Online RP Thread (Lead up to Bloody Valentine)

Archive 33AR
#301

(Post 301!)

As Zek steps out of the taverna, following Jane and Lewy at a slight distance, he revels in the feeling of the sun on his face. He can hear a quiet murmuring from around the camp; Esther and the stranger that has been wandering around. Presumably nobody harmful; they’d have checked him out by now. Zek is suddenly struck by an odd sensation: not the enjoyment of things like sunlight and music and the stones under his boots, but rather the realisation that it’s been so long since he enjoyed these things. He suddenly has the energy for them again, after what feels like years.

This feeling is tempered only slightly by the thought that Leo and Moss are somewhere else, away from the safety of the camp. He worries for them, of course, but the world is a good place. No number of bodies buried behind a cathedral in London can take away from that. I faced down a demon prince, he thinks. I faced down a demon prince, and I kept him talking, and I walked away in one piece. I won.

He starts to chuckle, an odd hollow sound, but the first time in a long time he hasn’t felt guilty for being happy. He’ll take his victories where he can find them.

#302

Jane looks around at the sound in surprise. Seeing that Zek seems happy expressions cross her face quickly, a happy smile, a frown of worry, a moment of thought, a slightly mad glint that might better suito someone from the union, determination and then back to her usual half smile. She reaches down to pat a cat that wanders past and then trots to catch up with Lewy

#303

“its nothing you need burden yourself with” dray distracted him self by fixing up his mask ad eye patch takes off his hat and brushes off a small bit of dirt on the top

#304

[quote=“inhumangrunt”][quote]
“its nothing you need burden yourself with”[/quote][/quote]

At this, Esther raises her eyebrows.

“Just want to know that everything’s all right in m- in the infirmiry.”

#305

“oh yeah everything in the infirmiry is fine now” now that i’m not in there he thought to himself

#306

[quote=“inhumangrunt”][quote]

“oh yeah everything in the infirmiry is fine now”[/quote][/quote]

Esther’s face continues to hold its expression of curiosity, but she doesn’t press the subject.

“Right, then. Would you care to accompany me on a walk? I thought I’d go visit the Forrest Folk -it sounds like something’s going on over there- only I lost my gun to the river and I shouldn’t really be wandering about unarmed with this one.” She strokes the top of Harriet’s head, then looks at Dorchester. “You’re welcome to come along as well, Sergeant. You might as well learn what you’ve gotten yourself into.”

#307

a wry smile cross his face “was wondering when i’d be spotted, and you’re right, it is about time i learned that, do you want me to gte my rifle before we walk?” he says as he shifts the trench knife to the side of his belt and makes sure its secure.

#308

“It’s not a bad idea, though I wish I could tell you otherwise. I’ll keep the Forrest Folk from giving you too much trouble -they adore Harriet, so at the very least I can use her as a distraction- if you promise to shoot anyone who tries to kidnap her. Deal?”

#309

Ford hung precariously over the rushing waters of the river, hoping the branch he’d hooked his foot around didn’t break suddenly. He’d already had a bath this week and didn’t fancy another. It had all started when Forgetful spotted what looked like a pistol lying in the water and had attempted to retrieve it. Naturally, she had fallen in.
He had just managed to insert the end of a stick into the rusted trigger guard of the weapon and drag it towards shore when he realised that he could hear voices. Often the babbling sound of the water could be deceptively like thaat of someone talking, so Ford hadn’t been paying too much attention. But now he could definitely make out more than one voice, getting closer. The gun abruptly forgotten, Ford wriggled back up the bank as quickly as he could without being too noisy and slipped into the bushes.
Better to make sure these visitors were friendly before announcing himself.

#310

“thanks i think i will” hops off deck “iv been meaning to talk to ford as well”

#311

"o’ course, ain’t gonna let a baby get taken like that, i’ll be right back in a tick ma’am " he says with a nod the runs off to retrieve his kit.

#312

Esther sits up, looking at Harriet.

“I wasn’t serious,” she protests to the baby, who’s staring at her. “I wouldn’t take you to see the Forrest Folk if I thought you were going to get kidnapped on the way. Stop giving me that look.”

She pulls Harriet’s sling from her bag. “Just don’t drink anything they give you. That’s a rule I want you to remember, all right, poppet?”

#313

Dorchester races passed the tavern and then the infirmary, he slides to a stop next to his bunk and gathers his equipment and rifle, settling everything into its proper place. he takes a stripper clip from his pouch and loads the rifle.

#314

Esther’s looking a little alarmed when Dorchester returns. She’s dug Harriet’s sling from her bag and maneuvered her into it.

“Hello! Er. Just to clarify, I wasn’t serious when I asked you to shoot anyone who tries to kidnap my baby. Well. Obviously if someone does try to kidnap her, feel free to put as many bullets in them as you like- I’d do it myself, only I dropped my gun in the river. But I’m not expecting it to be necessary. I wouldn’t just casually wander about with her if I did. The danger of her being taken now is actually fairly minimal, for reasons that it would take too long to get into and so I’ll not bother you with them. I’m sure local gossip will fill you in on that.” She sighs, looking down at Harriet, a hint of anger mingled with fierce, protective love showing in her face, then she shakes it off, brushing a finger across the infant’s cheek. “You know what? Let’s just go. I want to see what Ford’s up to. Coming, Dray?”

#315

Dorchester opens and closes his mouth as if trying to say something, gives up with a shrug and falls in behind them, “well these days never can be to careful,” he finally mutters

#316

Dray checks on his arm then walks over to Esther and child " yep all set to go " in a reassuring voice to Esther

#317

With no Forrest Folk to be seen once the little group reaches their clearing, Esther looks around.

“Ford? Felicity? Fay? Are any of you about?”

#318

“they usually to be found here miss?” he asks looking around through the visor of his helmet, his voice oddly muffled.

#319

Seeing it was his friend Dray with Esther and her new babby plus that new fella he’d spied earlier, Ford figured it was safe to emerge. But he should make a grand entrance, to impress them and show they were on his territory now. Quickly and with the natural stealth of one born to the forest Ford scrambled through the undergrowth and up into a large tree in front of the group. His plan was to jump down and catch them by surprise. Ford could already imagine the looks on their faces.
Distracted by his own imagination he failed to notice the sleeping form of Forgetful, curled up between the branches. Ford’s foot came down on her leg, causing Forgetful to leap up with a shriek and sending Ford toppling backwards.
"Waah!"
He landed awkwardly in a hammock.
"Oof!"
That was lucky, Ford thought to himself. Then the hammock gave way, sending him plummeting groundward.
Fortunately, or perhaps not, as he fell Ford’s foot became entangled in the hammock rope and he was brought to an abrupt stop, swinging back and forth a short distance form the ground. Noting the stunned looks on their faces, he decided his entrance had at least had the desired effect.
“Um, would one of you fellas be able to help me get down? I’m a bit stuck.”

#320

Sergeant Dorchester looks at the others as if waiting for reassurance, then shrugs and moves up to help unentangle the trapped ford. " 'old still i’ll have you down shortly lad"