runmakitarun | As with most things, there is a beginning

Entry tags:

oom,
war in bahamut

As with most things, there is a beginning

Earlier today Makita spoke to the people on her team she could find, and left notes with Bar for those she couldn't. Today is the day. It's time to go back.

While she's spoken to her team about what to expect, at least to some degree, no one's gotten a full briefing yet. She's pushed some tables out of the way to form a sort of open space in one corner of the bar, and as people begin to arrive she's starting to unpack the five military-style duffel bags at her feet, laying the contents out on the tables nearby. Grenades, mines, boxes of ammo, and a few guns are slowly spread out like a deadly little buffet.

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"Krauser." He's not really expecting a lot of mingling, at the beginning, but he always likes to give everyone a chance to get used to who they're not shooting at.

Mel nods in the direction of the only person she doesn't know. He's about the same size as half her friends at home; he'll do.

"Mel."

Do for what? Paperweight?

"Seen this sort of thing before?"

"Sorceresses with bodyguards in a war-torn city covered in snow?"

Mel shakes her head, smirking.

"I killed some Nazis once, though."

"Nice," Krauser says, without reservations. Yep, he's American. "I've seen conditions like these before. Magic is a new one, but at least it sounds predictable."

He'd hate to be turned into a frog.

"Rutting hate magic," says the demon possessed Chosen One whose boyfriend, only human thanks to a wizard, is telepathically bonded to a sentient bar and the husband of a witch.

"Not really a match or us, though."

"No." He didn't like the last magic he ran into. He really didn't. On the other hand, he's not afraid of anything anymore. "Doesn't take care of the bigger picture on her world, but it's a start."

Mel shrugs. "You don't take care of the bigger picture without becoming the bigger problem. I just keep my friends alive."

"If you don't, nothing ever changes. Some systems just need an overhaul." He shrugs. "Not that there's a lot to be done with someone else's world."

As far as he's concerned, her focussing on keeping Makita alive works. . . for as long as this mission lasts.

"Nothing ever changes," Mel repeats, indifferent.

"Rich folks stay rich, poor folks stay poor. Life's unfair. You hafta fight to stay alive. Same today as it was in the twentieth century."

"Oh yeah." He disagrees. Pleasantly. "It does. It's just a matter of what you've got in mind, that's all."

"Got in mind things that actually affect us down in the lowers."

Another shrug.

"I'm OK with killing to stay alive. Everyone else can kill to change the future."

Goldy trusts Makita's team selection, and doesn't particularly need to know anything about the guy's skillset. Nevertheless, she's not going to miss an opportunity for snark.

"You're more than the token testosterone I take it."

There's a smirk to go with her comment.

Ah, the initial giving-each-other-a-hard-time phase. "Oh, yeah." They're from different species and aren't going to get each other, but: "Makita figured this should take long enough that, sooner or later, someone's going to want a jar opened."

Hey, some humans like pre-combat banter. He can play along.

A pretty good comeback. Goldy likes him already. Not that her deadpan reply gives anything away in that respect:

"I'll try and remember to swoon and call you 'my hero' when that time comes."

"When I hear that, I'll know it's time to get ready to catch you. Good thing I made the mission briefing."

His tone's right, voice and face are as friendly as they get--some can't help the menace, scars and a grating voice are there no matter what--but his eyes are dead.

By contrast, Goldy's eyes are full of life. She can converse in a dry monotone for the sake of the banter, but she can't hide the fact that she's pretty excited about this job.

She glances around at the group of girl friends and erstwhile lovers.

"You may have to get in line for that part," she says, aiming a cocky wink back at him.

He'll be into it when it gets going, but. . . not so much in working mode right now. Some things you've got to get involved in, though. It's important to let people have the sense of team.

"Hey, you're thinking of ways to boost morale already. Good call."

There's a chuckle from the Fable, and then a smirk.

"Well, I was a professional 'morale booster' here for a while." Finger quotes are used to good effect with that statement. "It's another one of my many talents."

"Never did that as a profession," Krauser concedes. "Damn, outclassed. All I do to keep people's spirits up is kill the people we're fighting." Krauser shrugs. "Guess it'll have to do."

"Aw, don't feel bad," Goldy coos. "I think your method will work just as well."

"Especially since mine can be a little uncomfortable to perform in sub-zero temperatures. I'll probably stick with yours in this case."

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As with most things, there is a beginning

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