Welcome to Beacon: Ultimate 2.0

Campfire

...Lexi's blaming herself again? Why am I not surprised? She's been through a lot. Probably a lot due to me…

Luke let out a sigh as Alexia walked off. On one hand, it wasn’t like he was directly to blame for the current downturn in the dorm’s psyche. On the other… well, it couldn’t have been a coincidence that the dorm Arcana was targeting was the dorm he was staying at. Especially since they were part of the top brass—

His concentration was broken by Falken talking next to him about him brooding like Alexia. “Don’t bother bringing out a dress,” Lucas responded, irritation seeping through. “Besides, it’s nothing important right now. Just a bit… exhausted, I suppose.”

A lie. But let’s hope he buys it…

Holy crap, Alfred

"That doesn't look like a good idea..." muttered Erin, watching Alfred attempt to wrestle a crab that was much, much larger than him.

....But to her great surprise, the knight actually managed to lift the monster over his head and smash it into the ground with enough force as to cause a very loud crash and create a miniature crater.

".....Huh."

Wastelands: To the Village

The large man introduced himself as Frederick Forrester, Jane's husband. After introductions were over, the Forresters and the students made their way through the wastelands and towards the village.

They arrived at a small oasis, a pool of water in the wasteland next to a small clump of trees. Right next to the oasis, was a very small village, a clump of maybe ten houses and a few tents.

There was even an old airship, converted into a home.

There was a gathering crowd of people right at the center of it...

Campfire

Alexia almost jumped when Sir Jack approached her. She looked away from him, not really wanting him to see the expression on her face.

"I...I'm fine. I'm not feeling that at all. Completely fine..."

She didn't sound very convincing.

And then another voice called out, and this time Alexia managed a small but genuine smile.

"A-ai! Hello! W-what are you doing up there? And I'm not moping! I...I was just taking a walk..."

Meanwhile, Erin looked up at Glen with a confused expression on her face.

"Oh? Forgive me, but I do not comprehend what you are saying..."

Campfire Crazy.

The air-head's smile faded ever so slightly. "Tired, huh? I 'spose I can't see if ya have bags between your eyes with the blindfold in the way, but I don't think you're that tired, I mean, c'mon, today hasn't been that tirin'. I'm still ready for anythin' and I got a liiiiiiittle clobbered." Falken remarked, a devious smile forming on his face.

"A little late to tell me to bring along a dress, y'know. I mean, it's all folded up in my pack and I think it's actually your color~ Maybe~. I mean, I dunno what your color is, buuuuut...it'd fit you just fine. Dunno if it'd make you a pretty princess but it'd probably put you close."

Campfire?

Doing his best to lighten the thickness of his accent, Glen said "I was wonderin' if I could talk to you, mostly to apologize for snappin' earlier."

Taking a moment to collect himself and try to figure out how to explain himself, the Highlander continued "It's just that, back home, the term 'sir' is associated wi' southron knights which dinn- does not sit well wi' most folk up north for obvious reasons. I mostly dinnae care for people usin' honorifics on me, makes me feel like whoever's usin' it does nae see me as an equal."

After an extended and somewhat awkward pause the Highlander would ask "Erm, you understand that bit alright? I can try tae lighten my accent a wee bit if that helps."

Hope, Campfire

Now it was time for Hope to be confused before the realization washed over her that she simply made a mistake.

"Oh, er... no, I was around. You just seemed to have taken the news harder than most." She explained with a shrug. "I guess it's my mistake... not that we couldn't discuss the issue at hand."

"Do you think these robots are any progress in getting Alexandros arrested?"

Carnima rolled by the others - likely carrying Medus and Ieria with them to keep up with Forrester's ride. The village was... rather positively unimpressive. How on earth did they hold out here on their own for so long if it looked like they can't afford proper homes, let alone defenses?

In the rolling machine, Hope shook her head. It might have been the Grimm or these people were in fact brave enough to try their luck outside of big cities. She shouldn't be chastising them.

For her part, she stayed silent. If they had to choose a people's person in their three-man-group, it would probably be Medus. Best leaving talking to him.

Campfire

Umber drained the last of her tea and poured herself another cup.

"I-I don't know," Umber said. "A dragon—like a dragon, I guess."

Any robot with wings usually looked like a dragon.

A Tree

Ai sat cross-legged at the roots on the other side of the tree, back leaning against the trunk. She turned her head, grinned, and raised her hand to wave cheerfully.

"Yo."

In her other hand Ai held a cup of now lukewarm peppermint tea. She must have taken it before Umber arrived at the campfire, because she hadn't been seen there at the meeting. In fact, nobody had really seen much of Ai for the past four days—she seemed to be mostly keeping to herself.

Ai stood. She groaned and stretched her back and her arms overhead. Then she whirled around and flicked Alexia on the forehead.

"Okay, this time don't lie to my face," she said. "We've been through this before."

TREE

Jack glanced at Ai. "Yeah, you're horrible at bullshitting." He agreed, turning to Lexi. "Trust me, I know what that looks like." He waved at her with his stump of an arm.

"Trust me, if you were really such a burden? Pius would have told you." He sat down against the tree, cracking his knuckles against his knee. "So, just spill it."

Campfire: Alpe No 2: Lol Hope In A Completely Vannila Straight Ship

Al looked at Hope as she spoke, albeit hidden well, tiny hints of his dislike to the idea of arresting Alexandros slipped through, "Arrested? I dunno about that, I just hope we can manage to stop him in his tracks, nothing good comes off of those ambitions gone unchecked."

Alfred's last words sounded awfully genuine for, almost like he completely meant them. If it was a mask, it definitely wasn't visible.

edited 13th Feb '17 12:28:20 PM by LiorVal

Hope Discusses The Finer Points Of Morality With Someone Who's Probably A High-Functioning Sociopath

"Arrested. It's fair and it ensures he won't be getting to meddle too much once all of his crimes come full force." Not to mention, some part of her considered it more challenging - and more satisfying - than just killing him.

The larger reasoned that, unlike Arcana, he had done some good too. The prostheses he handed out like candy some time ago were legit and worked well, not that she put hers on yet. "I want to be the better man. Despite what some might say" Hope's eyes ventured briefly to Ayers. "killing a man, even if they are a scumbag, isn't the way to go. We cannot deny that Alexandros, for all his atrocities, is not just an average thug with a deathwish."

"We'd need a definite proof that can be tied to him. Something that will shake him to the very core. Here's hoping we can find it there."

Lake:Alfred Yells Shit In Mnara'ean.

<"AND STAY DOWN YOU SON OF A BITCH!">

Alfred yelled at the beast, got back on his feet and inspected the crab. The man sported a wide grin, carrying the monster on his back he turned to the others and spoke. <"See that! Told ya I was gonna be alright didn't I!">

He laughed and boistorously spoke in his foreign language again. <"THAT WAS A GLORIOUS FIGHT, now let's cook that bast-"> -He suddenly remembered they would not understand what he's saying and spoke common brokenly "Glorious fight. Beat crab bare hand- suddenly his tone got calmer, more in character for Al- Eh I mean. That was a good fight and a mighty catch! See told ya I can deal with it" The knight gestured to the two watching to get come with him as he started walking towards the camp with the trophy of his fight carried on his back.

Campfire:Well Hope, Al Has Some Opinions

As Hope spoke, Al looked towards the fire again, his eyes were only half-open, the man's expression changed from calm to mild anger, in his speech Hope could hear discontent with the idea of letting Alexandros go.

"Fair huh? For who? Is it fair for your conscious or to the people who've suffered because the man had ambitions about his bullshit greater good?" Alfred glared at her. Showing a surprising amount of emotion both in his expression and his voice. Almost like it was a personal matter to him.

"It's exactly because he isn't an average thug that he needs to go down" Al sighed and his usual stoic expression seemed to somewhat return.

"I'm not gonna do anything, but I don't buy into your peaceful, legal apparoach. People like him will find a way to escape the law's hands by abusing power and status, I doubt you'll actually get him in shackles"

edited 14th Feb '17 1:54:42 AM by LiorVal

Campsite Shenanigans

"Cumulative sleep deprivation is a thing," Lucas responded irritably. "And even if I wanted to wear a dress right now, I doubt that it's in my size. Or in my color, whatever you mean by that..."

Campsite Cunning.

Falken cheerfully hummed at Lucas's attempts to wriggle out of the subject. "If you're that sleepy, maybe a more comfortable outfit would help in gettin' some sleep." The air-head was sorely tempted to break out the dress before realizing Luke wouldn't even see it. "Yeah, I mean, ya don't need to wear the same get-up and colors all ya life, might as well spice things up so others can appreciate you wearin' less borin' shades and whatnot."

Of course, with that 'excuse' the blindfolded man gave, Falken couldn't help but give another cheerful hum. "Well, ya see, here's the thing about this fancy dress, there's a bunch of flashy ribbons that can get more flexible or tighten up to make it fit better no matter the size~ At least, that's kinda what the designer said. So sayin' it won't fit ain't an excuse...~"

Hope, We Are The Bettermen!

Hope shook her head. "We are better than this. Killing him will end the problem, yes... but it will spawn that many more new ones. What, will we have to kill his wife too? His kids, if he has any?"

"The man needs to be broken and his arrogance shattered into pieces. He must be defeated, not killed, and we can only defeat him by beating him at his own game." The grayhair tented her fingers together for a moment. "Which is why we're going to go look for clues and then maybe prod Alex's mom to do something."

Campfire: Alpe 2 In the Making

Al chuckled quietly as he pressed his left palm against left cheek, Alfred showed a weak smile, despite his tiny grin, he was obviously not actually happy from what Hope said, responding in a quiet calm tone.

"Like a true idealist. Hope, I have to ask you this. You may be crippled, but you've never been a pawn were you? have you ever been a toy, a sacrifice perhaps, treated like less than a person by some high and mighty asshole's ambition?"

Al, be careful you were trying to get better with people here in Vale with those lessons weren't you? Don't make them hate your behaviour even more just because they caught you at this bad moment

I know, I know, why do you care anyway?

Well, I hate you, but that doesn't mean I don't want you to be less of an asshole and sociopath, maybe you'd get better if you had some actual friends, not some aristocratic employers or coworkers, or a bunch of people staying together to not starve to death

I'll probably dissapoint you

Wasteland

Medus looked around at the gathered crowd and the fact that the ramshackle village had not been destroyed yet and frowned. "Maybe some of you should go around the side. I've got a bad feeling about this." He said a moment before strolling towards the crowd. "Hey! Everyone alright here? Someone need medical attention or something?"

Hope, Campfire

"No, and I don't see how it matters." She shook her head with a shrug. "Idealist? I consider this realism. Consider the consequences of our actions. Huntsmen or no, we're all held together by some rules, laws to define us."

"We would be mere animals if we had no laws and no rules, wouldn't you agree?" A pause. "Whatever had befallen you, you've survived it and learned from it. We all did and almost all of us have been through some sort of strife."

"Maximillian Alexandros has played with fire for a long time. The fire must burn him eventually, but not consume him, otherwise he won't learn."

Hope replied with a little confirming hum before Carnima took to the side, rolling around the village to check for anything suspicious.

edited 16th Feb '17 3:52:09 AM by FergardStratoavis

Alpe 2: Not Really Happening

Al looked at Hope, a contrast showing between the hot color of his eyes and the cold expression his face projected, he spoke calmly, managing to finally get control of his tone.

"Hope, you forget who you're talking to, I am this so called lonely animal with no rules or laws, I have little pride, and so I do not think on clean hands like you do, I don't care about whether he learns from his mistakes, I am looking to give peace and quiet by ending a torturer, a big man who stepped on those below him because he could. Nothing more." Alfred sighed and nodded his head left to right, he stood up and spoke.

"Forget it, I have nothing more to say on the matter.'' After finishing his sentence, the man began moving towards the team AGAT tent in the vicinity.

Alpe 2: One Day

"So you say." Hope's face turned sour as she watched her arguments fall on deaf ears. Alfred really was something sometimes, wasn't he?

That being said... "But what would Alex say to that?" It might not have been fair, using Alexia as her trump card, but perhaps the only way Hope could get to that guy was via shock and referring to the only person that he seemed to respect in the first place.

Alexia: Campsite

Alexia sighed. Figures that her friends would see right through her. She didn't want to lie to them, but she didn't want them to worry.

She was weak and it was frustrating, but she didn't want to burden her friends anymore.

The youngest princess leaned on a tree and looked away from Jack and Ai.

"It's just...just..."

"...I'm sorry. It's my fault, getting you all dragged into this. Arcana's targeting me and to them you're all in the way. And I..."

"You shouldn't be dealing with all this. You should be normal students, not forced to fight and be traumatized over and over again because you're friends with me."

"And...And I don't even have the decency to be strong enough to protect anyone....I'm useless..."

Wasteland

"Wait. Do you hear...screaming?" Jane said, narrowing her eyes at the gathering crowd of people.

And indeed, there were screams.

...Of delight, as the people gathered around a figure in the middle if the crowd, pushing and jostling to get close.

A teenaged girl replied to Medus, giddily squealing.

"Aaaah! We're fine! More than fine! She's here! Miss Cornelia is '"here''! Aaaah! CAN SHE SIGN EVERYTHING I OWN?!"

Erin

Erin quickly shook her head, an expression of surprise on her usually stoic face.

"Oh, no! Please do not apologize. I was merely stating that I do not comphrehend what you were apologizing for. Your accent....I do not mind it."

One could see the faint blush.

"Ah, and you must forgive me. I was ignorant of your culture and spoke ignorantly. If you do not wish to be called by honorifics, then I shall not use them with you. It is I who should apologize for my thiughtlessness."

edited 21st Feb '17 9:32:27 PM by GrimHelm

Ayers had, up till this point, simply lounged back and watched Al and Hope argue. His own ability to articulate would have probably done more harm than good, honestly, but with Al tagging out Ayers loomed up and towards the two of them, maybe a little more ghoulishly than he should have. He did have an in here, though, something he was nearly certain Al wouldn't figure out.

"She's right, y'know." Ayers said, and solemnly stared at Al. "Whut would Mr. Alexandros think? Thas who yer referrin' to, right, Hope?" He cracked a weak smile. "I mean, thought process here's I know you, and like you? And, uh, way I see it y'all're real laser focused like, and won't just bring folks in from outta the conversation like Alexia. Might wanna use a different nickname to be honest, that right there's a little confusing."

He clicked his fingers together in a brief, awkward silence. "I can't and won't say nuthin' to stop nobody I like from doin' as they please, Hope, but, uh... please gimme the same?" He shot a pleading expression her way. "I don't wanna fight about this, but also there's, like, one person with any authority on this, and I got a direct line to'er."

A Tree

Ai shrugged and then flicked Alexia on the forehead again.

"Nah, I'm good. I could back out at any time if I wanted to," Ai said. She looked across to the people at the campfire. "Some of us already have."

She drained her cup of lukewarm tea.

"Did you ask everyone what they think? Maybe ask me first what I think before you tell me what I should and shouldn't be dealing with? What does Jack think?"

FOREST

"We should be forced to fight and be traumatized over and over again because of fuck you, you're our friend," Jack told Lexi, grabbing her and forcing her to look at him and Ai. "At anytime me, or Ayers or Pious or anyone here could just take a transfer into a different dorm. Hell, many have." Jack said with a shrug. "Me, Lucy and Remus are cursed to always be the three stooges." He didn't expect the new girl to last long either. Give it a month and maybe he'd figure out her name.

He gestured to Ai as he looked at the queen. "But us? We're still here. Because you hold us together. How many times have you stopped us from imploding? That time when I nearly left, that time that we nearly destroyed ourselves after our first match with Arcana. You are the reason we're still here, you keep us together." He stood there for a second, frowning. The Reisentoters never did this lightly, hell they never did this in the past century.. But on the other hand? This was Lexi.,

Jack Rust of the Reisentoters dropped onto one knee, his head bowed as he rested his fist on the earth before the Princess. "Now, I know your mother is a complete and utter cunt but you? You're my queen and I'll maim any Reisentoter that does not do the same. Understand, your highness?"

edited 21st Feb '17 2:45:15 PM by TroyandHawk

Campfire:Alpe 2:Ship Already Sunk

"Alex? Why would I ca- Oh Lexi" Alfred looks scratched his hair for a brief moment and then chuckled, though confused by her seemingly desperate and weird argument he responded calmly.

"Are you trying to threaten me? She already knows I'm repressing emotions and desires, I doubt it'll surprise her that much that I'm holding this back. She does somewhat know what she's handling with me" Al sighed and waved as a gesture of dismissal towards Hope, mostly to her thoughts that he might go through with killing Alexandros.

"Listen, I'm not gonna do a thing, just because he pisses me off doesn't mean all this time that I've held wants and feelings like this back will just burst right when I see him here, so don't worry." Tarantula nodded to Ayers in agreement with his statement. "Yes I agree with him, calling her Alex is confusing at this moment. Now I think your teammate wants to have a conversation with you, don't let me interfere"

Al finally walked from the campfire towards his teams tent, trying to get some rest from the confusion in his mind and all the morality talk.

Near the campfire but not

Glen shrugged "Wi' respect I'm nae unaccustomed tae people nae knowin' much about back home. It's just so... different from the south."

After a brief pause, the Highlander added "Which is kind o' wha' I wanted tae speak wi' you about."

"Seein' as you an' I come from somewhat similar backgrounds, I was wonderin' if we could get tae meetin' up sometime tae talk about adjustin' tae our 'new lives' for lack o' a better term. Mebbe over some food?"

The Campfire

At Glen's last mention of food, Geki picked up a pan and banged out a three-toned tune on it. From his area was a bubbling pot of stew, while he spread out a few trays of bread bites to go with it.

"Hope you've some room," he explained to any coming closer. "The fare's heavier than I'd like, but more than a few of us are on night patrols." Often mocked as SIGL's butler, the tanned young warrior had a habit of staying in the background during some of White Rose's more trying times. In a way, this was him just trying to be more assertive, be more helpful.