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{--indie blake belladonna--} ✖---above the darkness and the shame above the torture and the pain above the ridicule and hate above the binding of our fate--

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Taureau et Belladone - Mission1

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"Close enough."

"Scouting Mission."

Curt and precise - preparations for combat were a given, be it from hunters and huntresses or the Grimm; and on any scouting mission one could never be certain as to the threats that may be lurking.

That was something, actually. If she couldn’t kill a lesser Grimm, or a human, in one strike she’d be less than useful - he’d have to question and test her skills before she was forced to display them.

"When we get to storage, take only what you need. Pack light and in preparation for a week.”

He wasn’t blind to the determination she practically radiated. It was obnoxious, in your face and loud; she wanted him to respect and acknowledge her. And she seemed to recognise that she’d have to fight for it, too.

Good.

[nekonekura]

     Blake conveyed her understanding with the nod of her head. Tailing adjacent to him and mindfully examining their surroundings, she refused to let her guard down for even a moment. Whilst their mission hadn't started, first impressions meant everything. She wasn't one to condone needless violence-- but she would surely fight and hold her own ground, should she need to.

    Risking an unprofessional demeanor for the petty sake of her pride? No. She would follow his orders without outburst. She yearned for Adam's respect, not his attention. So that she could continue to fight for their cause, so that she could make a difference. That's what she wanted more than anything. 

    A part of her wondered whose idea it was to pair her with someone like him. He struck her as a recluse (very much like herself). Someone as powerful as him assigned to a mere scouting mission... twas likely a step down, for him. And she was just a burden, weighing on his shoulders. She was observant enough to understand at least that. Proving herself to be worthy was her utmost priority. While she did feel some fear that she wouldn't amount to his standards, she did her best not to show it.

          "...Right."

    A mental list began to form as they reached their destination-- water was her main priority. Secondly, food. Feeling as though every task was a test, she was quick to store her bag with necessities, refusing to be picky with her selections. Regrouping in the matter of a few minutes, she sent an inquisitive glance in his direction.

        "So... where exactly are we headed?"

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Taureau et Belladone - Mission1

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Blake.

The name is engraved upon his thoughts, as is her face upon retina - for no other purpose than to ensure that he can find her, should she get lost. Or should some event proving her incompetence happen regardless; worst case, death.

There is no casual acceptance of her name - nothing to prove he’d paid attention, just a short stare. And then he’s turning to walk away, as content with this situation as he’ll ever get; moving towards the next destination. They’re in need of equipment for a scouting mission, and they need to leave now.

Or risk being late. Not acceptable.

"Are you aware of the mission parameters?"

There’s not an ounce of wasted energy or effort, in movement and speech, in consideration and in execution - not that the latter two had been witnessed yet by this one.

She’d better have been made aware - it was only a scouting mission. Hardly a Top Secret endeavour; no, those didn’t come about much now - they weren’t suitable for a man with someone to tutor.

She was a liability.

[nekonekura]

When Adam turned and she readied herself to follow him. Disappointing her mentor was hardly something she intended to do. The notion of being deemed incapable and useless-- after she'd spent her entire childhood fighting to survive...? It'd be pathetic. Her skin crawls at the way he regards her, yet, she knows it can't be helped. She just has to be patient.

A deep breath is taken and she relays what was said to her. They were actually rather elusive-- treating the mission with a crypticness that skirted the more important details. They'd simply rushed her out, sent her on her way.

        "...I was told to be ready to fight. That's all.         --And I am. Just tell me what I need to do."

The sooner they got over this, the better. While she was worried for this mission, there was also a blooming of hope that this might be the start of her attempts to make a difference. To take action, rather than to sit around twiddling her thumbs in the base, doing nothing.

For her to achieve anything, though, she'd have to establish a sense of trust between herself and Adam. Which, seemed near impossible at the moment-- given his behavior. Perchance, she still had a lot to learn about him. She moves swiftly in step behind him, so that she wouldn't hold him back. Golden eyes ablaze with quiet determination; staring straight ahead and conveying a willingness to make this mission as painless as possible.

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Taureau et Belladone - Mission1

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"Correct."

And immediately he rises, proving himself the taller of the two. The stance he holds is not intentionally imposing, nor the stare from behind an ivory plate meant to convey a sense of immediate dislike.

But it would, because he is not pleased.

“Your name?”

He loathed that he had to ask even her name, their superiors had been quite insistent on him not knowing a single thing to pick out and use as a reason to remain a one-man unit.

She didn’t have the look of a killer. She didn’t have the look of someone that would be able to stomach the things he did in his every day - all assumptions, of course.

Assumptions he cared not to see disproved. There is one last scathing look at her, ending with a disapproving sniff.

[nekonekura]

   He's challenging to read at first,

      albeit, the mask he wears is likely at fault for that. Therefore she does her best to keep her expression level and mostly vacant. If anything, to prove both her worth and the fact that she didn't want to be dead weight for him to carry throughout the mission. He was unhappy. Whether or not she was the reason...? It was difficult to tell.

       While a part of her wants to demand respect and to prove that she is capable of contributing, she decides to treat the matter professionally. There would be a time for her to earn respect-- just... not yet. So she gives a single-worded answer, straight to the point.

   "...Blake."

       Very much like herself, she assumes that he doesn't prefer to waste his time with obligatory small talk. Words that were empty, with no meaning except to fill silence. Her mentor... didn't seem to have the patience for her. Or at least, that's what translated in his reproaching huff. So she gave her name and stared expectantly, as though awaiting order or direction. Decidedly, she'd refrain from speaking unless she was asked. 

[tauxus-deactivated20150406]

Taureau et Belladone - Mission1

There is a lazy tapping of his foot as he sits, waiting for the arrival of this apparently exceptional new recruit with whom he was to play partner and mentor. He was certain he’d made it clear he didn’t care to play babysitter, but apparently his flawless mission record counted for nothing.

To add insult to this, they’d refrained from actually telling him anything about this recruit - he or she was a mystery to him, and he supposed it was to give him the chance to work with someone without any prior distaste for them or their skills to blind him.

But he’d be sour about it regardless.

He was as stubborn as the day was long… The recruit wouldn’t be able to even keep up with him, and he’d send them scurrying back to base with their tail between their legs - whether literally or metaphorically was dependent on them.

Footsteps, and his head tilts only enough to allow dark eyes to grace the stranger through thin slits within his mask. So… This was his partner?

[nekonekura]

     Violence and crime escalated rapidly amongst the White Fang. The peaceful protest she had grown up alongside as a child was reduced to no more than a splintering dream, naught but layered flecks and ash. While she had been raised to fight for herself, to survive outside of the kingdoms-- Blake preferred not to involve herself with the malicious endeavors she'd been hearing so much of.

     When her loyalty came into question, however, the young faunus found herself being cajoled into taking on missions she sought to avoid. There was no other choice for her, now. Practically born into the White Fang, there was no one else for her to turn to, no safe haven. If she had to prove herself to stay in their ranks-- then so be it. And... who was she to say? Maybe fighting like this was their only chance. Maybe they would be able to make a difference. Of course... she wasn't ignorant. People were getting hurt... In turn, the faunus were earning respect--

                    --to put it simply, the entire ordeal was conflicting.

     Now, she sought out her assigned mentor of sorts. While she already knew full well how to support herself in a fight, it was thought best that she work alongside someone with more experience. Navigating her way towards the meeting place she'd been assigned, it wasn't a challenge to notice the figure nearby. The vibrant red hair, his mask-- yes, this was definitely him. Perhaps a little intimidating (just as the rumors she'd heard of him described--) yet, she decided to reserve judgement until she knew more about him.

     Blake tested the balance of the earth beneath her feet with a shift of her weight and observed him carefully with a sharp, saffron stare. Attentive and cautious-- as always.

   "...So. You're Adam, I take it?"

[nekonekura]

νι¢тσяу ℓσσкѕ ℓιкє α ∂ιѕтαηт ∂яєαм || weiss & blake

[schneeing-archive]

❄        It wasn’t a recent development—more habit, than anything. To remain conscious and vigilant during night hours… even moreso under stress. Various thoughts of the White Fang wreaked chaos ‘pon mind, thus she kept awakened until the disquiet calmed even slightly. Of course these ideas were amongst others, however those of dangers and such seemed to always dominate the others. Mostly she’d ideated the possible outcomes of attacking those who posed a threat, though thoughts were also directed on their plans. What were they wishing to accomplish? And why the need for such an exuberant amount of dust? Surely they couldn’t want to bring about an apocalypse. That seemed only frivolous. These ideas grew worsened, even as she reached the lavatory to steady herself.

          Ivory tresses fell ‘pon back as the heiress removed glittering tiara, sigh escaping carmine lips. Narrowed azure oculi stared back at a naturally pale visage, hand attempting to straighten hair. And she continued out the bathroom, and into the dorm occupied by her assumed slumbering team. She’d a thought to finish homework—or anything to remove mind from such ill thoughts. And so quietly she searched for her books.

          Despite their seemingly fast-asleep state, she tiptoed—howbeit, she doubted walking would wake either Ruby or Yang. It was more Blake whom the huntress feared of arousing. Although it appeared this presumption was wasteful, as voice of her aforementioned teammate was heard. 

      ❛Not particularly.❜ It wasn’t the truest of statements, albeit she doubted sleep could become of her with head so tumultuary. ❛I could say the same to you. You sound exhausted—why are you still awake?❜

[nekonekura]

✖——    Time moved slowly as minutes, hours passed. She sought dreamless nights-- therefore, sleepless nights. While she was safe, tucked away in bed within Beacon's walls... something was conspiring. Threats arising, danger... and the White Fang was responsible. Traitors were turning up dead, assassinated in their homes, workplaces, on the streets. It was only a matter of time before someone came looking for her, she figured. Hiding underneath a black bow and living within the security of Beacon, perhaps, bought her some time. Investigating what was occurring on her own was risky. And after her little 'chat' with Ozpin, she was worried that he might put her loyalties into question. She felt like a prisoner awaiting execution. 

While it might not have been noticeable at first, the circles beneath her eyes were becoming difficult to conceal. So she kept silently to herself, dipping her head low in her books, avoiding eye contact. In a surreal way, it felt as though she belonged in an entirely different universe. Surprisingly, Weiss had been the one to notice.

The moon was mostly full, casting a silvery light through the room. Upon making contact with Weiss's fair hair and skin, it gave her a kind of glow. Contrasting to Blake's own form, curled up and dissolved in the shadows of her bunk. She raised her eyebrows at her teammate's response before realizing that she lacked the energy to make a curious expression. So she averted her eyes instead, looking away and figuring that Weiss might just climb back into her own bed once she received an answer.

"Right. I'm... fine, actually." She let herself sink back, finding some comfort in the fact that the darkness blanketed her, hiding her from view.  "I can't sleep. That's all."

[nekonekura]

νι¢тσяу ℓσσкѕ ℓιкє α ∂ιѕтαηт ∂яєαм || weiss & blake

✖——    How long had it been, since she last had a full night's worth of rest? With each day in passing, she carried herself apathetically, sluggishly. Even if she tried to sleep, her thoughts and dreams had a tendency to steer off in the wildest directions. Most commonly revolving around the White Fang-- harsh memories and future hazards reeling through her mind like film meant for a horror show. She curled up as though to comfort herself, knees tucked snugly against her chest and toes curling atop the mattress. Knowing well that reading by candlelight might wake her teammates, she simply sat as still as she could manage, staring at the underbelly of Yang's bed in the dark. Sulking the night away, thoughts strung in a tangle of danger.

Blake's ears twitched as they registered the sound of the floorboards whimpering beneath someone's tiptoeing feet. Despite the dark state of the unlit room, the young faunus could actually see quite clearly that it was Weiss approaching her bedside-- and thus a small sigh escaped through her pouted lips. 

"Weiss? Aren't you tired...?" A hesitant pause spaced her words. In a rare state where she felt so tired that she couldn't tell if the Weiss she was seeing was a hallucination constructed from exhaustion. "You should go back to sleep."

[blogger-has-moved-deactivated20]

[nekonekura]

(I finally have some spare time on my hands. I think I might re-watch that last episode and make icons tonight. Maybe do some drawing. Probably get replies done tomorrow when I can trust my words. ;v; If anyone would like to plot, my inbox is always open~)

[taurus--red-deactivated20161211]

ᴛʜɪᴇᴠᴇs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ sʜᴀᴅᴏᴡs; || Blake & Adam

[taurus--red-deactivated20161211]

||♉|| — Adam’s breathing was becoming less and less calm by the second, and he slowly lost the strength to calm himself and reason with the dark haired female before him. It didn’t take long for him to lose sight of the mission, and it took even less time for him to forget that he was speaking to an old friend and not an enemy. His teeth began to grit, his heart raced, and his blood boiled. Adam was seeing red.

Lost to his anger, he took an angry step toward her, though he didn’t draw his weapon. “If they accept you as you are, then why do you hide yourself under that bow still?” the man growled, his body shaking as he near yelled at her, “Respect only goes a small ways, control lasts longer. The White Fang is getting more done than it ever has before. Peace did little for us. Peace made us weak, peace made them trample over us like we were dirt.”

The faunus took a step back in his anger, looked around as if he was trying to process something, but the look on his face said he couldn’t. “The White Fang was making it better for us and you betrayed them.” Something in his voice broke as he spoke his next words slowly, “You betrayed me, when I trusted you.” The man opened his mouth to speak again, but words were lost to him, and he didn’t know what to say.

Slowly, he felt guilt rise in his stomach. Followed by regret, and pain. He took a sharp inhale and flipped his weapon over so the barrel of his gun was pointed at her. Somehow, he was able to hold a steady hand, and look her directly in the eyes.

“Move out of the way, Blake.”

[nekonekura]

✖——    When her jaw trembled, she locked it in place. His words cut through her chest like daggers, but she refused to let herself falter or crumble beneath his stare. He knew well why she still hid beneath her bow-- she'd told him in confidence of her experiences, being treated like she was worthless, having her ears yanked and torn at. They traded stories about their scars, gained each others' trust. It wasn't something she could let herself do with just anyone. 

Hearing that he felt betrayed because of her, perhaps... hurt more than anything else. She shouldn't have left without explaining-- a runaway through and through. Because Adam had no qualms about sacrificing the crew workers in that train for the sake of their mission. Because he was so passionate, so dedicated to the cause. And... that terrified her.  If he knew her thoughts, maybe he'd turn her in. It wasn't something she wanted to risk, at the time. 

"I don't have all the answers... But the White Fang is just giving humans another reason to hate us-- to label us all as violent criminals." Her voice was thick with desperation. Weiss-- while she might have received treatment akin to that of a princess all her life, she'd still watched friends and family suffer from this conflict. While it had taken her a while to even consider regarding her with respect, she eventually came to terms with the fact that they could still work as a team. 

"I wanted to become a huntress to protect the faunus and humans alike."  She clicked her tongue, shaking her head with exasperation. His weapon was pointed at her-- and yet, despite the steadiness of his grip, she still found confidence in her voice. "It's not just me, either. Others have left, too. And they're turning up dead, one by one. Killing our own kind. What is this going to solve?"

She narrowed her eyes-- but her glare was, perhaps, softened with some sadness as she raised her own weapon, shaking her head in refusal to move from where she stood.

"I'm sorry, Adam. I'm not going anywhere."

[mercxrius]

Adverse Fortune ⟩⟩ {@nekonekura}

[mercxrius]

          ⟨☿⟩ — His steps slowing to a halt, Mercury looks over to the Blake—a certain smile finding its way to his face. He knew that there was a facade he was to abide by, a false him in order to deceive the girl and allow him invasion of her defense. All for the kill, all to tear out another of their ally’s weeds. Yet, for a moment does Mercury lose himself within his carefully constructed facade of kindness.

“I prefer the kind ‘o comics about super heroes, I know, it’s kind of childish. I’ve just always found myself enthralled with the pictures and the characters illustrated inside.”

          No one ever really humored his interest in comic books; more often than not, the few people he had the displeasure of meeting thought his fascination to be childish. Comic books catered to the minds of the young, he would be told, and for that was viewed as more immature than them—a person clinging to their child at heart. So, as Blake asked about his specific tastes, Mercury couldn’t keep from smiling.

“There’s just something that comics give me that a normal book hasn’t been able to yet, but who knows, maybe that’s just me?”

[nekonekura]

✖——    A strange sort of endearment blossomed in her chest as he mentioned super heroes. A feeling rather familiar to her meeting with Ruby on her first night attending Beacon. Maybe it's because there was a glowing genuity about his words just then that she hadn't caught earlier in their encounter. While she chided herself not to get carried away, she subconsciously let her guard down-- if only just a little. Her younger self fantasized about the heroes and heroines in stories... up until the day that she lost hope in them, the prospect of a better world.

Even still; the prospect that those sorts of things were inspiring enough to evoke people to become hunters and huntresses was sort of inspiring. In her youth, through peaceful protest, she had been optimistic. Thinking that her carefully, cleverly worded signs would make someone reconsider their views. Pushed down time and time again, her optimism crumbled.

She'd always assumed she was just being realistic. Hardened by experience, she never thought she'd change this way of thinking. Rather than joining in on the White Fang's endeavors. Become a huntress, help humans and faunus alike. It seemed like it was the right thing to do.

"Super heroes, huh." The corner of her mouth twitched into something of a smile. Comic book superheroes tended to have cheesy catchphrases, wore dramatic costumes. Still... some could be written on a darker note. She'd spent enough time around books of all kinds to know that much. Even still, comics didn't really appeal to her as much. There were plenty of people who wouldn't spend their time on books at all-- either for the fact that they just couldn't empathize with the characters or the story. "I'm... kind of the opposite. I just tend to lose myself in the words on a page. I'm not really even sure how to describe it."

[nekonekura]

𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖔𝖔𝖉𝖘 || sun & blake

[gunchucks-akimbo]

At Blake’s confirmation of their mystery foe, Sun cast his eyes upwards, observing nothing but the branch that she had cut. Whoever they were facing, they clearly did not lack for speed. Considering the destruction of that one tree, power was also not something that suffered for his specialty. The foe was certainly worthy of both their substantial abilities, and that was something he didn’t like to admit. He certainly might have preferred an easy foe, but then again, an easy foe wouldn’t have been able to paint so bloody a sight.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a flash of something, perhaps a cloak, or some other billowing thing. Before he could even stop himself, he felt his hand moving, snapping his staff in twain  Barely a moment passed between the action before he was twisting, awkwardly arcing his body in the direction of the foe, and permitting the recoil of his shotgun to very nearly knock him to the floor. If the figure in question was just a little bit slower, there might have been a hole in the place of where their organs once remained.

Instead, there was only a mocking cackle, and only the smell of gunsmoke to ‘comfort’ him. Oh, there was also Blake, and upon noticing her ever close proximity, he could only grant her a sheepish, and sorry sort of look. How did one say ‘sorry about firing off a powerful weapon so close to one’s person’, anyway? Well, he couldn’t think of that, but then again, his mind was shot from all that was happening around them anyhow.

"Seems like it," he finally eked out, his mind forming the beginnings of a plan. "So, I’m a big dumb monkey, and you’re the crafty one out of us. If I can get him aiming towards where I am, and get him caught up in a pattern, do you think you can nail him with your own thing?"

[nekonekura]

✖——    Recovering from the noise, the dark-haired faunus simply shrugged her shoulders at his look. Her ears tended to be a little more sensitive to their surroundings. Feeling them twitch beneath the bow that hid their presence, she bit the inside of her lower lip. No, she didn't mind so much; she was accustomed to sounds of battle. She paused to listen closely in hopes of learning their opponent's next move... and just as before, they were undetectable. So she turned her attention towards Sun as he improvised a plan. There were those words again-- 'big dumb monkey'. She narrowed her eyes and gave a small, thoughtful huff. If not for their situation, she might've chosen to confront him about that. He could take care of himself-- he tended to be rather quick on his feet. If he could keep their attacker busy, she could likely come up with a plan to catch him.

And if he needed help, then she would do whatever she could. They could handle this-- she repeated it in her head with a mantra, as though to give herself some confidence. Although shaken by the bloody display-- this person could have been preying on the weak. Those who were defenseless. Then, she also knew better than to underestimate their opponent. Adjusting her grip on her weapon, she leaned so her shoulders were poised back with a readied sort of confidence and offered him a small smile, a rare attempt from her to lighten the mood through the adrenaline rush that accompanied fear.

"Right. You distract him... and if he finally decides to show himself, I'm sure we can corner him." Blake was quiet, unsure of just how well their attacker could hear them. At a far proximity, no normal human would have been able to hear what they were saying. Unless this man was, in fact, a faunus. And there was a sort of sinking feeling that hit her as she considered that option. "Just be careful, okay?"

As though tiring of their prolonged stillness, her eyes caught the glint of a weapon ripping through the air, towards her. She darted out of the way, leaving a series of shadows in her wake-- listening to the 'thunk' of a blade as it sunk into the tree that'd been standing behind her. Blake unwound her weapon and slung it up into one of the trees like a grappling hook, hoisting herself into the branches to watch the fight from above. To devise a way to catch their attacker-- to put him at a disadvantage.

[nekonekura]

(I'm so tired and I have school tomorrow-- but reading Adam's reply ripped my heart out. And stomped on it. Repeatedly. So, so excited to reply to things-- but I'll have to wait till tomorrow night when I can trust that my words won't be absolute gibberish. I'll probably try to branch out and get more things plotted too, if anyone would be interested. ;v;)

[nekonekura]

(I've got homework tonight-- and I've got to get up early tomorrow to go to an amusement park. ;v; Then on Thursday I have class again. So replies may be delayed until Thursday night-- or Friday, at the absolute latest. I'm very sorry for the delays!)

[nekonekura]

𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖔𝖔𝖉𝖘 || sun & blake

[gunchucks-akimbo]

Blake’s words were appropriate, considering the sights and sounds that they were made to witness. In the silence between them, he had sworn that he had heard something. It might simply have been the snapping of an aged branch, but he could not help but wonder if it was something different. If their mystery host was attempting to play on their minds or their fears, in his case, they had worked out nicely. The worst type of foe that Sun could encounter was one with knowledge about his abilities. When anticipation turned into anxiety. and awareness into oversensitive bristling, he had been outmaneuvered quite thorough. If one thing was for certain, this was not a side of himself he wanted on display to anyone, least of all Blake.

Sun supposed that if there was anyone with more cause to take a risk, it was him. He might have been something of a stowaway, but that was merely an eloquent word for street trash. If something was to happen to him, he’d be mourned for little more than a day, then forgotten about in the winds of tomorrow. People like Blake, with ties beyond simple things, were so much more difficult to forget. With that in mind, Sun stepped forward, looking to round ever closer to the nearest tree, only to hear a slicing sound soon follow.

Only an instinctual roll to the side saved him from that blow, and the effects of not dodging were seen against the tree itself. One ugly slash revealed itself against its trunk, splitting bark as simply as one would split paper. Another slash soon followed it, again and again, until an explosion of splinters were all that remained. At the sight, Sun’s breath caught in his throat, and at this, he cautioned a glance towards Blake’s own body.

"So, here’s the plan: put the big dumb monkey in front, and if he falls, walk far, far away from him."

[nekonekura]

✖——    Blake dove down when the tree began to teeter, instinctually shielding her eyes and turning so that she wouldn't get hit with any fragments of broken bark. She let her gaze dart around their surroundings, searching for the source of the blow. So she stayed still and listened-- hearing nothing but the howling of the wind pushing through the leaves and undergrowth. Crouched low to the ground, her stare cut over to Sun when he started talking, eyes narrowing disapprovingly. It made it sound as though he was willing to sacrifice himself-- not only that, but that she'd walk away if he were hurt. 

"Sun--"  She began in a scolding tone-- but couldn't finish her sentence before she heard another loud 'craaaack' rip through the air. "Watch out!" Two more trees came crashing down at once, nearing the forest floor between them.  Separating them, putting distance between them. The faunus leapt from her spot, out of harms' way. Dust swirled and spiraled into the air after they landed-- she flicked a wrist in front of her face, as to make it simpler for her to see. A grunt of frustration came from her throat when she failed to find their unnamed attacker. She felt tempted to yell at them to show themselves-- it was nearly impossible to fight an opponent that couldn't be seen. She stayed low to the ground and listened again-- for validation that Sun was all right on the other side of the wreckage, for signs of their adversary's whereabouts. Hearing the branches above rustle, she finally noticed the silhouette of a figure standing up in one of the trees. Attacking from above, using the leaves as a shield.

Her hand moved faster than her mind-- fingers grasping around her weapon, whipping it out in a blur of black ribbon to take down the branch the man was standing on. Rather than falling, however, his agile figure leapt with ease to the next tree. Swinging back like elastic, she pulled her weapon back into her hands and crossed the wreckage of the two trees, moving so she was next to Sun. Looking him over briefly for injury, she raised her eyebrows. 

"Seems like he's hiding in the trees..." She confirmed with a nod. They could only hope that he didn't have any friends lurking nearby. It was hard to tell from his shadow exactly what he looked like-- except for the fact that he had a male's build.

[mercxrius]

Adverse Fortune ⟩⟩ {@nekonekura}

[mercxrius]

          ⟨☿⟩ — Their eyes meeting once again, Mercury makes something of a frown. He liked to read… comic books. Full literature was something read only once a year, if even. All those blocks of text, with little to no flashiness to keep his interest snagged, simply turned off Mercury from even trying. Maybe he just wasn’t too creative when it came to his imagination? Maybe he never really had the ability to perceive the world presented in the words of books? If that was the case, how woeful of one it was.

                    But,

                              He didn’t care. Not too terribly, at least.

“Nah, at least, not the sort ‘o books you probably read. A guy like me is a little dull around the edges when it comes to that stuff, so, I mainly prefer things like comic books."

          He wasn’t by no means proud of it, or at least that was the kind of impression he was attempting to give off. If he had struck upon a common ground for the two of them, then he intended to remain on it. Anything to alleviate the suspicion, and anything to make sure he had a point from which to observe what he did not already know.

“I hope that doesn’t put you off any, I know some people would probably be ashamed for me."

          Despite his words, his smile grows and he lets out another chuckle. Acting as if he was truly enjoying this conversation as they continued to make their way for the library.

[nekonekura]

✖——    Noticing his frown and embarrassing over her brief display of openness, Blake directed her gaze ahead, navigating the winding hallways on a route she knew by heart. She was finding that the further they walked, the louder their footsteps sounded as they echoed in synch. The halls were slowly growing more deserted. The library wasn't necessarily the most popular hang-out spot. Perhaps that was the reason why she used it as a temporary escape at times. Hiding between the shelves, leafing through pages that granted her a temporary trip into a new world. They world they lived in now was hardly satisfying-- it was always a relief to leave for a little while, let herself rest at ease.

The world was inescapable, though. And the more she read, the more she grew discontented with the dangers escalating in the outside world. It was tricky to fixate on reading like she used to. She hummed at his mention of comic books. If she knew him better, she might tease lightheartedly on such a subject. But he was still a stranger, so she simply shrugged her shoulders.

The world was nothing like a fairytale. She'd known that since she was young-- having her ears yanked and prodded at, being pushed around. Peaceful protests ignored, carefully crafted signs stomped on. It seemed rightful of them to turn to violence, it seemed like they had no other choice.

... A line had to be drawn when innocents got caught in the crossfire. Unnecessary bloodshed was something she didn't condone. She wasn't that harsh, she knew there had to be another way. Her opinion was strong enough to provoke her to leave. Shaking the thought off, she crossed her arms lightly over her chest.

"Everyone has their preferences, I guess." She decided to humor the subject for just a little longer, with hopes that it might serve to make the tension between them dissipate just a little more."What kind of comics do you like?"

[nekonekura]

𝖙𝖍𝖗𝖔𝖚𝖌𝖍 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝖜𝖔𝖔𝖉𝖘 || sun & blake

gunchunks-akimbo:

Blake’s words, somehow, managed to undersell their current situation. This bloody, macabre performance was far too intricate for any wayward Grimm. Creatures like them, while undoubtedly brutal, lacked the…refinement his senses picked up on. Yes, the acrid, and metallic smell of blood was one thing, but it was almost as if it was teasing them! A limb here, or a simple chunk of flesh there were strewn about, almost as if pointing them towards some destination. "Try not to worry about it," Sun babbled, which might have been convincing, if not for the deathly shade of white his face displayed. He had seen many a thing, but this…this was beyond what he generally observed. He simply wished that something would make a sound, so that he wasn’t left to his thoughts, which more than intensified his state of fear! "If you handle yourself, and I handle myself, we’ll get through this just fine.

We’re strong, and we can handle it. Just keep on believing that, and we’ll be fine.”

✖——    Chiding herself on appearing too vulnerable, Blake bit her lip and listened to the blond's response. Generally, she could put up a generally tough front. When the lives of others, especially innocents, were put into question, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. Anxiousness swept through her guarded walk, hand wrapped tightly around her weapon as to use it at any moment's notice. She scrunched her nose slightly as the decaying scent made itself more distinct. How many people were injured, killed out here? Granted, it was foolish to wander through this particular forest without a weapon handy. They shouldn't have been careless. 

"It's not us I'm worried about, really. It's who-- or what we might find out here." Keeping a conversation going, filling the silence. While she didn't typically carry conversations all too easily-- she decided for the sake of their circumstances, it was worth a shot. If anyone could run his mouth for an extended period of time, it was Sun. Even he seemed disturbed by their surroundings-- who wouldn't be? Still, it was actually rather comforting to be in his company. She gave a determined nod, letting her amber eyes scan their surroundings, back and forth like a pendulum. 

"You're right. I'm sure we'll be fine." She exhaled the breath she held captive, nodding her head as though she was still trying to convince herself of this.

[rwbyebye-blog]

cosplay by sasora

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