same, Sparky Jr. Cept he has eyes. You dont. Neener neener neener.=

SOLLUX: -LET HIM BROOD IN PEACE, TEREZI'S OLD FRIEND GUY. JEEZ.-

ARADIA: -by sollux cuz you don't get to brood alone-

DIRK: -ha, that gives him an opportunity to brood alone too. YOU CAN'T STOP HIM HE'S IN CHARGE.-

SOLLUX: -oh so now YOU'RE in ursais' lap???-

SOLLUX: -CUT IT OUT GOD-

DIRK: -he might as well straight up be doin the thinker pose he's so contemplative right now-

ARADIA: -where am I...I am everywhere...-

SOLLUX: -just hoping she's flying alongside him tbh-

SOLLUX: -just out there smiling and being a creep-

[[ As they fly along, they'll finally start to see it breaching the line of the trees. The headquarters turned into something almost fortresslike, and empty expanse instead of trees -- water surrounds the building on all sides, centering it in a huge lake. Sticking out of the water nearby is a giant silhouette-style statue, but instead of the businessman it used to be, it's in the shape of )(er Imperious Condescension. ]]

[[ The building has been rebranded, of course. Instead of the original spoon, there's a bright red trident. ]]

ROSE: -eyes that silouette. plz...-

JOHN: :/

DIRK: -squints at all this. that's where they're being held... they're so close he thinks his heart is about to jump right out of his chest. he's never not anxious, of course, but the possibility of him or anyone dying here has never felt more real.-

QIRIN: How charming. ^_^

DAVENFORTH: Qirin please

QIRIN: =SHE'S KIDDING=

ARADIA: 😊

JOHN: okay if we win or finish early can we all mutually agree that needs to be heavily vandalized or blown the fuck up.

LIFERA: -just staring at this statue. It's ridiculous, but also... it's so huge. It looks like the way the Condesce feels -- larger than life, the figure that's loomed over her since she hatched. And now...-

DAVENFORTH: -Puts a hand on Lifera's thigh-

LIFERA: -She sort of jumps -- but only just barely, and looks over at Davenforth. She doesn't smile this time, but she acknowledges him.-

ERIDAN: -He more or less feels the same as Lifera about seeing these real actual headquarters. But with knowing NO ONE, he refuses to voice it. He fixes his eyes on the building, determined. Hopeless.-

QIRIN: =You stop that=

DAVENFORTH: -Squeezes gently. It's all cake baybe, we got this.-

QIRIN: =Get your pessimism out of the optimist club=

MICEXA: -yeah they're probs gonna die-

QIRIN: =what the fuck did i just say?=

ROXANNE: -Why do all you new people always assume we're going to die.-

MICEXA: -LOOK MAN-

HESONY: =because it HAPPENS that's why=

ROXANNE: -Nuh uh. No one is dying this time either, nope.-

HESONY: =thats what he said last time then terezi bit it=

[[ From closer they can also begin to see ships on the lake -- most of which appear to be Alternian in nature, but also some that aren't. There's a lot of pirate-style fighting going on down there. Boy howdy. ]]

MINDFANG: -Nice.-

JOHN: -HE JUST WANTS TO GET OFF THIS DRAGON FLY AND START FIGHTING. It's like ripping off a band aid.-

JOHN: -Hhhhhh-

QIRIN: =Patience, my padawan=

ULFURA: I'M BRINGIN' US IN CAP!!!

ULFURA: -she's starting to weave this dragonfly even more now, to avoid any lines of fire they may ultimately end up in. They're beginning to do a slow circle around the headquarters building.-

URSAIS: ya did grReat now, pupperR.

ULFURA: -SHIMMERS... but quietly.OF COURSE SHE DID GREAT.-

[[ The dragonfly SWOOPS, knocking at the mainsail of one of the Alternian ships on its way around with some of its legs. It rattles everybody a little. ]]

DIRK: -(mccree voice) whoa there- =swears under his breath=

[[ The dragonfly finally swoops down to the platform entrance of the building -- it's almost a tight fit for such a big fucking bug with wide wings, but it manages. ]]  

[[ It lands with an even bigger rattle. ]]

DAVE: -Jesus Christ they're finally here. it's been a long time but motherfuckers he is coming HOME because of that cheesy bullshit that is home being where the people you care about are. He's slow to get his feet on the ground, taking in the scenery first, before following the others up to the house-

ARADIA: -they're here...-

DIRK: -everyone get the fuck out of the way. dirk is here to greet everyone, but especially family... which right now means dave so hello dave you're gonna get a brother hug... he doesn't really know the extend of the damage done to him so he doesn't know how to be MINDFUL OF IT...-

DAVE: -it's a relief seeing dirk alive and okay, but he doesn't have a lot of time to process it with the hug he's given and the way it gives him such a sharp pain. He grits his teeth, patting dirk on the back and wincing while in this brother hug- LOOSER NOT SO TIGHT

DIRK: Oh fuck-- Sorry. -LOOSENS HIS STRONG GRIP-

DAVE: -YA TOO STRONG YA ASSHOLE- its cool its like a love back break i get it we just gotta respect the property of my spine

DAVE: anyway sup

MITUNA: -Hops down as well, everyone is here wow look at this brotherly bonding. Gay-

MEULIN: -She ALMOST tackled Dave, but instead she's here to try to nuzzle between Strider tiddies.-

MEULIN: -Just. Right there in that hug.-

DIRK: You-- Oh. Hello there.

DAVE: -thank you Meulin for being thoughtful- also hey meu I dont think you can even see my lips moving right now but the sentiment is there

MEULIN: (^・ω・^ )

MITUNA: ehehehe

MEULIN: PRR PRR.

ARADIA: -watching from the roof-

RUFIOH: -also watching from the roof...-

MITUNA: -He's gonna inside. Pauses to wave at Aradia-

HESONY: =just hanging out with the dragonfly, dont mind him=

ERIDAN: -gazing from inside the ice cream truck in his stupid ice cream man geddup. The things he had to do to get everyone here on time... Horrendous. https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2014-12/2/15/enhanced/webdr07/enhanced-22416-1417551805-3.jpg -

DIRK: -nuzzles meulin's hair a little...- She's got cool shades that transcribe everything around her. I wonder who got her those.

ARADIA: -hops down to greet more properly. mituna first- hows your arm or lack thereof

MEULIN: (○｀ω´○)

DAVENFORTH: -Climbs out the back of the ice cream truck, bandaged and wearing his own shades again. Walks over to the nephew cat sandwich- Aint yall just adorable

DAVE: some anime asshole probably -fuck it's just nice to be with his brother again-

MITUNA: oh i75 how youd 7hink i7d go my balance i5 fucked

QIRIN: =just....eyeballing the Alaska group. What the shit happened to all of you?!=

KURLOZ: =Get over it, he's just going to get out and walk right into the cabin/house. He doesn't know you hos=

DAVE: -he can't help but smile a little at his uncle- yo uncle dave nice job wreckin the presidents -from this angle no one can see the scar on his neck and he is thankful for that-

MINDFANG: -What Didnt happen. Also shes standing near the dragonfly too, eyeing Hesony. Hes had it real good for a while.-

HESONY: =Hello Mindfang, he sees you looking, but the fight in him has pretty much died. They kept their promise.=

MINDFANG: -They sure did, and now there is no real reason to keep them around so she is just pondering that.-

ARADIA: yeah i figured ARADIA: -pauses and then just lightly and carefully hugs him- welcome back

KARKAT: =Is also out and about somewhere but he knows you hoes. At least everyone else didn't go through hell=

RILEY: -EVERYBODY MOVE THE FUCK OUTTA THE WAY-

DAVENFORTH: -It's okay, you can't see the scar on his eye. His face, his beautiful face.- Thanks but ro did the part that wasnt getting my ass kicked you should congratulate her

DAVENFORTH: You look like you went through some shit

DIRK: -lucky bastards, everyone can see HIS scar..-

DIRK: -smiles a little at brunc, but oh fuck here she comes... the mom-

ROXANNE: -Shes getting out of the truck after Derek and Riley, she wasnt going to be in the way of that, no sir.-

DEREK: -LEAPS AFTER RILEY-

DEREK: -JET NOISES-

DAVENFORTH: -Observes-

RILEY: -she's running at them and nearly collides into the boys and meulin consequently, wrapping her arms around their shoulders- OH THANK FUCK.

MITUNA: -A hug is probably the nicest thing he's had in a week. He loops his good arm around Aradia and squeezes and rests his chin on her head.- 7hank5 arayray

DIRK: -starting to get emotional... with his parents and his brother and his uncle and his cat all right here...-

DAVENFORTH: -Gets sad about his cat-

RILEY: -they're getting smooches on the head- my babies.

DAVE: -he winces a little at the first collision but he's okay and WOW WAY TO BE EMBARRASSING MOM- hey

ERIDAN: -disgusting... this clan of humans in their natural habitat... how do you tell them apart. Eridan fears for himself.-

ARADIA: you get to actually rest for a little while now

ROXANNE: -Eridan dont be a downer.-

MITUNA: yeah righ7 7he 5creamy a55hole5 ate back

ERIDAN: -He's always a downer. And eating a dreamsicle in the ice cream truck.-

ARADIA: who karkat

ARADIA: we have a lot of screamy assholes mituna

MITUNA: he ha5n7 been 7ha7 bad ac7ually i mean7 um i mean7 7he dead one5

ROXANNE: -WELL DONT BE.-

ROXANNE: -Also enough of watching the striders reunite, as cute as that is, shes going into the house on a quest to find her own daughter, where is rose where are you hiding her.-

DEREK: -places a hand on dave's shoulder during all this... that'll do pig-

ARADIA: oh that makes so much more sense

DAVE: -STOP IT BRO YOURE GONNA MAKE HIM CRY-

REDGLARE: -Oh, hey, hello. This. And everyone. And people. She's limping. She's tired. She's been keeping herself awake for the flight, and some of the pains have been keeping her from conking out anyways, but she's not quite ready to pass out on the floor. She hobbles over to the nearest thing she can sit on and sits.-

DAVENFORTH: !!!! -Walks over to Redglare and just kind of stands there, taking this all in. She looks so tired, and like she went through literally hell. His eyes linger on her a little too long- You mind if i sit here

REDGLARE: s1t. REDGLARE: 1 s4w your 1m4g3s.

DAVE: -SO SMOOTH BRUNCLE-

DAVENFORTH: -Groans a bit as he sits next to her.- I think they did too much justice

REDGLARE: ...

REDGLARE: Mph.

REDGLARE: You 4lso brought b4ck th3 s1lly... m4sk m4n 4ct.

REDGLARE: 4t l34st 1t s3rv3d 1ts purpos3.

DAVENFORTH: Got something against dave skellington movies

DAVENFORTH: Icon

REDGLARE: 1 th1nk 1 w4s cl34r 3nough.

REDGLARE: S1lly.

DAVENFORTH: Sex symbol

REDGLARE: uh-huh.

DAVENFORTH: -Sighs- Were gonna have a marathon when we get back im gonna get you an entire devils food cake and everything

REDGLARE: Th4t's...

REDGLARE: -snorts.-

REDGLARE: opt1m1st1c.

REDGLARE: You'll t3mpt th3 odds. Just c4ll 1t 4 sl1c3.

DAVENFORTH: Like youd just want a slice

REDGLARE: -PUNCHES HIS ARM-

DAVENFORTH: -Doof. He grins a little- So two slices huh

REDGLARE: M4yb3.

REDGLARE: On3 4nd 4 h4lf.

DAVENFORTH: One and three fourths

REDGLARE: You know wh4t.

REDGLARE: Sur3.

DAVENFORTH: -Puts an arm around her. He's just glad she's alive.- About time i win one

REDGLARE: Oh, shut up. You k1ll3d 4 world l34d3r.

DAVENFORTH: I had help

REDGLARE: Sudd3n bout of hum1l1ty?

DAVENFORTH: Sudden bout of getting crushed

DAVENFORTH: Probably would have a lot more worse for wear if it hadnt been for roxanne

REDGLARE: Oh.

REDGLARE: H4.

DAVENFORTH: I got sloppy and almost lost an eye or life for it you know whichever

DAVENFORTH: Not that ill get sympathy from you

REDGLARE: couldn't poss1bly 1m4g1n3 wh4t th4t's l1k3.

DAVENFORTH: Nope only me

REDGLARE: ...

REDGLARE: Won't b3 4bl3 to do much l1k3 th1s. Sp34k1ng of.

DAVENFORTH: Well get you back up and running

REDGLARE: 1'm not runn1ng 4nywh3r3. C4rry m3. 4ss.

DAVENFORTH: Like a bara princess

REDGLARE: Wh4t do3s th4t m34n.

DAVENFORTH: Ripped to shit

REDGLARE: Oh.

REDGLARE: Y3s.

JOHN: - I didn't get to rp it but you can bet your ass John vigorously rubbed himself on Dave, Aradia and Dirk. Because! He was worried! And he missed them! For Dave it's extra vigorous. -

DAVE: -JUST STEER CLEAR OF THE BACK and we will be good-

JOHN: - Hair gets floofed and refloofed-

JOHN: - Also you get more medical attention because he doesn't trust these non uu people to do it right. -

DAVE: -be my servant-

JOHN: -after all the emotional reunions and fussing over everyone as much as they'll allow him....john honestly feels kind of uneasy and restless. eventually he finds himself sitting on the ground with his knees crossed, dumping out every piece of medical equipment in his sylladex and carefully cataloguing it. it's probably not necessary but he just really needs something to do.-

DAVE: -plops next to John and sits- hey

KANKRI: -It sure was kind of crazy with all the reunions, and after he was settled he managed to find John....dumping stuff on the floor with Dave.-

KANKRI: -Awkwardly stays hidden at the doorway to the room to watch for now.-

JOHN: -taking down how much he has of everything on a little note pad. looks round at dave and only dave since kankri is being weird and evesdropping- hey, man.

DAVE: havent seen you in like a month

DAVE: crazy shit huh

JOHN: yeah. if i had to say the shit was anything, i might use the word crazy.

DAVE: what about ape shit

DAVE: we turning this all primate primape reverse darwins theory of evolution

DAVE: we start as fuckin advanced as hell creatures and then just go back to the monkeys

JOHN: is this your roundabout way of expressing that earth really blows because if so i grudgingly gotta agree..earth really blows.

JOHN: i mean i had expectations for how much it was going to blow but the batterwitch really hit it out of the park.

JOHN: which is impressive because the bitch banned base ball.

JOHN: how do you ban baseball.

JOHN: -SOUNDS REALLY BITTER AND HAUGHTY.-

DAVE: you cant ban baseball

DAVE: baseball lives on in our hearts or some shit

DAVE: you either hit a home run or strike out

DAVE: but seriously i forgot all about queen troll

DAVE: until like now

JOHN: i mean...i'll forgive you, seeing as you had a lot of shit on your plate.

JOHN; ...baseball puns.

JOHN: and i'm really glad you were able to make

JOHN: a home run.

DAVE: ... DAVE: terrible

JOHN: c:

DAVE: how would i have gone another day without your goofy ass

JOHN: -feels the urge to hug him again, but he just leans on him instead.-

JOHN: -what if he just kind of sits on all his friends and protects them.-

JOHN: -crushes them lovingly under his ass.-

JOHN: -would this protect them from the 10 billion things that want to kill, hurt and take them away from him.-

JOHN: -these are the questions.-

DAVE: -lets it happen. He can't get too mushy even if he wants to scoop his best friend up in a hug and just stay like that for ten hours. So that's the most he can do. Let him- who the fuck vacations in minnesota

JOHN: -it's okay dave. he understands strider psychology by now. he knows u love him.-

KANKRI: -Finally walking in after watching that whole exchange.- I think that at least s9me pe9ple must have, at the very least 6ef9re all 9f these redicul9us new take 9ver laws that have 6een implemented. Perhaps they name f9r the scenery.

JOHN: maybe they tried to get out of minnesota but they couldn't, so they made the best of it.

JOHN: -ends up talking at the same time as kankri ???-

KANKRI: -Its like they are linked. Except not.-

KANKRI: -Also he is just going to casually sit on the other side of John.-

KANKRI: What are the tw9 9f y9u up t9?

DAVE: its minnesota

JOHN: talking about minnesota and dancing around the fact that dave adores me.

JOHN: -just sitting there like :)-

KANKRI: Yes it is? And what a69ut it 6eing Minnes9ta makes it less desira6le then anywhere else?

JOHN: i'd say "it's an earthling" thing but

JOHN: i don't think that's a thing anymore.

KANKRI: I d9n't kn9w, I think that there still can 6e "earthling things." 

KANKRI: Whatever they c9nsist 9f anyways.

JOHN: then thinking minnesota is a snowy boring wastleland is probably one of them, to answer your question.

JOHN: although idk this place looks pretty nice.

KANKRI: It has 6een the nicest part 9f earth I have visited s9 far.

KANKRI: Then again I d9nt feel like I have adequate experiences t9 c9mpare it t9...

DAVE: -literally just watching them talk so easily with each other and kankri hasn't even gone on a rant yet-

KANKRI: -That's because he feels like he doesn't really need a lot of words for John to get him.-

DIRK: -tonight is the night of the concert... but he's been stuck in bed, having run out of mindless tasks to occupy himself with. somebody can probably roll him to the living room later... for now, he turns the pendant around between his fingers over and over while staring up at the ceiling.-

RUFIOH: -large wing swoops by the window. Somebody's taking a flight outside, it looks like.-

KANKRI: -Is he leaving forever?-

DIRK: -stares out the window then. look at him go.-

RUFIOH: -lands in some tree and kicks back. Casually lighting himself some nip... before raising it to acknowledge that he DOES see Dirk.-

DIRK: .... -looks back up at the ceiling for a second, then crawls out of bed to open up the window and peep at rufioh-

DIRK: Hey.

RUFIOH: -takes his time with the hit before breathing out.- sup, man... long t1me, no see.

DIRK: No joke. I was expecting it to be longer.

DIRK: How did you even get here?

RUFIOH: mm.

RUFIOH: 1t's got to do w1th mak1ng we1rd acqua1ntances on avalon... and some portal hopp1ng? that sh1t was pretty scary...

RUFIOH: but next th1ng 1 knew, 1 was on the sh1p. and then breach1ng the atmosphere on one of those... emergency pods...

RUFIOH: flew the rest of the way. fast, h1gh, qu1et to myself so nobody saw me.

RUFIOH: met up w1th the folks 1n earth canada... now 1'm here.

DIRK: -raises brows- Damn. You've had one hell of a journey.

DIRK: It's good to see you again. Just a shame it has to be under these conditions. -leans a little heavily on the window frame-

RUFIOH: yeah... -eyeballs him a lil, flicking the cig.- some scar that's gonna be.

DIRK: -grunts- Pretty cool, huh? -barely even trying to sound like he believes that-

RUFIOH: looks pa1nful. -rises to stand on the branch again.- wanna hang?

DIRK: -pauses for a second. he wasn't really expecting to be asked that.- Uh... -but he wants to lay in bed all day???-

DIRK: Yeah. Sure.

RUFIOH: -gestures for him to follow and then flaps all the way up to the lake house roof. Bird perch.-

ARADIA: -standing in the doorway of the room dirk is in. like a normal person does for long periods of time-

DIRK: -he definitely doesn't have the energy to scale the house right now.... THOUGH HE IS FULLY CAPABLE... anyway, he turns so he can make his way to the stairs that lead to the roof's terrace, only to see aradia.-

DIRK: -JUMPS- Shit-- How long have you been standing there?

ARADIA: a while

DIRK: -makes a face-

DIRK: Well, I'm heading up to the roof to hang out with Rufioh. You wanna join? -starts shuffling around her-

ARADIA: -lets him shuffle around her without moving out of the way before turning to follow him- okay

DIRK: -geez, aradia... well, there he goes, ascending to the floor and looking around for rufioh-

RUFIOH: -just sitting up there, cross-legged and having himself a smoke. It just so happens that it's also been a while since Rufioh saw Aradia around. He eyes her, surprised but also not surprised to see her.- sup meg1do.... been a wh1le.

ARADIA: -follows behind dirk and smiles at rufioh, waving- ill say

ARADIA: its about time you got here :D

RUFIOH: 1 was tak1ng 1t easy, 1 guess... but not too easy. -Join him. Sit with him.- 1 have a wr1ggler.

TAVROS & GAMZEE: =They are a ways from the safehouse people are in, in apparent conversation. Tavros' shoulders are slouched, head turned away from the other troll while they talk. Gamzee stands taller, and is using his hands while he speaks. Sometimes Tavros looks back at him, at the hands, fidgets, and looks away. Gamzee's body language seemingly growing more frustrated, hands waving a bit in the air while struggling on what to say. Then placing a finger to his own temple. It makes Tavros look back at him, and they both stand still. More fidgeting from Tavros, and he rubs the back of his neck. Whatever they are talking about don't seem particularly comfortable for either party.=

RUFIOH: -peeks from the roof... concerned.- }:(

DIRK: -glances over at them as well, brows furrowed, but takes a seat with rufioh for now.- You do?

ARADIA: -she plops down next to rufioh- tell me everything

RUFIOH: oh yeah... he's th1s egg 1 found when a y1pbeast tr1ed gett1ng away w1th 1t for lunch... 1 guess from the hatch1ng caverns on avalon.

RUFIOH: d1dn't know what else to do w1th h1m except... keep h1m unt1l he hatched? 1 d1dn't th1nk he would anyway.

RUFIOH: now he's just k1nd of... eat1ng everyth1ng 1n s1ght, haha.

RUFIOH: h1s name 1s em1let... l1l egg bro. }:)

ARADIA: thats great! where is he now

ARADIA: on the ship?

TAVROS & GAMZEE: =Tavros' mouth is moving, and whatever he is saying is making Gamzee's hands drag down his face. Drags, then a rub, and he shakes his head. He waves his hands around again, and Tavros' shoulders grow tense. The bull troll makes a vauge handgesture to all of Gamzee, then inclines his head to the side before shaking it. A brief laughter, uncomfortable and uncertain. Gamzee lets out a frustrated noise followed by a loud "ain't you a fucking doctor or no?" that sounds both angry and confused. He's turning away and motions to move, but Tavros grabs his shoulder before he can. There's silence again, then Tavros speaking with his head ducked. Gamzee still appears stressed, hands in tight fists, but then easing.=

RUFIOH: yeah, he's... safe. -eyes this conversation with more concern.- }:((

ARADIA: -also watches in front of them. that looks about right- im glad you could join us

DIRK: ...

DIRK: -glances at rufioh- Do you know what's up with all that? -gestures to tavros and gamzee talking-

RUFIOH: -looks off, avoiding his eye. Dragging the cig more.- not sure...

TAVROS & GAMZEE: =They're standing close, Tavros doing most of the talking by the looks of it. No doubt rambling by the way his mouth moves. The hand holding Gamzee's shoulder is gradually tightening until Gamzee has placed his on top of it, gently prying it off. He pats it, and Tavros withdraws his hand. Gamzee watches him while Tavros avoids his eye, looking down and shrugging. The capricorn rubs one eye with his palm as they both continue to stand there in silence, then reaches out to unfittingly give Tavros a playful shove to the shoulder. It makes Tavros take a step back, surprised, but he's looking up again. Gamzee says something, Tavros lets out a faint laugh, but at least it has a twinge of humor to it even if it's half hearted. He says something back, taking a step to return the shove, then the two of them walk further away from the house together.=

MEULIN: -She's watching this herself from inside, tail swishing contemplatively. She should talk to Gamzee later...-

ARADIA: -it's always a relief to be completely sure that they're in the right place, and even little things like this are enough evidence. she watches them walk off, her wings fluttering while she sits- guessing in order to fill in the blanks sometimes feels better than just not knowing

ARADIA: but it can also be completely wrong and steer you away from your original purpose -aradia tf you talking about-

DIRK: -watches them walk away, relieved they seem to have worked out whatever was going on with them, before looking at aradia.- ...

DIRK: I see.

RUFIOH: -side eyes her before frowning.- ...

RUFIOH: 1'd rather not... be left to f1ll the gaps. but that's just me.

ARADIA: i think most people feel that way

DIRK: -goes quiet after that. unfortunately, he's got too many unfilled blanks in his thoughts right now, and his mind can't help but guess. he just wishes it did make him feel better.-

RUFIOH: -passes dirk the blunt. He feels him thinking.-

DIRK: -hey, maybe that will make him feel better.- Thanks.

DIRK: -accepts it and takes a hit, staring off at the landscape.-

ARADIA: theres something about earth that feels worth saving

ARADIA: and i dont know what makes the distinction

DIRK: -stares at her- Was that ever a question?

ARADIA: -shakes her head- ARADIA: i mean that theres something

ARADIA: special about it

ROSE: -She's down in the lower floor, having set up some kind of large whiteboard with some dry-erase markers. Some kind of chart, at a glance, though no one's going to see the details til later, when they come back down.-

RUFIOH: what k1nd of spec1al? 1 mean... -brings his knees up to rest his chin on.-

RUFIOH: 1f you're go1ng out of your way to ment1on 1t... the spec1alness.

RUFIOH: compared to every other place people have tr1ed sav1ng.

ARADIA: thats what im wondering

ARADIA: it seems to have something the other planets dont

ARADIA: given the extent of the conquest

RUFIOH: not sure 1f that makes me feel better... -sighs-

ARADIA: -looks over at rufioh- doesnt have to

ARADIA: i just notice it you know?

RUFIOH: yeah... 1 know.

ARADIA: -softens her expression and just lightly touches his arm, silent.-

RUFIOH: -rumble rumble chirrs. A comforting sound.-

DIRK: -he has some ideas, but he already feels like enough of a downer, so he just glances off, exhaling smoke.-

ARADIA: -chirrs softly in response, only momentarily, hand still on his arm. sadness. pain. it's all inevitable at one point or another. but she will gladly sit with both of them for as long as they feel alone. now, she watches dirk-

DIRK: -the gaze seems to pressure him to speak and he huffs, passing the blunt back to rufioh.-

DIRK: I don't think special is the right word to describe Earth's role in all this.

DIRK: It implies there's some big cosmic scheme, putting this planet at the center of some kind of turning point in this war.

DIRK: But here's what makes it different from Beforus and Europa -- The Condesce already had control of it.

DIRK: Both of those planets were once a part of the Empire, or founded by former Alternians. Which means they seperated from the Condesce's regime, and at no point was she able to dig her claws into their government.

DIRK: She destroyed them to teach them a lesson. That they should've taken her side a long time ago.

DIRK: -sighs- Earth and humankind thought they had the upperhand after the War of Alternian Repression, but I wouldn't be fucking surprised if the empress "disappearing" was all just a ploy for her to give them a false sense of security, lure them into forming T.U.M.U.T. and then using her connections to Skaianet and Crocker Corp. to hallow Earth out from the inside while fucking up as much of the galaxy as possible through stooges like us who actually believed we were repairing the damages she had done.

ARADIA: youve thought this over a lot

ARADIA: youre doubting yourself again

DIRK: Doubting what? Those are just the facts. -seems irritated now...-

ARADIA: through stooges like us who actually believed we were repairing the damages she had done

ARADIA: what you said was full of facts and truth but thats what im talking about

MEULIN: -She's leaning out the window below them, just reading what's on her glasses. She doesn't want to climb up and interrupt... but listening is something she can do. Maybe it's mostly all she ever does. It's hard to have the power to help. Maybe that's what Dirk means, too.-

MEULIN: -She leans on the sill and sighs. She keeps telling herself that it doesn't matter how she feels, that she's here for everyone regardless... but being here isn't enough, either, and maybe it does matter how she feels. It matters enough to get in the way, after all.-

DIRK: I hate to break it to you, but that's as factual as anything else I said.

DIRK: We were used and we've been floundering to get back on our feet since then. Even with all this divine fucking intervention, we're as useless as we ever were. I shouldn't have believed there was any point in fighting.

DIRK: -he immediately regrets the words coming out of his mouth, if only because he doesn't want anyone to know he's thinking these things. he definitely doesn't want anyone to feel that way, too, so he gets up quickly so he can make his way back into the house.-

DIRK: ... Forget I said that.

ARADIA: -she's still trying to do her job, trying to keep them on track, but something in what he says stirs something that makes her eyes water even though she doesn't look sad in the slightest-

RUFIOH: -looks between Dirk and Aradia... not saying anything. He's not especially good at these things in the moment. Hell. He's notorious for making bad decisions on the subject if left to his own devices.-

RUFIOH: -but he does hold Aradia's hand. Just wordless about it.-

---

DIRK: -there he goes, DESCENDING THE STAIRS. he's upset, but instead of retreating back to his room, he paces through the house until he happens upon rose's white board.-

ROSE: -She seems to be sorting out members of the crew based on injury and ability...-

ROSE: -maybe not necessarily the BEST source of inspiration for a cause here-

ARADIA: -it's confusing sometimes, when she thinks she's entirely positive and certain of the route they take only to be reminded of all of the bad routes, the wrong ones. it's hard to remember. it's hard to cycle between feeling numb to it and not numb at all. she's not sure what part is making her feel to this extent, but her fingers intertwine with rufioh's and she tries to ground herself by focusing on the physical connection.-

RUFIOH: -He breathes out. Not knowing what's on her mind exactly... but hoping that even for a minute, reality will make sense if he just holds her hand. As they sit quietly, a breeze comes to ruffle their hair. It's nice.-

DIRK: -just kinda hovers there, reading over everything she has written down. he's awfully overwhelmed, but hey, he's here so he should get involved in the planning probably.-

SOLLUX: -He's inside, in a room on his own. Right now, it's where he wants to be. He doesn't think he can handle the thoughts and feelings of anyone else right now.-

JOEY: =she's downstairs with a mug of coffee in hand and slouching lazily in a chair near the whiteboard as she reads it over, ankles crossed.=

ROSE: -She glances at Dirk as he arrives.-

ROSE: Hello.

ROSE: I didn't want to sit around too long.

ROSE: I'm growing restless.

ROSE: I think this might be useful.

ROSE: At least. I know not everyone is in a strong enough condition to fight, when it comes down to it.

[[Out of nowhere, a wrapped sandwich hurtles from the minifridge and slaps Sollux on the side of his head. A water bottle also falls from the counter, rolling across the floor until it came to a stop at his foot.]]

ROSE: -She pays the sandwich NO MIND.- ROSE: Most of the crew presently stranded in Alaska-- though I believe they're on the move-- we are going to want to keep away from the action.

ROSE: We lost two up there. They've faced the harshest conditions out of anyone.

ARADIA: -it would be pretty difficult for anyone to guess what's on her mind--it's so complex and vast and endless--but rufioh's right in thinking that any sort of physical sensation is making everything feel that much more real. the breeze does. the sound of his breath. the way her palm feels pressed up against his. tension she didn't know was there in the first place starts to ease-

DIRK: -nods slowly- Right.

ROSE: -TAPS HER WAND AGAINST THE BOARD.-

ROSE: We can probably look them over individually when they arrive, and I'm certain Dave is going to want to be involved, but we are going to have to hedge our bets.

RUFIOH: -It's as easy as breathing out. When he catches her eye again, he manages a lopsided smile.-

RUFIOH: -ruffles her hair with his hand now.- heh.

ROSE: -She takes a deep breath..-

ROSE: My implants burned out and I'm not going to be able to do much of anything with my abilities in a fight. Everyone else here in our group is in decent enough health, though.

ROSE: Physically speaking.

ARADIA: -she gently laughs and uses her free hand to wipe away the tears on her cheeks- sorry ARADIA: not sure what happened there

RUFIOH: someth1ng crazy... but uh...

RUFIOH: 1mportant, 1 th1nk. 1t's 1mportant to talk about th1s sh1t... even 1f 1t's bad.

RUFIOH: to try... and a1r 1t out so 1t doesn't st1nk up your th1nkpan.

DIRK: -rolls his shoulders and finds a chair to pull over, taking a seat next to joey.- In case I forgot to mention, we're kinda holding an officer of the Alternian army hostage here.

DIRK: Her name is Lucana. She might be able to help us with infiltration or... something.

ROSE: Good to know.

ROSE: For what it's worth, of course. She's probably not anyone important—

ROSE: -pauses to glance at him.-

ROSE: At least, no one they'd hesitate killing alongside the rest of us if given the opportunity.

ROSE: -She sighs again, going back to the board.-

ROSE: Our two other assumptions are that we're going to have to work a goal within a timeframe.

ROSE: Freeing Jane and Jade. Orchestrating a prison break. If there's time, destroying the entire facility, but that's in the ideal scenario where we're all able-bodied and unobstructed by an army of drones and soldiers.

ARADIA: you think so? ARADIA: even when people wont understand?

ROSE: -She's starting to pace now, a little bit.-

ROSE: They don't know you have her, so... maybe you can use her clearance to get inside and find information.

ROSE: And the rest of us can... fuck, I don't know. Hold out. Until Hal can get the ship back to us, or... something.

DIRK: Sounds solid to me. -its ok, rose, his leg is bouncing and he's wondering why he bothered to sit down.-

JOEY: =Wordlessly turns her cup around and offers it to Dirk.=

ROSE: -nods a little bit...-

ROSE: I, um.

ROSE: Feel like I may be obligated to tell you that Jane offered...

ROSE: ...

ROSE: For me to join her. ROSE: It may be exploitable, tactically. ROSE: At least for the sake of isolating her from the facility.

DIRK: -takes the cup, perfectly timed to sip it at rose with raised brows-

DIRK: She contacted you specifically with an offer to join her?

ROSE: Yes.

JOEY: you didn't decline outright, did you? =tilts her head towards dirk= he's right, we could use something like this, but how do we know that they won't do the same funky headspace thing that happened to jane and jade. =she waved a hand around her head=

JOEY: jane wasnt ever like that in the time that i knew her. they did something to her that made her do all those things, i know it.

ROSE: Yes, I...

ROSE: Suppose.

ROSE: And the answer being, we don't really know that.

ROSE: It's a calculated risk. If they could have done it to more than just her and Jade, then why wouldn't they have?

JOEY: well not everyone is an heiress or has zappy powers

ROSE: Of course not. But there's got to be more to it than that. ROSE: They captured Jake and Roxy, but the two seem to be under their own power. If they're going to use them, why not use them?

ROSE: Unless they can't.

JUDE: -creeps up on this conversation- I can't say for certain about jade

JUDE: but jane? she's always carrying around crocker corp tech... I kept TELLING her to throw it away but of course she didn't

JUDE: -points to his head- the tiara top, specifically... I'm sure it's a mind control device that they could hack into directly and control her

JUDE: who's to say they haven't done that with their prisoners by this point? I'm not sure why they captured them but maybe they're using them for something we just don't know about... something they're doing privately at the facility while jade and jane do the dirty work...

ROSE: Well.

ROSE: I wouldn't doubt that.

ROSE: Even if it's somewhat of a stretch to think that everyone is entirely enthralled.

DIRK: -grunts- She's probably usin' them for their abilities. Roxy can make shit outta nothingness. Jake can pretty much manipulate anything so long as he believes it's true.

DIRK: I figure she just doesn't need the rest of us. That's what makes Jane's proposal so strange to me.

DIRK: It might suggest she still has her own agency despite the mind control, if she wants to recruit folks from our crew. It must not have been in the empress' plan.

SOLLUX: -belated but WTF SANDWICH AND WATER OUTTA NOWHERE.-

SOLLUX: -his head jerks up almost immediately as it plaps him- g0d damn it t—

SOLLUX: ...

ROSE: ...

ROSE: Well, uh.

ROSE: Yes.

ROSE: I think that was definitely a part of it.

JOEY: =just...absorbs all of this before mumbling to herself= (how did my original timeline turn into one with teenage mutant ninja turtles?)

DIRK: - ... 👁️ 👁️-

ROSE: -stop....-

DIRK: -SIPS MORE- Cool.

DIRK: So we get Rose to seduce Jane.

MEULIN: -peeks in at this- OH???

MEULIN: 👁️ 👁️

ROSE: -NO-

ROSE: That.

ROSE: Really won't be necessary.

ROSE: I'm just going to take her up on her offer.

ROSE: And she'll know that something is up, because of a familiarity with me.

ROSE: ...

ROSE: And on account of that, I already know that she knows.

ROSE: Which gives me an advantage.

JOEY: =snickers=

ROSE: And. Is not seduction.

RUFIOH: -also peeking from a window to gaze.- 👁️ 👁️

JOEY: if you decide to go undercover, you might have to do things undercover

JOEY: you know

JOEY: to prove youre one of them

JOEY: =takes her coffee from dirk to sip it before handing it back to him=

ROSE: I think this was the exact reason I didn't want to share this potentially significant information in the first place.

ROSE: No.

DIRK: -😏-

JOEY: no ones gonna judge you, if you were worried

MEULIN: -while they keep talking, she's sniffing around the room... and then lifts open the window if it's not already open-

JOEY: ;)

ROSE: Oh mygod.

MEULIN: -HUP. She jumps out of the window. She's gone.-

ROSE: -looks out the window-

ROSE: -...why.......-

RUFIOH: -Meu why.-

MEULIN: -DONT WORRY. She's just heading for the lake!!-

JOEY: =she looked up from her device and crossed the room, turning on the TV. Glancing down at her phone once more, she flipped to the channel shown. It appears to be a concert.=

DIRK: -YES IT'S TIME-

DIRK: -he was waiting for this-

TYRENA: -She's been scarce for most of the time they've been here... except now, with the TV on. She's still laying flat on the ground but she's listening closely.-

DIRK: -WATCHING TAKODA LIFTED HIS SPIRITS A LITTLE... that and teasing rose earlier. but hey.-

JOLENE: -SQUINTS AT THIS CLOWN ON THE TV-

SUMMONER: =He's out and about somewhere, doing god's knows what, but he has a feeling his kismesis is doing something that makes him feel human homosexual down in his soul. Clenches fist mid flight.=

JOEY: =holy shit who is that cute little carapacian?=

DIRK: - 👀 -

DIRK: -it's snans undertale-

DIRK: ...

DIRK: Holy shit.

DIRK: -BAFFLED BY THE MAYOR'S VOICE???-

JOEY: =Actually jumps in her seat when the VOICE happens.=

DIRK: -smiles softly at qirin with her drum... gosh-

SOLLUX: -just listening to this in the bg-

TYRENA: -still on the floor like a mummy, but she appreciates this. quietly.-

JUDE: -lurks when he hears penny's voice on the tv... wowee, there she is. he's a little starry eyed.-

DIRK: -watching this is getting him so hype??? it's nice to have something positive between the anxiety and the numbness whoo boy-

DIRK: -dammit... his parents are cute...-

DIRK: -somewhere out there, he knows dave is crying. haha wimp.-

DIRK: -wait fuck he's crying too-

JOEY: =sliiiiiiiiides over a tissue box=

DIRK: -ffffffff.... takes the whole tissue box. but he's trying to hold it in. ffs.-

DIRK: -he's getting chills... yes, this is exactly what he needed to lift his spirits. but it's getting late... he should probably rest if he wants to be useful at all... but he's so hype.-

EQUIUS: -There's the sound of gentle, but heavy, steps-

EQUIUS: D --> I heard a ruckus. Is everything okay -His veins are deep blue, clearly from the poison, however, he is looking better.-

JOEY: you're looking lively

JOEY: your crewmates have blatantly challenged aych eye see

JOEY: it was glorious

EQUIUS: D --> Dirk, who the heck is this tiny human

JOEY: excuse me, i'm above average height for human women

JOEY: you're just abnormally tall

DIRK: -looks back at equius- This is Joey Claire.

JOEY: :)

EQUIUS: D --> One of the human refugees we were transported for

DIRK: -nods- That's right.

EQUIUS: D --> Okay. I surmise we are in Minnesota now, I seem to remember hearing that

DIRK: -has been up since the wee hours trying to get a signal on the lake house's tv. not only to keep on top of current events, but also to make sure they can catch the show his dad and uncle are planning on broadcasting. he can't miss that... plus, this gives him something to do with his hands. it's a win-win-

SOLLUX: -He can't sleep. It's not a completely unusual occurrence, but it's definitely unwanted when there's so little for him to occupy his mind with. He's frustrated with his own sleeplessness, and he elects to drift around corners of the lake house, smelling his way around and brushing into edges here and there.-

ARADIA: -she's awake also, sitting at a table in the kitchen and staring out the window, watching the scene outside-

[THERE ARE CAR SOUNDS IN THE DISTANCE]

[BROOM BROOM]

SOLLUX: ...wtf?

ARADIA: -car sounds. Yes. as expected- yes it is tf

SOLLUX: thanks aa.

SOLLUX: that really clears things up f0r me.

JAMISON: =Now they they've been freed of all shenanigans (for now) the Mystery Machine pulls up outside a cozy looking cabin. TOO COZY. This van seems a bit too much anyway what with its mounted high-powered rooftop weaponry and a mysteriously stained pyramid ram located on the front.... listen you gotta be prepared. The van stops, we're here. YOU'VE BEEN FREED=

ARADIA: youre welcome

ARADIA: theyre here

SOLLUX: wh0's "they"????

ROSE: -PEERS OUT A WINDOW-

MEULIN: -smushes against the glass up above her-

ARADIA: youll see

ARADIA: hear or smell rather

SOLLUX: i d0n't think i want t0.

ROSE: -SHE JUST SORTA OPENS THE DOOR AND FLOPS OUT.- So. This is the place, yes.

MEULIN: I GUESS SO. -steps out and adjusts her sunglasses in a thoughtful, nerdy sort of way.-

MEULIN: IS EFURRYONE INSIDE?

ROSE: At least several people are inside.

ROSE: I think.

MEULIN: AND IT'S TOTALLY NOT AN AMBUSH.

ROSE: We've been driving for days. I'll take an ambush over a perpetually sore ass.

MEULIN: YOU COULD ASK THEM FOR A BUTT RUB. (｡･ω･｡)

ARADIA: then cover your ears and nose

ROSE: Tempting.

MEULIN: FRIENDS GIVE FRIENDS BUTT RUBS. -sneaks toward the door-

SOLLUX: -flops in a kitchen chair next to Aradia and buries face in her hair. Done.-

ARADIA: there we go

ARADIA: perfect

SOLLUX: mph.

ARADIA: ignorance is bliss

ARADIA: and composed of my hair

SOLLUX: yeph.

MEULIN: -taps on the door and then sneaks to peer into the window-

ROSE: -UNLOADING some crap from the van. Like a bag messily stuffed with laundry.-

MEULIN: HEY, IT'S ARADIA!

ARADIA: -sees meulin at the window and waves excitedly for her to come in-

MEULIN: SHE SAYS TO COME IN.

ROSE: I imagine she would. Do you see anyone else?

MEULIN: YEAH. SOMEONE IN HER HAIR.

ROSE: Okay, good. That means it is legitimate.

ROSE: -BURSTS IN.- I need a washing machine and a shower. Not necessarily in that order.

MEULIN: -slinks behind her- HI! ME TOO.

SOLLUX: f0inh the klaa.

ROSE: Aradia, you appear to have something entangled.

ARADIA: -smiles widely at them- hi guys! im glad you made it

ARADIA: -glances solluxward- yes it appears to be a pretty bad knot

SOLLUX: -flips them all off-

ROSE: It's good to see you're safe, too.

MEULIN: COOL.

SOLLUX: hhhf.

DIRK: -walks in on all this and stares at everyone with wide eyes. loses his cool for a second, but whatever he already looked worse for wear. he's just he's so relieved to see them.-

DIRK: Rose.

DIRK: Hey.

ROSE: -APPROACHES... and drops the bag of laundry on the ground.-

ROSE: You look pretty good, for looking like hell. Have you been shaving?

MEULIN: (｡◕ω◕｡)

MEULIN: BETTER NOT HAVE. I WANNA TOUCH THE WHISKERS.

DIRK: Do I really look that ragged? -runs a palm over his scruff. he hasn't been.-

ROSE: Could I possibly not look that ragged?

ROSE: Did you hear about what happened?

ROSE: I am somewhat hoping that you did.

MEULIN: -pads over and touches Dirk's whiskers with her beans while they converse. TUCH.-

MEULIN: -also nuzzles his shoulder. HELLO.-

ARADIA: it was pretty incredible

DIRK: -wow, affection. he almost forgot what that feels like. whoops. he gives meulin's hair a pet and cracks a small smile at both her and rose's combined presence. they're wonderful.-

DIRK: I wish I could've been there.

ROSE: At this risk of sounding inappropriate at a time like this, I am, in fact, quite glad that you weren't.

ROSE: I don't think there is anyone I'd wish that place upon.

ROSE: Not that it matters now, I suppose.

MEULIN: IT WAS PRETTY GROSS ON A WHOLE.

MEULIN: AND ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS.

MEULIN: ROSE WAS A TOTAL BADASS THOUGH.

DIRK: Yeah. You're right. I'm sure there will be more opportunities to witness Rose showing off how fuckin' rad she is.

ROSE: -SIGHS and leans into the pile-

ROSE: You are going to make me blush.

ROSE: Everyone here's okay?

DIRK: -nods- Yeah.

DIRK: We're... We're good. -pets meulin's hair some more. thank goodness for therapy cats.-

DIRK: We lucked out finding a nice place to lay low. You guys can take care of your showers and shit. Just don't expect hot water for long.

DIRK: Oh yeah, I got the TV to work this morning too. That's a thing.

MEULIN: -prrrr rumbles, then perks ears.- TV? WHAT'S IT SAY?

DIRK: Still a lot of buzz about what y'all did. And my uncle's twitter war.

DIRK: You know the Virginia folks are gonna broadcast some kind of concert as a big fuck you to the presidents? Now that I definitely wish I was there for.

ROSE: ...

ROSE: Is it going to be broadcast?

ROSE: I kind of like the idea of that.

DIRK: It is.

DIRK: Wonder if I can scrounge up some popcorn for the event.

ROSE: We do have chips from a truckstop.

DIRK: Oh shit. Then we're all set.

MEULIN: AWWW MAN... I LOVE CONCERTS...

ROSE: -CASUALLY, AND GRACELESSLY, flops onto the nearest couch-like surface.-

DIRK: -there she goes... he's going to wander over to the kitchen though. hovering a little around sollux and aradia. subtly.-

DIRK: -addresses the new arrivals, though- Can I get you anything? We have... soup.

DIRK: Which incidentally is about the extent of what I can cook.

ROSE: I'm not sure. I may be done with eating, possibly forever.

ROSE: The concept has become fallow, truly.

MEULIN: I'M HUNGRY!!

MEULIN: -not even zombies can faze her-

ROSE: Can I consume soup intravenously?

DIRK: If only I had the means to test it. DIRK: Hey, Aradia. You've got first aid on you, right? Inject some soup into Rose.

DIRK: -rattles pots and pans for meulin. again, it's something to do. at least he can feel useful.-

ARADIA: mhmm

ARADIA: i could if you really want to

ARADIA: i recommend tasting

ROSE: -GROANING NOISE-

MEULIN: ~(=^. .^) -HOVERS-

MEULIN: PLEASE DON'T INJECT ROSE WITH SOUP.

DIRK: But she's suffering.

DIRK: -pours bowls for everybody once it's done. it's tomato... hands meu a bowl, then slides a couple at sollux and aradia before shuffling over to rose. eat...-

ROSE: -....ok so tomato soup she can probably do no matter how much it may resemble the blood of guy fieri.-

ROSE: -She tries to make it hover-- but urgh.-

ROSE: -nevermind.-

ROSE: -she just puts it on her stomach and eats it from there.-

MEULIN: - 👀tomato soup-

SOLLUX: -very slowly extracts himself from the hair prison-

ARADIA: dont get stuck

ARADIA: thanks dirk

DIRK: Think nothing of it. -goes to join them at the table to eat, but he's just kinda poking at the soup.-

SOLLUX: -grunts and just sort of touches his spoon.-

MEULIN: -SLRRRPS in the bg-

MEULIN: I STILL HAVE SOME MOOSE MEAT IF ANYONE WANTS.

DIRK: Huh.

DIRK: Maybe later.

ROSE: They killed a moose, by the way.

ROSE: -slurps...-

ROSE: Do we have a plan of attack, yet?

DIRK: ... Not quite.

DIRK: Haven't really... been able to focus.

[[ There's a soft glow of green that grows stronger suddenly, and there's a humanoid shape that hovers into the kitchen through the wall. There's some slime left behind. Oops. ]]

JADESPRITE: hi

ARADIA: -turns to smile at jade sprite- hi

JADESPRITE: -holds up a paw- i didnt want to interrupt especially since i cant eat or

JADESPRITE: contribute much else but

JADESPRITE: we did have some ideas

ROSE: -Blinks-

ROSE: -SHE CAN'T BELIEVE SHE FORGOT ABOUT JADESPRITE-

ROSE: Oh.

ROSE: Hello.

DIRK: -blinks in jadesprite's direction also.- ... Yeah?

JADESPRITE: yes

JADESPRITE: but i think maybe first we should talk about what's going on

ROSE: Right.

JADESPRITE: davesprite has been watching jade

JADESPRITE: something like this has happened before, in the universe we're from -laces her paw fingers together-

JADESPRITE: so we know what she's capable of

JADESPRITE: though you probably already figured out she was the one that zapped you around the country

JADESPRITE: she has full control of that power now

ROSE: Right. So we can't do anything to her head on, or with her awareness. ROSE: We'll just be in the same position we were before.

JADESPRITE: essentially yes

JADESPRITE: so someone has to deal with her

JADESPRITE: thats why were volunteering ourselves

JADESPRITE: -carefully, she pulls out some sort of pendant with a Skaianet symbol and dangles it in the air- i managed to recreate a device that davesprite has for myself

JADESPRITE: id like to give it to one of you for safekeeping, in case i need it

JADESPRITE: i can go into it and also be summoned to its location

JADESPRITE: jade has the one of davesprite's

DIRK: ... I can take it. -holds out his hand-

JADESPRITE: -smiles a little and offers it over to him- thanks

JADESPRITE: anything she tries to do to us would be significantly less dangerous than to any of you, and we should be able to come back quickly with these

JADESPRITE: besides... someone also has to handle jane

JADESPRITE: she doesnt have the same powers but... she is dangerous

ROSE: I... right. I suppose we're going to have to incapacitate them.

JADESPRITE: somehow, yes

JADESPRITE: but we can buy as much time as possible

JADESPRITE: but if it came down to it...

JADESPRITE: ...well, im sure well figure out something

ROSE: Right.

ROSE: I could probably buy time with Jane, at least.

ROSE: But I can't imagine deprogramming them will be... easy.

DIRK: -quietly puts the pendant on to keep it close, tucking it under his shirt, but he's zoning in and out of this conversation and it's frustrating him a little because he NEEDS to be a part of this.-

JADESPRITE: right

JADESPRITE: the brainwashing is affecting jades filters and inhibitions at the same time its telling her whos in control

JADESPRITE: all her repressed thoughts are loose

JADESPRITE: so it's not just the obedience thats the problem... -shakes her head- im sure jane is feeling something similar

JADESPRITE: um... anyway

JADESPRITE: hal has the ship just outside the atmosphere

JADESPRITE: weve managed to talk to him safely from space

JADESPRITE: horuss is still cloaking the ship too but im not sure what theyre planning to do

JADESPRITE: hal is being sort of cagey about it

ROSE: -She frowns.-

ROSE: Is this something that... happened to you?

JADESPRITE: ...

JADESPRITE: i think so

JADESPRITE: its not all clear but...

JADESPRITE: between my memories and davesprite's i feel sure that it's something i know well

ROSE: Do you have any foggy memories of getting out?

JADESPRITE: no...

JADESPRITE: it just feels like i went to sleep for a long time

ROSE: Ah.

ROSE: -She nods.-

ROSE: Well. That's an option.

ROSE: Knock her out somehow.

DIRK: I wonder if the Serkets would have any effect on them. -manages to chime in-

DIRK: I don't like suggesting that, but it might be one of our safest options. I'd rather not knock them out forcefully.

ROSE: Well, we can't waste our opportunity.

ARADIA: trust your instincts and dont doubt yourself

JADESPRITE: -hovers thoughtfully- ...

JADESPRITE: it could work

JADESPRITE: we will just have to be careful

JADESPRITE: if jade knows whats coming she could zap them away

ROSE: ...

ROSE: -sorta. Takes in a deep breath through her teeth.-

ROSE: Okay.

ARADIA: -it's the middle of sleep time, for certain. but she's not completely sure if she's awake or asleep or in another timeline entirely when she gets up from her seat and just starts walking-

[Traveling via jet has not been the convenience they would have expected it to be. Lucana has made several stops in various private airports to try and throw off any other kind of military aircraft from following them. It's been nerve wracking, but they've eventually made it to the state of Minnesota. After landing in a small abandoned airport of some podunk town that is likely just as deserted, Lucana emerges from the cock pit to check up on everyone.]

LUCANA: { = Well, we made it to the state of Minnesota... We're still a distance away from the Empress' HQ, but I assumed you didn't want to land right on top of her. = }

DISCIPLE: ...

DISCIPLE: Would she survive the flying machine if it struck her nose?

LUCANA: -hand on her cheek... she seems to contemplate this, but doesn't look to HAPPY about it...- { = I... I'm going to have to say that she probably would... = }

DISCIPLE: RRR. Plane is too small. -KICKS A SEAT.-

LUCANA: -sweats about this. she's so rowdy... please don't kick her too.-

DIRK: -lifts himself out of his seat. he's still holding this phallic pillow he borrowed from the Void.- We should move.

DIRK: Find some place to lay low until the others are close.

DISCIPLE: Yes. Tell them we are here with talkbox.

DISCIPLE: We will have to give them a place to find us.

DISCIPLE: Perhaps with code. So the wolves do not go hunting, yes?

DIRK: -nods- Good idea.

DIRK: -peeks out a window too... just to make sure nobody is out there WAITING for them to come out, but it looks clear from what he can see. so he whips out his comm device.-

DISCIPLE: -She retrieves her crossbow again, prowling towards the exit to take her first peep.-

[It's still outside, save for the chill breeze rustling the overgrown grass encroaching on the runway. The weather is overcast and a little foreboding, threatening to rain as evening draws near.]

DISCIPLE: -despite the weather, it seems... normal. Normal and quiet. She just sort of flops off the plane, laying right there on the ground.-

DIRK: ... -same. he steps over her, just so he can take a seat beside her.-

DISCIPLE: She thinks the rain will be a blessing.

DISCIPLE: She forgot it exists in all of the heat and empty and heat and Shell Station.

ARADIA: -seems to make sure she's the last one off the plane, stopping and watching the empty seats for...at least a few minutes-

DIRK: I'm inclined to agree. -sighs through his nose, looking up at the sky, enjoying the cool moisture in the air. he knows they need to move, but... just a few minutes of this.-

ARADIA: -from wherever they are, in the place they end up laying low, she finds herself outside. it's cold. it feels nice. here she can watch the stars. what a strange perspective-

[Let's say they ended up at a lake house a few miles away from the airport. It's abandoned too with some food and supplies left over, and enough rooms to accommodate everyone if a few of them bunk together.]

DIRK: -if aradia is still hanging around out here, she might notice the flicker of an orange glow coming from the edge of the lake. it's dork lighting up something to smoke. time to chill among nature.-

ARADIA: -oh you bet she is. she sees dirk and approaches him.- hi

DIRK: Hey. -glances over at her, but he's mostly fixing his attention on the water-

ARADIA: it feels like ages since ive seen a body of water

ARADIA: a lot of different kinds of bodies

DIRK: Always end up drifting towards water.

DIRK: Like the fjord on Avalon. Where we had the wedding at.

DIRK: -sighs heavily- And damn, what I wouldn't give to be back at the vacation home right about now. The beach there is incredibly.

DIRK: Starting to think I should've stayed.

ARADIA: when presented with certain circumstances its normal to want to go back to a place you remember being happy

DIRK: -nods-

DIRK: I keep havin' those weird dreams. The really vivid, collective... magic kind.

DIRK: At least I'm assuming that's what happened, considering I woke up with physical remnants of one.

DIRK: I saw Jake and Roxy. -takes a drag on cig- Afraid of what that might mean.

ARADIA: -she nods, listening. she knows the feeling- afraid that theyre dead

DIRK: -nods slowly, but says nothing-

ARADIA: theyre not

ARADIA: not this time

DIRK: ... -looks at her- Oh.

ARADIA: i can tell you that much

ARADIA: they were just sleeping

DIRK: How do you know all this shit, anyway?

ARADIA: -looks up at the sky- experience

DIRK: You know, you've been especially cryptic lately.

DIRK: ... There anything you wanna talk about?

ARADIA: -she sighs- there are

ARADIA: a vast number of different possibilities

ARADIA: in timelines

ARADIA: ive lived them all

ARADIA: this is the right one

DIRK: -knits brows at her- What the fuck?

ARADIA: im making sure this is the right one

ARADIA: the best outcome

ARADIA: not the easiest

ARADIA: but the best

DIRK: That's... a huge burden to bear.

DIRK: And you're saying... so far we've achieved optimal results here? DIRK: Jesus.

ARADIA: not optimal results for each situation

ARADIA: perfection is impossible and perfection isn't real

ARADIA: but the optimal overall outcome

DIRK: -huffs- I didn't say anything about perfection.

DIRK: Just think it's really fucking cool that apparently some of us have to fucking die.

DIRK: I dunno what else I expect though.

ARADIA: in others all of you have to die

ARADIA: too early

ARADIA: much before your time

ARADIA: so many different ways -she stops for a few moments, silent-

DIRK: That's fucked up.

ARADIA: sometimes we didnt make it out of the plane

ARADIA: sometimes we didnt make it into the the plane

ARADIA: it was a domino effect

ARADIA: -she's humming something to herself while they are traveling and writing something down in a notebook-

SOLLUX: -He's been pretty out of it a large portion of this trip, but the sound of Aradia's voice rouses him from a fitful sleep, and it's a fair bit more soothing than half-assed rest. He finds himself drifting a little awkwardly through the aisle to drop down in the seat next to her, leaning his head on her shoulder.-

ARADIA: -pats his head- hi

ARADIA: whats up?(edited)

SOLLUX: mmh.

SOLLUX: can't sleep.

ARADIA: -gentle pets- what are you thinking about

SOLLUX: dunn0.

SOLLUX: feel like there's t00 much t0 think ab0ut. s0 maybe i'm n0t trying t0.

DIRK: -he's pretending to be napping, but to be fair he was definitely making an effort. when sollux slinked away it became impossible to try, so he's just kinda curled up in a seat now, eavesdropping.-

ARADIA: that makes sense but

ARADIA: trying not to just makes you think about it

SOLLUX: d0n't underestimate my ability t0 run fr0m my th0ughts. -snort-

ARADIA: i exactimate

SOLLUX: what is that a new 0ffice supply?

ARADIA: how did you know

SOLLUX: gl0bal marketing pl0ys are all the same.

ARADIA: damn

ARADIA: -pauses a little- hey

ARADIA: i saw her

SOLLUX: what?

ARADIA: i saw her

SOLLUX: i heard that part.

SOLLUX: what d0 y0u mean?

ARADIA: with feferi

SOLLUX: ...

ARADIA: wait

ARADIA: -checks her com-

ARADIA: ok we are good

ARADIA: anyway

ARADIA: you know where i go when im asleep

ARADIA: now i can go into dreams where some souls of the dead are stored

DIRK: -listening to this is making him too anxious. he gets up and makes a bee line for the bathroom again. hello darkness my old friend...-

SOLLUX: ... 0kay.

ARADIA: she wanted me to tell you something in particular

ARADIA: maybe it will help

SOLLUX: ... -He can't think of anything to say, now. He's just quiet, waiting.-

ARADIA: she told me to tell you

ARADIA: she said dont worry

ARADIA: and she will find her way back to you

ARADIA: she said she promises

SOLLUX: .... heh.

SOLLUX: -It's just one noise, and then after a long moment he sort of shifts against her, sitting up again and leaning his head back against his seat.-

SOLLUX: yeah.

SOLLUX: she w0uld.

ARADIA: we are pretty good at coming back

SOLLUX: yeah we are.

SOLLUX: ... -He takes a deep breath and exhales it slow, and then his hand slides over, searching for hers.-

ARADIA: -she holds his hand tightly so he doesn't have to look for long-

SOLLUX: -It's in that moment when she finds him -- when he doesn't have to keep looking -- that everything stings behind where his eyes would have been, and his throat is too tight, his teeth clenching. There's something crawling up through the tight space left where he should have been breathing and it's strained, a sound that's bare, too many years in the making. Losing people doesn't really get easier, does it?-

ARADIA: -sadly not. she moves to use her other harm to just hug him. words can't really do justice here. he heard what he needs to hear, and the rest is just being there. existing. sitting in the sadness and loss and grief of another person while acknowledging that you don't have access to the fix-

---

DIRK: -eventually he emerges from the bathroom again, but he doesn't feel any less anxious. it's only gotten to a point where being in the bathroom is now making him kind of anxious and claustrophobic. fun...-

ARADIA: -watches him as he leaves from her spot on the floor- hey

DIRK: -eyeballs her- Hey. -slides into a seat... then stands up again.-

ARADIA: -watches him sit and then stand- do you have to go again

DIRK: No.

DIRK: I just don't wanna sit.

DIRK: ... -steps around her so he can pace-

ARADIA: ok

ARADIA: -looks up at him still- you can get your steps in

DIRK: Thanks bro. I don't wanna get all flabby.

DIRK: -pacing pacing... running his hand over his forehead-- an unfortunate tick when he's got stitches there.- Ow. -hhhh. paces FASTER.-

ARADIA: do you

ARADIA: want to talk

DIRK: Not really.

DIRK: I know you aren't asking so much as suggesting. Or maybe you are. Who knows.

DIRK: Under most circumstances this is where Roxy or Rose or Dave would corner me like dude we're talking this out right now before you wear a hole in the floor.

DIRK: But nah. I don't want to talk.

SOLLUX: that's ab0ut the answer i was expecting.

SOLLUX: -commentary from the seats-

ARADIA: -keeps watching him- you want to pace

DIRK: Well, there you go.

DIRK: Everyone here knows how much I want to obsessively drag myself across this aisle. Thank you for honoring that.

SOLLUX: y0u're welc0me. -it's not to him but HES TALKING ANYWAY-

ARADIA: whatever human marriage is it worked out well for you

ARADIA: considering i heard double the amount of sarcasm i usually do in one sentence

SOLLUX: i'm t00 tired t0 pretend like this wh0le scenari0 isn't bullshit. at least s0meb0dy has the energy t0 pace.

DIRK: Luckily I always have spare energy in what I like to refer to as my insanity reserves.

DIRK: -stops pacing, instead just clenching and unclenching his fists. he wishes he had something to do with his hands, that'd be a better distraction.-

ARADIA: i like that name

ARADIA: it sounds like it could be a rock band

DISCIPLE: -UNCATS from one of the overhead compartments, slinking over and stretches her back.-

DISCIPLE: She has something for this.

DISCIPLE: -wrapping some Big Furred Kiton Mittonz around her hands, carefully.-

DIRK: ...

DISCIPLE: -HOLDS UP HER PAWS like a boxing trainer.-

DISCIPLE: Hit.

ARADIA: what a great idea

DIRK: -he seems to hesitate, but ultimately draws in close enough to raise his fists. they're a little scabbed over from the other day, but he doesn't really care about that. he takes a swing... shaking out some of the pain in his hand. and then he takes another. before long he's getting into a rhythm, and trying not to hit too hard.-

DISCIPLE: -BAT BAT BAT. She is a sturdy cat, taking the punches. At least the paws are relatively soft.-

DISCIPLE: This vehicle. She thinks it is growing too small.

DISCIPLE: The body does not like such small places, no.

DIRK: Right.

DIRK: There's a whole goddamn universe out there just beckoning to me.

DIRK: Where my loved ones are locked up. -punch.- Being tortured. -punch.- Dying. -PUNCH.-

DIRK: And here I am, stuck on this fucking plane. Wallowing over my own shitty decisions.

DIRK: Can't even think straight long enough to come up with some kind of plan.

DIRK: I'm supposed to-- -starts slowing down-

DIRK: Someone has to fix this. Someone needs to... help everyone.

DIRK: It's not me. -looks at his hands, turning them around a couple times. his knuckles are bleeding a little again.-

DISCIPLE: -She lowers her punchy paws, going instead for some fabric to wrap up his bloody knuckles, if he allows it.-

DIRK: -he lets her. he's finally too tired at that point to object.-

DISCIPLE: -she lets out a small chirp, tying off the fabric and petting his hand.-

DISCIPLE: She felt this way.

DISCIPLE: When they were caged.

DISCIPLE: She could not stand to look at the doors, sealed and locked tight. She beat herself against the walls.

DISCIPLE: -She lowers her head.- It was a terrible cage. It is a terrible cage. She is sorry again.

ARADIA: -listening politely. disciple has it handled but aradia is still supporting him-

DIRK: -nods slowly, sniffing. he hates that he keeps coming unhinged, and worse yet, that he can't express how grateful he is that someone is always around to put him back together.- Thanks... Again.

DIRK: -quietly moves to find a seat with sollux.-

DISCIPLE: -STRETCHES A LITTLE MORE AND SQUIRMS, climbing back up into the overhead compartment.-

ARADIA: -looks up at sollux and dirk. so fucking adorable. she's just going to lay on her back, deep in thought-

DIRK: -he is cute when he's sucumbing to deep hopelessness... it's true. he has such big sad eyes.-

DIRK: -leans on sollux whether he likes it or not.-

[With Lucana's help, the Texas group managed to infiltrate a military air base and hop on board a jet before drawing too much suspicion. But it's likely just a matter of time before they're followed... For now, the jet is accommodating enough they can take turns resting in cots. There's a shower in the bathroom too.]

NEPETA: =great shes been holding this in for a while now. Stays in some high crawlspace forever=

DIRK: -he's going to hide in the bathroom for a while too... hopefully no one has to whizz-

ARADIA: -I DO-

DISCIPLE: -paws at the overhead compartment- :oo

DIRK: -well unless someone knocks he DOESNT KNOW OR CARE-

ARADIA: -rude-

ARADIA: -jk. she's going to knock at the bathroom. I TSAYS ITS BEEN OCCUPIED FOR A WHILE...there could be a toilet ghost-

DIRK: ...

DIRK: -grumbles, barely audible- Occupied.

ARADIA: what? -she heard him-

DISCIPLE: -PROWLS UP to Aradia and sniffs...-

DISCIPLE: Rrrr.

DISCIPLE: It has been much time.

DISCIPLE: Is there trouble?

DIRK: -sighs- I'm fine.

ARADIA: what?

DIRK: -door schwoops open after a second. the gash on his face is all stitched up now.- It's all yours.

DISCIPLE: -She lets out a little mrow as it suddenly opens.-

DISCIPLE: He did this on his own?

ARADIA: youre pretty good at patching yourself up

DIRK: Yeah. Thanks. -attempts to shuffle around them-

ARADIA: -she actually has to use the restroom so she's going to DO THAT REAL QUICK-

DIRK: -ends up lingering in the hall here... looking at disciple. he isn't sure where to go or what to do with himself.-

DISCIPLE: -Sniffs at him, staring with her BIG, WIDE, INQUISITIVE EYES.-

DISCIPLE: It will heal, she thinks. These things fade.

DISCIPLE: There will be time for it.

DIRK: -nods slowly- ... Right. DIRK: For now it looks pretty bad ass. -physical and emotional scars are rad, my dude. but he sounds tired. definitely not convinced.-

DISCIPLE: He did not sleep much, she thinks. Did he? Perhaps she is wrong.

DISCIPLE: She did not sleep, herself.

DISCIPLE: There was... too much.

DISCIPLE: Too much evil. in the air.

DIRK: Yeah. DIRK: To be fair I don't sleep much under normal circumstances.

DIRK: But we're almost there.

DIRK: Not sure if barreling head first into the Condesce's lair will help with the evil stonk problem but you know. Darkest before the dawn and shit.

ARADIA: -she walks out again and takes a seat, but is definitely conspicuously watching-

DIRK: -hello-

ARADIA: -hey there-

DISCIPLE: Yes... yes, she knows this.

DISCIPLE: Rrrr. She feels foolish, in many ways.

DISCIPLE: For expecting too much, and too little.

DISCIPLE: For being too ready to accept something that could never be so.

DISCIPLE: -She rumbles with a little laugh.-

DISCIPLE: For growing terribly, terribly old, she thinks, without realizing it.

DISCIPLE: She is sorry. She knows that he did not deserve that. DISCIPLE: He did not deserve to have to be the one to do the terrible deed.

DISCIPLE: But it is done. He is not worse for it.

DIRK: -expression softens. it isn't that easy to believe it -- but that's why he did what he did. because it needed to be done. it didn't decide anything about him, nothing he can't decide for himself. but it still twists his insides up something awful. and now he has to be reminded every time he looks in the mirror.-

DIRK: -ducks his head down.- ... Thank you.

DISCIPLE: -reaches up and paws at his cheek. HIS GOOD CHEEK.-

DISCIPLE: There is so much he has done.

DISCIPLE: That man would have thought it impossible, no?

DISCIPLE: The little things who call him father.

DIRK: -don't say it like that... you'll make him cry. he sniffs.- Frankly everything I've ever accomplished was purely out of spite.

DIRK: ... I miss those little things.

DISCIPLE: She does...

She misses, as well.

DISCIPLE: -She climbs up onto a seat and loafs.-

DIRK: -goes to sit with the ladies, pulling out his comm. he's got a bunch of pictures of the kids porrim has been sending everyone that he starts scrolling through.-

ARADIA: -peeks over to see-

DISCIPLE: :oo

DIRK: -there's pictures of ananya and sileas for them too. babies for all.-

ARADIA: -she's taking a nap, it seems, and it really sounds like she's mumbling something about feferi and terezi-

TYRENA: -She's sitting... nearby. In a manner that would appear like eavesdropping.-

ARADIA: -she is OUT-

DIRK: -since their destination is more or less within city limits, dirk has pulled the car into some abandoned lot where he's trying to get as much information on the oil refinery as possible from his device. he glances back at tyrena and aradia when he hears her mumbling.- ... DIRK: -casually eavesdrops too-

ARADIA: yes...snow...

DIRK: - 👂 ✋-

ARADIA: alaska

DIRK: ... -murmurs at her- (What about Alaska?)

TYRENA: Y0U CAN WAKE HER Y0URSELF 1F Y0U TH1NK SHE'LL TELL Y0U

ARADIA: (dead)

DIRK: ...

DIRK: -gives tyrena a concerned glance. not that it means TOO much... aradia would likely just say (dead) under her breath while conscious, too. but it's unsettling either way.-

TYRENA: -SHE DOES NOT APPRECIATE HIS BODY LANGUAGE AT ALL-

TYRENA: -she's still just listening with the same expression-

ARADIA: i know

DIRK: ... -well, eventually she'll wake up and he can prod her about it then. for now, there are other things to discuss.-

DIRK: I've managed to download a map of the refinery. It's pretty basic google maps shit, but it's better then nothing. I sent it to everyone's devices. Also highlight potential points of entry.

TYRENA: AND 0UR G0AL 1S T0 SAB0TAGE WHATEVER WE CAN MANAGE

TYRENA: 1 PRESUME

ARADIA: -sits up, awake now, yawning-

DIRK: That's the idea.

---

[ANYWAY, some time has passed and it's dark out now, one single street lamp lighting the abandoned lot they're parked in. Dirk has exited the vehicle, calling everyone together so he can properly run them through the very loose plans he's created.]

DIRK: You might have noticed I've forwarded a map of the refinery to all your devices. In case you've been snoozin' since yesterday, in the spirit of the events past and future, both in Flavortown and D.C., we're going to fuck up one of the Empress' sources of income.

DIRK: I've circled a few entry points. -shows off the map via projection from his own device- There's a fence all around the perimeter. I don't know if it's just your standard fence, if it's barbed wire, or electric... But we've got the resources to pass it in whichever case, I'm sure.

DIRK: Our best bets are to either come around the back where most of the tanks are... Or around the front.

DIRK: Perks to the back -- less likely for there to be activity there and we can sabotage their storage right off the bat.

DIRK: There appear to be offices around the front. Might be more useful to fuck up documentation and what have yous.

DIRK: Ideally, we'll be able to fuck up the entire complex. But we gotta start somewhere.

EQUIUS: -He is tired, and he is hangry. Mostly, he's ready.-

DIRK: -eat some doritos friend-

EQUIUS: D --> I would vote for the back. They will not care to protect their logistics when the livelihood has been destroyed

TYRENA: 1 1MAG1NE F1RES W1LL BE HARD TO SUPPRESS 1N TH1S DRY HEAT TYRENA: SURR0UNDED BY V0LAT1LE L1QU1DS

NEPETA: =She has this grass for you Equius..... why won't you EAT IT.=

NEPETA: :33 < since pawffices have more boring paper work we could rig a fire in the front while going through the back! they'll be too busy putting out all the flames and it'd be purriority to not let things blow up here since theyd blow up a lot!

TYRENA: Y0U ARE ADV1S1NG WE SPL1T UP TYRENA: WE NEED A RENDEV0US P01NT

NEPETA: :33 < eifur that pawre we have something ready to set off a sneaky fire then sneak pawround the back

NEPETA: :33 < ...do we have something we can make with that? :00

ARADIA: -looking off a little while everyone is talking-

TYRENA: YES

TYRENA: 0NE 0F MY SPEC1F1CAT10NS

TYRENA: PRESUM1NG THAT D0ES N0T DEFEAT THE PURP0SE

EQUIUS: -Flexes irritably-

DIRK: I always have the means for fashioning small time bombs.

TYRENA: ARE Y0U V0LUNTEER1NG T0 SET 1T, AS WELL?

EQUIUS: -Set it and forget it-

DIRK: -nods- I can definitely do that.

TYRENA: -NODS AT THAT, THEN-

TYRENA: SEEMS S0METH1NG APPR0ACH1NG A PLAN

TYRENA: G01NG T0 HAVE T0 W0RK QU1CK

TYRENA: 1 GUARAUNTEE THEY'RE EXPECT1NG US

TYRENA: THEY D1D BR1NG US HERE, AFTER ALL

NEPETA: =Looks to Aradia also, she's been acting a little weird=

NEPETA: :33 < well have to be supurr secret shadow fightpurrs >:33

ARADIA: -looks back at nepeta and seems to snap out of it- as discreet as possible

EQUIUS: D --> Simple enough

DIRK: -closes the projection and puts his comm away- Cool.

DIRK: We're about a mile from the refinery here. -gestures to it just down the way. all lit up, pumping chemicals out into the atmosphere... beautiful.-

DIRK: Figure we can hoof it or... Equius can work his literal magic on the cars, if that's feasible.

DIRK: Either way, discreet is definitely the name of the game.

DIRK: That's mostly a reminder to myself. Y'all know how flashy I can be. -waves a hand.-

EQUIUS: D --> What are you e%pecting of me, to devise cloaking for the vehicles

ARADIA: can you do that

DIRK: If you can... That'd give us an advantage.

DISCIPLE: -SOMETHING LOUDLY CLICKS. she is holding her large crossbow. It apparently got larger in the day since they made plans to attack this place.-

DISCIPLE: :33

EQUIUS: -Sighs-

EQUIUS: D --> I will see what I can manage -Empties a shit ton of random tech from his sylladex and gets to work-

DIRK: I didn't mean build something. I mean like... DIRK: -spirit fingers-

ARADIA: -does spirit fingers also-

EQUIUS: D --> .....

DIRK: -thank you aradia-

EQUIUS: D --> That's much easier, yes

DIRK: -spirit fingers turn into two thumbs up-

DISCIPLE: Rrrr. She is getting anxious. Is any more we must do?

EQUIUS: -Forgive him. He's tired...and hunger-

NEPETA: =nuzzles on Disciple and purrs=

NEPETA: :33 < that should be it! h33h33h33 mewve b33n purpawring a lot!

DISCIPLE: Yes. MUCH preparation. -She rumble.- DISCIPLE: Is restless. We burn the blood of the earth and she shall have none of it again.

DIRK: -claps hands together- Let's go Wildcats.

DISCIPLE: -YOWLS-

EQUIUS: -Alternatively he could just chuck the cars in-

NEPETA: =Wee=

DIRK: -there are a FEW flaws with that plan......-

DIRK: -GETS IN HIS CAR. void him up stud-

NEPETA: =climbs on the car, void her up steed=

DISCIPLE: -She's going to sit on the roof with her crossbow- >;cc -WARFACE. she pulls on her hood. HER WARFACE IS NOW ALSO A LIONFACE-

NEPETA: 800 ✨ ✨

EQUIUS: -Gets in the other car, here they go. A nice sheen of sweat precipitates on his body as his very existence becomes hazy to...well...everyone. This is much easier than the whole ship. As long as Dirks vehicle stays close to his they are completely undetectable-

ARADIA: -good job. You're doing good-

NEPETA: =VROOM. She's holding onto the hood with her claws feeling the wind, the excitement of the BRAWL-TO-BE=

DIRK: -leads them down the road... but eventually he takes them OFF road, a short distance from the fence near the back entry point. hidden behind some... bushes... they aren't great cover, considering they're all dry and brambly, but so long as they're mostly cloaked by the dark of night, it should be fine until they need to get away. which is why he's parking them OUTSIDE.-

ARADIA: -watching everything as it passes from inside one of the cloaked vehicles-

NEPETA: =Equius do you wanna try nibbling on this bush?=

EQUIUS: -No.-

DIRK: -liar-

EQUIUS: -He could just void teleport and leave y'all here...-

NEPETA: =You didn't want dirt, or grass, or bush, WhaT WILL YOU EAT?=

NEPETA: =She could BITE HIS BUTT=

EQUIUS: -Bring me the blood of the condesce-

NEPETA: =Also while arguing she's scoping the facility=

[It's your pretty basic oil refinery. But it's QUITE LARGE. At some point all the storage tanks were painted pink. Incredible. They can also see the fence is barbed wire.]

DIRK: -gets out of the car and looks towards the others.- Alright. I'm gonna go set up the distraction, you guys work on getting in around the back. I'll meet up with you there. -and he's gone in a flash (step.) he's gotta make this quick.-

TYRENA: -She cracks her neck-

TYRENA: 1S THAT CHA1N L1NK?

NEPETA: =Nods and scampers to the back entrance. Barbed wire, PSH. How high is it?=

ARADIA: -exits the car also and just barely flinches-

[I am chainlink, the fence would helpfully inform Tyrena, if only it could speak. It would also tell them that it's roughly 12 ft high, but those who still have their eyeballs should be able to deduce that.]

NEPETA: :33 < it is and pawbout two and a half mes high!

TYRENA: -She's gonna walk up to it and put her hand on it and TEST IF IT SHOCKS HER-

[IT'S SHOCKING... How anticlimactic this action is. Because she doesn't get shocked.]

EQUIUS: -Hups Nepeta and Disciple over the fence-

NEPETA: =WEE, she does a flip. FOR STYLE=

TYRENA: -She's going to rip a hole with her ROBOT STRENGTH.-

TYRENA: -and pass through. Hrm. Nothing out of the ordinary yet...-

EQUIUS: -I MEAN. OKAY-

DIRK: -with a skip and a flash jump dirk manages to clear the fence near the front. when he finds the closest building, slaps a little bit of plastic explosives right along the side, then zips over towards another small building to use it as cover... then... BOOM. enough to blow a humble hole in the wall and catch some of the interior and shubbery on fire. TACTICAL ESPIONAGE ACTION!! scurry crouches through the shadows towards the others.-

[The others are in the middle of all these pink storage tanks. Round and ready to be drained of their precious life blood.]

NEPETA: =Oh she'll stab ya=

ARADIA: -flies over the fence-

[Now that they've caused a DISTRACTION, they better do as much damage as they can while they can. They can hear shouting from the other side of the facility as workers rush to deal with the fire and investigate it's cause. Other than that, however, there doesn't seem to be too much activity around...]

DIRK: -except DIRK notices something while making the trek over there... the armored cars they saw yesterday are parked over here. zoinks.-

EQUIUS: -PUNCHES A TANK. Goobye-

NEPETA: =She's gonna go around and start jabbing holes in these tanks from the backs, it's not going to be that great for the ground but.... yknow=

ARADIA: -CALM YOUR ASS DOWN-

EQUIUS: -Uproots another tank and tosses it in the direction of the fire, soaking everything in its path in gasoline. What was that Aradia?-

DIRK: -ROLLS to avoid getting squished by a tank. goddamn, hulk. he's not complaining. that'd be an A+ way to go.-

NEPETA: =Look at him go, she sighs.... while slashing things=

[There is something approaching at breakneck speeds-- some kind of BLUE STREAK. A whirling metal orb weathed in energy weaves around the trail of gas from the hurled tank, crackling with some kind of energy as it spins through the air-- suddenly launching directly at Equius, the most obvious source of the damage.]

NEPETA: =What the balling heck=

EQUIUS: -What the tinglefloops?-

ARADIA: get down

EQUIUS: -This is fast, faster than he can dodge. He braces his arms to block.-

[ IT STRIKES INTO HIM like a pinball, or a spinball, or a SONIC SPINBALL FOR THE SEGA GENESI]

[ It slams into the beefy arms with considerable force, dust and wind kicked up as it ricochets up into the air, swiftly uncuring to reveal some manner of... troll? Covered in plates not unlike an armadillo, a pair of glowing eyes fix on the group, scanning them over slowly as it comes to land on top of one of the tanks with surprising grace for someomeone with such sharply limited range of motion.]

[ He leaps into the air, curling at the apex of his leap and beginning to spin, that blue energy wrapping around his body again as his RPMs rise dramatically before even touching the ground. There is a screech and he flies forward, again, head-on directly at Equius, as though testing him.]

NEPETA: =Oh... not a ball. A troll. An old friend. Trolld friend if you will. Seeing them again is reassuring but also. Not at all. Hurt flashes over her face then anger and fear=

NEPETA: :33 < wait!! =Wait what... don't hurt them?? And to who it's to she doesn't really know. She probably should've done more preparing for this instead of pushing it into the back of her vault=

EQUIUS: -okay that is ENOUGH, sir. Equius lets out a low hiss, but this time the rollie trollie is met with a STRONG punch-

[ROLY POLY TROLLY strikes head on with fist, taking no obvious damage from the STRONG punch but flying through the air in almost directly the opposite direction, with almost no inertia.]

EQUIUS: -But is there a sproing sound-

[PROBABLY]

EQUIUS: -Sick-

NEPETA: =She hopes there's a sproing but her hair is also on end and she's just anxiously watching them pshooo into the distance=

NEPETA: :33 < (mmrrnnrngnngnrngrnng) equihiss!-- ughhhhhhh =anxious pacing cat, she's not GOOD AT THIS SHIT=

EQUIUS: D --> What

[ Probably would have kept going, but a large set of whiplike lashes latch onto the troll in air-- still spinning, but held laterally by another figure. Long, mechanical tendrils holding the ball about twenty feet over her head, sticking out of a set of mechanical hands that look to have been useless for any function other than handling these things.]

[ This one stares at them as the air grows colder, somehow, a layer of ice thickly forming over the glowing, spinning sphere.]

DIRK: -ARRIVES. sword: out. he is forcibly ejected from the oil refinery... except not really. not yet.-

DIRK: Now this seems a little excessive. -stupid freak show military task force-

NEPETA: =Remember that one time she opened up then shoveled it away forever? Mmmm regrets on that one=

NEPETA: :33 < FUCK =Scrambles about=

NEPETA: :33 < just, MOVE run! =sHOVES him=

[ U THINK IT'S EXCESSIVE? It is excessive. That glowing ball of troll is being covered in ice-- FEET OF ICE, even, as it's got about a ten foot radius as she slams it on the ground. It has lost no momentum and is already skidding across the ground at them.]

DISCIPLE: -YOWLS as she scurries up one of the tanks.-

EQUIUS: -IS SHOVED-

EQUIUS: D --> Nepeta what is your major malfunction

NEPETA: :33 < =What's YOUR major malfunction= its my =huffs at all this crashing and just pounces, gonna haul Eq if she has to, ears lowered though she's angry= its my old pawry unit

EQUIUS: D --> What? What are they doing here? Why -He's moving he's moving SHEESH NEP-

[They just barely manage to avoid getting trampled by a big sphere of ice, but as it passes them by, it abruptly explodes-- shards flying EVERYWHERE. These two do not appear to be happy to see them. They do not appear to be betraying much of anything with their blank expressions.]

[The armadilo lands to the ground, finally stopped momentarily as the two of them begin approaching from either side of the group.]

NEPETA: :33 < g33! i should ask their puppeted robodies >:'''CC =She's got the claws out and slashing the shards that come their way but also she doesn't want to have to kill them=

EQUIUS: D --> Puppets...We have to find a way to incapacitate them

DIRK: -well, he's a bit out of the loop having arrived late from the other side of the sudden battle field, so he's leaping into action from behind to slice at ms. freeze.-

NEPETA: =Bless her horse=

[Speaking of horses and blessing them a figure looms behind the Equinep pair. A dangerous tail raised then striking down on them]

EQUIUS: -Equius is distracted and thus struck by the fiendish appendage. He goes skidding a ways away-

AZLOYA: -Ms. Whips, or Azloya as Nepeta would know her, lets out an inhuman noise as maroon blood spills from her back. Her skin is a little too rough-- that slice might have bisected an unaugamented troll like her. She flips forward, mechanical tendrils latching onto the ground as she flips upside down, the many arms scuttling like some kind of octopus as a blue sphere goes flying towards Dirk from the far side of the yard.-

NEPETA: =DOOF, THERE THEY GO. Nepeta goes skidding too= [The figure doesn't let up however. It pounces right for Equius. It's a Nep....borg. Complete with scorpion tail and perma wolverine claws]

EQUIUS: -Pushing himself up, he takes in this figure, but more importantly his rail was hurt. Old unit or not, Equius lets out a loud hiss before charging and unleashing a flurry of blows-

DIRK: -her scuttling is a little distracting -- but even MORE distracting is ANOTHER NEPETA?? he doesn't notice the sphere until it's almost making impact. shIT, he turns his sword up in hopes he might shield himself/slice the ice.-

NEPETA: =She's not so sure how to feel about seeing herself, what she would've been... Looking at Dirk he might need help so she glances back just trying to fight and concentrate. Taking out some darts from her old work, good for paralysis. SHOOTS them at Azloya=

BORGPETA: =Is very agile and bendy, it even has Nepeta's same fighting style, liquid catting around the blows then jumping back to strike Equius with her tail again=

[NO ICE THIS TIME. Just a big ball of blue energy. It might still do some pretty serious damage--]

TYRENA: -but it's a good thing that dirk isn't actually fighting these borgs alone. A kick from the side-- sharp and rather delicately timed-- sends the troll skidding to the left of running into his blade by inches.- AZLOYA: -The figure turns as something hits her-- still scuttling on her fingertips, it would seem, as the needle sinks into her skin. She's bleeding and a bit battered, but it's not slowing her hands or those limbs down, yet. Raising each finger and slamming it down, trying to cut right through Nepeta.-

TYRENA: 1 HEARD WHAT SHE SA1D

TYRENA: WHAT THEY ARE

TYRENA: WE MAY N0T HAVE THE K1ND OF T1ME T0 BE G00D PE0PLE R1GHT N0W -she eyes dirk and eyes the blue ball-- Liekit-- as it smashes into the building behind them.-

NEPETA: =Oh that's bad news. She tries to jump and dodge the tendrils. Please do not. You still owe her 5 bucks and this isn't how you get out a debt=

NEPETA: :33 < im not leaving them like this! =hisses at Tyrena. She will fight you too=

AZLOYA: -Her body is slightly limp, but the fingers are still going. Slice. Slice. Slice. Each time she does, a bit more frost builds on the ground, growing strange and slippery and so very not texas.-

EQUIUS: -Oh gdi. It's like sparring with Nep except for the unbridled rage he feels. He attempts to grab the tail, planning to slam the robo into a tanker-

NEPETA: =Azzy stop she's trying to prove a point about saving you guys. Parts of her jacket are getting the slice as she rolls and starts to dash for the octo-pa=

BORGPETA: =Equius gets his hand on the tail but at the expense of being stuck lower in the arm by the hollow tip. Poison, it's poisonous=

AZLOYA: -She's got the high ground, and MANY lims with which to do the slicing. But as Nepeta starts to run, she does another flip-- launching herself down at her, legs first, attempting to plant her boots on her chest.-

DIRK: -he just about bit it there... thank you, tyrena. he glances between everyone, frowning- Seems like they don't give a shit about the property damage either. -stays on the defensive for whenever sanic comes back around.-

[As if things weren't chaotic enough, someone in the distance is taking aim, right at the big horse after he's been stabbed by a poisonous tail... And shooting a net in the hopes of capturing him within it's crackling electric webbing.]

DISCIPLE: -!! -Yowls suddenly! THE HORSE-

NEPETA: =UGHHHH, she looks at Equius getting shanked in the arm and DOOF takes heavy boots right in the chest, but grabs and jabs more of Spiny's venom into this leg=

EQUIUS: -Hisses out in pain but tosses this imposter nep Mario 64'style. So long gay bowser! Then heckerdoodle! He's netted and hissing angrily at the electricity coursing through his body. FREE HIM-

BORGPETA: =Goes sailing into a bomb, only just into the distance=

AZLOYA: -GrGH. This should be easy now... she drunkenly swings the tendrils at her, trying to rake it against her, but her body isn't obeying its orders... staggering and increasingly weak.-

DISCIPLE: -She's jumping down pulling a bone knife and trying to cut the electrified net. It probably hURTS TO TRY THAT THOUGH. This isn't a great plan.-

[oh hey, speaking of, Liekit steps out. Not rolling this time... slow and deliberate footsteps as they approach Dirk this time. Many, many spines extend from their body with a sickly, lurhcing sound, along with the crackle of psionic energy.]

????: -the shooter steps onto the scene, reloading his weapon as he approaches disciple. he's a rather weathered and stern looking seadweller- I wouldn't do th^t if I were you. DIRK: -he bristles -- not at the troll approaching him with such measured steps so much as the voice he hears behind him. a voice he recognizes, and had hoped he'd never hear again. the Militant.-

DIRK: -it's disarming, but he squares up against liekit.- We got this. -assures tyrena before flash stepping over to flank liekit and divide his attention. but avoids the spines, of course.- You're too slow.

DISCIPLE: -growls as she drops the knife, pulling her crossbow again.-

EQUIUS: -Hissing and trying to free himself-

NEPETA: =FRIEND SHANK shANK SHANK SHAnk. She is also getting the first good look of Azloya she's had in... a long time and it makes her want to whimper but ALSO THERE'S SOME SALTY GRANDPA NETTING HER RAIL=

DISCIPLE: She has no words for this. For him.

NEPETA: =SALTY GRANDPA=

LIEKIT: -He bristles-- LITERALLY-- at Dirk. The divide of attention seems to work, though the sharp, electrified spines launch from his back in a spray of needles at him—

TYRENA: --as she swings a kick at his soft underbelly.- AZLOYA: -She looks... worse for wear. In so many ways. There isn't even a glimmer of recognition as she begins to stumble, tendrils still lashing violently at anything and everything that they can reach-- which is so very much.-

AZLOYA: -As the poison takes over she simply slumps over, fallen, the limbs still squirming and thrashing.-

NEPETA: =DEFINITELY GOT THE BUSINESS END OF SOME OF THOSE LASHES, can she capta Azloya's body? If so into the dex it goes and Neps gonna try to shoot darts at the SALTY GRANDPA NEXT......=

BORGPETA: =Bitch you thought, POUNCES=

[Commense cat scuffle]

EQUIUS: -Pure adrenaline is the only thing keeping Equius from outright succumbing to the poison.-

DISCIPLE: -She flinches as the duplicate jumps on Nepeta, eyes trained on the sudden scuffle, as she turns on the stranger again.- If you are responsible for this, there will be no mercy. None. -Despite the fact that the gun is trained on her, she still attempts to fire a bolt at him.-

DIRK: -manages to deflect some of those needles, but he takes a few more hits jerkily. SHOCKING. he shakes it off as best he can.-

MILITANT: -DRAW. he takes a shot at the at the same time, aiming carefully enough so her arrow will at least get thrown off by the net, even if he doesn't manage to capture the cat. he can only do so much at once, however, and finds himself stuck with poison darts. for the moment, it seems like only a minor inconvenience to him. SCOFF.-

[Meanwhile, the net is strong, but maybe not strong enough for MUTANT AMOUNTS OF STRENGTH. ]

DISCIPLE: -SHE FALLS TO THE GROUND, convulsing under the net.-

NEPETA: =GET BIPPED GRANDPA=

NEPETA: =Wait no!=

TYRENA: -She pulls her sword out-- for a second, before throwing it aside-

TYRENA: AUUUUGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

TYRENA: HE W0N'T D1E

TYRENA: G0

TYRENA: HELP W1TH THAT 1NSTEAD

EQUIUS: -He can break these cuffs! And so he does, dragging himself up to his feet a bit woozy but nevertheless charging at the militant, whipping the remains of this net AT HIS FACE-

LIEKIT: -wheezes temporarily, but launches even more spines at Tyrena. She twitches, but all the electricity hardly seems to bother her.-

TYRENA: -she swings both fists down at the METAL PLATED HEAD.-

ARADIA: -lands from...wherever the hell she's been, knowing it's now her time to interfere. Her whip's out though, AND SHE ATTEMPTS to CRACK IT ON LIEKIT-

LIEKIT: -STAGGERS AND FLINCHES at both the strike and the whip-crack, beginning to whirr and kick up sand-- hurling at Tyrena and attempting to RICOCHET towards Aradia.-

TYRENA: -DOOF-

NEPETA: =Pins this.... weird..... version of herself=

BORGPETA: =Goes to stab with the tail, CATCH THIS BUSINESS END=

NEPETA: =Oh no, not the business end! She rolls and catches the entire end of the business right through her arm but also enough to let the bot stab itself. Haha.... ehhhhh this is weird=

DIRK: -BACK INTO THE FRAY I belatedly write after he's given the OK from tyrena to leave. adrenaline pushes him forward, but there's memories haunting his thoughts as he approaches the militant.-

MILITANT: -turns to face the charging blue blood, now drawing a cutlass from his specibus to hack back at the net. he doesn't seem phased much by that either.-

MILITANT: It's funny we should cross p^ths here. -tilts head to look at dirk who he KNOWS is rushing at him.-

DIRK: -oH OK. HE HESITATES.-

ARADIA: -she saw this coming, so she attempts to fly up as soon as likeit ricochets to her in order to dodge-

EQUIUS: -NO HESITATION! CATCH THESE HANDS OLD TIMER. ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA ORA!-

LIEKIT: -AS HE WHIRLS INTO THE AIR even more spines spray out, using that momentum to really try and launch them at the two of them.-

ARADIA: -DOOF. She's not invincible, and at least one of the spines pierces her leg. Oops. Still gonna WHIP-

MILITANT: -bobs and weaves, turning the rifle in his hand to swing the blunt end at equius' head. he's spry for an old man but the strength behind the strike is definitely characteristic of a seadweller.-

????: -ANOTHER CHALLENGER APPROACHES. a blue blood in a clean military uniform aims her own crossbow at nepeta. ER... WAIT. WHICH IS WHICH?? clearly she isn't the most competant fighter here...FIRES WILLY NILLY-- but at the wrong nepeta. whoops.-

DUOCATBALL: =Someone gets pierced by an arrow and the whoel ball slumps over=

LIEKIT: -it feels kinda like getting tazed, but at least the lash knocks him groundward.-

TYRENA: -INTO HER. But that seems to have been her plan, as his back-- and all the crackling psionic energy-spikes-- collide into her skin.-

TYRENA: -She may or may not be bleeding, it's hard to tell with all of the sparking and flashing. She is, however, getting him in a chokehold, of sorts, with the only leverage she can manage around the big ball. Go to sleep.-

NEPETA: =She got to look herself in the eyes and watch as the arrow lodged in Borgpeta's throat bled her out with twitchy convulsions= 8))

????: { = Oh, SHOOT! = } -curses in the distance. she did a bad...-

ARADIA: -jolts and loses her balance, wings not being much assistance here until the tase feeling wears off, where she attempts to SUPPORT TYRENA should ball escape-

NEPETA: =Shoot is RIGHT. Something to focus on, someone to focus on she. Growls then roars at the arrow firer, she's bleeding and poisoned and also just fueled on regret, trauma, and confusion. Hello, feast upon her foot=

TYRENA: -he doesn't SEEM to be. He keeps trying to spin, or flail, or launch more needles, but it doesn't exactly work-- the tazing sensation in Aradia's leg gives way, and it's not bleeding TOO badly, but she's effectively got him wrangled.- TYRENA: -But it's... strange. She's just taking all of the energy. Her more obviously cybernetic components glow a faint blue.-

????: { = !!!! = } -YELPS as she gets a boot to the face. it hurts, and she hits the ground, but what she lacks in form she makes up in toughness, so she starts to roll away almost immediately after absorbing all that shock-

EQUIUS: -Gets a gun butt TO THE FACE-Equius reels, spitting out a bit of blood as his glasses fall off his face in shards. He's going back in for more cqc!-

ARADIA: -WHATS A LITTLE BLOOD AM I RIGHT? she's watching tyrena, still on support-

NEPETA: =HISS, she's gonna leap on this troll and BITE IT=

MILITANT: -he's going to get a gut full of blade if he comes much closer—

DIRK: -until he unfreezes himself long enough to grab the militant's arm and wrench it behind his back before he can stab at equius.-

MILITANT: -drops the cutlass, his cool expression cracking. he takes another swing behind him to try to get dirk in the face while also twisting his arm out of the human's hold.-

DIRK: -HE DUCKS, but this whole manuever has them breaking apart and distancing each other. he skids to a stop next to equius.- I know he's all decrepit and shit but he's tougher than he looks.

MILITANT: -picks up his short sword again, circling around the other two men and waiting for their next move.- I wish I could s^y the s^me of you. H^ve you gone soft, Dirk?

EQUIUS: -Yes-

DIRK: -NO! ... yes-

ROXY: =SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY. he's always at halfmast, she got ur back bby=

DIRK: -he's so thankful he has such supportive people in his life now-

????: -OH RIGHT SHE'S HERE TOO. nepeta will have to CATCH HER FIRST as she scuttles on all fours before she hops onto her feet and sprints to hide behind a tank.-

NEPETA: =Scampers up the tank to get the DROP on her=

TYRENA: -She throws the troll down, and lifts her head towards Aradia, directly.- TYRENA: N0T K1LL1NG TH1S 0NE

TYRENA: Y0U MAKE SURE 0F 1T

TYRENA: -She seems to just... wander off, in fact, as she grabs her blades again.-

ARADIA: -she nods. UNDERSTOOD-

????: -WAH!!! splat. she's squished under cat.- { = Wait, don't hurt me! = }

EQUIUS: D --> Understood -Shakes his head. FOCUS Equius.-

[ In the not-too-distant distance, one of the pipelines just straight up explodes, even more smoke rising into the sky.]

EQUIUS: D --> Dirk, attack him from above -Because he's about to do something cool. Instead of attacking him head on, Equius STRONG PUNCHES the ground cracking the concrete and causing a localized tremor around the militant-

NEPETA: :33 < =DOES IT ANYWAY, but she's still poisoned and her arm is shaky and numb so she just rests the claws against the troll's throat= mew had no troupawl shooting at me, why shouldn't i? =bares teeth boohiss=

MILITANT: -uh oh, he wasn't quite expecting THAT... he needs to get his sea legs back, because the tremor definitely has him losing his balance.-

DIRK: -blips above him, ready to bear down on the militant with an aerial slice.-

MILITANT: -reacts to that only just quickly enough, blocking the strike with his own blade, but it doesn't stop dirk from colliding into him. he lands on his back, still on the defensive.-

DIRK: -it's a power struggle alright -- the militant has more strength then him, but he manages to keep pressing his blade down on the other... until it slips.-

MILITANT: -HA-- he cuts at dirk, leaving a nasty gash across his cheek.-

DIRK: -NOT HIS FACE. fucking... slaps the cutlass out of his hand and just starts WAILING on the militant instead. this is incredibly personal.-

????: { = T-That-- .... Is a good point... = } -wheezes, looking around for some kind of way out of this. then she sees dirk beating the shit out of her friend/boss.-

????: { = W...! Wait... You're from the UU? Is that... Dirk Strider? = }

EQUIUS: -The poison is overriding his adrenaline. Has his body always been this numb? Probably. Hoo...wow okay but...He's gotta help dick...Dirk. Yeah.-

NEPETA: :33 < =Bares teeth= purrhaps. whats it to mew?

DISCIPLE: -SHE'S FINALLY OUT OF THIS HERE NET PROBABLY-

ARADIA: -with an eye on likeit, she quickly flies to equius to check up on him-

DIRK: -he'd react to explosions too if he wasn't too busy remembering this guy kidnapping him as a child, putting him through hell, etc etc... HE JUST WONT STOP PUNCHING. there's purple everywhere.-

NEPETA: =FREE DISCIPLE 2K???=

DISCIPLE: -YES-

EQUIUS: -Yes, feel the anger...drink it.-

????: { = I know him! My name is Lucana Leiqin-- I've been looking for him-- Just ask him?? = }

DIRK: -VIOLENCE BREEDS VIOLENCE BUT IN THE END IT HAS TO BE THIS WAAAAY-

ARADIA: dirk

EQUIUS: -Do it. Kill him.-

EQUIUS: D --> Break...His neck. Let us be on our way -His breathing is becoming labored.-

ARADIA: equius

ARADIA: -her voice raises- dirk

ARADIA: think about your options

DISCIPLE: -Works herself under one of Equius arms, catcrawling at him and looking for that poison stab wound...-

DISCIPLE: -and then she tries to suck on it. IT'S PROBABLY TOO LATE.-

DISCIPLE: -BUT U KNOW HOW IT IS-

EQUIUS: D --> Disciple, your efforts...are appreciated, however I'm sure the poison has worked its way into my system thoroughly -Wheeze-

DISCIPLE: >:CC -2 BAD THIS IS DISTRESSING HER TOO MUCH-

DISCIPLE: -ptoos out some blood-

DIRK: -don't distract him aradia, geez. he does start slowing down though when he hears his name.-

MILITANT: -he's beaten to a pulp, but still here... still conscious enough to talk shit.- Yes-- Think ^bout... your options.

MILITANT: You were m^de for this... Killing me will only prove it.

MILITANT: So why don't you? You've ^ldre^dy... done the Empire ^ ^ f^vor... By te^ring ^p^rt this useless refinery...

DIRK: -pauses, just kind of staring at him-

NEPETA: =Looks Dirkward then huffs and HAULS UP "Lucana"=

NEPETA: :33 < fine, if purr in his fafur then shoot the salty troll grandpa

ARADIA: -REMEMBER...WHO YOU ARE...DIRK...-

LUCANA: -HOIST- { = I-- I can't do that... =} -she's watching this scene, DEEPLY TROUBLED, however-

TYRENA: -She walks towards the rest of the group, singed and burned and covered in holes, none of which appear to be bleeding all that much. The fires are probably going to keep going for a while yet, as she approaches the group.-

NEPETA: :33 < he s33ms k33n on killing who you came here fur and given purr options you have no choice :33

EQUIUS: -Leaning on this cat. He's really tired....-

DISCIPLE: -:xx-

DISCIPLE: -she's not quite sure what to DO about that... or how bad the poison is. purrs anxiously.-

MILITANT: -grabs at dirk's throat. he's still got enough strength in him to break his squishy fragile human neck. DO IT, DIRK. KILL HIM BEFORE HE KILLS HIM.-

DIRK: -chokes, hesitating still...-

LUCANA: -SHE CAN'T KILL HIM!! she's loyal to the empire, even if she wants to save dirk... but cipher is kind of a dick... but... killing him might get her in trouble—

DIRK: -but it doesn't matter, as he slams his fist into the militant's face one last time with the last bit of strength he can muster. the grip on his throat loosens.-

NEPETA: =growls at this and HAULS her over before the poison gets to her too, she can feel it in the numbness of her arm=

NEPETA: :33 < she claims to know dirk and have b33n looking fur him.... in the not bad way i pawssume =EYEBALLS LADY=

ARADIA: -unsurprised-

EQUIUS: -Wheezing horse, the new mgs villain-

LUCANA: -sweats... ok, so her intentions aren't entirely pure-

DIRK: -looks over at them a little wild eyed and breathing heavily. there's so much blood hello.- ... Lucana?

LUCANA: { = It's me...! = } -oh dirk... she looks at him sympathetically, then around at the others. time to make a decision.-

LUCANA: { = They were going to blow up this facility... And all the other major refinery pipelines across the country. The Empress has little use for it as it is... She wants to flood the crater it would have left behind if you hadn't interfered. = }

LUCANA: { = And I think that's just a little too much! Even for her! Why kill all these people when-- = } -shakes her head. there's not time for rambling.-

LUCANA: { = ... You should get out of here before they send back up. = }

TYRENA: AND D0 WE REALLY TRUST Y0U?

LUCANA: { = What difference does it make? I'm on my own here! You can leave me be and I'll look the other way... Or you can kill me-- Either way, you've got a running start! = } -frowns and glances in the direction of the abandoned convoys...-

ARADIA: -looks toward the others. their choice. their decision.-

NEPETA: :33 < mew say that like its so easy if we just leave mew here without doing anything then efurrything is still going to blow up >:((

NEPETA: :33 < i cant say i trust mew or that we shouldnt kill mew but its pawvious SOMETHING is going on here

TYRENA: HA HA TYRENA: HA HA HA

TYRENA: SHE'S R1GHT, Y0U KN0W

TYRENA: D0 N0T GET ME WR0NG, 1 COULD K1LL Y0U

TYRENA: BUT WE'RE G01NG T0 NEED S0METH1NG BETTER THAN

TYRENA: A RUNN1NG START

TYRENA: -she scoops up a little bit of teal blood from the many holes in her body-- it doesn't look like she has a lot of blood, and she's hardly bleeding at all-- holding the finger towards the girl.-

TYRENA: THEY D0N'T JUST MAKE M0NSTERS 0F SAD L1TTLE MISFIT L0WBL00DS

TYRENA: AND WE NEED T0 GET T0 M1NNES0TA

NEPETA: =Narrows eyes more at that=

LUCANA: -sweats.... but minnesota is... dammit!- { = Fine! Take me with you. I can get you clearance at an airport near here... And you can take a jet to Minnesota! = }

LUCANA: { = But that's... That's really all I'm capable of offering!! = }

ARADIA: -her wings flutter-

TYRENA: G00D

TYRENA: -She sniffs the air, turning her head back towards Dirk.-

TYRENA: D0 Y0U 1NTEND T0 LEAVE THE B0DY HERE

DIRK: ... -finally gets to his feet, shakily. he isn't all here right now. his voice is low when he speaks.-

DIRK: No. -hoists. he's going to drag the militant over to the nearest fire and chuck him into it. now they can leave.-

NEPETA: =....she could've eaten that..=

DIRK: -fried fish-

NEPETA: = :'( =

TYRENA: Y0U ARE MADE F0R N0TH1NG, HUMAN, EXCEPT AN UNCERTA1N EX1STENCE

TYRENA: 1 H0PE Y0U C0NT1NUE T0 REMEMBER THAT -Shes gonna start walking. Sensitive nose like hers, she's got no desire to stay along the flames.-

ARADIA: -watches the flames for a moment. walks closer to the flames on her own. just watching.-

DIRK: -nods slowly as he watches flames consume the last of this awful representative of ideals that ALSO need to die in fire. at least they're working on it. maybe he can finally let go of his ties to it.-

DIRK: -glances at aradia after a moment.- ...

LUCANA: -fidgets, then straightens up her posture and begins to lead them over to one of the convoys. they can all fit in one of these luckily.-

ARADIA: -she's still staring-

NEPETA: =good yes, also she couldn't haul around spiny's venom without having things for poison so she's going to hand that off to someone so she and equiheck can get unpoisoned... she's also thinking about the bodies of her old friends hanging out in her dex. Mmmmnnnggg, what to do with them. She has them at least but... what to do. She's very tired=

DIRK: -pries himself away to follow the group. time to go.-

LUCANA: -she will drive this thing... maybe at gun point if it'll make people feel better.-

ARADIA: -waits a few seconds more before turning around and bringing up the rear-

ARADIA: -her leg is still bleeding but whatever-