EVENT: HERE THERE BE MONSTERS

[initiatesnpc]

Date & Time: October 24 - October 31
Location: Throughout Exsilium
Characters: ALL; tag yourselves in
Summary: The Transports return from their mission to find the island crawling with monsters.
Warnings: Violence, possibly injuries (notify a mod if there's cause to add a particular warning!)

The Transports return from their mission to Medieval Russia, but the Initiative Hold is eerily deserted. Normally, their would be a number of Initiative personnel prepared to meet the Transports at the end of their mission for debriefing.

Instead, there is only silence.

That is, until a distant thumping sound can be heard. It is growing closer, and suddenly the beast is bursting into the room. It lets out a roar and charges. Within minutes, it is easily defeated, but damage has already been done -- it collided with the Transporter machine, which is now making a low fizzling sound and lets off a couple sparks. The commotion is enough to draw the attention of the few remaining Initiative personnel who still inhabit the Hold, who arrive immediately afterwards. They are able to tell the Transports two things: that the machine is broken and currently unable to sent anyone back in time, and that the island has been overrun with aggressive, mutated beasts sent by the United Earth. They have been under siege for months, with the island's population reduced to a mere fraction of what it had once been.

Comments

[boughtabookstore]

"In a situation like that, the enemy concentrated in front of you - yes, that would work. These tactics are different. You're going to find yourself with allies next monsters." A shrug. "Show me how you hold it."

I'm really bad with guns I'm so sorry this log is really "Lenga knows jack about guns: the thread"

[speakveryclearly]

She raises her left hand with the gun in it. Her three fingers are curled around the grip, her index finger is inside the trigger guard, and her thumb rests on top of the gun. She looks up at the human woman uncertain whether she's about to be praised or rebuked.

lmao what i know about guns could be summed up in like two sentences i'm sorry

[boughtabookstore]

Being vague as shit, Roslyn moves over, adjusts a finger or two and nods. "Now fire."

There's no apologizing to be done if we're both like this

[speakveryclearly]

"...At what." There isn't exactly a target right here. She's suddenly confused.

there we go then mutually bad at guns

[boughtabookstore]

She points towards the perimeter, a target painted on one of the walls. Meant as a joke, most likely, but useful now. "There."

Kan's baby started as a sawed off shotgun but then seemed more like a pistol now it's lit just "gun"

[speakveryclearly]

After a little deliberation, she gets a shot in on one of the target's outer rings.

totally works

[boughtabookstore]

"Not bad." She moves behind her, readjusts her stance a little. "Don't let the kick throw you off. Try again."

[speakveryclearly]

An intent stare at her own hands... ah, that's what's going on. "How about this." She refocuses, and gets in one ring closer, on the other side.

[boughtabookstore]

"Better." She glances out at the perimeter. There's nothing in immediate sight, but the monsters have been big enough that perfect aim is not required. "Keep trying. Once you can hit the third ring or better three times in a row you can come on patrol."

[speakveryclearly]

Kanaya balks for a moment in disappointment, realizing she's been deferred - it's a surprise, but in the next moment she understands that it shouldn't have been. "So you're leaving me here, then." That's what she understood.

[boughtabookstore]

A shrug, and Roslyn steps back and sits down on a handy rock. "No. I want to see how long it takes you, and I won't mind a chance to sit down for a little bit." She's been going a lot since this whole thing started. This will give her a short breathing space, and also ensure that she's positive Kanaya's ready to join a patrol.

[speakveryclearly]

Kanaya gets serious again, and after reloading her gun - by turning it to eyeshadow and back again - she focuses seriously before firing a full clip.

The resulting strikes nearly evenly divide the fourth ring into sixths. She scowls at the barrel in frustration. "Stupid evolution."

[boughtabookstore]

Roslyn watches without comment until the end, at which point she raises her eyebrows.

"Don't blame the weapon for something you don't yet have the skill to do." Calm and unhurried. "We have time. Practice takes time to make perfect."

[speakveryclearly]

"I just... get the feeling this happens on purpose." She tries again - five marks, all in the fifth ring - and is beginning to hiss under her breath.

[boughtabookstore]

"Pause." Frowning just a little bit, because she thinks that is something that could perhaps use a little clarifying. It might prove important, particularly since the weapon's sentient. "Explain what you mean by happening on purpose?"

[speakveryclearly]

She holds the makeup in her hands and stares down at it, despondent, philosophical. "It's... not an accident that the results come out this way." She uncaps and recaps the tube a few times, compulsively. "Nothing's..."

Come on, Kanaya. She knows she can do this. For crying out loud, she dated a riflekind user. She played.... SGRUB...

"Nothing's random," she declares decisively, as she grips the gun with both hands and fires off her entire clip again - an upside down five-pointed star in the third ring with the sixth bullet in the bullseye. "Everything is predetermined. Even weapon spread!"

[boughtabookstore]

An eyebrow raised as she watches that. Well, it's certainly results of a kind, but she's not at all sure how they were arrived at.

"Everything is random except what we directly influence." Shrugging, as she glances over at the results again. "Can you get that again?"

I wish I were sorry for this tag

[speakveryclearly]

"Yes."

She does.

heh no need

[boughtabookstore]

"Good." She leans forward, elbows on knees. "Now tell me how."

[speakveryclearly]

"Because I know that it's going to happen." She says this with the confidence of a former precognitive. "Once I have that awareness... it becomes repeatable. Reflexive."

[boughtabookstore]

There's a long evaluating pause, because if any of that made sense she really doesn't know, but all right. Apparently it works, at least. She stands. "Then you're good to go on patrol. You can come with me or find another group, whatever appeals to you more."

[speakveryclearly]

She brightens up - literally, again, bless her. "I'd much rather go with you--"

And then awkwardly it... strikes. Her. Well. "Ms...?"

[boughtabookstore]

She smiles, just a little bit. "Small. I'm Roslyn Small. And you can certainly come with me."

If nothing else, it means she can keep a closer eye on her and continue to figure her out.

[speakveryclearly]

"You--!!" She - realizes that might sound much ruder than she intended, but she recognizes that name by god. Two impressions merge into one in her head.

"You... you hike! You're the hiking woman." That's the first thing she can think of to convey the thread they shared back when she'd first come to the surface.

[boughtabookstore]

So she does remember that conversation. Well, she'd thought perhaps she might. Roslyn nods a little, shrugs. "I do hike, frequently. Yes."